Olympics 2008

[LOVWYRM]

I respect Zex wish/regulation to keep politics out of her thread.
But I can`t sit here, like the 3 apes (no see, no hear, no speak).

I do not want to ruin the fun for those who have it
I do not want this thread to become a rant- pls do not.
But in my opinion you can`t seperate sports from politics nowadays.

That is why I boycott this games (and I really am an enthusiastic sport fan).
Being close to the people of Tibet, this is the minimum I can do.

and I agree with Kumu!

[pevil2000]

I don't pretend to know much about China, I admit it. But I have seen the reports of smog and it is appalling. I do of course know the general stuff that goes on over there, such as what pretty much amounts to slave labour... and if it was somewhere like Africa where 99% of the country is horribly poor (and merely ruled by some rich bloke who doesn't care) then fine, I'd say they can't help it. But come on, China is a pretty well developed country. There is NO excuse for some of their horrible customs/practises etc other than they just don't care.

If something is a tradition then fine, but when they have practises and conditions that are inhumane... well I'm sorry but banning people from eating dog meat to avoid offending visitors is not really the least of your worries. Roll on 2012 so we're hosting it! Though I may be in another country then... darnit I'll have to travel back hehe.

*mutters something viciously about smog, horses and their welfare*

[Melanth]

The simple fact that the 'bird nest' was built using what for want of a better word was slave labour is enough to disqualify China from the Olympics entirely. The stadium was built by unskilled 'peasant' class (that despite China's purportedly communist regieme, a caste system is still very much in place) who have virtually no training, no safety equipment/compensation and very little if any pay.

At least one figure quoted 300 deaths and debilitating injuries per month whilst the stadium was being built. The workers in question were told to f**k off when they complained about conditions, and the survivors of accidents were quietly stowed away in slums or sent back to the mountains. With this sort of exploitation how can anyone even possibly consider China for the Olympic games?

[awdz]

the stadium goes along with the traditions of the great wall of china?

[RuneDragoon]

I decided against watching the Olympics based on china's track record for human rights and stuff... for an example, see the thing about the stadium.

On the bright side, 2010: Vancouver, where I am now.

[pevil2000]

heh I hope to be in Van by then Rune! Might see you there

[Dhalin]

I agree, the Olympics should have never been held in China...

I don't know what genius thought That was a good idea... *rolls eyes* Whatever.

As Cynical as I've become about our own government (I'm USA myself), I can't help but to admit that at least we don't treat people like total slaves, and at least there are still some human rights here compared to China.

Sometimes, though, I gotta think... if our own government keeps it up, the way things are going right now, living over here won't be that much better. Instead of being physically oppressed and forced into slavery with little to no pay, we're just merely forced into a mental slavery with little to no pay.

I mean, think about it.

In my state, Pennsylvania, over half the state is on Welfare. Our roads are falling apart, our bridges... after the fall of that bridge, when the states checked their bridges, Pennsylvania was dead last (or very close to it, I forget which) as far as bridge safety goes. Our governer is more concerned with building that stupid Casino complex than he is fixing our roads... and Corruption... my God, the Corruption by our politicians... is absolutely ridiculous. If they could take taxpayers' money that the politicians spend on parties, campaign funds, their own pay raises, and put them into roads, health-care system, etc, life would be so much better here.

We're not directly oppressed like the Chinese are, but... Corruption in the government is sending us down a similar road. Communities around here are poor... you slave away at your job, barely able to support your family, while fat cats in the government are walking around in their armani suits, and being driven by limousines paid for by taxpayers like me. They take our money, and use it for their own personal gain. So, in essence, we're nearly slaves ourselves. If we don't work overtime and bend over backwards, we can't afford the cost of living. Nobody is holding a gun to our heads, no, but... to live, we have to work like slaves, and the pay... pfft... $7.15 for minimum wage won't keep a single person going.

Property Taxes or Rent, either one will kill you. When Minimum Wage is set so low that a single person cannot live on it, there's something wrong. The taxes are way too stinking high here, and our lawmakers are just... they're blind. They don't care about the people. They don't care that Welfare is rising up and up and up and up because few can afford to live without it, they don't care that they are choking the economy here, they don't care about any of that crap.

It is sad that our voters are too dumb and stupid to realize this, and stop voting these.... nnnngh.... I'd use a stronger word here.... but.... I wish they'd stop voting these jerks into office....

Sorry about my slightly OT rant... but the whole subject gets me irritated sometimes....

[pevil2000]

Oh don't worry Dhalin, I think 90% of us would agree with you It's as bad in the UK, I've been saying for years that if the prime minister can constantly go away abroad (and I'm not on about the times he goes for 'official' reasons) and still claim that the NHS is underfunded... well there is something wrong there. We also have tons of welfare (which most people blame on the immigrants; while I won't deny it probably doesn't help matters, if the immigrants can get jobs in the first place, it means they're available if people get off their fat asses and look). But then again one person on dole actually gets more money than me working 24 hours a week as lower management in a gaming retailer. Go figure.

