It’s the start of another N.F.L. season, the time of year Americans turn on their televisions to watch their favorite teams make spectacular plays and their favorite players commit incredible acts of athleticism. But is America’s favorite pastime actually its guiltiest pleasure? Can fans ethically enjoy watching a football game?
The effects of the tackles on players’ brains is one reason you might feel guilty for watching. The injuries come on top of long-running disagreements between players and the league. How do you balance the brutality of the sport with the athleticism and beauty? (continues)
The effects of the tackles on players’ brains is one reason you might feel guilty for watching. The injuries come on top of long-running disagreements between players and the league. How do you balance the brutality of the sport with the athleticism and beauty? (continues)
When I think about it, football has many consequences to fans and players. Fans can become addicted or aggressive to others about a winning outcome. The players face many potential injuries.
ReplyDeleteH03- Should I feel guilty about watching it?
It is not so cut and dry. When I watch the game, from my understanding, the players want to be in the game. From a statistical view, my watching the game is one more number for the viewership total which signifies I am interested.
I definitely do not want players to get hurt, but it is understood by fans that contact is a huge part of the game. The part of the game I really enjoy is the beauty and athleticism. Many of those guys are top tier athletes training with the best of the best. In that way, it is like the reason many watch the Olympics: for competition and display of athleticism.
However, it does not feel good when watching a game and a player is laying down on the field as a result of injury. Everyone feels bad in this situation. The sport would not be enjoyed the same for fans if the rules were amended for the players' safety. So, I don't think there is a balance in this situation.
(H03)
ReplyDeleteFootball has huge consequences on its players and surrounding staff. There are constant injuries, as well as emotional stress, ruined lives, and even related murders. That being said, football, at least as a profession, is not the sole participant in an industry built around injury. Many trades are prone to injury or wear at the body, and almost every sport can have huge consequences when practiced or actively participated in, such as boxing. The reason football stands out is the audience. I think that an audience should not feel guilty, after all, our society is largely built on the backs of low income workers that often suffer severely due to physical labor. If one is to feel guilty, there is much more than football to worry about. Overall, football and most sports and even high risk jobs deserve more safety provisions and health focus.
H03. Agreed. Despite the harms provided to ones health by football and other sports, I think there are other issues in our society that are more pressing. More specifically, the issue in low paying physical labor jobs.
Delete(H03)
ReplyDeleteFootball is millions of peoples' favorite hobby. Millions of people watch multiple games a week. However, with football and anything else, there is plenty of negative consequences. Football players are expected to give their all. Some players even play injured and keep quiet. Some players make the sport their entire life. It basically becomes their personality. Once that happens, that is all they think about. Football has no doubt ruined families, ruined lives, and ruined bodies. But football has plenty of positive impacts. It raises plenty of money. It is the livelihood for many people. Football is their way of staying above water. Being a football fan in not "unethical." They are just fans who love something like anyone else. But when you think deeper into the sport, there is plenty to learn.
HO2
ReplyDeleteI've never been a football fan, nor much of sports fan, but to my understanding, so many of the players worked hard to get into that position. Years and years of training and practice, they know what they're getting into and they know the possible outcomes. Do I think this justifies the violent nature of football and all the lives it ruins? No. But every player going in should know the risks at stake. But then again, perhaps they're blinded by the cheers of the crowd or their families. Perhaps they live to impress in this fake world of images and fabricated selves. Would football effect me in any way if it all of a sudden disappeared? Not personally- aside from my dad's personal love for the sport- but life in America would be very different without it.
H1
ReplyDeleteI do not watch football often, and when I do I dont feel guilty. Professional players have worked hard to get where they are, and are aware of the risks involved. They did not have to become football players if they were that worried of the potential outcomes. It is a matter of weighing the pros and cons for each person. For a lot of people, money would outrule the negatives, like possibility of injury. I do not think there is a way to balance the 'athleticism and beauty'. Taking away or changing an aspect of it would completely change the game. If something were to change, I feel that some people would approve, as the players safety is being accounted for. I also think there would be a backlash. Die hard fans dont want a different game, they want it like it has always been.
H01
ReplyDeleteI don't watch football much. However, this sort of sport, where athletes put their bodies to the test in spite of potential risks, has been around for centuries. As someone who has participated in physical sports, such as karate, I think that taking away some of the risks nullifies the point of the sport. If one wants to play something that is safe and easy on the body, they could compete in a sport such as golf. However, people still go towards physically demanding sports such as football. They make their choice to participate in something that could hurt them, and they train their bodies and minds to be able to handle that sort of strain. Yes, many football players can get concussions from tackles, but you can get a concussion in any other sport, as well as in your everyday life. The only real difference is that playing football puts you in a position where you are more susceptible to such injuries, and that is another reason why football players have to train so hard; to prevent being put into that position by other players.
H03
ReplyDeleteI’ve honestly never been someone who was into any type of sport whether it’s football, tennis, volleyball, boxing, soccer etc… but I do think in some sports that heavily relies on body to body contact like football could lead to unethical things. For example, there being research done regarding the neurological problems that is taking place that football players are committing suicide, behavioral problems, or even concussions. There’s also this other side of football players being sold this fantasy of going professional during high school and even college which is far from the truth and because of this to me there aren’t too many football players or sometimes athletes in general taking the time to have a backup plan or just finding other solutions to possibly leaving a better life outside of the sports industry. Then there’s another negative aspect of football like how fans lose the sight of reality so much that people are placing ridiculous bets on teams that in turn could cause financial burdens or if someone doesn’t support a particular team could lead to people getting harassed so much that someone could up getting bullied or physical harmed to could lead to death. And even with knowing the harm that football causes the players and the people who enjoy the sport of football I don’t think people entirely care especially those who are profiting money that caters to the lavish lifestyles they want to live.
(H2)
ReplyDeleteI personally think that a lot of sports that we watch have a lot of consequences, whether it be physical or mental. With football, yes there is a major risk with the physical aspects of tackling one another. However, the same could be said with basketball (with the multiple amount of injuries that take place in that sport). These professional athletes train for years upon years to become skilled at their profession. I think it's a borderline ridiculous idea to almost feel bad for watching a sport in which people train for for their entire lives.