Empty, feel-good gesture that does nothing to stop China's crimes against humanity and hurts innocent, hard-working athletes? A strong statement of principal that needs making if our country is going to stand for anything other than hypocrisy? Payback for all our dead pets? Something else? Please discuss.

Boycott? Why would I watch in the first place?

Boycott? Why would I watch in the first place?

They have cycling this time, you know...

They have cycling this time, you know...
as opposed to last time???

individual protest by athletes would be the most effective but the Chinese will control media images if they need to, look for delayed "live" coverage. Countries like the US won't boycott cause they have sold the family jewels to China. Sad that China can get away with crap like this but then maybe individuals can actually send the message. Bought a made in China bike or dealt with a company that uses Chinese labor? Damn hard not too.

They have cycling this time, you know...


And what happened with the last gold medalist in cycling?


IMO, the Olympics are supposed to be about amateur competition. When they started bringing in pros I stopped caring and watching. It's no longer about competition, it's about profit. I have better things to waste my time with.

as opposed to last time???

Last time, sure (actually, all the modern Olympics, since 1896); but next time, who knows? The IOC has kicked around the idea of dumping the sport since the whole 'roid thing made "winning" such a relative thing.

Besides, do you think he would've been more likely to consider viewing if I had said "oh, they're having artistic gymnastics this time"?:)

Last time, sure (actually, all the modern Olympics, since 1896); but next time, who knows? The IOC has kicked around the idea of dumping the sport since the whole 'roid thing made "winning" such a relative thing.

Besides, do you think he would've been more likely to consider viewing if I had said "oh, they're having artistic gymnastics this time"?:)
I think female beach volley is the way to convince KenB :D

individual protest by athletes would be the most effective but the Chinese will control media images if they need to, look for delayed "live" coverage. Countries like the US won't boycott cause they have sold the family jewels to China. Sad that China can get away with crap like this but then maybe individuals can actually send the message. Bought a made in China bike or dealt with a company that uses Chinese labor? Damn hard not too.

Like the Tommie Smith/John Carlos/raised fist moment in '68? Yes, I wonder if the Chinese would allow/control images like that. I don't see Uncle Sam having the stones for it, either.

Semi-interesting sidebar: a friend of mine ran track at Oberlin College, where Tommie Smith was his coach.

I think female beach volley is the way to convince KenB :D

Not "men's coxless pairs rowing"?

The 1980 and 1084 Olympics were boycotted by various countries. The boycotts didn't change any countries policies.

Boycott? Why would I watch in the first place?
+1.8 million

I stopped watching during the Atlanta games when I got tired of how American-centric NBC's coverage was. Then, like you said, they brought the pro athletes in. And beyond that, the IOC seems to be always steeped in corruption. So f**k it. What's the point ......

+1.8 million

I stopped watching during the Atlanta games when I got tired of how American-centric NBC's coverage was. Then, like you said, they brought the pro athletes in. And beyond that, the IOC seems to be always steeped in corruption. So f**k it. What's the point ......
i gave up watching the olympics after 1988 ben johnson carl lewis race.

I was surprised to learn a recent survey of travel agents in the US failed to put China in the top 10 destinations on the basis of reservations this year so far. I think the distance and the politics of Tibet are having an impact on the image of China.

It's people like you that kept Barry "The Cannibal" Muzin from winning his gold medal.

I was surprised to learn a recent survey of travel agents in the US failed to put China in the top 10 destinations on the basis of reservations this year so far. I think the distance and the politics of Tibet are having an impact on the image of China.

Or it's simply because Americans have no money to travel.

If they stopped having the olympics, would anyone even care anymore?

I was surprised to learn a recent survey of travel agents in the US failed to put China in the top 10 destinations on the basis of reservations this year so far. I think the distance and the politics of Tibet are having an impact on the image of China.

the politics of Tibet? LOL.
americans don't travel much when compared to euros and china is:a- too far away. b- too exotic. c- too .... communist. d- did i say americans don't travel much?

If they stopped having the olympics, would anyone even care anymore?

people love the olympics. maybe not the US public but here... they love it.

...Something else? Please discuss.

IOC screwed the pooch on this one when they selected China as host way back when. If they had sacked up back at selection time and turned down their bribes or taken money from the second bidder this would not be open for discussion right now. If people want to complain they need to focus on the corruption and money (legal & bribes) that flow through the IOC. Otherwise suck it up and compete. Keep in mind that overall athletes at this level typically have a pretty narrow focus/experience in life do to the hours spent in training and the driving force of their parents. Looking to athletes for political wisdom is kind of like looking to Hollywood stars as your moral compass, entertaining to listen to but probably not an authoritative source.

Boycott? Why would I watch in the first place?

To see a bunch of white (men can't jump) Europeans from rinky-dinky places disprove the widespread belief held in this country that whites are inferior athletes to blacks by kicking the highly-paid keisters of our finest NBAers. Like they did last Olympics.

the politics of Tibet? LOL.
americans don't travel much when compared to euros and china is:a- too far away. b- too exotic. c- too .... communist. d- did i say americans don't travel much?

