# The Haka Considered Harmful **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 30, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192 "2015-10-30T18:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/1 "2015-10-30T18:05:56Z")
Probably everyone who comes here will know this, but I’ll summarize. Australia and New Zealand are in the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Before games, the New Zealand team does a performance called the Haka. I don’t think that as an American I should put up with people telling me I can’t have an opinion without better understanding of Maori culture, rugby culture, or whatever. I know some about both, and I think I know poor sportsmanship when I see it. “Just because you’ve always done it that way, doesn’t mean…” The Haka celebrates the violent, warrior aspect of Maori culture. If you want to pay tribute, recite a poem extolling the Polynesians’ skill as navigators or something. Too wimpy? Well, figure out something else with less eye-rolling, screaming and tongue-sticking-outing. Something without “death” in the chant. (sorry, I meant to put this in the Game Room (close call over GD or pit) not here). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/2 "2015-10-30T18:07:06Z")
Go be overly sensitive somewhere else. The Haka is cool. ---
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/3 "2015-10-30T18:12:12Z")
If you want to watch performance art depicting the Comanches torturing their captives, well whatever, go ahead, but wouldn’t you cringe if it was pre-game entertainment for every home Texas Tech game? ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/4 "2015-10-30T18:17:25Z")
Isn’t it the perfect example of [sublimation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimation_%28psychology%29), “where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are unconsciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior, possibly resulting in a long-term conversion of the initial impulse”? Also, it’s super cool. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/5 "2015-10-30T18:32:18Z")
And what’s with kids dressing up as monsters, pirates and serial killers and such? If there’s every a holiday celebrating that, we better nip it in the bud!! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/6 "2015-10-30T18:35:02Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > If you want to watch performance art depicting the Comanches torturing their captives, well whatever, go ahead, but wouldn’t you cringe if it was pre-game entertainment for every home Texas Tech game? How about a whole stadium threatening to hit you in the head with an axe? [Atlanta Braves.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGuChxSvuh8) [Kansas City Chiefs.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGoTMUMMt6o) [Florida Seminoles.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlgfs7bIhys) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/7 "2015-10-30T18:39:11Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > The Haka celebrates the violent, warrior aspect of Maori culture. And contact sports celebrate the violent, warrior aspect of human psychology, atavistic though it is, in a safe, sublimated, ceremonial way. Nothing could be \*more \*appropriate to start a New Zealand rugby match than the Haka. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/8 "2015-10-30T18:39:38Z")
So, the haka celebrates war? Doesn’t the national anthem of the United States (The Star-Spangled Banner) also celebrate war? Why not ask that it not be sung before sporting events in the United States? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/9 "2015-10-30T18:45:40Z")
I used to tune in to All Blacks matches just to see the haka! Frankly I wish American football games all started with such a warlike shouting and demonstrations of fearsomeness. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/10 "2015-10-30T18:49:35Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > The Haka celebrates the violent, warrior aspect of Maori culture. Marching bands originated from the military trumpeters and drummers used to encourage and signal troops in battle. We should probably ban those too. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/11 "2015-10-30T18:50:14Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > So, the haka celebrates war? Doesn’t the national anthem of the United States (The Star-Spangled Banner) also celebrate war? Why not ask that it not be sung before sporting events in the United States? The Star-Spangled Banner doesn’t celebrate war so much as celebrate surviving a war. If you want a good, violent national anthem, look to the French: [QUOTE= La Marseillaise] Grab your weapons, citizens! Form your batallions! Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood Water our fields! [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/12 "2015-10-30T18:50:21Z")
Other countries have the haka as well, not just NZ. Wales does “Men of Harlech”, which is a song about war. If England decides to do the “Ministry of Silly Walks”, I would be okay with that. And, as said above repeatedly, the haka is cool. Did anyone else notice they did something different from the normal “_Ka mate ka oro_” against SA last weekend? ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/13 "2015-10-30T18:51:11Z")
Are you a fan of the No Fun League, where spinning the ball after a touchdown is considered an illegal taunt? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/14 "2015-10-30T18:52:39Z")
So I just watched a few of these Haka performances - is the opposing team somehow required to watch it? You’d think they’d turn their backs, or walk off the field or something to indicate they aren’t impressed. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/15 "2015-10-30T18:53:52Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > Something without “death” in the chant. Snipped. The usual haka chant is about the silliest thing you’ve ever heard when translated, there’s nothing about killing anyone. Here’s the translation: > [@](#): > > I die! I die! > > I live! I live! > > This is the hairy man > > Who brought the sun and caused it to shine > > A step upward, another step upward! > > A step upward, another… the Sun shines! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/16 "2015-10-30T18:55:48Z")
Since haka have come up… [here is Jason Momoa’s audition for the part of Khal Drogo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dE786RERGE). ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/17 "2015-10-30T18:56:49Z")
My biggest problem is that it’s considered impolite not to face it or challenge it too much. The Haka (and Samoa/Fidji’s songs) would die if all other countries just did other stuff on the sidelines. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/18 "2015-10-30T19:02:09Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So I just watched a few of these Haka performances - is the opposing team somehow required to watch it? You’d think they’d turn their backs, or walk off the field or something to indicate they aren’t impressed. Quite a few years ago Wales said they were going to sing “Men of Harlech” after the haka, it cheesed off the Kiwis and they did the haka in their locker room before the game. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/19 "2015-10-30T19:05:30Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So I just watched a few of these Haka performances - is the opposing team somehow required to watch it? You’d think they’d turn their backs, or walk off the field or something to indicate they aren’t impressed. [Ways to respond to the Haka.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVQ8wtbc4bo) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192/20 "2015-10-30T19:09:47Z")
> [@Hooleehootoo](#): > > If you want to pay tribute, recite a poem extolling the Polynesians’ skill as navigators or something. I’m sure having the cheerleaders do a [poi dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkgBEDVo-fA) would be extremely popular. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-haka-considered-harmful/736192.md?page=2)