|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Certainly, the governments must love sports because televised sports keeps people occupied with something that's really not important in the great scheme of world events.
They're just glad that at the water cooler in offices the next day after a major sports match that people are not discussing anything of substance like the current extension of the tax cuts to the richest people 2% in the United States. You might get angry and organize a demonstration against the gov.
I'd like to see a breakdown of sports fans by income bracket. Somehow I doubt the super rich are immersing themselves in this fantasy world. They're too busy robbing the little guy. Or maybe some of them go to sports matches all coked up for kicks with their mistresses.
Sports is not the only tool to keep the working class occupied. Most TV programs also serve this function. If you want to be informed about anything that matters in this world, you have to seek independent media. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Louis VI wrote: |
The more you learn something, the more you get out of it.
If you are into classical music a lot, then you appreciate the performances of the orchestras of Vienna, Berlin, London and Chicago. You compare them. You criticize them. You know details that an outsider wouldn't find significant.
If you read novels a lot, or watch films, then a genre or author becomes the field on which you follow performances.
I really have a hard time believing that anyone who has had a passion in anything could not identify with sports fans. I find baseball less exciting than watching clouds (seriously, cloudwatching rocks in comparison for me) but I can readily identify with how interesting it is for baseball fans to watch the game.
I am not a sports fan. That is, I do not watch or follow sports on t.v. or in any way, except one sport. One sport I am fanatical about, follow several teams, have spent five hundred dollars buying hsitory books about this year alone, am on an internet discussion forum daily about, and twice every year manage as commissioner an imaginary draft (with 28 to 32 other guys participating online) of the game's greatest players extending back a century.
I am equally immersed in jazz, in literary novels, in beach bumming, (and to a lesser degree, in watching foreign films). All five of these things are my hobbies and passions. I know what I'm talking about with them, put maximum effort and attention into them because I find it rewarding and interesting at a fundamental gut level. The more you put into something, the more you get out of it. This is how I can identify with anyone who watches tv dramas or soaps. I personally don't watch them but I get it: how self-perpetuating and gratifying being a fan of something can be.
So, my question to you is: What are you passionate about? Sports doesn't do it for you. What does? What can you spend hours talking about? What do you know a lot about and get pleasure learning more about and have strong opinions concerning it. For some guys it's politics, for others cars.
Then there guys who don't care much for anything. |
This is really well put. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dev wrote: |
Certainly, the governments must love sports because televised sports keeps people occupied with something that's really not important in the great scheme of world events.
They're just glad that at the water cooler in offices the next day after a major sports match that people are not discussing anything of substance like the current extension of the tax cuts to the richest people 2% in the United States. You might get angry and organize a demonstration against the gov.
I'd like to see a breakdown of sports fans by income bracket. Somehow I doubt the super rich are immersing themselves in this fantasy world. They're too busy robbing the little guy. Or maybe some of them go to sports matches all coked up for kicks with their mistresses.
Sports is not the only tool to keep the working class occupied. Most TV programs also serve this function. If you want to be informed about anything that matters in this world, you have to seek independent media. |
independent media has their own take on things. It all comes down to the writer/editor and their personal basis. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dev wrote: |
Certainly, the governments must love sports because televised sports keeps people occupied with something that's really not important in the great scheme of world events.
They're just glad that at the water cooler in offices the next day after a major sports match that people are not discussing anything of substance like the current extension of the tax cuts to the richest people 2% in the United States. You might get angry and organize a demonstration against the gov.
I'd like to see a breakdown of sports fans by income bracket. Somehow I doubt the super rich are immersing themselves in this fantasy world. They're too busy robbing the little guy. Or maybe some of them go to sports matches all coked up for kicks with their mistresses.
Sports is not the only tool to keep the working class occupied. Most TV programs also serve this function. |
This makes for a nice narrative, but there's a much simpler explanation: the average person really doesn't care about politics, and very much does care about personal entertainment. People like sports. People like entertainment-focused TV programs. There's no conspiracy here, just companies providing people with what they want: entertainment.
End all entertainment-based television broadcasts, ban all internet websites that focus on entertainment, stop producing movies, and destroy all sports leagues, and at the end of it all, you're not going to end up with a population more interested in the political issues you're talking about here. You're going to end up with a population grumbling about being denied things they want, and trying to find other ways to spend their leisure time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Poker
Joined: 16 Jan 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Different strokes for different folks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| It's hard to explain what makes a sport fun to watch. I can't stand football, which might be because I don't like to play it, but I don't like to watch basketball either, which I love to play. I don't like cycling, but I like watching it, while I both like playing and watching Starcraft. The only sports I like because of my cultural heritage is cross country skiing, which I grew up with. For every sport there is a different reason why I like/dislike it, which makes it hard to come up with any common factors. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
patongpanda
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
cant stand watching sports generally (except MMA ).
in my opinion,
I always thought peoples unatural obsession with sports was a bit 'put on' and that it was the result of being indoctrinated as a child either by peers or parent.
In england for example, i think you are pretty much considered to be 'gay' (to coin a phrase) if you dont like football (soccer).
