2008 Olympics

[Black Knight]

I guess I care. Maybe a little. I think it's idiotic that they're adding BMX-ing as an Olympic sport, and I think there's still too many unresolved issues around the Nike sharkskin swimsuits. I don't really see what's going to make these summer Olympics better than the previous ones.
I'm really more of a winter Olympics person anyways.

but on the political note...

Sure the government has done lots of nasty things, but they've at the same presided over an impressive economic boom that has changed the lives of hundreds actually of millions of their citizens for the better.

I seem to recall one other country hosting the Olympics in the last century that recovered from an desperate depression into a period of relative economic prosperity. They were also a single-party dictatorship, but during The Games they gave the spectators a great view of how the country had recovered and what a civilized place it was to be in, while behind the scenes they covered up what they deemed to be "undesirable" aspects of their new order. They also restricted reporters to limited access, and only allowed them to use pre-approved photographs to spread their propaganda.

But perhaps I'm going a little too far trying to compare this year's games to 1936. It's not like China's trying to cover anything up or control the media or something...

...Yeah, considering how that all turned out, I don't exactly blame anyone for wanting to tune out this year. I'll probably watch a few events, but I can appreciate the general lack of enthusiasm.

[dilbertschalter]

I seem to recall one other country hosting the Olympics in the last century that recovered from an desperate depression into a period of relative economic prosperity. They were also a single-party dictatorship, but during The Games they gave the spectators a great view of how the country had recovered and what a civilized place it was to be in, while behind the scenes they covered up what they deemed to be "undesirable" aspects of their new order. They also restricted reporters to limited access, and only allowed them to use pre-approved photographs to spread their propaganda.

Must I invoke Godwin  ?

Simply listing similar aspects does not an accurate comparison make. China's economic growth is far more impressive than Nazi Germany's (oh man, they got out of a depression, never been done before) and comparing the leadership of the two countries is completely ridiculous.

[Black Knight]

Simply listing similar aspects does not an accurate comparison make.

Ok there Yoda.

The economic growth wasn't the point at all, it was just kind of a lead in to show that just because a country makes money doesn't mean that it's negative actions are excused (as your previous quote seemed to insinuate).
If you read again a little more carefully you may notice also I never compared their leadership. I simply compared the unarguably similar actions that their government was taking. Completely different is it, to make comparison like so, yessss....

[dilbertschalter]

The economic growth wasn't the point at all, it was just kind of a lead in to show that just because a country makes money doesn't mean that it's negative actions are excused (as your previous quote seemed to insinuate).
If you read again a little more carefully you may notice also I never compared their leadership. I simply compared the unarguably similar actions that their government was taking. Completely different is it, to make comparison like so, yessss....

Sense you do not make. First, I did not say that economic growth outright excused what the government did, rather rather that you should look at the entire picture of a country rather than make judgements based on one element, good or bad.

As for your second point, I am baffled. Many, many countries have done things similar to Nazi Germany in the first three years of its rule (consolidating industry, clamping down on dissent in an inhumane way, engaging in jingoistic rhetoric), but that doesn't mean that they are going down the path towards starting an aggressive war and killing millions of innocent people. The key to telling what happens is- wait for it!- the leadership of the country. The CCP is a very pragmatic body, willing to do what it takes to stay in power, but very unlikely to lead to anything remotely like what happened when the dogmatisms of Communism and Fascism clashed.

[DMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA JonnyJon]

I think it's idiotic that they're adding BMX-ing as an Olympic sport...

And the DMA said, "Expound ye on that thought."

...and I think there's still too many unresolved issues around the Nike sharkskin swimsuits.

Nothing new. Every Olympic games since I've been old enough to remember has had some controversy over "OMG! THE NEW SWIMSUITS ARE RUINING THE SPORT!" Bah, if people are going to pitch such a fit, I say we go back to way the Olympics were meant to be played: butt naked.

[Black Knight]

As for your second point, I am baffled. Many, many countries have done things similar to Nazi Germany in the first three years of its rule (consolidating industry, clamping down on dissent in an inhumane way, engaging in jingoistic rhetoric), but that doesn't mean that they are going down the path towards starting an aggressive war and killing millions of innocent people. The key to telling what happens is- wait for it!- the leadership of the country. The CCP is a very pragmatic body, willing to do what it takes to stay in power, but very unlikely to lead to anything remotely like what happened when the dogmatisms of Communism and Fascism clashed.

Hear you nothing that I say?
Clear your mind, understand you will when you are at peace. Breath in,
breath out.

All right.

All I said was,
The actions taken by China,
concerning the Olympics,
and concerning the Olympics only,
in terms of false beautification, propaganda, and censorship
are somewhat similar to the actions taken
by the German Government,
during their Olympics,
in 1936.

I did not say anything about
China starting a World War,
or behaving like Nazi Germany
in a capacity besides the Olympics,
or anything along that vein.

Ok.

