This is a real solid post and accurately deconstructs and describes the mindset of a handful of people I knew at those ages with those sorts of proclivities. But have to say I thought The Dean's list was so extreme that it might be trolling on this topic, and the work of a famous "alt"artist. Not growing out of it is weird. Knew a guy who had Duke b-ball as one of his teams--always thought it was weird that it was not outgrown. But probably not surprising knowing that person, probably couldn't even have filled out an application to Duke.
Anyhow, interesting that after all of this burrs rates adp's fandom a "B." At the end of the day adp's reasons for adopting the Nats make sense (location in town over long period, kids), it's the parts he seemingly throws in defensively to account for the time lag and opportune timing of the changeover that are strange, namely ownership issue. Just own the part about waiting for the team to really show that it might be a contender, and the division's long-time standard bearer to slip off the pedestal, to hop on. You waited for the complete fall of the Phils' reign over the NL East to adopt, then started piling on Phils' fans on here almost overnight, which I think is what rubbed people the wrong way. No dues were paid over the years that the Nats were pretty much an automatic dozen wins every year, some years like 15.
