Wrestling

**Govtcheez** · 11-29-2006

It is entertainment first, but a lot of that stuff is very difficult to do and the people have to train for a long time in order to pull it off. I don't know how you could avoid defining it as a sport.

(and before anyone asks, no, I don't watch it)

**Mario F.** · 11-29-2006

> And i always thought that mario was a 16 year old kiddo

I try to be. No really, I'm serious!

> It is entertainment first, but a lot of that stuff is very difficult to do and the people have to train for a long time in order to pull it off. I don't know how you could avoid defining it as a sport.

Well Govt, I understand that particular component of Wrestling and by no means I can avoid admiring them for their athletic ability and strength. However there's more to sports than just that. There's this notion of sane, unbiased, competition where the main aspect is to explore our, human, physical and mental capabilities. There's no fixing in real sports (or people try to make it that way

). There's no 4th school grade commentators talking about the fact the guy pinning someone down is exerting revenge to the guy being pinned down because he gave some harsh words to his girlfriend. There's no stopping the fight because the coach started wrestling the ring host on the sidelines. And definitely, there's no joining their fight.

Maybe I'm a little conservative about these things. But calling wrestling a sport is almost the same as calling Theater, Cinema. Just because theres a weak link between the two, it doesn't make one into the other.

**whiteflags** · 11-29-2006

> I don't know how you could avoid defining it as a sport.
It's a sport in the same way that pretending to fight another person burns as many calories as actually kicking their ass. [/Mario's post, shorter]

**Govtcheez** · 11-29-2006

> There's this notion of sane, unbiased, competition where the main aspect is to explore our, human, physical and mental capabilities.

My definition of sports doesn't require that. Is boxing a sport?

And with all the drama swirling around major sports via the tabloids and news organizations, it seems silly to me to discount wrestling as a sport because they create the drama themselves rather than some retarded blogger or "newcaster" doing it for them.

**Mario F.** · 11-29-2006

The drama is external to the competition itself. Whereas in Wrestling it is central and a necessary part of the... show. The distinction is important because the drama doesn't affect the outcome neither it dictates who fights who.

> My definition of sports doesn't require that. Is boxing a sport?

Sure is. However, if you broaden your definition of sports to accommodate a competition that is decided before they even start to fight, then yes. I have to agree. Wrestling becomes a sport.

However, my definition is more strict.

**Govtcheez** · 11-29-2006

I think the thing that I learn most from debating stuff with you is that definitions are not nearly as concrete as I would have believed. It seems like every time we discuss something we end up agreeing on a general point, but end up disagreeing over the definition of what we're discussing.

Did that make any sense?

I brought up boxing because boxing matches are largely viewed as fixed.

**Mario F.** · 11-29-2006

It does make sense. And I do enjoy these little diatribes. Keeps reminding me that what we consider correct or wrong (no ethical connections here, mind you) is largely defined by how we perceive things. And that two different perceptions doesn't make one necessarily wrong. Of course there are fields where this can't happen. If I tell you int p declares a vector, because that's how I see it... well, that will generate an interesting debate.

As for boxing, that's very unfortunate, I know. I'm not sure how much of that has not became a urban myth though. However, in Europe (with the exception perhaps of UK. Someone hit me if I'm wrong) boxing is better treated and regarded.

**g4j31a5** · 12-04-2006

Now in my country all things Smackdown, ECW, etc, are banned. The TV station airing them is forbidden to show them again. All stickers, posters, games are banned. This is because there's two more child with severe injuries and one more died. Now the question is, who to blame?

1. The wrestling federations?
2. The TV stations and game developers?
3. Or the parents?

**Tonto** · 12-04-2006

I share classes with some kids that wrestle, and the way they describe what they do is kind of wierd. It might have to do with me having seen 'the world according to garp' -- kind of entrenched some wierd homophobia or something.

**biosninja** · 12-04-2006

there is a reason why they sya diring the program "Don't try this at home"

**Dave_Sinkula** · 12-04-2006

Originally Posted by g4j31a5

Now the question is, who to blame?

1. The wrestling federations?
2. The TV stations and game developers?
3. Or the parents?

Easy: the one(s) who did it.

**Nodtveidt** · 12-05-2006

There are no unbiased studies that provide any link between violence on TV and violence in real life. Often, violent youths will attribute their violent behaviours to what they saw on TV simply to try to take the responsibility off of themselves. They do it with video games too...blame the video games. The media's had a grudge against video games for years now because when you play video games, you're not watching their braindead propaganda. Anyways, while it is ignorant to suggest that there is absolutely NO connection between the two, it only shows up when the child has a penchant for violence in the first place. Furthermore, you are RARELY told all the facts to any particular story, all you ever hear about is the scapegoat...whatever makes the story convenient for the media to tell as well as to get under your skin and make you mad at whoever the media has selected as its scapegoat. It WORKS. The media has centuries of experience to draw upon to manipulate you.