So, dollar cost of the Olympics would feed how many?

[EnemyPartyII]

Why is it that all the usual fundie ratbags are, as ever, banging on and on about how the relatively inoffensive actions of others are such terribly apostasy and abomination, like evolution and homosexuality, while a much bigger idolatry is occuring world wide?

You'll hear about conspiracies and homosexual agendas working in secret to promote evolution, when there is a blatant idolatrous movement right in front of everyone at the moment. Not a conspiracy, its internationally recognised and contributed to by the world's governments.

The Olympics, of course.

We have this event that is the very definition of idolatry... it takes people's worship away from God, it elevates athletes to demi-gods (I've even heard one promotion describe them as "the Gods of sport"), certainly promotes them a worship-worthy icons and even includes faux religious ceremonies and events. Seriously, tell me the torch lighting ceremony, relay, opening and closing ceremonies would not be labelled as idolatrous, or at the very least religious, if they were perfomred by any other group?

Now don't get me wrong, theres nothing wrong with sport, and healthy competition between individuals, but the Olympics elevates it to the level of idolatry. Its ridiculous. I pretty much consider sport to have lost the plot anytime anyone becomes a "professional athlete". Just what the heck do these people contribute? Nothing! And yet we support them utterly with massive pay, and revere them and dote on them, almost as if they were some form of priesthood. Surely sports are healthier when its friendly competition on weekends by volunteers with training after work, not with full time sports stars who spend literally inhuman amounts of time on training, to the exclusion of all else, including family and work. Thats just like a spiritual ascetic or hermit, right there!

Sorry to rant, it just bothers me the amount of money and reverence devoted to the Olympics when there are so many better things it could go on. The Olympics before 1936 were fine... countries putting together a few of their best amateur contenders in the spirit of friendly international rivalry. Does the current Olympics look anything like this? Indeed, I conted the ONLY possible positive to come out of the current Olympic hype is to highlight the plights of the oppressed in China... yet the media, Olympic organising agencies, and participating governments, seem bent to do their level best to reduce the heart felt, desperate protests of the oppressed and their advocates, to a tiny sidenote.

Would love to hear other people's thoughts.

As for myself, theres a 24/7 Simpsons marathon on for the duration of the games, thats what I'll be watching.

 

[Nathan45]

lighten up. lol.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

lighten up. lol.

I'm serious dude! Its a ****ing orgy of money spent to idolise and revere a super select group of individuals who ultimately contribute nothing to society.

I don't give a rat's who wins the 100metre sprint... how many malaria prone children will that provide with quinine, know whaat I mean?

Great, so some guy can run fast. Do we need a multi million dollar event to treat him like he's bigger than Jesus?

 

[Steezie]

Agreed. The spirit of the games is in the right place, but the MASSIVE expense that is dropped on it seems excessive.

I cant put it better than EP already has

 

[Yusuf Evans]

Let me add something here. First off, the Olympics are held every four years, okay. If you want to whine about multi-million dollar contracts in sports, take a look at baseball. They get paid too much money. Secondly, there are more important issues to get upset about, than how much money is being spent on the Olympics. Take for example, the slave trade. There are more slaves today, than at any other time in human history. Not just sex slaves, but also laborers as well; this does not count sweatshops either, cause at least they get paid for their jobs.

 

[Steezie]

There are more slaves today, than at any other time in human history.[...] [...] this does not count sweatshops either, cause at least they get paid for their jobs.

Not being able to quit a job because if you do you cant buy food and starve sounds like slavery to me

 

[Yusuf Evans]

Not being able to quit a job because if you do you cant buy food and starve sounds like slavery to me

No, sounds like an incentive to keep the job. I was referring to actual slave laborer, okay. Or are they somehow more unworthy of attention than say the sweatshop workers?

 

[Steezie]

No, sounds like an incentive to keep the job. I was referring to actual slave laborer, okay. Or are they somehow more unworthy of attention than say the sweatshop workers?

So they have to keep the job, even if its degrading, abusive, dangerous, or mistreats them because if they quit, they starve....that sounds like slavery to me.

