With both the college and NFL playoffs coming up, there will be lots of occasions where family and friends gather to watch together. Casual football fans often don’t know the dos and don’ts of football parties and are prone to faux pas’.

To avoid conflict at these gatherings, meridian-street.com has put together a list of things not to do.

THE SALSA BLUNDER – If the host is serving chips and salsa, do not talk about Chi Chi’s reopening and how the company’s fresh salsa killed four people. (Note: quietly skip any homemade salsa)

BRAIN DAMAGE – Do not bring up chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It kind of takes some of the fun out of giant men crashing into each other over and over.

COLIN KAEPERNICK – Do not mention him. Ever. There’s no upside to it.

SOCIAL DEMONSTRATIONS – Do not ask everyone to kneel during the National Anthem. (Note: If this actually occurred to you, you shouldn’t be at the party)

ENTIONMAY AYLORTAY IFTSWWAY – Do not hope out loud that you get to see shots of Taylor Swift. (For novices, Taylor appears at Chiefs games, not every game)

BEER POLITICS – Do not bring Bud Light beer to the party, even though it’s the best beer ever brewed. Right?

NFL BAD BOYS – Do not bring up O. J. Simpson, Aaron Hernandez, Rae Carruth, or Michael Vick. Murder and dog fighting kind of bring down the mood.

UNNECESSARY SEC MENTIONS – If at a game with an SEC team playing, do not claim that the SEC is the best football conference. (An SEC fan will do it for you anyway)

BIG TEN HUMLIATION – If a Big Ten team is playing, do not point out that Oregon won the Big Ten title in its first year in the supposedly “power” conference. (Don’t bring it up with me either)

FUTBOL – Don’t talk about soccer at all and whatever you do, don’t point out that soccer is called “football” in most of the world. Everyone at the party knows, and no one cares.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL – Don’t qualify football with “American.” What are you some kind of weenie European socialist?

BIZARRE RULES – Do not try to justify the NFL forward fumble rule where if a team is about to score but fumbles the ball across the goal line and out of bounds, the ball is given to the opposing team at the 20 yard line. Argh !!!!!!!.

CLICHE SPOUTING – If watching a game with mixed fans, and the game is over, do not say that the losing team “Just didn’t want it enough” unless you enjoy fistfights.

Now properly educated, enjoy the upcoming games.