This issue really evokes my emotions, because of how much I love sports. I think sports are a vitally important part of the human experience. I guess dance is, too, but we’re not talking about dance, in and of itself.
Dance isn’t a sport. Period. Ever. Nobody can change my mind about this. Dance is potentially expressive, beautiful, socially useful, entertaining, etc. But it IS NOT A FUCKING SPORT.
Only sports should be in the goddamned Olympics, and shoving non-sports into the mix is shameful and disgusting. It’s a wad of spit in the face of every great athlete who has ever taken the field. It’s a disgrace to the Ancient Greek tradition that the Olympics are attempting to continue.
I don’t give a fuck that there are already competitions for breakdancing. Or ballroom dancing. People can hold competitions for whatever they want. I actually think competitions shouldn’t be held for entirely subjective and artistic activities, but people can do whatever the fuck they want.
But not in the fucking Olympics. This shit makes me sick.
And before you start pointing out the other subjective, judged events that are already in the Olympics: THEY SHOULD ALL BE REMOVED, TOO. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. NONE OF THEM BELONG.
No more gymnastics (rhythmic or otherwise). No more figure skating and ice dancing. No more skateboarding. No more surfing. No more synchronized swimming. No more freestyle skiing. No more diving. No more BMX. No more ANYTHING that requires judging.
You might browbeat me into admitting that some of those subjectively judged activities are sports, but you will never convince me that they belong in the Olympics.
Olympic sports should be restricted to those which are determined by means of a clock, a measuring tape, the accumulation of OBJECTIVELY scored points, or a physical beating.
Even some of those should be on the chopping block. Some of the points-scoring events are too subjective. If a sport relies too much on fallible human judging, it should be excluded.
The vast majority of the events should be arbitrated only by the cold, merciless, absolute judgment of the clock or the measuring tape. Therein lies the truest purity of sport.
Honestly, the best thing to do would be to reset everything to the REAL tradition of the Olympics. Almost nothing, other than running, jumping, and fighting. With an absolute minimum of rules to get in the way, and all the athletes competing in the nude. Just sandals on their feet. No space-age materials to help anyone. Nothing for anyone to hide. Just human muscle and determination, on display at the greatest possible level.
But it’s all a forlorn dream. Instead, we have to have our stomachs turned, as a bunch of revolting little shitheads wobble and headspin.
The ancient Olympians are going to be spinning in their fucking graves.
EDIT: YES, I AM AWARE THAT THE FIRST COUPLE MODERN OLYMPICS FEATURED NON-SPORT ACTIVITIES, LIKE SCULPTURE AND PAINTING. THAT DOESN’T CHANGE MY VIEW. INCLUDING ART IN THE MODERN OLYMPICS WAS A RIDICULOUS MISTAKE. JUST BECAUSE IT WAS DONE BEFORE DOESN’T MEAN IT SHOULD BE DONE NOW.
I agree fully, and my wife can attest that I’ve expressed this exact same sentiment, with equally animated language, on multiple occasions over the years.
Good to hear. Although I do hope that means you didn’t upvote. A lot of people don’t understand how Unpopular Opinions is supposed to work. :)
You’ll take your popular opinion downvote, and you’ll like it!
As long as I can upvote this comment, in disagreement!
Also, I find it interesting that at least a couple of the people who REALLY HATE my opinion are taking vague pot-shots at me, implying that I’m some kind of hyper-masculine, macho-macho, caveman-style motherfucker, who only holds this opinion because of GRRRRR REAL-MAN MACHO ENERGY.
But here you are, with your wife agreeing. Uh-oh…I guess, according to some of these people, she’s got a lot of internalized misogyny issues to work through. :P
I think bellringing should be an olympic sport just to spite you
I agree with this opinion.
Best unpopular opinion post I’ve seen so far.
I wonder if the upvote/downvote ratio is like that because people don’t think it’s unpopular or they’re tarded and vote because they dislike the opinion lol
I have always held that the up votes are for well written, thoughtful posts regardless of if I like the opinion. This is not really well written or thoughtful. It has a certain unhinged vibe to it.
I did up vote for the passion and because I sort of love a little chaos, but it was a tight choice.
But the options aren’t upvote or downvote, it’s upvote, downvote or no vote. I think unless I want to signal something specific, I just don’t vote.
Oh, but you fine with ice skating, swimming, and skiing all having dance as a major part in them, but not that “Urban” thing! Perhaps the issue is in the mirror.
I mean, you didn’t read the post did you?
Not only did I read it, I understood what the words meant, unlike the OP.
Oh, but you fine with ice skating, swimming, and skiing
Did you not read my post AT ALL?
I specifically said I want ALL THE SUBJECTIVELY JUDGED EVENTS OUT.
I’m going to quote myself:
And before you start pointing out the other subjective, judged events that are already in the Olympics: THEY SHOULD ALL BE REMOVED, TOO. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. NONE OF THEM BELONG.
No more gymnastics (rhythmic or otherwise). No more figure skating and ice dancing. No more skateboarding. No more surfing. No more synchronized swimming. No more freestyle skiing. No more diving. No more BMX. No more ANYTHING that requires judging.
You might browbeat me into admitting that some of those subjectively judged activities are sports, but you will never convince me that they belong in the Olympics.
Olympic sports should be restricted to those which are determined by means of a clock, a measuring tape, the accumulation of OBJECTIVELY scored points, or a physical beating.