Not unworthy, but worthy of the same amount of effort and attention

 

[EnemyPartyII]

Let me add something here. First off, the Olympics are held every four years, okay. If you want to whine about multi-million dollar contracts in sports, take a look at baseball. They get paid too much money. Secondly, there are more important issues to get upset about, than how much money is being spent on the Olympics. Take for example, the slave trade. There are more slaves today, than at any other time in human history. Not just sex slaves, but also laborers as well; this does not count sweatshops either, cause at least they get paid for their jobs.

Hey, I think the amounts of money paid to proffesional footballers, cricketers, soccer players, basketballers, whatever are absolutely obscene.

Once again, if I may, point out the start contrast... all the people who work themselves into a tizz over partial nudity or *gasp* pornography, seem to be utterly unperturbed by the amount of money spent on sports any given year.

But I ask you, seriously, what is more disgusting, Janet Jackson exposing her nipple, or the number of sick children the money spent on the SuperBowl could have saved that year? And yet which issue will the fundies tie themselves into frothy knots over?

 

[cantata]

The cost of the 2012 Olympics in London is skyrocketing. The original estimate was £4bn - a ridiculous amount of money - but at the moment we're looking at a pricetag of over £12bn, and they tell us practically once a week that the cost has increased. That's a lot of money. And according to some critics, the cost of the land the stadium's being built on isn't being included in that figure.

Support for the arts in London has been drastically cut from £4.5m to £3.5m. That £1m has disappeared into a black hole. And that's not to mention the increase in council tax for Londoners, who are the very ones who will have to put up with the strain on infrastructure in their city. I can only imagine what could have been done for schools, hospitals, or even public transport for £12bn. Yes, part of the work being done for the Olympics will benefit Londoners in the longterm - but really only Londoners, beyond the economic benefits of tourism.

It makes me a bit cross.

 

[Steezie]

The cost of the 2012 Olympics in London is skyrocketing. The original estimate was £4bn - a ridiculous amount of money - but at the moment we're looking at a pricetag of over £12bn, and they tell us practically once a week that the cost has increased. That's a lot of money. And according to some critics, the cost of the land the stadium's being built on isn't being included in that figure.

Support for the arts in London has been drastically cut from £4.5m to £3.5m. That £1m has disappeared into a black hole. And that's not to mention the increase in council tax for Londoners, who are the very ones who will have to put up with the strain on infrastructure in their city. I can only imagine what could have been done for schools, hospitals, or even public transport for £12bn. Yes, part of the work being done for the Olympics will benefit Londoners in the longterm - but really only Londoners, beyond the economic benefits of tourism.

It makes me a bit cross.

What REALLY burns me is the competition for being picked for hosting. Our city built this MASSIVE new Olympic-sized aquatic center and ice-rink at the cost of many millions of dollars so that we'd have a shot at hosting the swimming events (Im not sure if thats planned for 2012 or what, they werent real clear on that)

Meanwhile our schools are falling apart, our public transit is crap, and the traffic exceeds our road capacity by a factor of ten....and we plunk a fair few millions down on a new aquatic center

 

[Yusuf Evans]

Sorry if I came a little strong with my responses, but I don't believe that the cost of the Olympics is a big deal in the grand scheme of things; it's one of those rare occasions to splurge. To me, it seems there are better ways to provide money to the less fortunate, then take away from the Olympics.

As for the social issues that fundies concern themselves with, I tell them to stick it up their zealot butts. Two guys having sex in the privacy of their own home, isn't gonna matter to the kid who missed the day's meal because mom and dad didn't have the money due to having to pay to keep the heat on.

 

[cantata]

What REALLY burns me is the competition for being picked for hosting. Our city built this MASSIVE new Olympic-sized aquatic center and ice-rink at the cost of many millions of dollars so that we'd have a shot at hosting the swimming events (Im not sure if thats planned for 2012 or what, they werent real clear on that)

Meanwhile our schools are falling apart, our public transit is crap, and the traffic exceeds our road capacity by a factor of ten....and we plunk a fair few millions down on a new aquatic center

But hey, look on the bright side - at least your country didn't win, and consequently feel obliged to spend £12bn...

 

[Steezie]

But hey, look on the bright side - at least your country didn't win, and consequently feel obliged to spend £12bn...

