A recent Facebook post provoked a sudden synaptic spasm:
Some people think it’s peculiar that I am a Notts County season ticket holder and follow them all over the country whilst living in Berkshire, questioning my sanity and the amount of money that I spend on this enduring pursuit.
But I’m not daft!
In comparison with Helga, the ultra-hardcore dominatrix whom I still remain good friends with, the Notts option is much cheaper and far more painful.
Overall – a much better ROI!
COYP!
This attempt at humour followed a freezing December night in Walsall in the West Midlands where Notts had put on another exasperating performance to lose 3-2, whilst having over 75% of the possession. This was by no means a rarity, but I suspect the Baltic conditions focussed my mind on the pain that I was experiencing, albeit the motivating factor in driving over two hours to get there was pleasure. On the trek back home, this conundrum played on my mind. Could such diverse emotions occupy the same space and time? Life – as I have come to expect – has a habit of fusing together the strangest of bedfellows, and I ought not to be surprised that in the same way as love and hate can simultaneously exist, pain and pleasure can rhythmically dance in perfect harmony on the same stage too.
The pain-pleasure paradox is a fascinating phenomenon that confronts those sporadic moments when humans seek out experiences that blend pleasure with elements of pain or discomfort. This enigma challenges our conventional understanding of human behaviour and motivation, revealing surprising insights into the complex interplay between our base emotions.
At its core, the pain-pleasure paradox is rooted in the intricate workings of our brain’s reward system. Neuroscientists have discovered that the same neural pathways are activated during both pleasurable and painful experiences. This shared neurological foundation helps explain why some individuals are drawn to activities that others might consider unpleasant or even harmful. The release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, together with endorphins, plays a crucial role in this process. These chemical messengers not only contribute to feelings of pleasure, but also help modulate our perception of pain. This dual function creates a neurochemical balancing act that can make intense experiences particularly alluring. At this point in my research, I was reassured that being a Notts fan was more of a cerebral experience; perhaps I should feel sorry for the fans of those Premiership heavyweights.
Beyond the neurological keystones, psychological factors also contribute significantly to the pain-pleasure paradox. The concept of eustress, or positive stress, helps explain why some people actively seek out challenging or even frightening situations. These experiences can provide a sense of accomplishment, personal growth, and heightened awareness that many find deeply rewarding. At this juncture my mind immediately transported me back to the utter suffering of the 2022/2023 penalty shoot-out of the National League playoff final when we eventually grasped victory from the jaws of defeat from our perennial foes, Chesterfield, to return to our rightful place in the English Football League. But had this experience simply cemented my lifelong addiction to the pain-pleasure paradox? Such a decadent lifestyle would imply that it’s inevitable.
The phenomenon of hedonic adaptation suggests that we quickly become accustomed to pleasurable stimuli, leading us to seek increasingly intense experiences to maintain the same level of satisfaction. This constant pursuit of novelty and intensity can push individuals to explore the boundaries between pleasure and pain, further reinforcing the contradictory nature of the human experience.
So, please don’t feel sorry for my plight. Being a Notts County fan is more than the game. It’s a relentless pursuit for fulfilment, and this alone is likely to keep me emotionally engaged until the end of my days. As the Marquis de Sade, author of many erotic journals once quipped, “It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure.”
COYP!
© Ian Kirke 2024
@ iankirke.bsky.social