Which sports are "uncivilized'?

[sevendogs]

My question is how people decide to outlaw some sports as "uncivilized"?
Cockfighting is considered by some uncivilized and, therefore, it deserves to be banned. How about boxing or motor sport, for example? Many people think these sports are uncivilized. Should they be banned? Perhaps it would be more difficult to collect enough votes for outlawing them, perhaps, because they bring big money. Society is often hypocritical.

[tinybear]

We don't ban something because it's uncivilized (different people have different views as to what's civilized and what's not anyway). We ban sports only if they are considered 'cruel' or 'disgusting' in the eyes of the vast majority of the population. I suspect that's why cockfighting is banned.

[StrongHeartsWin]

Quote by: tinybear We don't ban something because it's uncivilized (different people have different views as to what's civilized and what's not anyway). We ban sports only if they are considered 'cruel' or 'disgusting' in the eyes of the vast majority of the population. I suspect that's why cockfighting is banned.

That is right, Tiny, and humans that engage in sport do so willingly without any prodding or coercion. They also can quit any time. Dogs or cocks in a pit are trained and forced to fight to death, or near death, just as are bulls in bullfighting.

[sevendogs]

My cockerels like to fight and I let them to do so as much as they wish. This is how I decide, which one will make a broiler first. The winner remains a boss of the flock. If I would not eliminate weaker competitors, their life would be miserable. They would be chased away by a dominating rooster. Cockfighting as sport emerged because roosters are eager to fight naturally. The do not need to be forced to fight. In fact, they are hard to stop fighting. Of course, the breed was improved in this direction by selective breeding. They have to reform the sport by introducing some restrictions, such as putting soft coating on their spurs so they would not injure each other too much. It would make it a softening effect, like boxing gloves. I do not believe that people at large find cockfighting disgusting. The ban happened just because of propaganda of AR and indifference of majority of the public unfamiliar with the sport. Dogfights with betting is really disgusting, because, unlike roosters, dogs have a special status in our society. They are our "best friends". I would never sacrifice my dogs for this purpose. Besides, selective breeding made some strains compulsive fighters dangerous to others under conditions of ordinary life. However, with certain restrictions and rules, even dogfights can be made as acceptable as boxing is today. You know, free style fights of humans are getting accepted as legitimate posrt recently.

[Milton Bradley]

How can cock fighting be considered a "sport" when there is no human participant? No, I'd say sports that could be classified as such are not sports at all, but an excuse to commit cruelty to animals.


I don't like the association with the word sport. It almost looks as if you intended to draw paralells to human combat sports.

[sevendogs]

Well, humans enjoy it. you may call it hobby or entertainment. Those crowds watching race cars or boxing do not participate physically, many are obese and not quite fit for any active sport. However, these things are civilized so far.

[Derach]

There is a human participant in boxing and racing ...
I agree, if there is no human involvment, it's not sport. Even the sport of fox hunting has a human hunter ...

so cockfighting is not sport and shouldn't be considered a 'banned sport'.

[tinybear]

So greyhound racing isn't a sport?

[Derach]

nope ... it's a competitive entertainment event. so is bullfrog races, turtle races ... and robot death-matches. I really think you need a human participant (AT LEAST!) ... if you want to get technical, there is an argument for an athlete being defined more specifically so as to exclude race car drivers, professional eaters, poker players, and the like (some would extend the definition to exclude golfers and pro-wrestlers) but I think at the least a sport must be defined as a competitive event with at least two humans involved in the direct outcome of the competition.

[Deus_ultima]

Ditto for the dog racing.

But to come back to the first comment: How can motor sport be uncivilised? Specially at F1 level, it's the pinnacle of engineering?!

[sevendogs]

How about professional eaters? Is not it ugly and uncivilized? When so many people in the world are starving, some of us are professional eaters. Such a waste. Cock fighitng is a wonderful entertaining tradition. I hope it will come back after some reforming and another look, when younger generation will grow up and mature enough.

[brien]

To call motorsports "uncivilized" is merely foolish and if one is serious, then they must have some other agenda. To whom is it uncivilized to anyway, the engine? Maybe some people just aren't past The Little Engine that Could" What a cute little face.:rolleyes:

[sevendogs]

Motor sport involves pollution of air and terrible noise pollution. It is not more civilized then cockfighting. Some do not like, when some people are involved with cockfighting, but some do not like motor sports. I would rather outlaw motor sports first as uncivilized, polluting and noisy.

[Slevin57]

Maybe it's just me but I thought sports only became uncivilized when their was a reasonable chance of the death of players.

We really should bring back some of those Greek games....

[saltinespike]

Well, if you want to get technical, all sports are disruptive to someone, theferfore all sports are uncivilized and pointless, other than to relieve the competitive need in one's body.

If you say that a sport would be "a competitive event with at least two humans involved in the direct outcome of the competition", then wouldn't the show "America's Next Top Model" be a sport?

Anyways, I wouldn't call any true sport (1: physical activity engaged in for pleasure; 2: a particular activity [as an athletic game] so engaged in) disruptive or uncivilized, just because they have the priveledge and money to do it. Even for the disruptive part, the setting for these events are often isolated. But even if they weren't, would you consider building a highway near houses uncivilized?

To me, forcing someone to go into the gladiator dome would be uncivilized. Forcing someone or something (an animal) to compete against their will is uncivilized. But the definition of uncivilized/civilized depends entirely on cultural acceptance. So when you come down to it, since it is culturally accepted, most sports are not uncivilized.

[DEEJ85]

What about Ultimate Fighter? ( I think thats what its called)

The new reality T.V. show Where two people fight in an octagon or something.

It seems like high school (intimidation and posturing) and then a fight with a couple wrestling moves thrown in.

but is it civilized sport?

[Slevin57]

Well except that the high schoolers are about 20 and train for martial arts and boxing.

I personally don't consider a sport uncivilized were the players consent to playing. Those guys may beat the crap out of each other, but they do it willingly.

[tinybear]

For a start, I suggest we outlaw "Fear Factor". :)

[StrongHeartsWin]

Quote by: tinybear For a start, I suggest we outlaw "Fear Factor". :)

Particularly the parts where they use animals.

[sevendogs]

I would agree with this. "Fear Factor" is another ugly show.