I abhor the Olympics.

[randomrob1968]

pro sports is a form of controlled violence that defines the relationship and strategic nature of the corporate class to itself and society. Marshall McLuhan spoke of this idea in his 'The media is the message' interviews(look on youtube). Norman Jewison's sci-fi film 'Rollerball' (1975) was a bleak commentary on this premise.

 

[Daverson]

I'm sorry, but no. You may well have a point, but saying anything is worse than reality TV is just plain unforgivable. I honestly can't respect your opinion on anything now that you've said that.

 

[keosegg]

I always found the rules of every sport to be too bleeding arbitrary. You want to make sure you get the basketball in the hoop? Pick it up, walk down the court and toss it in. You want to get the cricket ball as far away from the people on the field so you can run down a tiny strip of grass as many times as possible? Pick up the ball and toss it over the crowd, then you'll have all the time in the world. I'd personally find sport to be FAR more interesting if it was a competition between two teams to see which one of them can get the game finished quicker and more efficiently so we can all go home sooner.

So when the Olympics rolls around it just makes me all the more confused.

"Why are they wasting their time with those ridiculous steps in shotput? Just put that thing in a sling and toss it! It'll take fewer steps and you won't look as ridiculous doing it!"

But at the same time I understand that my opinion is in the minority and other people like this sort of thing so I don't see why it needs to be taken away just yet.

I say "just yet" because once I get my doomsday device working I shall take over the world and then abolish all sports. Then I'll force all athletes to wear dunce hats. Then I'll make it a law that people have to laugh and point at anyone who wears such a hat. NOW WHO'S LAUGHING RITCHIE MARCUS?! I AM! I AM THE LORD AND MASTER OF ALL CREATION AND YOU'RE JUST A STUPID DOODIE HEAD!

*ahem*

In all seriousness, if the Olympics offend you that much you can just change the channel or go on the internet. It hasn't permeated into everything just yet.

 

[AnarchistFish]

All that money they spent on sports could have gone somewhere useful. Like the medical industry.
And it saddens me.

Lol. You're not from here are you? The NHS gets a shitload of money, its budget has gone up immensely, but all it's done is make it a bureaucratic mess.

Anyway, I, and a lot of other people, actually really like the Olympics. It generally encourages sport and it's something fun to watch every few years. I'm sorry your particular opinion made you feel you had to create a whole thread to vent it.

 

[Scarim Coral]

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

That's the reason I like them. I really am not a sports enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, but it's the whole world coming together and saying "let's just have a bit of a game shall we?", and any disputes are left at the door. I actually think we should extend this idea further than sports, because it's a fucking good idea.

Sorry to burst your guys bubbles.


This video shows that that is not the case. It's only 4 minutes, it's not much.

While I don't denined the events happened in that video (if they view it to be so rotten, would Park Si-Hun accepted Roy Jones the Gold medal with honour instead?) but I assume the majority of the many Oylmpics matches in the past and present (so far) had been pleasant well without a scandal at best?

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

Australia doesn't want you. An angry mob is coming to your home now to remove you from our country. I'm not a huge fan of the Olympics themselves as an event (the spectacle is amazing), but you sir have just offended every fibre of my being.

Everything you just said can be related back to video games, watching movies OR ANY FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT. Get over it. It's people like you why Australia went from the FITTEST and HEALTHIEST country in the world, to now being the very FATTEST.

 

[Overusedname]

It brings a bunch of nations together for a good reason for once.

That's enough for me. I don't like professional sports either...but I'm not personally insulted when other people do.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

It's called "sport". You should try playing one sometime. They're fun to play, (some) are interesting to watch and some healthy competition to be he best is not only natural, but motivational and to be celebrated. The worlds finest athletes compete in the largest sporting event in the world, without politics, it's a great event.

There are some sports I firmly believe shouldn't be in the olympics as I think they have no place in it, football being chief among those. But the athletics, swimming, gymnastics, weight lifting, wrestling, boxing and the like are to me what the olympics is about.

 

[floppylobster]

Seriously though, video games are any less pointless?

I'm not saying either are bad actually. Both pass the time for the common masses. But in fact, even though I don't love them and I hate the fandom that comes with them, I'd have to say sports have done more good for the world than video games (bringing people together, teaching teamwork, dispersing aggression and frustration in a safer manner, and sating violent tendencies in a mostly non-violent way).

But sports video games? Ohhh don't get me started on those...

 

[In Search of Username]

And specifically rooting for one team against the other - why?

Because it's YOUR TEAM & COLOURS & CITY & STATE. You take pride in it the same way someone takes pride in their uniform or flag or customized gaming computer. That pride turns to passion and single-minded patriotism. It makes the blood boil and endorphins surge through your body. It makes you giddy and exhillerated, angry and lust-filled for more.

