NationStates Jolt Archive

Self-explanitory. Go! Go! Go!

No. No I will not.

I am boycotting China. They have a horrendous human rights abuse record, not to mention the blood of 40 million chinese citizens at the least is on their leadership's hands.

I will probabaly flick on the womens events at some point for me time if you catch my drift

other than that I just don't care what some guy did instead of inventing a cure for baldness

No. But then, I never watch them as I invariably find even the snips I see boring.

I'm really torn on this, which is why I made this poll.

On one hand, every ethical view I have tells me that China deserves no credibility, not even the credibility of being watched on TV.

On the other hand, there are athletes from all over the world who trained so hard for this and had zero say in where they would compete, and it's unfair to so many of them to boycott.

ill probably watch some. i hate the constant "this athlete has overcome some huge obstacle" reporting so its hard for me to take it for very long.

On the other hand, there are athletes from all over the world who trained so hard for this and had zero say in where they would compete, and it's unfair to so many of them to boycott.

on taxpayer money! *lets loose libertarians*

just watch it if you want too, nobody cares

I am boycotting China. They have a horrendous human rights abuse record, not to mention the blood of 40 million chinese citizens at the least is on their leadership's hands.

That would probably be pretty tough, considering about everything is made in China today...

As for the poll, I'll be watching, purely as a sports fan.

I did not know that this was even a concern for people. The Olympics are about the athletes, some national pride, and a bit of tourism for the host city.
Consciously depreciating an athletes talent and effort in order to protest the regime where they display said skills seems ridiculous.

I will watch some of the competitive events and hope some winner is brave enough to make some kind of statement, like wearing a Tibetan flag on the winner's platform.

I will not watch any of the opening or closing ceremonies, which will be nothing but ChiCom propaganda. 1936 was one Olympics too many for such displays.

Beijing should never have gotten the Games in the first place. Shame on the IOC.

No. But then, I never watch them as I invariably find even the snips I see boring.

Agreed 147.23342555367111 percent

I won't be watching the Olympics but hanging out on the sunny Mediterranean of North Morocco for two months.

I don't watch the Olympics, but even if I did I'd boycott this year...and that has absolutely nothing to do with Toronto not getting the 08 Olympics...
<_< >_>

Only if Mario & Sonic are there... nah, not even then.

Probably little snippets as I flip through the channels looking for something good to watch.

I used to watch the Olympics when I was younger, but now it just bores me.

I will only watch if they return to their ancient roots and compete naked. *nod*

No. I never watch the Olympics. Sports have no appeal to me whatsoever.

I will only watch if they return to their ancient roots and compete naked. *nod*

I think the viewership would be much higher. But really do you want to see a bunch of hairy guys running around? Think carefully before you answer. ;)

Meh, I don't care for the Olympics.

I think the viewership would be much higher. But really do you want to see a bunch of hairy guys running around? Think carefully before you answer. ;)

There are certain sports that I suspect seeing performed naked would have the same awe and revulsion as a traffic accident that you can't look away from. Like weightlifting.

I have resolved to watch it, on the grounds that

1. I am too smart to be swayed by Chinese propagandha anyway

2. I appreciate the efforts of the competitors

3. If it were up to me, I'd have given 08 to Canada or something. It's out of my hands, so why should I make a big deal of it

4. Nothing is ever on TV anyway.

Continue discussion though

<shrug> I'm more of a Winter Olympics kind of guy.

3. If it were up to me, I'd have given 08 to Canada or something. It's out of my hands, so why should I make a big deal of it

They should have given the events to Zimbabwe!



Continue discussion though

Oh thanks, we will...

Yes, why wouldn't I?

Also, I think Tibet is a joke. There is no reason for it to be independent.

If the U.S. Men's Basketball team can reverse recent trends and actually show up this time around, I'll probably watch the medal rounds. Otherwise, the Olympics don't interest me.

Yes, why wouldn't I?

Also, I think Tibet is a joke. There is no reason for it to be independent.

Why not?

They always show too much gymnastics. While impressive, not my thing. I hate judged sports, I want a concrete measure of victory, faster, higher, more goals. More arrows toward the center of the target...alright, that's a weird one, too. I'll probably not even notice they're on.

Olympics is about the athletes, not the host. I think that we lose track of the games when we make it about the politics revolving around the host. Plus, if I watch or not is not going to make a shred of difference to China or Tibet.

I don't think that watching the olympics and agreeing with the policies of the host country really have a connection for anyone except for the countries who decide to send athletes. I don't have any problem with there being increased interest in the policies of the country, and I think that's a good thing, but the olympics are about more than China.

i can't imagine why. i never do anyway.

i only care about the winter olympics, and that not about the competitions themselves but because i like seeing some of the tecnologies involved.

=^^=
.../\...

I will watch some of the competitive events and hope some winner is brave enough to make some kind of statement, like wearing a Tibetan flag on the winner's platform.


I will also hope to see that. It would be epic win.

I love the Olympics, summer and winter, and I don't care about the host nation's politics. I don't think that should matter in the decision to attend or watch the games. It was stupid for the US to boycott the 1980 Moscow games. It doesn't do anything but show how childish entire nations can be, and doesn't do anything to improve world relations. I mean, I watched the 2002 Salt Lake City winter games despite it being hosted by a nation whose electoral process was compromised two years earlier by corrupt state officials and Choice Point/DBT.

Athletes and press visiting Beijing will do more to shed light on China than any boycott ever could. In fact, I believe boycotts tell more about the boycotting nation than the host. Think about it -- how foolish would the US have looked if the USSR had NOT boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles summer games instead of childishly retaliating?

