See there's your problem Fed, you apparently don't understand that not all people react the same to being "bothered". Take me for example...I've been through a few really tough times in my life...like losing people that were really close to me way before they should have ever been lost...so while I would claim to be a highly passionate supporter, at the end of the day, when we lose a game or we don't win a title or a trophy, while I'm upset, down in the dumps, angry and frustrated....my perspective on real emotional loss keeps me from acting like a gurgling little girl or a sour malcontent.
Look, obviously, relatively speaking, no matter how bad the situation at the club gets, even if we got relegated or something, it's not ever going to be more important than the people around us, the people we love. I've been through some rough times too, times where it got so bad that I didn't even watch our games, let alone care about them---it all seemed irrelevant.
I don't agree with Shankly, for example, that football is "much more important" than life or death. No, it's not. Football, for us supporters, is just a distraction, a passion, a hobby, but more important than life and death? No.
But as far as football goes, this is very important to me. I work for BP and have been working around the world for the last few years (fortunately going back home soon). But for a few years, for example, I was assigned to one of our offices in Mexico. So our games were on very early in the morning, sometimes at 5 am or something. And if we lost the game, it would literally ruin my morning and put me in a bad mood for the day. now of course, if my girlfriend or something were in a car accident the same day, I would instantly forget about the football. But putting aside the MOST important things in life---our family, love, being personally fulfilled---then yes, supporting a club can have a very important role in your life.
And I'm tired of watching us slowly turn into mid-table club, by people who should be doing better. I don't and likely will never have the money to buy the club. But what does that mean? we shouldn't have higher expectations unless we are the club's owners?! that doesn't make much sense. The supporters ARE the core of the club. And the club is synonymous with winning. And when we don't win, we at the very least don't accept it. We don't sit there twiddling our thumbs when we're down 5-0 in the first half against Stoke. That's not acceptable.
What I'm saying is---football isn't more important than the most important things. Having a baby. Getting married. Taking care of your parents. These are all at the top and always will be.
But as regards everything else, it can indeed be something really important for a lot of people. It is for me.