I was just reading about a turkey eating contest held on Thanksgiving. This reminded me of other items I’ve seen on this “sport”.
To me, it seems rather crass in view of the large amount of starvation in the world. However, one could also make the argument that auto or aircraft racing are terrible wastes of natural resources. I also find the idea just generally revolting.
What say you? Should this be given a full-fledged pitting complete with cuss words? Mods, move to GD if you like.
I can’t find it in my heart to get massively het up over competitive eating … I just file it under “some people have bloody weird ideas about entertainment”.
I put it in the same league as politicians from Massachusetts-mildly amusing but bereft of real value to society as a whole.
No.
Actually, it’s not really (ahem) chewy enough for GD either, so off it goes to IMHO.
I think it’s pretty disgusting, but I have no real problem with it.
Starvation in the world does not equal a shortage of food. The problem that causes starvation is the poor distribution of that food. It is a complex problem and shouldn’t be just glossed over in that extremely simplistic (and wrong) way. Even if there is a natural disaster like a famine in Africa, there is still more than enough food but we have to get it to them. Part of that is a short-term logistical problem but that can usually be overcome. The long-term problem is governments that not only distribute resources unevenly, but sometimes confiscate food and other resources from people that desperately need it. That is a common model in Africa and parts of Asia and is difficult to fix without military intervention.
Don’t worry, those 40 hot dogs were never going to end up in that Ethopian child’s mouth no matter what happened. You can find comfort or despair in that.
What Shagnasty said. Hell, during the Great Famine in Ireland, while the people were starving, food was being shipped OUT of the country, overseas from what I’ve read.
Besides, even if it is ultimately wrong, I’m sure these people pay for it later. Remember Stand By Me, that story that Gordy told about Lard-Ass Hogan?
I just hate it when they show people on tv throwing that shit back up.
Anyone watch tonight’s CSI?
And I say no to the pitting as famine is more of a political problem than anything else.
I wasn’t thinking along the lines of “that food should go to Ethiopia”. It’s true that starvation is more of a political problem.
Rather, it just strikes me as insensitive to have eating contests when others have little. Hence my use of the word “crass” in the OP.
Nothing to add to the topic. I just wanted to say that I think that a thread criticizing competitive eating contests started by a poster named Mach Tuck is just a little funny.
I don’t get it. “Mach Tuck” is an aerodynamic problem that occurs when an aircraft goes supersonic. Is there another definition I don’t know about?
I love watching them myself. However I don’t feel the same way you do about competitive eating and it being a sign of inequity. I do feel the same way about conspicious commercial consumption though. The sight of a $90,000 car bothers me, but people forcing down food which only costs about $10-15 does not. Most people in the US can afford to buy enough baked beans, turkey or eggs to eat until they vomit if they really want them.
A competition on who can spend the most healthcare dollars would be even more bothersome. If they every make that a sport then I’ll protest.
The pit crew for Mary Tyler Moore’s plastic surgeon are hoping you’ll emulate Gandhi, not Ted Kaczynski.
As a sport, I can’t give it too much credit toward the sum of human achievement, but then I find those spiritual exhultations of legitimate athletes like surfers and mountain climbers silly already.
I suppose the days of competitive fucking (beyond the dreams of those Trojan internet ads) and competetive shitting are not far in our future.
Someone who Googled my name sent me a gleeful email informing me that there is a competitive eater with my (rather uncommon) name. I was mortified, so I guess I got a real-life sense of how I must feel about it.
As an American, I will say that, even though I understand that a slightly-built Japanese fellow is apparently the King of the “sport,” I think of this…pursuit (it ain’t no sport) as an American thing. Within that context, I think it is a bit too illustrative of things that aren’t particularly good about American culture. Over-indulgence as a thing to celebrate, eating as a quantity not quality thing, placing competitiveness ahead of all else - even if you look like a fool doing it. Just…ugh. Then: meh.
My $.02. Maybe not Pit-worthy, but kinda sad and embarrassing.
Ah yes, Takeru Kobayashi. Also see his wiki entry.
I’ll say this - I love to watch this guy kick ass. There are always huge guys whose eyes are popping out, sweating, and turning green. And then Kobayashi is just chugging along.
Dip the ______ in water, eat 1/2 the _____. Dip the other 1/2, eat the other 1/2. Very methodical, very Japanese, and IMHO very awesome. In the blanks, please insert hot dogs, potato skins, etc.
Some of you obviously disagree with this contests, but when I see Kobayashi on television, I stop and watch it. He’s an international superstar, akin to watching Michael Jordon play bball, Gretzky in Hockey, Magnus von Magnerson (sp?) in the World’s Strongest Man Competitions, etc. 
I agree completely. It doesn’t make me fighting mad, though…I don’t expect much from people to begin with.
I somewhat agree with this. People are allowed to engage in certain activities, and don’t require the approval of others. Normally human recreation is a waste of resources, though humans might require such rereational sessions to reach full productivity, and could be a net gain in resources - I don’t know.
People do things as a result of being people.
People pay to watch eating contests?
It 's been satirized on King of the Hill, so pitting it would be anti-climactic.