And don't get me started on these sportspeople... I have no problem with you building a career out of what you love, that's fine, but do they really need a job they love AND millions of pounds? Hmmm? I love my gaming, but I don't get millions of pounds. If they gave it all away to charity, then fine (you know, maybe keep a couple million for 'rough times') but nooooooo, they need more cars, and houses, and jewellry. Or if doctors/firemen etc were on millions... fine! But no. Those who entertain by chasing a ball round, while fun to watch, are the ones tying up all our cash.

*ahem* sorry for the OT as well lol, I get the feeling this will end up in rants

[Dhalin]

*ahem* sorry for the OT as well lol, I get the feeling this will end up in rants

*grins* this already is in the Rants forum. *winks*

And yeah, Athletes and Movie Stars really piss me right off. They do next-to-nothing as far as REAL work goes, and yet they're the ones making all the money. We could easily do without Hollywood and their dirty, rotten actors/actresses..... Easily.

Could we do without Firemen? No. (No Firemen = People die in fires and emergencies)
Could we do without Ambulance Drivers? No. (No Ambulances = people die in emergencies)
Could we do without Police Officers? No. (No Police Officers = Lawless Chaos)
Could we do without Road Workers? No. (No Roads? Heh. Try walking everywhere you go...)
Could we do without Cashiers in Grocery Stores? No. (Who you gonna buy your food/necessities from?)
Could we do without Farmers? No. (What are you gonna eat?)

But yet, look who is making all the money.... somehow that just doesn't seem right/fair to me.

[Melanth]

*grins* this already is in the Rants forum. *winks*

Too right

I agree with both your points. I live in the UK myself and right now our government, for all intents an purposes, might very well be living on Mars. All we get out of them are tax raises, red tape and soundbites that are all lies anyway.

Take this EU fiasco for example. Every other country wanting membership gives their public a referendum. Not the UK. And even though the treaty is now void, theyre trying to force it through under a different name. Is it just me or can we start to draw paralells to the Mugabe carry-on? They didnt get the result they wanted, so theyre forcing anothe vote...

I completely agree with the argument of human rights. I also agree that any degree of freedom we have in the 'western' world is an illusion. The simple fact is that freedom and society are mutually exclusive; you must give up your freedom to live in society, or excercise your freedom and be removed from it(example: freedom to smoke in a pub). Savery these days is not done with whips and chains, but with taxes and laws. The society we live in is itself a complex and untouchable prison, and all thats left to do is choose the blue pill or the red pill, Mr Anderson...

Ghandi said it best, in his Seven Blunders of the Modern world:

• Wealth without work
• Pleasure without conscience
• Knowledge without character
• Commerce without morality
• Science without humanity
• Worship without sacrifice
• Politics without principle

The government in the UK is excercising greater and greater control over the population with every passing month. Privacy here basically doesnt exist anymore, because Big Brother is watching you. You cant even excersise freedom of speech, because if what you say isnt 'politically correct' there is a good chance you will end up with a fine for it.

[Dhalin]

I completely agree with the argument of human rights. I also agree that any degree of freedom we have in the 'western' world is an illusion. The simple fact is that freedom and society are mutually exclusive; you must give up your freedom to live in society, or excercise your freedom and be removed from it(example: freedom to smoke in a pub). Savery these days is not done with whips and chains, but with taxes and laws. The society we live in is itself a complex and untouchable prison, and all thats left to do is choose the blue pill or the red pill, Mr Anderson...

Very well put. Kudos to you, good sir. I was trying to find the right way to word that, but it seems like you worded it better than I did.

Well, at least I'm not the only one who has been thinking this way, when I was typing that, I was mentally preparing myself for people saying things like "you're crazy..." etc. At least I'm not crazy, if at least someone else agrees.

[LOVWYRM]

Nothing is off topic here.^^

I agree with you all- what you describe is fact in Germany too.

I`m glad to hear your opinions, and proud to live in the in same "world" with you!
Thy all for your frank input!

[Spirit]

Those who entertain by chasing a ball round, while fun to watch, are the ones tying up all our cash.

I used to watch my dog chase a ball around the garden, and it was actually a lot more enjoyable. He didn't get paid millions!!!

Only word describes living in the Uk at the moment. Shafted. Up the you knows where without lub. As for China... don't get me started lol.

And how on Earth will London cope in 2012!!! OMG Hahaha OMFG LOL ROTFLMFAO ZOMG LOL hahahahahahahah!!! It's a disaster now, and it will still be in 2012. We'd need all of the workers from China beavering away until 2021 (yes 2021) to level the whole place and start over. Even then they'd perhaps be a bit closer... Dare I mention public transport in London.... *backs away*

Rakku

BTW: One thing they did do in China that is pretty damned good... the odd/even number plate ban for vehicles. We should have that nationwide... hell make it everywhere in the world. Problem is the rich toffs would just buy two cars with even and odd number plates. So then you assign odd/even to each household. This depends on reliable public transport, which is possible. Hell most office workers who do the crazy queue to go to work thing every day just watch a pc screen all day... so put that screen at home? Some kind of whiney moaning office politics thing prevents us from not working in an office. We should just do it and make it law. Minimum staff in a workplace, everyone else remote desktop. Oh an we need to order thousands of the electric buses the Chinese have laid on ... even better make them here. We're all stuck in such deep ruts that no one can be bothered to change because it costs money... no one can be bothered to spend money since they're too busy gorging on profit to buy their new Land Rover / Fanny Magnet. Lack of bothering, stagnation, routine, lazyness, b1tchyness, whineyness... these words can be used to summerise the human race.

