Warbler said:

What is everyone's thoughts on Oscar Pistorius, the runner without legs who races on what are called racing blades.   Here is a picture:

Do you think he should have been allowed to run in the regular olympics?

This may be politically incorrect, but I don't think he should have allowed to run.   We opening up pandora's box.   I mean, where do we draw the line with this sort of thing.   The technology for artificial limbs is bound to improve and improve and improve. What if it gets to point where they are like the bionic limbs of the six million dollar man and men with natural limbs stand no chance in races against those with "bionic" limbs? And if a man with artificial limbs its allowed to compete, why not a man in a powered wheelchair?   What if it gets to the point where normal runners want to cut their legs off so they can use artificial limbs so they have a chance against other runners using bionic limbs.   How far do we let this go before the whole Olympics is a competition between those with bionic/borgified attachments, instead of a competition between those with natural athletic ability.

and please don't take this to mean that I have no sympathy for those without legs or those disabled in some other way, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Well I think as long as it's clear that artificial limbs don't enhance performance, it's okay. And if they do, I don't think the Olympics would be okay with it. There are para-olympics.

I feel it's great to let him run. I mean, this is a guy who has been without legs for all his life. It's great that with hard work, he has been able to go to the Olympics anyway. And I think it's important to say that just because he doesn't have legs doesn't mean that he doesn't have "natural athletic ability," because he clearly does.

I watched him race, and he lost. So I don't think there should really be any controversy.