You must not get around much.

This from the Travel Industry Association and just for the US;

"This year's report reveals that domestic and international travelers spent an estimated $699 billion in the United States in 2006, nearly 7% more than the year before. In 2007, total traveler spending is expected to reach $740 billion, an increase of 5.7% from the previous year."

Try google on the impact of international tourism worldwide. Then book a trip. The world is a big place.

this is supposed to be China's big coming out party
a huge PR opp for the PRC
don't show. tell them 'sorry'

last Boycott was us Boycotting Russia and Russia Boycotting us. this, if done by numerous countries would mean much more

You must not get around much.

This from the Travel Industry Association and just for the US;

"This year's report reveals that domestic and international travelers spent an estimated $699 billion in the United States in 2006, nearly 7% more than the year before. In 2007, total traveler spending is expected to reach $740 billion, an increase of 5.7% from the previous year."

Try google on the impact of international tourism worldwide. Then book a trip. The world is a big place.

actually i get around. i even post on forums made up of americans... do you post in international boards as well?
i don't see american tourists in places i see french, brits, germans, italians, spaniards...
and no google will make them visit those places.

If they stopped having the olympics, would anyone even care anymore?
just might..

just might..
So would the pharmaceutical industry.

So would the pharmaceutical industry.
Really? they make their profit off athletes?
I saw the comparison once between a cyclist usage of EPO versus an actual sick person getting it as a part of chemotherapy. the cyclists use was barely a drop compared to the genuine use

Really? they make their profit off athletes?
I saw the comparison once between a cyclist usage of EPO versus an actual sick person getting it as a part of chemotherapy. the cyclists use was barely a drop compared to the genuine use
Wow. Easy-does it. :rolleyes:

I'm looking back at my off-handed, sardonic half-joke and I don't see where I was implying that the industry relied on Olympians for their profits.

Wow. Easy-does it. :rolleyes:

I'm looking back at my off-handed, sardonic half-joke and I don't see where I was implying that the industry relied on Olympians for their profits.
so why does the pharmacy industry care?
oh that's right we were just joking

so why does the pharmacy industry care?
oh that's right we were just joking
Right, see, the joke was that since so many Olympians use dope of some kind, the pharmaceutical industry would take a hit.

Right, see, the joke was that since so many Olympians use dope of some kind, the pharmaceutical industry would take a hit.

[ Roebuck tosses another crumpled paper into the wastebasket ]

" Dammnit, I WILL get this pharma joke down...I will show the folks at the comedy store and RBR who is The funny one!"

[ pull back, Roebuck again starts typing furiously ]

to be cont.
:D

[ Roebuck tosses another crumpled paper into the wastebasket ]

" Dammnit, I WILL get this pharma joke down...I will show the folks at the comedy store and RBR who is The funny one!"

[ pull back, Roebuck again starts typing furiously ]

to be cont.
:D
I heard Hillary needs a new comedian as bad as sinbad. Something to keep in mind :)

[ Roebuck tosses another crumpled paper into the wastebasket ]

" Dammnit, I WILL get this pharma joke down...I will show the folks at the comedy store and RBR who is The funny one!"

[ pull back, Roebuck again starts typing furiously ]

to be cont.
:D
DAMMIT! I thought you told me you turned the webcam off once our session was, um, finished.

DAMMIT! I thought you told me you turned the webcam off once our session was, um, finished.

never believe everything I say....:)

Hell no. Don't boycott. All this does is hurt the athletes that trained to get to this point. Go over and kick arse on the field of play. Pull a Jesse Owens on them.

Hell no. Don't boycott. All this does is hurt the athletes that trained to get to this point. Go over and kick arse on the field of play. Pull a Jesse Owens on them.

Thing to do would be to pull out of the Opening / Closing Ceremonies.... that would send a message w/o hurting the athletes

Thing to do would be to pull out of the Opening / Closing Ceremonies.... that would send a message w/o hurting the athletes

That could work. Might be nice to show up at the closing ceremony if the team did well though, just to gloat a little.

That could work. Might be nice to show up at the closing ceremony if the team did well though, just to gloat a little.

I got it...Opening Ceremonies whole US team dressed in orange Tibetan Monk robes....

/ they could be wearing Red, White and Blue baseball caps tho

Empty, feel-good gesture that does nothing to stop China's crimes against humanity and hurts innocent, hard-working athletes? A strong statement of principal that needs making if our country is going to stand for anything other than hypocrisy? Payback for all our dead pets? Something else? Please discuss.

An Olympic boycott would probably result in even harsher treatment of the Tibetans. I think a sporting event that has hundreds or even thousands of foreign journalists running around China is a good thing. And if China attempts to keep them under constant surveillance, empty out the streets of people, stage pro-government rallys, etc, the media will see through it and start covering THAT story instead of the games. Let China be seen, spots and all. Isolating China would be a step back.

Thing to do would be to pull out of the Opening / Closing Ceremonies.... that would send a message w/o hurting the athletes
Brilliant.