I disown the lot of them. I'm going to join the hermit near Dralk. Rant complete.

[pevil2000]

heh Rakku... you pretty much sum up my view entirely One reason I want to move to Canada, I can be in the middle of nowhere (practically) with no one around me! Plus it's just like a bigger version of Yorkshire and Scotland, my two favourite places in the world. The less people around me, the better (unless they're hz people, I still love you guys )

[Dhalin]

heh Rakku... you pretty much sum up my view entirely One reason I want to move to Canada, I can be in the middle of nowhere (practically) with no one around me! Plus it's just like a bigger version of Yorkshire and Scotland, my two favourite places in the world. The less people around me, the better (unless they're hz people, I still love you guys )

I wish I could move to Canada too... my GF lives up there, lol.

With the US government getting more corrupt by the day, the politicians we elect are getting worse, nearly the entire world hates America and everyone who is American, I'm thinking North of the Border is starting to look better, lol.

Face it, I dislike being hated just because I just happened to be born in a nation with total dweebs running the place. It sucks to get stereotyped.. I am NOT like those idiots in the White House, thankyouverymuch. lol.

[Melanth]

I wish I could move to Canada too... my GF lives up there, lol.

With the US government getting more corrupt by the day, the politicians we elect are getting worse, nearly the entire world hates America and everyone who is American, I'm thinking North of the Border is starting to look better, lol.

Face it, I dislike being hated just because I just happened to be born in a nation with total dweebs running the place. It sucks to get stereotyped.. I am NOT like those idiots in the White House, thankyouverymuch. lol.

While nearly anyone with more than air between their ears hates the Bush administration, i think its unfair to say that people dont make a distinction between the US government and the US people . Sure, there are rednecks and idiots, and people who think that irony is a kind of metal (more often than not, all at the same time) but the same kind of people are everywhere these days. Take chavs for example. If it wasnt for benefits this parasitic subspecies of human wouldn't be able to survive. They are inherantly ignorant, mindlessly aggressive, racist and have an IQ that is rivalled by a lobotomised lobster; but they by no means represent the nation as a whole. All you can do is let nature take its course... *whispers* C'mon natural selection, where are you? we're waiting!

That said, i still occasionally hear 'Americans are stupid because theyre American', which is an undeserved stereotype. The vast majority of Americans i have met are well informed, intelligent and hate Bush as much as everyone else The point is that anyone who hasnt interacted with a people has no right at all to criticise or stereotype them, and anyone that does is blowing the flatulent fumes of ignorance from their backsides. People like that just arent worth listening to.

Most of what you describe is directly related to the media imposing stereotypes. Its true that TV F***s up your brain!

[Sigi]

I don't think it's very straight to criticise China - human rights, pollution etc. - regarding the olympics while a lot of our production (which otherwise would cause polution in the western world) is moved to China because is so lovely easy and cheap to produce our stuff over there. And we keep on buying it! It's easy to boycot the olympics but try not to buy product "made in china" it's a lot harder!

That said I think that China never should have been chosen by the olympic commitee, but that's the case for a lot of countries for various reasons.

[Spirit]

*whispers* C'mon natural selection, where are you? we're waiting!
...
Most of what you describe is directly related to the media imposing stereotypes. Its true that TV F***s up your brain!

Man I hate Chavs... I think an ak-47 would be able to kick start natural selection.. That said, I did meet some dumb americans in Michigan... the kind that eats squirrels too lol!!! Well they say you are what you eat.

As for TV/Media... they're the main reason we're now entering a recession pretty much brought on my media scare mongering.

It's true about China though... pretty much everything we buy is made in China. Even things designed here are outsourced and produced in China since it's cheaper!! What a hole this race has dug for itself...

As for Canada... I'd fly out tomorrow if I could. Anyone there who could put up with a Rakku for a week or so?

Rakku

[Zexoin]

*whispers* C'mon natural selection, where are you? we're waiting!

http://www.darwinawards.com/ :P

[Dhalin]

I don't think it's very straight to criticise China - human rights, pollution etc. - regarding the olympics while a lot of our production (which otherwise would cause polution in the western world) is moved to China because is so lovely easy and cheap to produce our stuff over there. And we keep on buying it! It's easy to boycot the olympics but try not to buy product "made in china" it's a lot harder!

That said I think that China never should have been chosen by the olympic commitee, but that's the case for a lot of countries for various reasons.

Trust me, if I had a choice whether or not to buy "made in China" products, I would very well exercise such choice. But... with more and more and more industry being shipped over there, it is getting to be very hard to buy something that ISN'T made in China these days.

I don't bash the Chinese for Pollution; it doesn't matter where the industry is, it is going to cause pollution. It is a sad fact of life. Human Rights, however... I can't help it, something like Tianamen Square (spelling?) isn't easily forgotten.