I never liked football, but Ive always done a variety of extreme sports including MMA, free However, I sometimes felt a little bit like I was seen as a kiddy fiddler in a swimming pool and as soft as a a boiled egg (and certainly not a real man) when I couldnt answer which footy team I supported to some fat bloke in a bar becasue I didnt like football.
This never bothered me, just baffled me as they looked at me with their fat guts and a pie in their hand judging me becasue they belive I had the genetallia of barbies boyfreind?
I totally understand sporting participation but Im at a loss to understand how many people can 'independently' appreciate team sports (baseball for example) without being shitfaced or in a group of 20 of their best drinking buddies.
I mean, I dont know anyone who watches team sports that would follow a team (by this I mean phisically going to a game) regardless of having any one to accompany them.
And talking endlessly about players? I find this to be comparable to fish wife gossiping.
In my opinion. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't like sports.
I'm a dame if that makes a difference. My husband doesn't like sports either. As with Metalhead, he has a keen interest in metal music and also videogames.
I have my hand in a lot of cookie jars but I don't commit to being an expert on things. My degree is more or less in dissecting media and it's something I enjoy immensely when one can have a sense of humor about it. So I guess I would say I love "alternative" pop culture.
PS. I don't mean to say alternative like I'm an outsider or hip type person, just that I don't care about celebrity gossip so much as 8-bit inspired art.
Oh, both my husband and I follow some of the larger food eating competitions if that counts as well. I'm a huge Kobayashi fan. ^^ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BaldTeacher
Joined: 02 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Good responses.
hahaha the football video was classic. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
Do you ever get through a thread and think, "why the hell did I read all this crap?"
sorry guys.
people like different stuff. how is it worthy of discussion?
now... to start my "I don't get people who like carrots" thread.
(yeah yeah, i know. "if you don't like the thread why post?" "no one forced you to read it") |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BaldTeacher
Joined: 02 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
I was going to tell you off, but I like your avatar. Consider yourself lucky, cupcake.
And just to spite you, I plan on making more threads just like this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| BaldTeacher wrote: |
I was going to tell you off, but I like your avatar. Consider yourself lucky, cupcake.
And just to spite you, I plan on making more threads just like this. |
Thanks for letting me off easy!
Sorry to highjack your thread and be not so nice... I'm just sitting on the edge of complete nothingness and absolute boredom right now. Really have a lot of shiznit to get to but can't shake my lazy arse into doing it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Fox wrote: |
| Dev wrote: |
Certainly, the governments must love sports because televised sports keeps people occupied with something that's really not important in the great scheme of world events.
They're just glad that at the water cooler in offices the next day after a major sports match that people are not discussing anything of substance like the current extension of the tax cuts to the richest people 2% in the United States. You might get angry and organize a demonstration against the gov.
I'd like to see a breakdown of sports fans by income bracket. Somehow I doubt the super rich are immersing themselves in this fantasy world. They're too busy robbing the little guy. Or maybe some of them go to sports matches all coked up for kicks with their mistresses.
Sports is not the only tool to keep the working class occupied. Most TV programs also serve this function. |
This makes for a nice narrative, but there's a much simpler explanation: the average person really doesn't care about politics, and very much does care about personal entertainment. People like sports. People like entertainment-focused TV programs. There's no conspiracy here, just companies providing people with what they want: entertainment.
End all entertainment-based television broadcasts, ban all internet websites that focus on entertainment, stop producing movies, and destroy all sports leagues, and at the end of it all, you're not going to end up with a population more interested in the political issues you're talking about here. You're going to end up with a population grumbling about being denied things they want, and trying to find other ways to spend their leisure time. |
I think you're party right, but so am I.
1) There is a sizable part of the population that does not want to hear about politics. There could be many reasons for this. One of them is apathy I think. They think there is nothing they can do to change the system. They simply accept their lot in life.
2) But the media too shapes minds. Ask yourself why Hollywood movies have become dumber & dumber. Movies from the 50's & 60's had good character development, less predictable story lines and just better stories. From the 80's on, things have just gone downhill.
This is even more evident with TV programs. In the past, serious social issues were dealt with in Mash, All In The Family, One Day at A Time, Mary Tyler Moore, Different Strokes and Family Ties. Relative to what we have now, these were goods shows. Now we have crap like 2 1/2 Men, Fraser, and Friends. These shows are totally unwatchable.
Regarding sports, I think any TV channels that have sports news as a part of their 6 o'clock news are irresponsible. The 15 minutes spent on talking about the jumps, kicks and shots of millionaires is a waste of airtime that could be used to educate the public. The gov could (and should) require the TV networks to show a minimum amount of TV news and public service announcements, but they don't because it works in their favor if the TV news spends time showing some basketball player's great jump shot instead of government corruption. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JMO
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Daegu
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| le-paul wrote: |
I totally understand sporting participation but Im at a loss to understand how many people can 'independently' appreciate team sports. |
I like team sports from countries that i didn't grow up in. So i guess that means I independently appreciate them. Sport to me is just drama. I like the strategy(soccer, american football), the flow(to certain games), the game theory (especially in american football) and the characters.
I do find it strange that when people watch a new sport they immediately want to support a team. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
