Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: How's that working out for you? Being clever?

445 Responses

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  • giovanni tiso, in reply to st ephen,

    Um, Telecom really thinks we should all stop having sex to help the All Blacks win? No Gio. Just No.

    Don't be silly. What it takes seriously is the proposition that the sporting victory of our rugby players is predicated on the sacrifice of the whole country, like in a war. (There are a bunch of Adidas ads that play on this concept too.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Kind of asking for it if you tweeted about it, it seems to me. You have six thousand followers. What did you think was going to happen?

    The odd thing is it was all people I'm actual friends with. But you've sort of swerved around the point there ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Megan Wegan,

    I've deliberately avoided all things America's Cup for about 10 years now*, so I could be wrong these days.

    I used to do that, until I was run over by a yacht.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Emma Hart,

    yachting=sport, mountain-climbing=/=sport...
    That you need both an element of physical activity, and an element of competitiveness?

    But bouldering has a world championship.

    As does Tiddlywinks. Flexing one's finger is surely a physical activity?

    <I may actually be trolling now, so I better stop. Sorry.>

    ETA: But seriously, how could you not laugh at this sentence?

    What Types of Winks Tournaments Are Held in All of Winkdom?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green, in reply to Danielle,

    Yeah, but if the competition has to be aesthetically judged (what a beautiful triple axel!) rather than physically judged (this one got over the line first!), is it a sport?

    That's why I said it was a competition, because you are judged on something rather than it being a binary win-lose situation. (Tied games are only allowed when we get quantum computing)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    But you've sort of swerved around the point there ...

    What I meant to say is that you couldn't possibly think that all of those opinions were actually unsolicited, because it's not how social media work. I don't need to defend them, doubt that would agree with all of them, or indeed with the sentiment that your enthusiasm somehow needed to be dampened. But public statements of world cup allegiance (or world cup criticism, for that matter) by a person with your profile are always going to attracts contrary comments in a place like Twitter.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tom Beard,

    But in the last few years, the continued prolapse of the Super-n competition from something tight and exciting to a shapeless, painfully-distended bore has diluted my interest, and made it more and more difficult to get excited.

    I think there's a good argument that they've screwed the pooch by making the rugby season last all year, for sure. And the viewer numbers show it.

    The RWC hype has added to the oversaturation, and it hasn’t helped that it’s become a magnet for all the PR buffoons who think that the fact that everyone groans at their ideas means they’re misunderstood geniuses rather than deluded, unfunny wankers. And now the hype is ramping up to the point where it’s no longer about the people who enjoy rugby enjoying rugby: it’s become a national duty again. And yes, I resent that, if nothing else then because it’s made me want to dislike rugby again.

    Fair enough. None of that stuff has really bothered me, or in general, touched my life. Wankers be wankin', whatever the year.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Tom Beard,

    But in the last few years, the continued prolapse of the Super-n competition from something tight and exciting to a shapeless, painfully-distended bore has diluted my interest, and made it more and more difficult to get excited.

    See, I didn't even notice it. The only rugby team I support is the All Blacks. I can choose not to watch the Super-x, without even trying. People would occasionally ask if I'd seen a game, at which I'd say "no, sorry, missed it". It's really that easy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I quite like sport. I prefer participating to watching, and have competed in three (or two, according to some of you) sports since adulthood.

    However, I disapprove of the RWC for these reasons:
    - the government has taken away basic rights of free speech in order to grant monopolies to a foreign sporting body

    - the government is using *our* money, during the deepest recession for many years, to subsidise said foreign sporting body

    - large (and mostly foreign-owned) corporations are using flag-wrapping around this event as a propaganda device.

    None of this is actually necessary, and I fail to see how turning a sporting event into a festival of corporate capitalism makes the games better for spectators or participants.

    YMMV though. If one is amongst those increasingly desperate to prop up corporate capitalism and the nation state, I can see how Big Sport appeals as a gambit.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    I think of a "sport" as any competitive recreational activity, as opposed to a "game" which is primarily for fun, or just doing something for exercise. So jogging isn't a sport, but a marathon is.

