False Equivalence.Strazdas said:So if people get hurt its a sport? One of the primary cause of injuries are car accidents. commuting to work is a sport!Saltyk said:Solely for the fact that girls get hurt, sometimes severely, it should be considered a sport. The fact is that by not considering it a sport, it makes it that much more dangerous to the girls performing these stunts. More high school students are maimed in cheer-leading accidents than all other high sports combined (though, I don't know if concussions count in those numbers).
First, more students are injured in cheer-leading than all other high school sports combined. I've literally seen videos asking cheerleaders who among them have had injuries and the vast majority (all but one) had had some sort of injury. Broken bones are not uncommon, but some girls have even been paralyzed.Strazdas said:Also how does not considering it a sport makes it more dangerous? is there some magic spells that makes things considered sport automatically more safe?
Second, by considering it a sport, there would be much more stringent guidelines and safety precautions. As well as protections for the girls who have been injured.
This is where I would embed the Penn and Teller Bullshit episode on cheerleading, but it looks like all those videos have been taken down. I highly recommend you look it up on Netflix or whatever. It's really great and informative on this subject. Completely changed my mind on cheerleading being a sport.