Canada men's hockey fans in the herding zone
If you’ve ever been to the Olympics, Mardi Gras, Carnival or any other world party you’ve likely logged some serious time negotiating crowds. It doesn’t take much time people watching before your mind begins sorting your fellow event-goers into classifications.
At least that’s what happened to me last week at the Winter Games in Vancouver. As I waited in long lines, experienced cattle-like herding and walked chaotic streets, the labeling began.
I give you 6 world party-goer stereotypes.
- Fanatical fans. This category typically involves face paint, a wig or at least one special-purchase item not already in your closet. Evidence: Full-body spandexed Red Men at men’s hockey game. (see pic in earlier blog)
- Repeat business. Addicts. Junkies. These guys can’t get enough. They spend big vacation time and big bucks to be where the party is year after year and they pass on the addition to their kids. Evidence: Dad (his 13th Olympic games) and son in line at Canadian Mint.
- Face-time fashionistas. The rest of the crowd is decked out in Olympic and Canadian apparel, while these cool cucumbers don chic boots, dress coats, small skirts and maybe a touch of red in their scarf. Evidence: 20-somethings looking to meet at a downtown Starbucks.
- Line budgers. This sly breed pretends not to speak your language or it makes excuses about just having been to the washroom. Not only do you not buy it, you motion and loudly proclaim where the budger will find the back of the line. Evidence: Man squeezing into 12th position in a 1.5-hour Canadian Mint line.
- Shameless drunks. They’re loud, can’t walk straight, make excellent cheerleaders and are usually accompanied by sober friends who apologize for their language/trampling/spilled drink. Evidence: Friday nights on the streets of Yaletown.
- Pitch-in parents. Unlike their pushier, sense-of-entitlement counterparts, these parents step back and give late-comer kids the front row to the kids’ show. They lift up your child so she can hug a furry character and snap a photo for you while they’re at it. Evidence: My section of the railing at Olympic mascots on ice performance at Robson Square.
Any others we should add to the list?
