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Basilides
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Sports
#5634421 - 05/15/06 07:22 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Why is everyone so into sports? It's almost like an international language it seems.
Around this time of the year, with the NHL and NBA playoffs, sports-related conversation is a plenty, and it's a topic of conversation from youths to retirees. Everyone loves sports, and everyone - whether fan or not, is pleased to see the home team go all the way.
Athletic talent also rarely comes with humility, with the exception of the quiet Michael Jordan. Many professional athletes these days have quite the head (ego) on their shoulders, from Kobe Bryant to Barry Bonds.
So what's the big deal over spectator sports, and its constant annual fascination by millions?
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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dblaney
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It appeals to some part of the human psyche. Practically all civilizations have had various types of sports and competitions. It largely is about the ego, I think. The players all want to beat the other guys. The spectators all want the home team to win, or they want to see suffering (Gladiators, etc).
Sports do tend to foster competition, division, violence (riots around major championship), vicariousness, ego trips, greed, and corruption.
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Walter Mitty; and the fact that they are sleeping sheepies.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Basilides
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Re: Sports [Re: dblaney]
#5634631 - 05/15/06 07:56 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Surely there's a balance though between good sportsmanship and malicious competition, being a fan and blatant fanaticism?
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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dblaney
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Yes, I agree there is a balance. BUT, those who are balanced like that are very few and far between, from my observations. People have emotional investments and sometimes monetary investments in teams and outcomes. Even if some are able to just shrug off a defeat, chances are they'll still feel down and will suffer.
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Icelander
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Re: Sports [Re: dblaney]
#5634733 - 05/15/06 08:14 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
dblaney said: It appeals to some part of the human psyche. Practically all civilizations have had various types of sports and competitions. It largely is about the ego, I think. The players all want to beat the other guys. The spectators all want the home team to win, or they want to see suffering (Gladiators, etc).
Sports do tend to foster competition, division, violence (riots around major championship), vicariousness, ego trips, greed, and corruption.
It's civilized warfare. If we didn't have it all the monkeys would run amok even more than they already do. Totally natural for the human ape.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Basilides
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Civilized warfare describes it pretty well. Eventually all the rules, guidelines, and formulas crumble to the ground when two players break out into a fight
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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dblaney
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Civilized warfare under the guise of entertainment, hehe I like it!
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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DoctorJ


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simple thigs amuse simple people
bread and circus
give the people a meaningless contest to occupy their minds, and they will forget about the real problems society faces.
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dblaney
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Re: Sports [Re: DoctorJ]
#5634795 - 05/15/06 08:23 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Mussolini's argument: give the people food, sex, and entertainment, and they will be complacent puppets.
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Neurogenesis
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Re: Sports [Re: dblaney]
#5634829 - 05/15/06 08:30 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
dblaney said: Mussolini's argument: give the people food, sex, and entertainment, and they will be complacent puppets.
He forgot Boston Red Sox baseball!
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dblaney
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What an idiot! How could he forget something so essential! GO SOX!
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Basilides
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Re: Sports [Re: dblaney]
#5634857 - 05/15/06 08:36 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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When the curse was broken a few years, even the Buddhist monks of Boston were smiling
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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Icelander
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The spectators can fantasize (walter mitty) that they are great war heros. The cheerleaders are the spoils
These sports are for those who wish to sleep and dream.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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dblaney
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Icelander: Amen. Though to be honest, I do enjoy a good game of basketball or tennis. But when I play, I don't try to win, nor do I try to lose. I find a little exercise with friends is a great way to keep the body healthy and pass the time. But for the most part I do agree that competition is surely not beneficial, and quite possibly detrimental.
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Icelander
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Re: Sports [Re: dblaney]
#5635087 - 05/15/06 09:22 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I'm refering to spectator sports. The so called fans and how every guy seems to care so much about some team from his home town, made up of players who could give a shit about being from anywhere USA. It's a form of Nationalism.
I grew up with it and then one day it was absolutely the most stupid thing in the world to me. I don't even watch TV or own one anymore.
Now my sport is debate at the Shroomery. Do you think this could be called progress.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
Edited by Icelander (05/15/06 09:54 PM)
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MushmanTheManic
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Well, I enjoy watching skilled human beings competing against each other! Plus, after playing sports for much of my life, I've gained a deeper appreciation of the physical and mental skills needed to be a great athlete. These people put amazing amounts of effort into becoming the best at what they do. With the exception of the Marines, I don't think this striving for greatness can be equalled in any other field. Personally, I find athletes to be quite extraordinary specimens.
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MushmanTheManic
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Re: Sports [Re: dblaney]
#5635238 - 05/15/06 09:50 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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But for the most part I do agree that competition is surely not beneficial
Why not? I think it's fuckin fun.
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Icelander
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I find athletes to be quite extraordinary specimens.
Specimans of what? What's so funkin great about Mike Tyson? I played sports all my young life and it was mostly ego driven and proving manhood and membership in a tribe I didn't even respect. I admit it's great to have physical skills and all, but this worship of atheletes is moronic IMO. It's a distraction from actually living your life. I'm talking about the obsessive herd instinct to follow the crowd and do exactly what everyone else is doing. Season by season.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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MushmanTheManic
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Specimens that have developed their physical skills and mental coordination to near perfection.
http://www.nba.com/theater/video/jordan_oop_1990.mov You can't find inter-personal coordination like that anywhere else.
Edited by MushmanTheManic (05/15/06 10:39 PM)
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