Brontoforumus Archive

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:


This board has been fossilized.
You are reading an archive of Brontoforumus, a.k.a. The Worst Forums Ever, from 2008 to early 2014.  Registration and posting (for most members) has been disabled here to discourage spambots from taking over.  Old members can still log in to view boards, PMs, etc.

The new message board is at http://brontoforum.us.

Author Topic: What is a sport?  (Read 2827 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Arc

  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: 0
  • Posts: 3703
    • View Profile
What is a sport?
« on: June 08, 2008, 09:06:36 PM »

race car drivers aren't athletes, because race car driving isn't a sport.

:angry: EXPLAIN YOURSELF.
Logged

TA

  • Tested
  • Karma: 29
  • Posts: 3219
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2008, 09:31:55 PM »

race car drivers aren't athletes, because race car driving isn't a sport.

:angry: EXPLAIN YOURSELF.

If race car driving is a sport, it must meet the definition of "sport".  Which is obvious.  The question, then, becomes how to define "sport".  I can think of no objective standard of classification for "sports" that includes race car driving and yet does not include chess or Counterstrike.  As he could not provide a definition, instead falling back on such arguments as "well you need really good reflexes, and it's really exhausting to concentrate for that long", neither could he.  These are self-evidently not sports.  Ergo, without a workable definition that excludes such obvious non-sports and yet includes racing cars, race car driving must be a non-sport.

For what it's worth, best definition I can come up for "sport" is something along the lines of "a competitive activity based on personal or team achievement in an activity that, when done casually or recreationally, is physical exercise".  Track is a sport, because running is exercise.  Football is a sport, because even a friendly pickup game of football is exercise.  Race car driving is not a sport, even if it is physically grueling, because driving is not in and of itself exercise - likewise, chess isn't a sport because chess ain't exercise, even if tournament chess is exhaustively draining and many top chess players keep themselves in excellent physical shape, swimming laps to build endurance, so they don't break down halfway through.
Logged
Do you understand how terrifying the words “vibrating strap on” are for an asexual? That’s like saying “the holocaust” to a Jew.

Arc

  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: 0
  • Posts: 3703
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2008, 09:41:24 PM »

driving is not in and of itself exercise

Ah, but this is a far more intense form. I think your definition is too narrow, but thanks for your explanation all the same.
Logged

Zaratustra

  • what
  • Tested
  • Karma: 48
  • Posts: 3691
    • View Profile
    • Zaratustra Productions
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2008, 02:27:25 PM »

Car racing does not require physical effort or dexterity from the drivers?

I GUESS THAT'S WHY MICHAEL SCHUMACHER JUST KEPT WINNING UNTIL THEY PRIED HIM SCREAMING AND FLAILING FROM THE GODDAMN STEERING WHEEL, HE JUST WOKE UP REAL EARLY AND GOT IN THE BEST CAR BEFORE ALL THE OTHER DRIVERS

THEY WERE ALL DAMMIT MIKE STOP HOGGING THE GOODS THE BRAZILIAN GUY WANTS TO WIN A FEW TOO

AND MIKE WAS LIKE NEIN


(Alternate answer: THIS MUST BE THAT NEWFANGLED BUMPER CAR RACING CATEGORY I'VE HEARD OF)

Joxam

  • The Transformizzle
  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: -65493
  • Posts: 2188
    • View Profile
    • Shadowrun
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2008, 02:42:58 PM »

I know what you guys are saying, but you have no idea what you're talking about, at least about physical effort from the driver.

I've read stories about race car drivers losing 10 pounds of body mass a race because of sweating. In mean, think of it like this, you have a 2 ton piece of metal radiating about 220 degrees, say, 4 feet in front  (or behind) of you, on top of that, you're stuffed into four layers of fabric and wearing a full face helmet. Furthermore, race cars are built to be light, all they have in them is the frame, engine system (exhaust and stuff included), the suspension, the stearing and safety measures. Most of them aren't even made with a real body, just fiberglass plating over the roll-cage. You have almost nothing (except a fireproof panel) between you and hot ass engine. Now, I'm not saying that takes an athlete, (and I'm not arguing that driving a car is a sport) I'm just saying that I really don't believe anyone can get in a car and go 'round a track.

Now with that out of the way, think of shit like hand-eye coordination. Have you ever driven a car at sixty miles per hour? It can get nerve wracking with a lot of cars around. Now think of that, but you're driving 212 miles per hour and there are 45 other cars on the between 2 and 7 mile track with you.

Like I said, I don't think its really a sport, but fuck if you think its not taxing or hard on the drivers.



