Woes & Awes

Monday, February 10, 2025

Oh no, the Chiefs lost! That made me feel sad. Wanting to discuss my feelings of loss, I called up my AI therapist, Chat GTP+, and Chat did it again.

AI made me think more deeply about social sports. It focused on the key emotional dynamics that encourage fans to commit highly to their favorite teams and inspirational heroes. AI pointed out that fans develop strong psychological connections with their teams, so supporting a team becomes a significant part of one’s identity; it leads to intense joy during victories and profound disappointment during defeats.

Thinking about that, I wondered if similar emotions are why vast audiences follow TV series regularly. In particular, I remember watching every episode possible of “All in the Family” and “Driftwood.” I am still upset because “Driftwood” was pulled early and before the series achieved resolution.

AI was on the spot for me again. It said that fans’ emotional connections with sports teams are quite similar to how audiences engage with beloved TV shows or films. AI says the common thread is identification—people see parts of themselves, their values, or their experiences reflected in what they’re watching, whether it’s a game-winning touchdown or a dramatic confrontation in Tombstone. Yep, that’s me, excited and watching.

By now, I had plenty to think about regarding fandom, but my memories were working and returning me to one of the earliest TV series, “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.” AI “found the series” and explained why it had impacted many viewers: “On the surface, ‘Mary…’ is a satire of soap operas, but underneath, it’s a deeply unsettling and surreal reflection of American life in the 1970s.”

And so it was, how it “got to me” and why I still recall it as compelling. (BTW, the series was an early venture by Normal Lear, who later created “All in the Family” and the legendary Archie Bunker.)

Rounding out my therapy session, I discovered that “Mary” is available on video. Soon, I’ll be watching, remembering, and reliving some of the “70s” emotions. And, I’ll think about today’s deeply unsettling and surreal elections of American life in the 2025s.

Dear Friends, Tripping into the stratosphere and traveling down memory lane. Diana