I have a friend competing in the Olympics this year. So when I can, I will try to watch her event and cheer her on. And maybe some female gymnastics too… but that’s about it!
Faruiza:
I won’t be watching. I just can’t make myself do it. The Chinese government are collectively baaad, baaad, people, and I can’t in good concience support any of it. The media get their money from sponsors who advertise because they want those watching to buy their shit. Well, I won’t buy it, and I won’t passively be one of the people in the advertising numbers game. Some product has an olympic logo on it? Pass.
It’s possible that I’m misguided and my personal little boycott means nothing to anyone but me…in fact, it’s probable. But in my mind, money makes the world go round, and finding other avenues into which to inject my dollar is about the best way I have right now of giving the IOC, the Chinese government, the sponsors, and advertisers the finger.
Lots of people think the U.S. is bad, and on many levels, I don’t disagree. We are. But oppressive governments that throw their own people around like rag dolls (as a rule) are worse. If they can’t be bothered to straighten the fuck up, at least to our crappy standards, they will get no love from me, nor will anyone who supports the status quo there.
I’m not that righteous. Really. There’s just a few things in this world that feel wrong enough to me that I’d feel like an ass if I didn’t notice. This is one of them.
How are you going to know what not to buy, if you don’t watch to see who’s got commercials on the coverage?
You have something against women hitting each other with weight-tipped metal whips?
I’ve watched every Olympics since 1972. I can’t stop now.
Ed
You took the words right outta my mouth. There will be some major trouble at this Olympiad.
I will be watching.
Huh? I am a woman who fences, but I do foil, not sabre.
Sabre fencer here; just the way it was worded kind of got my hackles up.
My classes are over-run with sabre people, and the number doing foil are a tiny subgroup who are treated like the school Calculus Club was back in High School. My post was a tongue-in-cheek note about how foil “can’t get no respect.”
Sadly 90 % of the harmful air pollution is invisible to the eye. So while it looks better, it may still be damaging to breathe.
Sadly 90 % of the harmful air pollution is invisible to the eye. So while it looks better, it may still be damaging to breathe.
