London 2012, Olympics — Page 5

I can't cheer for the British because it's their fault we have guns. ;-)

asterisk8 said:

You don't foster peace between nations by beating them in a physical competition. My strongest memory about the Olympics, growing up in the 80s, is people cheering for the US to beat those commie bastards in the USSR.

I am with you, the fostering peace thing is obviously silly. When have the Olympics ever averted war or made us fonder of another nation? The day after the Olympics are over, people will be back to letting whatever the current headlines and hot topics are carry their emotional views toward the outside world. I suppose my view on them is that they are just more bread for the masses, but this time feeding the ego and providing international bragging rights or shame. 

Most people I know watch the Olympics to see their country win, not just to "pick a side because it's fun" but because it's fun to believe that my country is better than yours.

My country is better than yours, and you know it!

While I suppose it may be generally true that people watch to cheer on their own nation, and Warb's admitting that it is unpatriotic to cheer on another nation (I am sure he isn't the only one who feels this way) kind of confirms it is, at least moreso than I ever realized... My personal experiences and observations throughout life regarding the Olympics have always painted a very different picture for me. It seems like the people I have been around will pick players they like, regardless of country, simply because they like them or sympathize with them somehow, or they feel like they are the best, or like their style, etc. But I usually default into hanging around more internationally minded type people (aliens legal and otherwise, people that travel a lot, fellow former ex-patriots, traveling toaster salesmen, etc.). In that, I could see how some people could claim it fosters peace by building sympathies with those of other nationalities. I have to admit, that is kind of a neat idea. Come together for a fun little event. But, sadly, it does feel like the spirit of nationalism prevails and is encouraged to.

Anyway, that's enough out of me here. Dissenting opinions are not wanted. Maybe I should start a thread about hating the Olympics where no one is allowed to talk about liking them.

No, haven't you heard? We can do whatever we want with it now (personally, I am thinking it should involve cats). There is no Olympics events discussion thread anymore. It gave up.

:(

HotRod said:

Whatever....sigh.......

Team Gb won bronze in men's gymnastics... Not that I'm watching men with muscles in tights ...:)

corellian77 said:

asterisk8 said:

Sports...are also highly symbolic war game.s If you think that's lost on world leaders, you're crazy. So, right off the bat, it's presumptuous to assume that the Olympics are about fostering peace. Maybe on the surface, but politics is about claiming to foster peace while you prepare for war. Peacekeeper missile, anyone?

You don't foster peace between nations by beating them in a physical competition. My strongest memory about the Olympics, growing up in the 80s, is people cheering for the US to beat those commie bastards in the USSR.

As you so astutely pointed out, sports are indeed a modern-day way of releasing our innate warlike behaviours.  But does that make them a bad thing?  Is it really that harmful competing with other countries in a non-violent, non-lethal way, with no real life repercussions?

I think it depends on the intention of the people involved - spectators, athletes, and politicians alike. Like most things in life, it's a double-edged sword. It can have a positive benefit like C3PS said, or it can reinforce nationalistic, prejudiced notions of what races/cultures are better or worse than others.

And it's not limited to the Olympics, it's just the topic of this thread. I have friends who are diehard football (soccer) fans, and I'm familiar with the obscene levels of violence that some fans of that sport have been known to engage in after a match. Sports has the potential to bring out the best and worst in people, as does politics. Put the two together, which is what the Olympics does, and that potential goes up dramatically.

I could argue against the idea that the Olympics has "no real life repercussions", but that could be a page or more of discussion, and I we've had enough sighs and whatevers for one thread. :-)

Sport threads always seem to die quick deaths here.

Seriously, this thread title thing is so childish. Grow up, Warbler.

Anyone see the equestrian rider who fell off?  The riders now have inflatable vests to protect them from the fall and near trampling.

asterisk8 said:

Seriously, this thread title thing is so childish. Grow up, Warbler.

      There is something inspiring in seeing all these nations cooperate to produce the games in the first place.

someone other than me has changed the title of the thread to London 2012, Olympics.   Do what you wish.

nevermind.

nevermind.

Mrebo said:

Warbler said:

someone other than me has changed the title of the thread to London 2012, Olympics.   Do what you wish.

That's because Off Topic is unmoderated.