I’ve been a Mariners fan for my entire life, and I’m not sure if I’m better for it.
What I mean by that is: there are a number of qualities I have, both negative and positive, whose presence in my psyche I ascribe to my Mariners fandom. Dry, existential wit? A net positive, at least in moderation. A specific brand of learned fatalism that pervades my personal and professional lives, hamstringing my efforts to be a happy and productive member of society? A net negative, I’m told.
One thing I particularly cherish, however, about the “opportunity” to have been a Mariners fan from a young age is that I think it’s made me like baseball for its own sake.