# Would you watch gladitorial combat \[Edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837 "2011-01-24T21:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/21 "2011-01-25T06:36:43Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Why watch people killing each other? Curiosity. So long as I know I won’t suffer psychological damage, I would probably want to watch anything I haven’t seen before. Why watch men raping 5-year old boys? Curiosity. So long as I know I won’t suffer psychological damage, I would probably want to watch anything I haven’t seen before. That was sarcasm, in case anyone didn’t get it ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/22 "2011-01-25T06:40:22Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > you left of “no fucking way” in your list of options. +1 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/23 "2011-01-25T10:33:39Z")
I’d watch it but not regularly and not as a real fan. To me, it would fall in the same category as the tough men/cage fight/death match TV shows but carried to a truly definitive conclusion. I’ve watched those bare knuckle fight shows on occasion although I can’t name which show I’ve seen nor can I name a single participant. If I were staging such an event, wrestling and/or fighting on the ground would be prohibited; give 'em swords or knives and may the best/luckiest person win/survive. And let’s not restrict the combat to the males of the species. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/24 "2011-01-25T14:07:31Z")
Just to be clear, these combatants can only use the same weapons that were available in the Roman Colosseum. No guns or ballistics. [QUOTE=AClockworkMelon] Are the prisoners forced to fight or are they offered freedom as an incentive to volunteer? [/QUOTE] Fighting is optional but it’s an avenue to quick parole. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/25 "2011-01-25T14:44:25Z")
> [@Otara](#): > > Yeah why on earth would you want a system where the most lethal person out of a duo willing to kill a random stranger for selfish ends gets out of jail? This. > [@Otara](#): > > Not to mention its inherently disgusting as an entertainment concept. Also this. I have no wish to witness extreme physical and mental suffering. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/26 "2011-01-25T16:22:39Z")
I’d buy season tickets. Qualifiers: [ul] [li]Like Rome, the fights wouldn’t always be to the death.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Unlike Rome, no slaves. Consenting adults only. No animal fights either. And no public executions.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]And no “economic slaves”. This wouldn’t be easy to enforce, but I wouldn’t enjoy watching the last-chance-dregs fighting it out for a one-in-a-million shot at riches. It’s too close the gameshow system in Stephen King’s _Running Man_[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/27 "2011-01-25T18:20:02Z")
I rather suspect that, if it could be pulled off legally, the games would be quite popular. _shudder_ From I, Claudius: > [@Livia](#): > > These games are being degraded by the increasing use of professional tricks to stay alive! And I won’t have it! So put on a good show and there’ll be plenty of money for the living and a decent burial for the dead. And if not…? I’ll break this guild up. And I’ll send the lot of you to the mines in Numidia. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/28 "2011-01-25T18:25:43Z")
No. There’s plenty of horrific stuff out there already on the internet that approximates this level of violence and after just a couple of curious viewings I’m not interested in seeing anything additional. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/29 "2011-01-26T04:02:24Z")
“Depends/other answer” No, but not because of any idea that humans are more civilised now. No, because just watching the dramatizations of gladiatorial combat on the television series \*Rome \*nearly made me puke. I liked the naked theatre though. Less blood and guts, more boobies and hoohahs. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/30 "2011-01-26T05:15:06Z")
Nope. I find real violence disgusting and nauseating. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/31 "2011-01-26T07:02:10Z")
Not a chance. Even if I wanted to watch people sparring with these weapons, having the participants suffering significant injuries or having psychopaths fighting to escape from prison would ruin it. > [@lisacurl](#): > > I liked the naked theatre though. Less blood and guts, more boobies and hoohahs. I like the way you think. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/32 "2011-01-26T08:17:48Z")
I realized I had already answered this question for myself in an earlier thread on the Dope. I will not watch porn where they don’t use condoms. I realize the porn stars may be willing to risk AIDs as part of their jobs, god knows they are people willing to take risks, but damned if anyone is going to risk a fatal disease just to entertain me if I have anything to say about it. And I do. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/33 "2011-01-26T17:49:31Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I realized I had already answered this question for myself in an earlier thread on the Dope. I will not watch porn where they don’t use condoms. I realize the porn stars may be willing to risk AIDs as part of their jobs, god knows they are people willing to take risks, but damned if anyone is going to risk a fatal disease just to entertain me if I have anything to say about it. And I do. 😕 Okay. Good on you for standing up for something, I suppose. _How was this related to the thread again?_ ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/34 "2011-01-26T17:59:47Z")
I voted depends. We’re hardly civilized past that (it wasn’t that long ago that public executions were performed), and I’ll watch MMA for a short bit, but MMA doesn’t really interest me. I liked boxing when guys like Ali, Frazier, and Foreman were fighting, but I’m not really interested in that sort of thing now. So I’d say I’d try it, but could possibly turn it off quickly, either out of boredom or being disgusted (which would depend on how graphically portrayed things are). ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/35 "2011-01-26T18:42:21Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > 😕 > > Okay. Good on you for standing up for something, I suppose. > > _How was this related to the thread again?_ People risking their lives to entertain others? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/36 "2011-01-26T20:24:50Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I realized I had already answered this question for myself in an earlier thread on the Dope. I will not watch porn where they don’t use condoms. I realize the porn stars may be willing to risk AIDs as part of their jobs, god knows they are people willing to take risks, but damned if anyone is going to risk a fatal disease just to entertain me if I have anything to say about it. And I do. This is the most inappropriate post/username combo EVAR. We’re going to have to change your name to “Nice, Considerate Guy Who Only Wants A Moment Of Your Time.” ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/37 "2011-01-27T02:43:10Z")
Hell no I wouldn’t watch it. You can’t watch stuff like that and it not stay with you somehow. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/38 "2011-01-27T04:11:51Z")
No. No, of course not. Witnessing pain and death is unpleasant to me. Why would I do that for entertainment? ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/39 "2011-01-27T05:32:23Z")
I’d be totally against that kind of crap. It’s a stupid way to put inmates on parole. But, yeah I might take a peek. It’s sort of like when people say, “ugh, this soup is disgusting. Here.” I’m a guy who tastes it. I’d never sit in the stadium. I’d never netflix season four. But, if I saw a link to some snippet on the internet, I might just click it. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837/40 "2011-01-27T05:38:50Z")
No. I greatly enjoy fights between skilled combatants in athletic competitions with rules, safeguards, and referees to ensure their safety, and I will watch without enjoyment fights or even brutal assaults that have already occurred as a learning experience. Watching coerced combatants tear each other to shreds with deadly weapons in prescheduled no-rules fights to death or disfigurement for no reason other than the entertainment of spectators is as distasteful as dogfighting, or more so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-watch-gladitorial-combat-edited-title/568837.md?page=3)