# could to-the-death gladiatorial combat be done in the modern western world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 6, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678 "2006-01-06T00:54:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/1 "2006-01-06T00:54:08Z")
I was watching a docu-drama last night about Roman gladiators and it got me wondering whether there’s any way western society could permit it to be revived. Supposing: -The contestants have no living relatives (so no lawsuits) -They sign documents and waivers, making it expressly clear that they understand, accept and embrace the risks involved, including injury or death and that they grant their opponents the right to deliberately kill them in the arena (if they are able) -All necessary steps are taken to ensure that there is no coercion. Could it ever be acceptable? If not, should it? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/2 "2006-01-06T01:55:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > They sign documents and waivers, making it expressly clear that they understand, accept and embrace the risks involved, including injury or death and that they grant their opponents the right to deliberately kill them in the arena (if they are able) Can you legally sign away your life like this? The fact that Dr. Kevorkian is in prison makes me doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/3 "2006-01-06T01:58:25Z")
It will happen some time after duelling is legalized. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/4 "2006-01-06T02:36:37Z")
I have to admit, I’d kinda like to see all-out sword fighting, but I’d be satisfied with the match ending at first cut or if either participant yields. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_in_second_hand_clothing)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/5 "2006-01-06T02:44:50Z")
Well, if my plans for the return of the XFL come to fruition… ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/6 "2006-01-06T02:53:22Z")
> [@Linty Fresh](#): > > Can you legally sign away your life like this? The fact that Dr. Kevorkian is in prison makes me doubt it. Yea, though I suppose they could hold the fights in some third world country or pacific island backwater or something where the gov’t might change the law for them, and then just sell the DVDs or stream it over the internet to western viewers (doubt networks or cable would agree to broadcast it). Don’t know if that would break the OP’s condition of it being in a western country though. But in anycase I doubt it’s something we’ll see in the near future. We have enough simulated violence in our entertainment to sate most peoples bloodlust. ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/7 "2006-01-06T03:57:59Z")
A bit bloodthirsty are you? That’s what the Roman games were all about. Satiating the bloodlust of the Romans. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/8 "2006-01-06T05:35:05Z")
Tonight! In Madison Square Garden! For a purse of $5 million! 25 Iraqi prisoners of war versus **THE EAST L.A. CRIPS!** Tonight’s weapon of choice: CHAINSAWS! To ensure a vigorous contest, all surviving members of the losing team **will** be crucified . . . ---
**Author:** ![Stentor\_2.5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Stentor\_2.5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stentor_2.5)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/9 "2006-01-06T08:47:39Z")
From Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > It should be noted that fights were not generally to the death during the Republic, although gladiators were still killed or maimed accidentally. We have boxing and ultimate fighting here, and occasionally it ends in death. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/10 "2006-01-06T08:59:57Z")
> [@lonesome loser](#): > > A bit bloodthirsty are you? That’s what the Roman games were all about. Satiating the bloodlust of the Romans. No; I want to make it completely clear that I don’t particularly desire for this to happen (although, as humans are essentially the same kind of animals they were back then - I’m sure there would be an eager market for it). I’m just interested in the theoretical aspects of whether it ever _could_ be permitted in western society. > [@Linty Fresh](#): > > Can you legally sign away your life like this? The fact that Dr. Kevorkian is in prison makes me doubt it. That is exactly the question; and if indeed you _can’t_ sign your life away like this, whyever not? ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/11 "2006-01-06T11:50:52Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > That is exactly the question; and if indeed you _can’t_ sign your life away like this, whyever not? In the UK at least, you cannot sign your life away like this, or even consent to being assaulted to any significant degree: [http://www.spannertrust.org/documents/spannerhistory.asp](http://www.spannertrust.org/documents/spannerhistory.asp) As to why not, I’ve no idea. Maybe it comes from the laws banning duelling? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/12 "2006-01-06T12:35:50Z")
It’s odd, because in some senses, consenting to surgery is consenting to assault (albeit hopefully _very careful_ assault). Of course the hoped-for end result is rather different. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/13 "2006-01-06T15:58:06Z")
Sign them up to the “War on Terror” ™, give them a helmet or weapon mounted camera and send them to Iraq or Afghanistan. Of course, to be truely gladiators, we would have to have cameras on the end of RPGs and the like. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678/14 "2006-01-06T21:45:26Z")
Oh for a video link of that Centurion whipping Capt. Kirk because the was concerned about the poor TV ratings for the “to the death match” if Kirk didn’t fight with more gusto. [Bread and Circuses](http://www.ericweisstein.com/fun/startrek/BreadAndCircuses.html)