11/05/24
August 25, 2009
If if looks like a sport, smells like a sport....: This past week we had this little gem of post degrade into the whole "is it or isn't a sport" conversation. I freely admit I was a part of it as were one of the sites admins. I was just wondering if we could get a ruling whether or not pro wrestling/sports entertainment post we welcomed.
posted by HATER 187 to editorial policy at 01:36 AM - 10 comments
There is no question that the wrestling entertainment industry requires well-trained athletes. But because of the usual predetermined outcome, I don't see it as "sport".
Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determinant of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports (a common name for some card games and board games with little to no element of chance) and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors.
I do enjoy watching it though, and was raised watching the WWF every Sunday morning, so I'm not a wrestling basher by any means. I will continue to watch and be entertained by the WWE, TNA, etc... but I will never confuse it with reality.
posted by BoKnows at 03:19 AM on August 25, 2009
This past week we had this little gem of post degrade into the whole "is it or isn't a sport" conversation.
Yeah, sorry about that. Shouldn't have happened. Somehow I missed that thread and the derail.
I think we discuss plenty of topics that don't necessarily fit the strict idea of a 'sport'. The rule is simply to not go down that route (is it a sport) no matter the topic (unless, of course, that's the topic of the link).
posted by justgary at 10:12 AM on August 25, 2009
I don't think pro wrestling topics should be discussed here, except for the stuff that's clearly 100 percent in the real world, like that terrible accident when Owen Hart was killed or a story about the physical conditioning of the wrestlers. A story about a championship belt changing hands, for instance, wouldn't be acceptable here because that stuff's all an act.
I should have moderated the discussion to stop sport/not-a-sport from breaking out. Normally we are on top of that stuff, because it's a major discussion killer.
posted by rcade at 10:31 AM on August 25, 2009
I don't think pro wrestling topics should be discussed here, except for the stuff that's clearly 100 percent in the real world
Agreed. I don't think we want a running account of wrestling outcomes, or match previews. But if a topic is sufficiently interesting or meaty enough, I don't think it's a problem.
Unless the story is about the Mongolian Stomper. He's always welcome.
posted by justgary at 11:07 AM on August 25, 2009
Arguments about whether something is a sport or not: sport.
Participants in arguments about whether something is a sport or not: not athletes.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:35 AM on August 25, 2009
Trying to derail any and all topics into sophmoric snickering about naked boobies: sport.
My continued efforts along this path: pathetic.
Chances that I will change my ways before the ban-hammer: zilch.
posted by THX-1138 at 06:52 PM on August 26, 2009
Sport is an organized human endeavor in which an individual or group performs specialized athletic tasks governed by commonly agreed upon rules towards the execution of a commonly agreed upon goal in competition with one or more other practitioners often resulting in perspiration or increased respiratory activity and providing, in the end, some sense of pleasure or satisfaction that doesn't involve computers or engines.*
posted by rumple at 12:02 PM on September 07, 2009
Sex is an organized human endeavor in which an individual or group performs specialized athletic tasks governed by commonly agreed upon rules towards the execution of a commonly agreed upon goal in competition with one or more other practitioners often resulting in perspiration or increased respiratory activity and providing, in the end, some sense of pleasure or satisfaction that doesn't involve computers or engines.
posted by rcade at 12:40 PM on September 07, 2009
Sex is an organized human endeavor ........ that doesn't involve computers or engines.
Speak for yourself!
posted by rumple at 01:59 PM on September 07, 2009
Most wrestling related post are about steroids and the behavior brought on by their use and this is a topic that affects the sporting world at large. On the other hand the out comes are predetermined and therefore negate its legitimacy in the eyes of many. I say we just have it now rather than debating the "is it/isn't it" thing when another wrestling post is put up here. SpoFi frowns on the is it/isn't discussion but I feel this topic warrants it.