I abhor the Olympics.

[themind]

If you abhor it, don't watch it, but if you are trying to figure out why people enjoy it so much, get up off your ass, go to a bar, and watch it with a group of people. The social aspect of sports, the sense of community amongst fans and between fans of rival teams, and most importantly perhaps the feeling you have if you go see an exciting match in a stadium or an arena.

Think of it in terms of... I dunno what a petulent, selfish nerd can relate to, but let's say an arcade video game. If you go to the arcade with your mom/dad and play Street Fighter against the CPU opponent, they are not going to care a monkey's turd about the game. But if you play against your friend, and there's a crowd of other kids around to watch too, then dad/mom comes in for a closer look, and might, even for 10 minutes, give a shit about arcade games.

Sports are a lot like that, and the Olympics especially. I know half a dozen people who don't like sports but they watch the Olympics. It's captivating because it is competitive and global, you can cheer for your own country, or a favorite athlete from a different country. I'm Canadian so I never get to cheer for Canada in soccer since we can't manage to defeat the powerhouses like El Salvador in qualifying. Instead I choose an African team, and I cheer for them, because I love the underdog. It makes some people feel proud, other are elated, it's a sense of joy through sports. If you can't see the reason why people are attracted to it than you may need to consult a geneticist, he may be able to help out with that missing chromosome.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

Jailbird 408

Jaded as Fuck, far too young.

Poor guy

 

[WouldYouKindly]

Guy bitching about watching sports being a waste of time on a forum primarily dedicated to video games, otherwise known as a way to kill time if nothing else.

Methinks we have a troll.

 

[toughguyjoe]

The same can be said about things that I enjoy. Also about things that I hate. It's what makes the world an interesting place. Not everyone is the same. Not everyone finds the same recreations appealing.

So, if you like the Olympics, watch. Cheer if you want. If you don't, don't.

One thing that I find makes my life a better life though, is not getting upset or putting too much thought into the things that I don't like. They exist for someone else, not for me. So why should I bother with them?

Sometimes you can surprise yourself, but if you don't...that is no reason to admonish someone else for liking it. They could most likely do the same to you, and with some degree of intelligence to their argument of why something you enjoy doing wasn't something "worth doing"

Remember, something is only "worth doing" if we WANT it to be worth doing. We make it that way, because we get some sort of fulfillment or entertainment or happiness from it. That is why we do those things.

It is also precisely wwhy we do not do the things we don't enjoy. Seems silly to have to explain this to someone.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I like it.

I know people will bring up pretentiousness every time but there's certain sports I simply enjoy watching, Football, Weightlifting, and recently I've discovered how entertaining the gymnastics can be, its amazing what those guys can do with there body's and the amount of strength is phenomenal.

I mean there is some sports I don't enjoy watching...Cycling, Skeet shooting etc but I'm sure there is a sport for everyone at the Olympics

and hey, Ladies beach volleyball.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

It's not even worth responding to...

Except this response, detailing that I dislike your opinion.

I've said before that I think it's one of the most beautiful and important things this world does nowadays.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

From skimming your wall of text I have unearthed the following information:

You don't like sports
You don't like Reality TV
You don't have any sense of pride in where you're from

From these I have deduced:
You were bad at or had no interest in sports in school
You were not very popular in school and probably had a very small social circle
and you think calling your hometown a "boring shithole" and saying "I hate humanity" are absolutely HILARIOUS jokes.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

You don't like it, other people do, grow up. It easily makes more money from tourism than it spends. Some people like Twilight, I don't. I'm not going to tell them not to like it(although I completely don't understand how they can enjoy it). I don't like watching sports, I'm not going to tell other people not to enjoy it. Same with a lot of things. Wrestling. Soaps. The Dark Knight. A lot of vegetables. That's right, what you are doing is saying "Hey, I don't like carrots, everybody stop eating them!".

 

[Slayer_2]

Sports may seem stupid to you or me, and the frankly gross amount of money wasted on them is atrocious, in my opinion. However, think how those athletes must feel about gaming. The money couldn't go to medical advances, because nobody enjoys watching surgery or medical studies, and not many patients want to wear brand names during open-heart.

I will never watch the Olympics, but does that mean the Olympics shouldn't exist? No. Is it annoying hearing/seeing them everywhere? Yes, but life is hard.

 

[dumbseizure]

Sport is a pass time for some people. Some people find it fun and interesting to watch, some do not.

I don't get what the point of this is. You make the Olympics sound like a waste of time.

Let me say this.

The video games you play. You play them for, what, a few hours a day?
Why? What do you achieve?

What could you have done in those hours? Could you have cooked that recipe you always wanted to try? Could you go watch that movie you heard was pretty sweet? Could you perhaps, by any chance, exercise so that you would be fit enough to maybe do those flips or kicks or whatever you are doing in the games you play?

Companies spend millions developing video games. Why? Video games achieve nothing. That money could go into the medical system to help others.

Comparing positions and medals? How about positions in video game tournaments and prize money.

Everything you have said can be turned directly back to you and your hobbies.

However, you know why they do this? Because people are proud of what they do. People are proud of their accomplishments. You ever been happy about being top of an MMO server? or beating a boss that's extremely difficult?

It's the exact same for these people, except everything they are doing comes down to their own abilities as a human.

So, to sum up, you can whine and complain about how you think the Olympics are a waste of time, but I will bet you a million dollars that, at the exact same time, someone is complaining about one of your hobbies in the exact same fashion. Get over it, everyone has different pass times.

 

[loc978]

Most of the arguments you used at the start could be leveled against video games, television, drinking socially, or any other leisure activity, OP... especially wasting time and yelling at the screen.

As for the inconvenience to the people of London... pretty well agreed there. That's showing off at the expense of the common people. Better off holding it in a damn field.

 

[putowtin]

You rant and say that you don't like all sports as though everyone in the world should just stop and;
1: Agree
2: Abolish all sports

I don't like nuts, in fact I'm allergic to them, that does make me cry out of the distruction of peanut butter!

Oh and did you just read the cracked article and slap it into the end of your rant?

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I have no problem with the fundamental idea of the Olympics, the trouble is the way it is organised is a monumental waste of money. We could literally just get a couple already built pools, ovals and courts and we'd be set. Instead we spend billions of dollars that could be better spent on literally anything else.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Sure I'm not exactly been watching the Olympics but what's wrong with united every people of each nations under one event and abit of friendly competition? Yes that sort of thing does exist unlike online competition (gaming).
I mean this is one of the few times that different people from different background can come and watch and chat together without bringing out conflict from their nation.
Beside it's only on for two weeks unless you're impatience in general. At least it end sooner unlikes some crappy song that is in the chat and in the radio station for ages!

 

[Blunderboy]

tbh, the olympics is the only sports event that I actually watch. I don't really have any interest in sport otherwise.

I just like the way counties of the world can come together and do something other than fight, bicker, and wage war.

I'm the only sane person on this whole goddamn planet.

I'm with this guy.

OP, this is for you.

 

[CoL0sS]

I know this will make me sound silly and naive to more jaded of readers, but I think it's a testament to the strength of human spirit and proof that dedication and persistence truly go the long way.
Even if it is only a "bread and games" thing, as long as people enjoy it and it doesn't do any harm, it has right to exists.

 

[piinyouri]

Man...damn.
Reading that, you just made me want to stick up for sports.
And I fucking hate sports(though not to the unrealistic degree you do) but I at least understand why some people enjoy them.