The sickest things in the world happen in China. Will you watch the Olympics, and why not?

[begin_within]

I could provide links to some really awful, disgusting photos and videos that were taken in China. Things that would cause major outrage if they happened in the U.S. Things that I'm very sorry I ever followed the links to. But out of a sense of decency here I'll refrain from specifying. Do you think China deserved to get the Olympics, and are you going to watch them?

[Buzz Clik]

1. "Will you watch the Olympics, and why not?"

Yes, I'll watch the Olympics because I like the summer games. Politcizing the Olympics is bullshit.

[begin_within]

5. When has the Olympics ever not been politicized?

[Buzz Clik]

12. Nearly all the winter games. Montreal. Tokyo. Rome. Barcelona. Atlanta. Athens. Sydney.

Melborne. Helsinki.

[billyoc]

2. I will form as large a boycott campaign against all advertisers of the

2008 Olympic as possible.

[xultar]

3. No cuz I usually don't watch. Wait, MENS SWIMMING!!?!?!? Yes, I WILL WATCH!

[DS1]

4. The Olympics had a good run. They should be killed off along with Saturday Night Live

[idgiehkt]

19. very true

for more reason than one. They make millionaires out of athletes who often are not the best, consistently, in their sport. The yearly international competitions really determine the best athlete, and someone can win those consistently time after time yet have a bad break at the one or two Olympics they get to attend but be a better athlete than the gold medalist, yet toil in relative obscurity for the rest of their lives. It's ridiculous.

[DS1]

23. and SNL

They make millionaires out of actors who often are not the best

[idgiehkt]

36. yeah

true that, more and more so every year. Not many Eddie Murpy's or whatever coming out of that crew anymore. I prefer MADtv, I never watch SNL anymore.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

6. I think

we don't mess with our bankers.

[uppityperson]

7. How will not turning on my tv to watch affect their bad human rights?

[Warpy]

8. I will watch at least part of the opening ceremonies

and I'll do it with the sound off if some YAPPER ruins it the way the YAPPERS ruined the opening ceremonies at the Oz games.

Otherwise, the whole thing leaves me cold, no matter where it is.

[devilgrrl]

9. I'd be more inclined to watch if I had access to Canadian coverage (CBC)

They do a better job covering events than the US MSM, which is a f#@%ing joke. A gazillion commercials, sappy stories about the athletes (US only), manufactured drama, on and on and on.... :crazy: Ugh!

[NuttyFluffers]

16. yup, american coverage is why i stopped watching all of it

if i had coverage like -- just about any other nation, i would totally watch. i mean, just watching rhythmic gymnastics was a wonderful time. but here in america it's just boring and painful to watch. nah, i'll pass on the olympics, again. well, maybe the intro/outro ceremonies by "cirque du soleil moon frye" or whatever will be fun. but i can often get that stuff on the 'net anyway, so why bother. it's ovah, next!

[AlCzervik]

10. probably not, is it winter or summer olympics?

[IndianaJones]

11. I'll watch the events I am interested in...track, boxing, swimming, maybe...

some gymnastics.

[alphafemale]

13. Wouldn't have watched anyway. With that much of a time difference....

it's pointless. You're already going to know who won well before it's broadcast here.

And if something spectacular happens, clips of that will be in endless loop on the whorporate for days...so who cares?

[Fleshdancer]

14. Is this thread about the autrocities in China or the Olympics?

Personally, I would like to discuss the autrocities. Could you give me summary of the things you have seen? I don't need to see the photos, but I am curious to learn more on this topic.

[Buzz Clik]

31. Carter's boycott of the Moscow Games went so very well that we're trying to heat it up again.

[Squatch]

15. Yes, because I am a firm believer in the Olympic Movement

[Javaman]

17. Yeah, I'll watch. I watch to see the athletes go into coughing fits. nt

[Bonobo]

18. Wow! Holy unsupported blanket statements, Batman!

Do you really care about the olympics or are you just a racist?

[begin_within]

33. Cooking and eating aborted fetuses. A young woman caresses a kitten, then stomps it to death.

Do you want links, or do you believe me?

[idgiehkt]

20. that is a great point

I haven't thought about it, honestly, but I am glad that you brought it up. There are no animal protection laws in China and I know there are some horrible practices there. The human rights record sucks, and their labor practices are obscene. I am only interested in one sport for each season, but I probably would watcht the video on youtube after for those competitions. That is a hard call...did they get summer or winter?

[noamnety]

21. Would you watch them if they were in the US?

We did that whole Iraq thing, you know.

[begin_within]

28. I'll only start watching when they include straw wrapper blowing as an official Olympic event.

[Buzz Clik]

32. Midget bowling!

aka Dwarf Tossing:

[lonestarnot]

22. Nope, don't care for sports.

[SOS]

24. Human rights are irrelevant

As long as Wall Street can make money in a country, their human rights record is of no interest to anyone.

Here's a quick guide:

Horrific HR abusers such as Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, Equatorial Guinea are A-OK! The US loves them, because American multinationals can make big money there.

Countires like Iraq under Hussein, Panama under Noriega, Grenada under Bishop, Venezuela and Cuba are pure evil (according to the Wall Street Post) because US companies can't rip them off.

China can gun down farmers all day long as long as Wal-Mart can turn a profit on cheap poisoned toys.

[gatorboy]

25. Case in point: Miner deaths in the US per year: Less than 100

China: Over 4,000+

[Zavulon]

26. I hate the Summer Games, so no. If it were the Winter Games, I would watch.

If we play China in basketball, I might watch that, though. I fully expect the refs to rip us off royally.

[donsu]

27. the Olympics are for the world's athletes and I support them

I will watch and cheer them on

[marmar]

29. Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo. Illegal spying and wiretapping. Katrina.

We're really not in a position to lecture the world about morality these days.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. No kidding.

[alarimer]

34. Why are they allowed to host the Olympics with such a record?

I guess they threw enough money at the committee.

I'll never understand the reasonings behind some of the decisions for host countries. In my mind, oppression should not be rewarded this way. South Africa's athletes were banned because of that countries policies. What make China special in that it gets a free pass? Because they hold the note on our (and maybe the rest of the world's debt)?

[NeedleCast]

35. I'll Watch

Maybe with the Olympics in China it will put them under a magnifying glass and put pressure for change on some of the stuff going on there. Then again, maybe it wont, but I'd watch regardless, because I like sports.