No, now we just have a giant aquatic center we cant use and that cost us a pile

 

[Eudaimonist]

there is a blatant idolatrous movement right in front of everyone at the moment. Not a conspiracy, its internationally recognised and contributed to by the world's governments.

The Olympics, of course.

I am so going to watch the Olympics now! You have me sold!

The Olympics is humanistic, so I suppose it does take "worship" away from God, and perhaps atheletes are turned into demi-gods of a sort.

The Olympics is spiritual food for people who value excellence, such as myself. They help us to experience excellence, not as an abstract idea or personal goal, but as something concrete. The Olympics is the "worship" of human beings at their best, in activities that can be easily witnessed.

Yes, the Olympics is expensive, but neither man nor woman lives by bread alone. We need the Olympics for the same reasons we need space programs -- for spiritual purposes.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Maren]

I think I'd care more about the Olympics if it weren't for the massive amount of money spent on professional sports. For example, the total payroll for American Major League Baseball players this year is 2.71 billion dollars -- that doesn't include the salaries of the coaches or front office, or the travel expenses, operating expenses, etc. Then you also factor in professional basketball, football (the American version), soccer, and hockey.

I'll agree that we could do the Olympics for much less money, especially the bidding process. Perhaps they should pick a few cities on the different continents and hold then on a rotating basis (so that new facilities don't need to be built every time). But for an event that brings the world together, I won't complain too much when it costs about the same as what one professional sport in the United States spends every year.

 

[TheManeki]

I'll be a devil's advocate here and mention that the money spent on things like the Olympics does have ancillary benefits. For example, the 1996 Olympics helped revitalize my home of Atlanta, and the economic growth has helped both the rich and poor here.

 

[Rebekka]

I think all professional sports are overrated, and money is wasted on it. Meh. I never watch sport, it bores me to death. But there are other things that are a bigger waste of money (certain wars that will not be named). And I think that not all people see it as waste - if you truly love sports, it might be worth it. I just don't care for it at all.

 

[EnemyPartyII]

The cost of the 2012 Olympics in London is skyrocketing. The original estimate was £4bn - a ridiculous amount of money - but at the moment we're looking at a pricetag of over £12bn, and they tell us practically once a week that the cost has increased. That's a lot of money. And according to some critics, the cost of the land the stadium's being built on isn't being included in that figure.

Support for the arts in London has been drastically cut from £4.5m to £3.5m. That £1m has disappeared into a black hole. And that's not to mention the increase in council tax for Londoners, who are the very ones who will have to put up with the strain on infrastructure in their city. I can only imagine what could have been done for schools, hospitals, or even public transport for £12bn. Yes, part of the work being done for the Olympics will benefit Londoners in the longterm - but really only Londoners, beyond the economic benefits of tourism.

It makes me a bit cross.

This mirrors my feelings about the Sydney Olympics, way back when

 

[EnemyPartyII]

I am so going to watch the Olympics now! You have me sold!

The Olympics is humanistic, so I suppose it does take "worship" away from God, and perhaps atheletes are turned into demi-gods of a sort.

The Olympics is spiritual food for people who value excellence, such as myself. They help us to experience excellence, not as an abstract idea or personal goal, but as something concrete. The Olympics is the "worship" of human beings at their best, in activities that can be easily witnessed.

Yes, the Olympics is expensive, but neither man nor woman lives by bread alone. We need the Olympics for the same reasons we need space programs -- for spiritual purposes.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Dear Mark,

With the sincerest good will...

The Olympics is spiritual food for people who value excellence, such as myself. They help us to experience excellence, not as an abstract idea or personal goal, but as something concrete. The Olympics is the "worship" of human beings at their best, in activities that can be easily witnessed.

Could the Nobel prize not achieve the same thing, except instead of deifying some guy who can swim fast, it makes a big deal about people who actually improve the world, plus it only costs the hire of a big hall for an evening.

the 12 billion pounds being spent in London (the only firm figure I've seen quoted) to give an ultra select few the chance to show off their talents is preferable to, say, spending 1 billion pounds on sports and 11 billion on education? Anti malaria programs? Heck, nuclear submarines if you want, at least they serve the interests of the whole country... and they last longer than 2 weeks!