    The official definition presumably requires a physical component, but I wouldn't place any premium on that. Boys at my high school could get a "Chess" badge on their blazer for representing the school in tournaments, which pissed off the jocks no end, but after seeing "Bobby Fischer Against The World", I don't doubt that it should count as a sport.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Megan Wegan,

    To me, yachting isn't a sport - and I mean this at America's Cup level - simply because the thing that seems to define it is how much money you spend on your boat. And the skill required to sail said boat is secondary.

    OK, but what about compression vests/pants for sprinters or swimmers?

    Perhaps we should make everyone compete naked...?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    I think you need to look at the cultural history of your country a little more attentively.

    So I can find jokes embittering? No, thanks, that's a level of sophistication that I've worked a whole lifetime on avoiding.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    I should maybe point out, that I might be a little defensive about some of this. Because I really am bored of it being suggested that liking rugby makes you part of rugby culture, and so if a thug hits his wife because the All Blacks lose, I am partly to blame. (Possibly I read too many feminist blogs, though.)

    Also, I know some people for whom Rugby is REALLY important. Like my Aunt, former president of a provincial union, whose major worry about recent cancer-related surgery was whether she'd be recovered in time to see the Tri-Nations game.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Or motorsport?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    But public statements of world cup allegiance (or world cup criticism, for that matter) by a person with your profile are always going to attracts contrary comments in a place like Twitter.

    Arrggh. It wasn't "World Cup allegiance" -- it's not a culture war. I said I was looking forward to having lots of people come visit my city for a major event -- and promptly being told how many people go to other things in other countries seemed a surprising, not to say utterly irrelevant, response. But it's good to know it was my fault for saying so.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I have a very simple rule - if you're paid to do it it's not a sport it's a business

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to Rich Lock,

    OK, but what about compression vests/pants for sprinters or swimmers?

    Perhaps we should make everyone compete naked…?

    Didn't FINA tighten up the rules around those, though?

    I realise my argument doesn't exactly hold water (yes, yes), especially when you consider my Premier League team is Chelsea.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • NBH, in reply to Megan Wegan,

    To me, yachting isn't a sport - and I mean this at America's Cup level - simply because the thing that seems to define it is how much money you spend on your boat. And the skill required to sail said boat is secondary.

    But that point - the more resources/better technology you have compared to your opponent the better your outcome - is true of any sport that depends on equipment, and arguably of almost sport. I think you're seriously downplaying the level of skill involved in competitive yachting - possibly because it isn't as immediately obvious as the skill involved in making a successful pass or tackle, hitting a bullseye etc,

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    To me, yachting isn’t a sport – and I mean this at America’s Cup level – simply because the thing that seems to define it is how much money you spend on your boat. And the skill required to sail said boat is secondary.

    It makes it like any kind of motor racing or cycling event then (where exact mechanical duplicates are not mandated). Part of F1, NASCAR etc is how good your crew is. Just means your team is that much bigger.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Rich Lock,

    To me, yachting isn't a sport - and I mean this at America's Cup level - simply because the thing that seems to define it is how much money you spend on your boat. And the skill required to sail said boat is secondary.

    I went off it in a big way when that great ocean-going nation of Switzerland got involved.

    To summarise the arguments here so far: rugby is a great game but some like it more than others, and the RWC has entailed considerable investment, which may or may not pay off. And some wanky ad men have made some stupid mistakes (starting with that beastly American army bully on the Sky TVCs)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    There are a bunch of Adidas ads that play on this concept too.

    There are? Can you link to some?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to NBH,

    But that point – the more resources/better technology you have compared to your opponent the better your outcome – is true of any sport that depends on equipment, and arguably of almost sport.

    (and to hadyn)

    But with cycling, for example, and rowing, the equipment is mandated to be the same. So it relies on much much more of the skill/endurance/sheer madness of the sportsperson.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Megan Wegan,

    OK, but what about compression vests/pants for sprinters or swimmers?
    Perhaps we should make everyone compete naked…?
    Didn't FINA tighten up the rules around those, though?

    What, those pants weren't tight enough already?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    oh yeah - and watching people play a game is not sport either, it is entertainment - most people coming to NZ for the RWC are coming for the entertainment

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    What, those pants weren’t tight enough already?

    I'm still thinking about the logistics of naked swimming competitions.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

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