You mightn't understand these things because you have only watched these thing on TV and in a small way I was like you once. I never liked or understood football (soccer). To me it was dull and boring and served no purpose. Then I was invited to a game by my Exec. Chef who is Scottish - enough said! I had my doubts and even turned him down at first. But then I went. It was only a small crowd. Maybe a few thousand. But the roars, the cheers, the expectations and let downs and then at long last GOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!

The team we were watching actually lost that night. But no matter I was hooked. Nowadays when ever I get the chance to see a game I'm there with the rest of the orange army to see my TWO TIME! TWO TIME! A-League champions Brisbane Roar in action.

I don't take pride in my uniform or flag or customised gaming computer either, so I guess there's the problem. Anyway what's the explanation for people supporting teams that have nothing to do with them personally then? I know plenty of people who support football teams that aren't from places they have any personal attachment to. It just seems like an arbitrary choice. Oh, and if it's all about the excitement of being there watching the game itself, why do people even follow specific teams closely enough to care who won if they weren't there watching? Pah, none of it makes sense to me.

 

[WoahDan]

Watching sports is just as valid a source of entertainment as watching normal tv/playing games /watching movies /reading books.

People like something you don't, big deal.

 

[The Funslinger]

Dude, umm..... chill?

Seriously, people are allowed to feel proud of their country. Yeah, the spending is ridiculous, but people like to watch sports, and the Olympics are sports on a truly international level. If you don't like sports and don't get why other people do, fine, but there's no need to act like something's broken in someone else's brain if they do.

This. I'm not a sport person at all, but I love the Olympics.

People genuinely do strive for it, and I appreciate the difficulty people go through. More to the point, you claim the Olympics is pointless. Relations between different countries would be far, far worse without the Olympics.

This is a time when we can set everything aside and literally have a laugh and a game with people we're at war with. People go on about the Christmas football game that took place between German and British troops in No Man's Land. This is like that happening every four years. That that doesn't seem awesome to you makes me feel sorry for you.

 

[FEichinger]

Given that the OP openly admitted to being entirely unwilling to argue this, and has the typical "Don't you dare like what I like!", I'd call this "no discussion value" yet "intentionally provocative/controversial" ... I don't see how and why this hit page three with tons of posts actually responding to his point.

 

[Hagi]

So, to summarise, your post basically comes down to:

- I'm better than you and my taste of entertainment is superior.
- I don't think people should spend money on sport events because that's better served for saving lives but, being on a games forum, I spend money myself on PCs/Consoles/Games.
- I have nothing in common with 'pumped-up' athletes who spend their lives working to achieve something yet I do think others should work to achieve something instead of watching sports.

And you think that makes you the only sane person in this world?

The only thing it makes you is a hypocrite. But don't worry, you're not the only one, almost all people are. Though, of course, most aren't quite as bad as you.

 

[Angie7F]

I hate all team sports.
I grew up in different countries and identify with none of them, so this whole "being proud of your country" doesn't make sense to me at all.
And, I hate the whole sportsmanship thing.
Complete waste of time and money...

However, i do support UFC and boxing.
I like to see people punch each other.

 

[BytByte]

Seeing as how you seem pretty down the rabbit hole in never liking any sports, I will at least try to explain why sports can be interesting. The difficulty to compete and perform at such a high level is staggering, and all of the Olympians have dedicated so much time and effort to just appear. It is a bit selfish of you to say that those people, people who absolutely love whatever sport they do, should not be able to do what they love.

Also, it's a form of entertainment like others have said. If we can't have the Olympics, then we can't have any other entertainment.

So just change the channel or something

On a side note, is the captcha becoming self-aware?

 

[Robert632]

This opinion will almost certainly get me struck down. But I'm going to go down knowing I'm the only sane person on this whole goddamn planet.

If any hyperbole could be more damning then this one, I don't know it.

O.T: You just don't understand. I seriously doubt you could comprehend the reasons why people enjoy it. Even though the reasons given to you (the sense of pride taken to a national level, It entertains them to watch these games, etc) are some of the many that people who watch and enjoy sports have. In fact, you stumbled onto one of the most common failings that people who ask these kinds of questions; You assume that because it doesn't make sense to you, that it shouldn't make sense to anyone else. You don't just accept that sometimes, people like things for reasons that you can't.

Anyway, question time; In any fictional piece of work, why should you care about any of the characters? Sure, we get to see them develop, but all the character development in the world doesn't change one simple fact.

They are not real.

What's the point? Why care about someone that doesn't exist? Why waste your time learning about someone who you can never meet?

 

[Dashiva]

I always find e-Sports to be a far better thing to be invested in...much more of a shot for other people to get involved besides the ones with cheese-grater abs.

 

[WanderingFool]

...
By the way, if you spot an error in this post... do you really think I care?

I read about a tenth of your post when I scrolled down and saw the above tidbit.

I should consider myself lucky I saw that, as it leads me to believe you really have you mind made up about this, and you're just venting.

So I wont waste my time trying to defend the Olympics, as it would be wasted.