Why do so many people in the "geek" community dislike sports?
- Thread starter Kenbo Slice
- Start date
Personally, I don't even think it's necessarily a "banner of the oppressors" thing. I mean, that certainly factors into it for some people, but I've found that athletes are just as varied and complex as anyone else. Some are awful, and some are muscly Mr. Rogers.Rebel_Raven said:
I think my issue is with sports culture in general. Some professional athletes are fine, but every time an athlete gets caught beating their wife, or child, or torturing an animal, they get a slap on the wrist and go home for a few weeks. Meanwhile, someone refuses to give an interview and they get slapped with a $25,000 fine. It's all about money. There's no ethics and accountability when an athlete steps out of line. And the business side is even worse. There are a lot of decent athletes out there, and they basically get treated like cattle by the NFL. There's a long history of athletes suffering long term physical difficulties caused by their years in professional sports, and contrary to popular belief, many of them have difficulty paying for their medical expenses. In the meantime the NFL wants to cover up the truth, refuse to help athletes in need, and pay for bunk medical reports that claim that sports don't cause long term injuries, as if they're a cigarette company. Athletes that speak out will probably be labeled as weak, whiny, or selfish. The NFL are also a bunch of brand Nazi's. Put "Superbowl" on advertisement for your small restaurant, and see how long it takes for the NFL to gleefully sue you. I've said before that I don't find sports that interesting, but even if I did, the whole entity is so corrupt that it makes me ill. It's like a gross amalgamation of everything I hate about people. Seeing drunk, shirtless buffoons cry out like animals doesn't really peak my interest. I'll go read a nice book, or go for a hike, or visit a friend, and try to maintain my optimistic outlook on people.
The problem with people in general is it's REALLY REALLY hard to see the good in a group of people when all you hear about nevermind experience is so much bad as to be all one can associate with the particular group.Fox12 said:
It kinda grows a bristly defense when dealing with the good, sometimes, and kinda messes things up for everyone.
And it's only natural, so it's really hard to just turn off.
It's easy to forget that other people are people. It's easy to see so very little of a person.
Is there a quiet asshole that doesn't talk to people, and so forth that you know? They might not be an asshole. They might just have their guard up so they don't get burned as they had been for so long, and so often.
They might be wary of what you have yo say, because you're actively trying to sell them something, even.
There's a very real fear some have behind their unwillingness to socialize.
I agree with you on the sports angle. The way athletes are treated is pretty screwed up. It's not just professional levels, either. Kiddie leagues are screwed up, too.
Ummm... there are have been many threads about that subject in this forum.bartholen said:
There was one last week. It went the same way most of those threads do, with many, many posters giving friendly advice and support to the OP and talking about how much they love running/biking/hitting the gym and what they do to keep their diet on track/eat healthy.
Love me some hockey, American football is alright, but MMA is where it's at. Love it. Last night there was a really good UFC card in Sweden. It was full of upsets and great finishes, and because of that I had a great time hanging with my buddies. Don't let detractors of sports keep you down. Shit, me and my friends all play video games, D&D, do backyard wrestling, and watch sports. It's just that people are set in their ways and refuse to see any merit in something they don't like. Keep enjoying sports, everybody is allowed to do their own thing..
This would be my answer as well. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these people who profess to hate all sports would actually thoroughly enjoy some of them if they made an attempt to get into them.BloatedGuppy said:
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a pre-party to go to for the NHL All-Star game!
I have a cousin who plays in the NHL, that is hockey for those of you who are unaware. I tried real hard to care about it and watch his games and all that, and he really is very good, hes got a Stanley cup under his belt that whole thing.
Buuuuuut..... now I just cannot be bothered anymore. It is just so boring, I really do not understand how so many people can be so obsessed with watching other people playing a game. I totally get why he loves the game, hes playing it, hes competing, and he is payed a completely ridiculous amount of money to do so.
I file it under the same category of why i don't want to watch people play video games.... equally boring.
Proud of him though, hes made a great life for himself, and now his family, and can throw a mean party.
Buuuuuut..... now I just cannot be bothered anymore. It is just so boring, I really do not understand how so many people can be so obsessed with watching other people playing a game. I totally get why he loves the game, hes playing it, hes competing, and he is payed a completely ridiculous amount of money to do so.
I file it under the same category of why i don't want to watch people play video games.... equally boring.
Proud of him though, hes made a great life for himself, and now his family, and can throw a mean party.
I used to love rock climbing and hiking but getting older found fewer and fewer friends to share this with.
I still love golf but once again, when you get older, your friends have families and kids and you lose people to do these things with.
I enjoy fantasy football and I can enjoy watching football (mostly only with other people though) since there's only 16 games which makes every game a MUST-WIN game. Also, because there's only 16 games in a regular season, this is kind of the time the married friends can allocate to personal time, while restoring their own identity and sanity.
I'm not big into sports at all, but as a single dude among the married, I'll take the bro-time where I can.
I still love golf but once again, when you get older, your friends have families and kids and you lose people to do these things with.
I enjoy fantasy football and I can enjoy watching football (mostly only with other people though) since there's only 16 games which makes every game a MUST-WIN game. Also, because there's only 16 games in a regular season, this is kind of the time the married friends can allocate to personal time, while restoring their own identity and sanity.
I'm not big into sports at all, but as a single dude among the married, I'll take the bro-time where I can.
I wouldn't say I dislike sports. I'd say I dislike certain sports.
For instance football (soccer) has never appealed to me. Maybe because it put me in hospital more times than I like to count as a kid. Also the players are pricks.
On the other hand I go rock climbing, play tennis and go to archery contests simply because I enjoy them. (Totally not because if I didn't go I'd barely be able to lift a mug.)
For instance football (soccer) has never appealed to me. Maybe because it put me in hospital more times than I like to count as a kid. Also the players are pricks.
On the other hand I go rock climbing, play tennis and go to archery contests simply because I enjoy them. (Totally not because if I didn't go I'd barely be able to lift a mug.)
Anytime I have ever attempted to play any kind of sport, I would be yelled at in testosterone fueled rages. I make a single mistake, and it's like I pressed the detonator for world wide destruction. So I stopped playing altogether.
Watching sports is boring. Yeah, go team! Make the points, do the thing!
Watching sports is boring. Yeah, go team! Make the points, do the thing!
My annoyance with sports is precisely because it's inescapable in my culture. If I'm at a frikken business luncheon, it's just expected that everyone present knows about and can intelligently discuss recent baseball or (American) football games.RedDeadFred said:
As someone both very much a geek and a sports fan, it's always something that's puzzled me a little too. Hardcore gamers and sports fans share a fair amount in common.
I'm a light sports fan, and can enjoy watching and playing them to some extent. However, any such occasions tend to get trumped by video games or internet shenanigans.
That said, I usually have at least a basic understanding of just about every sport (except cricket, like what the hell even is that), and often keep up with my favorite teams' W/L records.
Basketball is the most enjoyable for me to both play and watch, as a rather irrelevant aside. It doesn't require me to have the most goddamn perfect physique or have another person to play if all I want to do is take shots at the hoop.
That said, I usually have at least a basic understanding of just about every sport (except cricket, like what the hell even is that), and often keep up with my favorite teams' W/L records.
Basketball is the most enjoyable for me to both play and watch, as a rather irrelevant aside. It doesn't require me to have the most goddamn perfect physique or have another person to play if all I want to do is take shots at the hoop.