Why can't you guys

[Earl]

Also, why can't you guys believe that when an athlete does something good, that they don't have any kind of other motivation? It's like, an athlete who does charity work can't possibly actually care about helping others, they just want to look like they do. Or an athlete who joins the military, they can't actually be wanting to serve their country, they're just a glory seeker.

Those of us at this forum who aren't sports fans don't all think the same way. The way I see it, there are two extremes: There are those who think that athletes are the salt of the earth (which seems to be the dominant bias of the sports media), and there are those who question the motives of all athletes. I fall somewhere between those two extremes, which I believe is where the truth lies.

[Earl]

If the presence of me, Polite24, or any other sports fans angers you that much, maybe this forum should be divided into two. In one, sports fans would be allowed in to have debates on sports, in the other, there would be no sports fans allowed so you guys can discuss sports without any interference.

Sports fans would still post on this "no-sports-fans" forum, anyway. Also, there are a plethora of sports forums out there for you to have debates on sports, so why don't you go to one of them? This website, this little website in the corner of the web, is the only place I know of where we can be sure we won't get berated at for having a dislike, or -- in some cases -- a complete hatred for sports. Well, except from sports bores, of course.

I see a problem here.

First of all, this website (like so many others) represents a particular point of view and is a ranting board. In the realm of politics, there are conservative websites and liberal websites. Liberals and liberalism are not likely to always receive a fair hearing at a conservative website, and conservatives and conservatism are not likely to receive a fair hearing at a liberal website. That's to be expected. By the same token, a negatively slanted view of athletes and sports is to be expected at this website.

I support this website because I believe in free speech (within reason), and I think it's really great that those who don't like sports have a forum where they can uninhibitedly and fully express themselves and sometimes express real-life grievances that wouldn't get a hearing elsewhere (except at anti-bullying websites). A common refrain has been that they thought they were alone, and are delighted to find out that others share their views. And I've been delighted to learn that those of us who don't like sports do not fit a particular stereotype.

So, the questions arises as to what the function of this forum should be. SportsGuy92, I'll let you in on a secret. Most if not all of us here want sportsfans to be here; otherwise, the forum would become boring and lifeless. In fact, some of us would even welcome a return of Samdaman! Some of us are spoiling for a fight. This seems to be part and parcel of board messaging.

Speaking to those on my side, the problem is that a distinction must be made between those sportsfans who are critical but civil (such as Polite24 and SportsGuy92) and those who are abusive and unreasonable (which seems to be the vast majority of those sportfans who actually leave or post messages at this website). Trying to provoke a fight with those who are trying to be civil is unfair to them, which is not to say that we are not allowed to disagree with them. I appreciate those individual high-school athletes who clearly don't look down on their nonathlete classmates and even show an understanding of their point of view. Polite24 and SportsGuy92 are not in total disagreement with us.

One reason why a lot of people on here are here is because they were bullied growing up because they didn't like sports. This bullying, for many of you, often involved being called homophobic insults like "gay" or "faggot". But then you guys make certain sports fans on here wear the "gay" jersey as their avatar. Do you people really think you're open minded or above the bullies you grew up with?

I'd call it "ironic justice". And besides, it's only certain sports bores who show an exceptional level of stupidity and ignorance who get the special Jersey of Shame as their avatar.

SportsGuy92, the whole "gay" theme used by those on my side is satirical, which means that it's not meant to be taken literally; and I speak as someone who frequently does take what people say literally. In his famous satirical essay "A Modest Proposal" (which generated a lot of controversy when it was first published), Jonathan Swift wasn't seriously advocating cannibalism. There actually were those at the time who thought he was! (Now, I'm certainly not saying that we are up to Swift's level, needless to say.) He was simply protesting the unfair treatment of the Irish people by England. As I recall, the Jersey of Shame was assigned as an avatar to only two posters. I think one of them may have changed his mind and actually had the Jersey of Shame removed. I'm not completely sure of this. Anyway, the one who did continue to "wear" it had started posting with personal insults (instead of trying to make an effort to understand our point of view) and seemed to be unreasonable.

[SportsGuy92]

If the presence of me, Polite24, or any other sports fans angers you that much, maybe this forum should be divided into two. In one, sports fans would be allowed in to have debates on sports, in the other, there would be no sports fans allowed so you guys can discuss sports without any interference.

Sports fans would still post on this "no-sports-fans" forum, anyway. Also, there are a plethora of sports forums out there for you to have debates on sports, so why don't you go to one of them? This website, this little website in the corner of the web, is the only place I know of where we can be sure we won't get berated at for having a dislike, or -- in some cases -- a complete hatred for sports. Well, except from sports bores, of course.

