You know - I don't get sport at all any more

[the_nita]

South African runner having gender verification tests

Cause you know - that she said "I'm a girl" can't have any relevance when she's so damned buff.

Again, I'm not sure I like my fellow man much most days....

Comments

[zanate]

I'm not sure I like my fellow man much most days....

Are you sure that this fellow is a man?

[the_nita]

If they claim they are.

[zanate]

What if they're lying?

[the_nita]

Unless I feel like questioning everyone, why shouldn't I accept what they say at face value?

[quingawaga]

Sooo, should we stop testing for steroids, then, and just accept what people say about THAT at face value

[the_nita]

Really - give the prevalence of steroids in sport nowadays and the public's apparent need for the best to constantly be shattering world records, who the hell cares?

Long run, this isn't something earthshattering - it's a damned race.

For that, we should treat someone like they're less than human?

What would you say if tomorrow your boss questioned if you were actually a girl and demanded that you undergo testing to prove it?

[zanate]

What would you say if tomorrow your boss questioned if you were actually a girl and demanded that you undergo testing to prove it?

"No."

But it's not the same thing, and that's the point.

You can argue (to good effect!) that the rules to level the playing field are outdated and ineffectual, but until such a point that they're discarded, they should be enforced.

Because discarding them (turning it into one big free-for-all) will have the same effect as not enforcing them, thus permitting anyone to participate in any classification with any enhancement: virtually every sport outside of gymnastics will become pointless to pursue at the olympic level for anyone with an XX chromosome. Sexual dimorphism gives males of our species an unfair advantage in strength and speed.

It just doesn't seem right to me.

[the_nita]

As I told Paul last night - evidently, I don't get "sports" and the mentality of people who do.

On a pure "what's worse off if we trash it", the "purity of sport" or the self-image of an 18 year old girl, given that sport hasn't been pure since before I was born, I thought it was reasonable to not isolate and humiliate her.

Evidently, I'm wrong.

Very well.

I'll go crawl back under my rock.

[greensabre27]

Well, I'm glad I made my saving throw last night and didn't respond right away. Initially, I had thought about arguing with you, but took the time - the night - to think it through before responding. After much thought, much to my surprise(and maybe yours), I agree with you. Completely. So, why was I going to argue with you initially? I realize that my motivation was spurred entirely because of the subject of cheating, something which is anathema to me. I loathe cheating and cheaters so much that, despite the fact that I know it is *wrong*, a (now, thanks to this discussion, very small) part of me still thinks testing that woman is okay. Not a happy making realization, but there it is. Anyway, thanks for this; very enlightening discussion.

[the_nita]

I agree, cheating sucks.

You willing to answer the question I posed to zanate?

[greensabre27]

Um, can you be more specific, please? You've asked zanate a number of questions.

[the_nita]

I have a question.

If this kind of behaviour is wrong - if steroids useage is wrong - if cheating is wrong.

Why do people who think that things in sports are wrong - why are they still paying for tickets, watching the telecasts, listening to the radio broadcasts & buying things from the sponsors?