Great Debate: Are eSports sports?

Newkie · 07-24-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Lets say we try to define sex as a sport.

The immediate problem we run into is -

1 - Winning at sex is subjective. Just having sex is not a winning condition. There must be a degree by which one can compete with others - is that bar number of orgasms had, number of times had sex, number of places had sex in, etc etc? By which metric can one beat "competition" in order to become a world champion of sex?

Panel of three judges as in diving or boxing to mediate scores on one or all of the above counts, depending on which variation?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

2 - Assuming one defines such a metric, how does one verify it? Is there a system in place which defines and specifies the conditions by which one can be agreed to have achieved the set goal, and can be relied upon to not be erroneous or otherwise biased? Other sports use either a points based system of definite moments, such as goals, baskets, shots on target, etc. In subjective disciplines an impartial panel of judges is chosen and their scores averaged to provide a fair representation.

3 - Assuming we have both of those things, to who do we turn if there is a disagreement with the set criteria, or if someone is suspected of illegitimate play (IE hiring prostitutes when the rules forbid it)? In a sport, there is a body, set of bodies, or a multiple of bodies that may run concurrent, independent, or joint events, to whom competitors can turn in the event of a need for external arbitration.

Again, the independent adjudicators? You just need to draw up the criteria and bam, you've made a sport?

~~butthead aka 216~~ · 07-24-2013, 07:45 PM

well guitar answered kinda what i wanted to know from you chameleon. i know that guys on the playground cant even come close to nba guys obviously. im just asking on your thought on the difference between:

basketball (using this as example cause its somethin i consider a sport)
-playing a pickup game at the playground, is that a sport?
-playin in the nba, is that a sport??

starcraft or whatever other game
-playin with friends at home, is that a sport?
-playin for money, is that a sport??

djchameleon · 07-24-2013, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 216

basketball (using this as example cause its somethin i consider a sport)
-playing a pickup game at the playground, is that a sport? recreation
-playin in the nba, is that a sport?? sport

starcraft or whatever other game
-playin with friends at home, is that a sport? recreation
-playin for money, is that a sport?? sport

I bolded my answers.

**Janszoon** · 07-25-2013, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I bolded my answers.

This first definition Merriam-Webster lists for sport is:

1 a : a source of diversion : recreation

Just sayin'.

FRED HALE SR. · 07-25-2013, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

This first definition Merriam-Webster lists for sport is:

1 a : a source of diversion : recreation

Just sayin'.

I would side with E-sports being a sport then at that point. I've kind of done a 180 on this. I've listened to both sides and decided why shouldn't it be a sport. Afterall the Kinect and Move both require as much movement as curling.

GuitarBizarre · 07-25-2013, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

I would side with E-sports being a sport then at that point. I've kind of done a 180 on this. I've listened to both sides and decided why shouldn't it be a sport. Afterall the Kinect and Move both require as much movement as curling.

Can I just say thanks for the bolded part? Realistically I would have been perfectly happy had you still come down on the other side of the debate - though I may have tried to convince you yet.

But I think the most telling part of this is that you've managed to come at this with a mind to consider the other viewpoint, and I think that's been lacking from a lot of the more dismissive or aggressively negative responses to the thread.

I'm perfectly happy to accept the alternate viewpoint here, I'd just like that viewpoint to be presented with a logical thread that answers or attempts to answer the "why" of why whatever people believes defines sport, does so. I think I've tried to remain consistent to that approach so far and I'd like to see the same sort of arguments made, in the absence of tradition but more based on rationale and logic, as to other peoples choice of defining factor, for what a sport is and how defining sport should work on a base level.

Put simply, saying that physicality should define sport is OK and I'm not going to jump down anyone's throat or insult them for thinking so - its just that for me to accept that as a truth, isn't self-evident, and isn't based on simply that it has been so traditionally - I would require a logical basis for not only why this DOES in someones opinion define sport, but why it SHOULD - bearing in mind whether we should seperate out certain things as "sideline" issues like exercise or the social health of the young, which are are not to my mind the end goal of sport - those are the end goals of exercise or socialization, surely?

Having said that I won't jump down peoples throats or insult them for that however, I do find my patience being tested when people's arguments are put forward based on a conviction that eSports - whether defined as proper sport or not - are in some way worthless, or when people seem more concerned with attacking my interests or people who share my interests, rather than trying to debunk or counter my argument. I don't believe we are, or should be, discussing the worth of a sport, only whether it actually is, or is not one.

The Batlord · 04-27-2015, 12:02 PM

No point in restarting this thread. GB is gone and now there's no one to troll.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-27-2015, 12:16 PM

I'll bet if I started a 'What do you think of the moderating here' thread he'd be back in minutes.

Oriphiel · 04-27-2015, 12:17 PM

^ Kinda already happened:

http://www.musicbanter.com/announcem...osed-read.html

DwnWthVwls · 04-27-2015, 12:21 PM

Did GB make an official exit or has he just been busy with other stuff? I see him in plug every once in a while.

04-27-2015, 12:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,626	I'll bet if I started a 'What do you think of the moderating here' thread he'd be back in minutes. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

04-27-2015, 12:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Oriphiel Ask me how! Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: The States Posts: 5,354	^ Kinda already happened: http://www.musicbanter.com/announcem...osed-read.html __________________ ---------------------- \|---Mic's Albums---\| ---------------------- ----------------------------- \|---Deafbox Industries---\| -----------------------------

07-24-2013, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
~~butthead aka 216~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: freely swimmin thru the waters of glory much like a majestic bald eagle soars thru the skies Posts: 1,463	well guitar answered kinda what i wanted to know from you chameleon. i know that guys on the playground cant even come close to nba guys obviously. im just asking on your thought on the difference between: basketball (using this as example cause its somethin i consider a sport) -playing a pickup game at the playground, is that a sport? -playin in the nba, is that a sport?? starcraft or whatever other game -playin with friends at home, is that a sport? -playin for money, is that a sport??