Now can you fucking explain to me WHY YOU CHOSE NOT TO FUCKING READ THAT SHIT?
It was right there on the screen. Why the fuck didn’t you read it?
Tell yourself whatever you need to remain in denial.
What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
You’re insisting that I’m just mad at breakdancing, because I’m on some kind of racist shit? If that’s what you believe, come right out and say it, like an adult.
Really think about the other sports I want out, on the basis that they’re subjective. They are ALL THE WHITEST FUCKING SHIT THAT ANYONE HAS EVER DONE, IN THE WHOLE FUCKED-UP HISTORY OF WHITENESS.
The only way you could get something whiter into the Olympics than Figure Skating would be if you included Olympic Gentrification.
If you think my opinions are motivated by some kind of anti-urban, pro-white shit, why would I want all of this peak-level white shit removed, huh?
I mean, to put a real fine point on it, if we stripped the events back just the ones I want, it would be a majority Black medal harvest, every Olympiad.
The events I think should be included are absolutely dominated by people of color. That’s just how it is. So, again, if I was a racist dipshit, I would be engaging in a very stupid line of argument, here.
The events I think should be included are absolutely dominated by people of color. That’s just how it is. So, again, if I was a racist dipshit, I would be engaging in a very stupid line of argument, here.
Wow…
But man what an entertaining post this is! Please keep up the energy OP!
Wow…
And? What’s that “wow” about?
Please explain.
I just loved your “I’m not racist, but if I was I’d say this” rant. Seemed worthy of a ‘wow’.
Also have you ever bothered to look up the definition of the word ‘sports’?
Cool.
I thought maybe you were one of those people who’s still on that outdated “colorblind” model of anti-racism. Like, you think we’re not supposed to notice people’s race, under any circumstances. And therefore, you were like “OMG, HE’S NOT SUPPOSED TO MENTION THE FACT THAT BLACK PEOPLE WIN A LOT OF RUNNING MEDALS!!!”
Username does NOT check out.
Also, saying gymnastics don’t belong in the Olympics is not just an unpopular opinion, it’s crazy talk.
Like, in what world does one say that Simone Biles is not an Olympian.
Yeah, I’ve seen them around Lemmy a few times and they’re always freaking out about something they’re angrily wrong about 😄
ayy I saw you on HN the other day.
HN?
oh yes, what’s Lemmy ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
It’s a disgrace to the Ancient Greek tradition that the Olympics are attempting to continue.
JUST BECAUSE IT WAS DONE BEFORE DOESN’T MEAN IT SHOULD BE DONE NOW.
That’s a contradiction. Also, the ancient greeks didn’t have the concept of sport were super into dancing - spartans especially - so this whole argument is void.
I’m sorry that something you say you enjoy (the olympics) makes you so angry.
Just wait till he finds out that the ancient Greeks didn’t have a winter Olympics
You know, at least you were consistent in then going after all judged competitions.
Personally I wouldn’t mind the Olympics going back to being an excuse to watch oiled up naked muscley guys do things like in ancient Greece. But I do think dance would go really well with that.
Anybody wants to do a naked, greased-up victory dance after they win the Pankration, that’s fine with me. But don’t judge the dance. Dance isn’t for competing.
I can’t tell how you feel about boxing
Did the guy go down? Did he stay down? That’s a point.
Is he breathing? Does he have a pulse? Then the fight isn’t over yet.
LET’S PROVE WHO THE BEST COUNTRY IS! ULTRAMODERN ULTRAVIOLENCE!
The Olympics succeeded in driving me away long before this bullshit. You couldn’t pay me to watch any event.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herald_and_Trumpet_contest
In the 96th Olympiad (396 BC), beside the athletic and artistic competitions, the Herald and Trumpet contest was added, which was already a formal element of the Olympic ritual performed by the kerykes (heralds) and salpinktai (trumpeters). Winners were chosen by the clarity of the enunciation and the audibility of their voice or horn blast.
Also breakdancing is awesome. Hope they add beatboxing soon.
Then I guess the whole thing was a forlorn dream, for a huge portion of its history.
There was always a mirage on the horizon, where we ALMOST had a true celebration of athletes. But it was always in the process of being diluted and degenerated by sick-minded morons.
Sport is just dance for performers too lazy to train hard enough to make it in the Arts.
Too bad there isn’t a melodrama event- you’d be a gold medal contender ;)
Well, fuck me then, I guess I should just go kill myself.
You do you, man, but I feel like getting this het up over a competition you’ll never be involved in, have any control over, or be forced to watch, is kind of a waste of lifespan. Are you happier for it? Healthier? Wealthier? Kinda seems like it’s just burning more than one second off your life per second for no benefit.
Also, tradition is just peer pressure from dead people, and they told me in school not to give in to peer pressure. We didn’t have breakdancing as an event, and now we do. The only constant is change.
It’s economics, my dude - girls prancing around in their panties sell tickets. Girls playing basketball don’t.
And how does that apply to the breakdancers? Ain’t nobody gonna be aroused by their cringe-ass bullshit.
You seem pretty aroused by it ;)
Are they going to be break dancing in panties?
I mean, I’ve seen some of the women’s uniforms Nike put up and if they’re going to have crotch floss for some events I can’t see why they’d leave this out.
I’de assume they will also have some kind of leotard, but yes.
Eventually. It’s inevitable.
You’re an unhinged dipshit. Have an upvote.