As for the games themselves, I love getting a chance to see sports you never see regularly on TV. Volleyball (that doesn't involve the beach, for fuck's sake), team handball, gymnastics, shooting, archery, soccer, kayaking, rowing, hell -- even badminton (that sport can get nasty, at least in appearance).

ill probably watch some. i hate the constant "this athlete has overcome some huge obstacle" reporting so its hard for me to take it for very long.

I agree. A little back-story is okay, but when they slather on the pathos, it gets old.

on taxpayer money! *lets loose libertarians*

just watch it if you want too, nobody cares

Not US libertarians. I don't see a hell of a lot of US government money going toward Olympic sports.

I won't be watching the Olympics but hanging out on the sunny Mediterranean of North Morocco for two months.

NOW you're talkin'. That sounds incredibly sweet.

i only care about the winter olympics, and that not about the competitions themselves but because i like seeing some of the tecnologies involved.

=^^=
.../\...

That should be done naked too. It would add a degree of difficulty to some of those skiing events. And ice hockey. :)

Yes, I will.

It's the only time I watch TV.

To be honest, the Olympics are going to be bloody hard for me to avoid - I live in Beijing.

That said, I do have tickets to the Mens' Team Sabre qualifiers, so I'll definitely be watching that, along with the sailing and the taekwondo.

I wouldn't boycott the Olympics because of China's policies - the Olympics shouldn't be used to make political statements, period. Personally, I think the Chinese government does get a lot of short shrift in the Western media. The country and the government sure as hell ain't paragons of freedom and virtue, but a lot of what I read and hear in the media is quite exaggerated, and very one-sided. I still disagree with most of the Government's policies, but I do wish that they'd occasionally be given recognition for the occasional good that they do.

As to the current Tibet issue? I think China have been more than a mite heavy-handed, but I don't think the Tibetans are exactly innocent in this either. Regardless, it should have nothing to do with the Olympics.

Everything you've heard about the smog, though? 100% true. I'm very, very glad I'm not a marathon runner in this city.

Probably not

No, for two reasons, firstly, I find it boring and secondly, I don't have a TV.

4. Nothing is ever on TV anyway.


I rather disagree with their policies but will watch primarily because of the quoted comment. Another consideration is that it is not about politics, therefore making my views of Chinese policy an almost non-factor.

P.S. When will :headbang: become an olympic sport?

There's a summer olympics?!

*Yawns*

Nah, I don't care for it.

I'll probably watch the womens volleyball. I caught a glimpse of it last time around and it seems like it's just a good excuse for the cameramen to zoom in on a nice ass when they give those signals behind their backs.

Being a rower and runner, I enjoy the Games because its generally the only time either sport gets any real time in the sun (o.k theres is the Oxford-Cambridge boatrace, but its not the same as the intensity of international 2ks).

Right now, I haven't seen enough of a reason to boycott the Olympics. But if China does something really nasty between now and the Olympics (something of Tianmen Square magnitude), then I will change my mind. Hell, continuing their current behavior might be enough.

I won't watch the "Up Close & Personal" stories though. That's what I loved about being in Europe during the 2000 and 2002 Olympics - or watching the 1998 Olympics on Canadian TV.

Self-explanitory. Go! Go! Go!
Absolutely. I want to see world-class athletes being poisoned by the world-class smog in Beijing. I read that heavy exercise outdoors should be limited to one hour in Beijing to avoid serious illness.

Guess those marathoners better speed it up!

To be honest, the Olympics are going to be bloody hard for me to avoid - I live in Beijing.

That said, I do have tickets to the Mens' Team Sabre qualifiers, so I'll definitely be watching that, along with the sailing and the taekwondo.

I wouldn't boycott the Olympics because of China's policies - the Olympics shouldn't be used to make political statements, period. Personally, I think the Chinese government does get a lot of short shrift in the Western media. The country and the government sure as hell ain't paragons of freedom and virtue, but a lot of what I read and hear in the media is quite exaggerated, and very one-sided. I still disagree with most of the Government's policies, but I do wish that they'd occasionally be given recognition for the occasional good that they do.

As to the current Tibet issue? I think China have been more than a mite heavy-handed, but I don't think the Tibetans are exactly innocent in this either. Regardless, it should have nothing to do with the Olympics.

Everything you've heard about the smog, though? 100% true. I'm very, very glad I'm not a marathon runner in this city.

I didn't know that this website was allowed in China.

The Tibetans don't have to be innocent. It's their country. I'd be resentful if my country had been occupied for fifty years by foreign invaders, too.

No, because China should not be politicizing a sporting event.

And because gymnastics and synchronized swimming are not sports.

No, because China should not be politicizing a sporting event.

And because gymnastics and synchronized swimming are not sports.

Synchronized Swimming is a great sport. Gymnastics is pretty cool, too.

My favorite is the Men's and Women's 8's in crew (rowing), though, followed by diving competitions.

The swimming races are fun to watch as well.

The poll needs a "I don't care for the olympics but I'll watch them just to spite the protestors." option.

I do not possess a television. Besides, I find it all boring, except for the fencing.

I didn't know that this website was allowed in China.

The Tibetans don't have to be innocent. It's their country. I'd be resentful if my country had been occupied for fifty years by foreign invaders, too.

China's opened up a lot of websites recently - the BBC and Wikipedia were unblocked not long ago. Not sure how long it will last, mind you.

They tend to block blogs and news websites more than forums and things like Nationstates.

No, because I *am secretly racist towards the Chinese and athletes.

*was

China's opened up a lot of websites recently - the BBC and Wikipedia were unblocked not long ago. Not sure how long it will last, mind you.

Oh great. What we need is definitely millions of commies trying to edit Wikipedia articles on FDR.