Science Says Pro Gamers Aren't Athletes

[Blueruler182]

I believe Korea has some sharp words for you, article.

But, seriously, I think I might have taken this as a challenge. Time to get in shape and get some new video games. Push ups and robot unicorn attack, here I come!!!

I don't think Korea, a nation where people have made the news by playing games until they DIE in an easily avoidable manner, has any words with merit here. While gaming can be shoe-horned into the loose literal definition of sport (an organized, competitive, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play. It is governed by a set of rules or customs) to try and assert that these people are athletes based on an equally loose literal definition (a person trained to compete in sports) would be folly at best. There are likely SOME dedicated gamers who are also athletic, but I would be willing to wager their athletic prowess was not the result of dedicated video game practice and instead probably was the result of physical exertion.

Of course, I don't think the average person would ever make the mistake of confusing your average video gamer with an athlete. That a study would be needed to confirm or deny this is silly at best, given the simple fact that anyone who would believe otherwise is probably not going to be convinced by science when staring reality in the face isn't doing the trick.

That is the most literal anyone has ever taken one of my jokes. I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry. You do give very valid points, but it just feels... wrong...

Excuse me, I'm going to take a shower...

 

[Danpascooch]

Next article:

[HEADING=2]Science Says Scientists Waste Too Much Time Proving Obvious Shit[/HEADING]

If scientists didn't waste time proving obvious shit, we'd still be thinking that the sun revolved around the earth.

Food for thought.

Not really, at the time it was figured out, it was definitely not obvious.

 

[awsome117]

If bowling is a sport, I'll call anything a sport.

 

[SilentHunter7]

Not really, at the time it was figured out, it was definitely not obvious.

To any bumpkin looking up, it was pretty obvious that everything was orbiting them. You know, relativity and all that.

But even then, there's a myriad of other important scientific discoveries that came from experiments that should've had very predictable results. The Rutherford experiment, for example.

 

[Julianking93]

Yeah, no shit, science. No one ever said they were.

Now, how's that cure for cancer coming along?

 

[Danpascooch]

Not really, at the time it was figured out, it was definitely not obvious.

To any bumpkin looking up, it was pretty obvious that everything was orbiting them. You know, relativity and all that.

But even then, there's a myriad of other important scientific discoveries that came from experiments that should've had very predictable results. The Rutherford experiment, for example.

I don't have anything against an "experiment" trying to prove a concept of physics like that.

But this is a study where they try to prove that pro gaming doesn't fall into a category that is based mainly on opinion, it's ridiculous.

 

[brainslurper]

unless we are talking thumb strength then no

 

[Zer_]

Wow...
I respect games, but I've never thought gaming could be a sport. It can be a competitive game in the sense that basketball is also a competition and, indeed, a game, but there's a blatant line there, and I don't see why people would find it insulting for video games to not be sports. They're just different.

Also, the last time someone called themselves a, "Cyber athlete," I proceeded to treat them to a bunch of college girls singing along with, "Momma Mia!"
I don't often treat people like that, as many 'Scapists should know, but it was just so laughable, I hardly felt bad for mocking them.

Except, many of these pro gamers make more money than you by playing the video games they love so much.

 

[Erana]

Wow...
I respect games, but I've never thought gaming could be a sport. It can be a competitive game in the sense that basketball is also a competition and, indeed, a game, but there's a blatant line there, and I don't see why people would find it insulting for video games to not be sports. They're just different.

Also, the last time someone called themselves a, "Cyber athlete," I proceeded to treat them to a bunch of college girls singing along with, "Momma Mia!"
I don't often treat people like that, as many 'Scapists should know, but it was just so laughable, I hardly felt bad for mocking them.

Except, many of these pro gamers make more money than you by playing the video games they love so much.

What does money have to do with it being a sport or not?
Do you refer to that specific example I gave? He was no pro gamer by any means- his score was only marginally higher than mine in said TF2 match, and even then, he had half that of the leading player.
I respect people who do something well, even if it is video games. Its when people insist that video games should be considered sports in the same vein of delusions that make Guitar Hero players actually think they can play guitar, that I have little sympathy.

Perhaps games could be sports. I mean, Chess is an olympic event these days. But if it is qualified as such, there should be better reasoning than people thinking its the only way for games to be respected.