JOXAM IS NOT SO FUNNY
Logged

Kazz

  • Projekt Direktor
  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: -65475
  • Posts: 6423
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2008, 03:11:41 PM »

I really don't want to have a NASCAR split, so let's just end this right here:

NASCAR may or may not be athletic, it may or may not be a sport, and it may or may not be interesting.  But it is definitely NOT interesting to argue about.  So shut up.
Logged

Catloaf

  • Tested
  • Karma: 14
  • Posts: 1740
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2008, 04:53:02 PM »

Car racing does not require physical effort or dexterity from the drivers?

I GUESS THAT'S WHY MICHAEL SCHUMACHER JUST KEPT WINNING UNTIL THEY PRIED HIM SCREAMING AND FLAILING FROM THE GODDAMN STEERING WHEEL, HE JUST WOKE UP REAL EARLY AND GOT IN THE BEST CAR BEFORE ALL THE OTHER DRIVERS

THEY WERE ALL DAMMIT MIKE STOP HOGGING THE GOODS THE BRAZILIAN GUY WANTS TO WIN A FEW TOO

AND MIKE WAS LIKE NEIN


(Alternate answer: THIS MUST BE THAT NEWFANGLED BUMPER CAR RACING CATEGORY I'VE HEARD OF)

I know I shouldn't, but I can't resist commenting.  Yep, it must be a sport because you can be killed doing it.  Like starcraft.  Or watching TV. 

A more sensical comparison would be flying an airplane.  But honestly, I just can't see something that one can win without greater physical prowess a sport.

Now, a definition from a respectable source:
Quote from: Dictionary.com
an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

... shit... racing is included... but does that include vehicular racing....?
Logged

Kazz

  • Projekt Direktor
  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: -65475
  • Posts: 6423
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2008, 05:07:49 PM »

 :enraged:
Logged

Bongo Bill

  • Dinosaurcerer
  • Tested
  • Karma: -65431
  • Posts: 5244
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #8 on: June 09, 2008, 05:23:00 PM »

Basketball isn't a sport because you don't need to be in shape to toss a ball at a hoop!
Logged
...but is it art?

Royal☭

  • Supreme Court Judge President
  • Tested
  • Karma: 88
  • Posts: 6301
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2008, 05:25:52 PM »

A sport is any activity popular enough to warrant the involvement of advertisers.

Guild

  • High-Bullshit
  • Tested
  • Karma: -2
  • Posts: 5136
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #10 on: June 09, 2008, 05:33:43 PM »

Constantine FTW
Logged

Brentai

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnXYVlPgX_o
  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: -65281
  • Posts: 17524
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2008, 05:38:16 PM »

Welp, time to form the National Masturbation Association.
Logged

Guild

  • High-Bullshit
  • Tested
  • Karma: -2
  • Posts: 5136
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2008, 05:44:43 PM »

Playboy magazine has advertisements.

I read the articles.
Logged

Sharkey

  • Admin
  • Tested
  • Karma: -65511
  • Posts: 1017
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2008, 06:23:01 PM »

Car racing does not require physical effort or dexterity from the drivers?

I GUESS THAT'S WHY MICHAEL SCHUMACHER JUST KEPT WINNING UNTIL THEY PRIED HIM SCREAMING AND FLAILING FROM THE GODDAMN STEERING WHEEL, HE JUST WOKE UP REAL EARLY AND GOT IN THE BEST CAR BEFORE ALL THE OTHER DRIVERS

THEY WERE ALL DAMMIT MIKE STOP HOGGING THE GOODS THE BRAZILIAN GUY WANTS TO WIN A FEW TOO

AND MIKE WAS LIKE NEIN


(Alternate answer: THIS MUST BE THAT NEWFANGLED BUMPER CAR RACING CATEGORY I'VE HEARD OF)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8A_5nvaTRk
Logged

Mongrel

  • Emoticon Knight-Errant
  • kodePunc Team
  • Tested
  • *
  • Karma: -65340
  • Posts: 17029
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #14 on: June 09, 2008, 07:07:44 PM »

Oh pshaw, just use the ancient greek critera: It's not a sport unless you can do it completely naked.
Logged

Cannon

  • Hopes for a great many things
  • Tested
  • Karma: 0
  • Posts: 508
    • View Profile
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
« Reply #15 on: June 09, 2008, 07:37:19 PM »

Welp, time to form the National Masturbation Association.
Logged

Dooly

  • Who?
  • Tested
  • Karma: 9
  • Posts: 915
    • View Profile
Re: What is a sport?
« Reply #16 on: June 12, 2008, 02:54:04 PM »

Logged
:painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful:
:painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful:
:painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful:
:painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful:
:painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful: :painful:

sei

  • Tested
  • Karma: 25
  • Posts: 2085
    • View Profile
Re: What is a sport?
« Reply #17 on: June 12, 2008, 05:14:12 PM »

What is a sport?  A miserable pile of competitors accompanied by a miserable pile of spectators.
Logged