My comment was meant only to highlight the fact that China's behavior is right in line with the fact that despite all the pretty pictures and mascots we may see, it's still a repressive single-party dictatorship, and is behaving like any other single-party dictatorship would given the situation. My post was an effort to explain why some people may feel it's unethical to support the Olympics: because it's hosted by a repressive country who uses it as a propaganda device. It's not an argument really, because the evidence is all right there, it's just a comment. 

And the DMA said, "Expound ye on that thought."

I know I sound like a sourpuss Luddite, but BMXing is just stupid. I realize it takes skill and probably a great deal of physical fitness, but just the sound of it... BMXing. If that's a sport there's nothing to stop snowmobiling and four wheeling and even F1 racing from being Olympic sports. It opens up a whole window of mechanised sports that I think don't really exhibit the human physical capacity, which is the focus of the Olympics. I'm going to go ahead and guess you're not going to have a lot of BMXers coming from Africa either. It's not really a widely practiced sport on a worldwide scale, and it's not a sport that can be practiced by just anyone because it requires a lot more resources than a fit and able body. Some other events are like this (rifle shooting and equestrian come to mind), but those have been around for a long time, and are probably not going to change.

Nothing new. Every Olympic games since I've been old enough to remember has had some controversy over "OMG! THE NEW SWIMSUITS ARE RUINING THE SPORT!"

I don't have a problem with the suit itself, if everyone could wear one it would all be fine and dandy. The problem is Speedo (not Nike, I don't know why I said that) has a patent on the design, and only swimmers who are sponsored by Speedo can wear them. I see that as kind of unfair, especially considering the purported advantages of the suit.

[dilbertschalter]

My comment was meant only to highlight the fact that China's behavior is right in line with the fact that despite all the pretty pictures and mascots we may see, it's still a repressive single-party dictatorship, and is behaving like any other single-party dictatorship would given the situation. My post was an effort to explain why some people may feel it's unethical to support the Olympics: because it's hosted by a repressive country who uses it as a propaganda device. It's not an argument really, because the evidence is all right there, it's just a comment.

Then why did you need to make that terrible comparison? You make it sound as though I did not acknowledge China was reprsssive, not true.

[DMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA JonnyJon]

I know I sound like a sourpuss Luddite, but BMXing is just stupid. I realize it takes skill and probably a great deal of physical fitness, but just the sound of it... BMXing. [...] It opens up a whole window of mechanised sports that I think don't really exhibit the human physical capacity, which is the focus of the Olympics.

BMX isn't mechanized. They're bicycles.

[Black Knight]

BMX isn't mechanized. They're bicycles.

Wow. I've got nothing to say to recover from this. I totally was thinking of Motocross when I was reading BMX, and when I read the all the articles about it I read it in the context of all the races being on off-road motorcycles, because of course they expected the person reading the articles to actually have half a brain and know what BMX was. I can't beleive I did that...
Oh well 

[DMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA JonnyJon]

I totally was thinking of Motocross when I was reading BMX...

Don't beat yourself up over it. When I first came across your post, I read BMX as MMA. :'(

[Nino]

[Mage Knight 404]

Please put more effort into your post, Nino. This is not the Craziness Domain, so no spam.

[I Fell In Love With Judas, then I got Herpes]

I say we go back to way the Olympics were meant to be played: butt naked.

Certainly would make women's sports more entertaining.

[Jeffer]

The ancient naked Olympic games were all-male. So let's not go back to that. It'd be a hazard during basketball with all those bouncing balls.

Belgium lost in football to Brazil, thanks to the referee. But luckily, we've still got matches against China and New Zealand!

[YokaiKnight]

The power of communism is undeniable. Running around the entire side of the stadium with the Olympic torch is likely the most spectacular opening ceremony yet.  GOOOO CHINA

[arashisama without the decorative symbols. RANDOM ENOUGH?!]

The 14 year old diver from England is so cute! And the diver from Mexico (or... another country?) is pretty. I guess I'm also going to be waiting on the diving programs.

What's up with all that red and yellow? Fireworks are meant to be a variety of colours, and their uniforms ought to be more muted.

[SlippyToasterTrooper_UK]

The power of communism is undeniable. Running around the entire side of the stadium with the Olympic torch is likely the most spectacular opening ceremony yet.  GOOOO CHINA

And everyone is going to expect London to somehow manage to do better *gets vivid flashbakcs to the milenium celebration that was timed to music and...went out of sync *. Hopefully the people planning it will realise London can't beat that and so do something different...

[Derpicane]

Anyone happen to catch the end of the men's handball between Croatia and Spain this morning? I had to go to bed halfway through, but I'd kinda like to know who won.

[I Fell In Love With Judas, then I got Herpes]

Anyone happen to catch the end of the men's handball between Croatia and Spain this morning? I had to go to bed halfway through, but I'd kinda like to know who won.

Croatia won 31-29.

[Derpicane]

Damn. Oh well, hopefully Spain'll beat... I think it's Poland they're up against next...