Since you're the forum admin, isn't there a way you can block certain people from posting in certain areas?

[Lewis]

Why can't you accept that we dislike sports. I don't go around forcing my opinion on you. Yet you think members of this website have committed some heinous crime, simply because we do not like sports.

It seems you have problems not accepting other people's belief.

[greencom]

SportsGuy92,
Why would I want to go to a sports forum? I hate sports. I know I can't change their views about anything. I know you try to change ours. Ain't gonna happen! Physical fitness yes...sports no, stupid pointless and boring and it will always be no matter what rationalizations you come up with. The human mind is what seperates us from the rest of the animal kingdom on this planet. I celebrate the mind, sports fans celebrate the animal part of humanity. We will never better ourselves that way.
Greencom

[SportsGuy92]

Why can't you accept that we dislike sports. I don't go around forcing my opinion on you. Yet you think members of this website have committed some heinous crime, simply because we do not like sports.

It seems you have problems not accepting other people's belief.

I don't have problems when people dislike sports, I do have a problem when people think sports are some kind of public enemy, which is the view many on here have.

[greencom]

Why can't you accept that we dislike sports. I don't go around forcing my opinion on you. Yet you think members of this website have committed some heinous crime, simply because we do not like sports.

It seems you have problems not accepting other people's belief.

I don't have problems when people dislike sports, I do have a problem when people think sports are some kind of public enemy, which is the view many on here have.

SportsGuy92
It is the enemy of many people on this forum, that's why the forum exists, I guess you'll just have do deal with it! To me sports fans have a plague causing madness and stupidity rendering the diseased individual unable to recognize his own pathetic condition, fortunately we sports haters have a natural immunity to this affliction and remain the last hope for humanity. Hey, wow I like that!
Get better soon,
Greencom

[Ray]

Well said. We have a natural immunity to the madness that has infected most of the population. But I don't HATE those lumbering zombies. I pity them. After all, they used to be ordinary people -our dads and moms and neighbors.. but now...

Yep, Greencom, you're right. If they ever decide to launch a mission to populate nearby planets, I'm certain the planners will choose non-sports fans.

[Indurrago]

Well said. We have a natural immunity to the madness that has infected most of the population. But I don't HATE those lumbering zombies. I pity them. After all, they used to be ordinary people -our dads and moms and neighbors.. but now...

Yep, Greencom, you're right. If they ever decide to launch a mission to populate nearby planets, I'm certain the planners will choose non-sports fans.

Obviously I can't imagine a jock being able to handle all the pressures of being space much less populating new planets, its "thinking" that's gonna keep you alive especially without a hospital or anyone else to bail you out(millions of miles away). I think of the Apollo 13.
I once did research on the qualifications for becoming part of a shuttle team you ain't going anywhere without at least a master's in something(sports never counts).

[Ray]

(sports never counts).

that should be our new motto. it says it all!

[Indurrago]

(sports never counts).

that should be our new motto. it says it all!

Wow yeah great idea. "Sports never count"

[The1982Channel]

sports are utterly awful! i cant stand them! what is the big deal about them? kicking round a ball requires no talent at all, why does this world have to acknowledge such lack of talent in such an extreme way? these people get paid millions of bucks for nothing! nothing! the 1980s are so much better than sports. sports suck, we should all go and listen to "jump" by van halen instead! great music is proper entertainment. they can stick stinkin' sports!

and by the way to you sports bores comin on here raining on our parade... we can do wat we want! it's our board, not urs. so sod off unless you have something real interesting to say other than "oh, why can't you like sports?"

[SportsGuy92]

Greencom, why do you have issues when people choose to spend their free time doing activities that aren't 100% intellectual?

[greencom]

Greencom, why do you have issues when people choose to spend their free time doing activities that aren't 100% intellectual?

As you may have read in my earlier posts I mentioned that I believe in physical fitness and don't mind an occasional mindless game of basketball at a party. Society has taught a person to feel uncool and friendless if he or she does not take sports seriously enough. Smart people are the only hope this world has for a brighter future. I don't expect people to engage only in intellectual activities but most people NEVER engage in them, that's why we are dumbed down and rank below most industrialized countries in the world in terms of math and science talent. Sports is entertainment and nothing more, why do YOU take it so seriously? Sports is fluff, pointless fluff. How are you going to earn a good living in the future by spending so much of your free time playing and watching stupid ball games? We are becoming another third world country because the public worships sweaty morons and pays them millions of dollars to watch them play with balls, that's what pisses me off! We will all suffer because of this but you will never understand that.
Greencom

[Indurrago]

Rock on greemcom, go tell them!