Death at the Olympics - 2
February 13, 2010 - 6:18pm
Games authorities ordered changes to the course for yesterday's delayed practice runs despite their earlier claim that a mistake by the Georgian had been the sole cause of his accident.
1. VANOC authorities tried to blame the victim for his own death. Now they're moving the start, for the men anyway, closer to the finish in an effort to reduce the huge speeds, and dangers, involved.
However, warning voices had been raised earlier in the week over both the safety of the track and the Canadian authorities' denial of equal training opportunities to other nations' competitors. Andi Schmid, Britain's skeleton performance director, had warned: 'You need to have more access to tracks and whoever organises the Olympics needs to offer that, not only so that everyone has a fair chance but also because of the danger involved. We need to be careful so that these sports stay great action sports and don't become dangerous killer sports.'
2. Warning voices had been raised earlier, and not just over safety.
Shameless luge officials blame the victim
They're trying to revise history as they go here, adamant that the WSC track is completely safe and that Kumaritashvili's own driving error led to his death, despite a litany of complaints and cautions from the athletes themselves in the weeks and days leading to the Olympics. And even though Kumaritashvili's death is the first luge fatality in 35 years, "there was nothing out of the ordinary that signalled there needed to be a change made,'' according to FIL secretary-general Svein Romstad.
Yet they have shortened the men's race, scheduled to begin later Saturday, to the women's starting point and they will shorten the women's start, perhaps down to the junior start point, in a bid to slow down the runaway speeds, which have clearly exceeded what the sliding organization thought would be achieved on the track. They also will raise the walls where the fatal crash occurred in a bid to - hold on for this one - "deal with the emotional component for athletes.''
They are making all these changes even though the track is completely safe, or as VANOC vice-president for sport Tim Gayda put it, "we did everything in our power to make that a safe track.''
Except for all the new stuff, apparently.
The IOC needs to accept responsibility here or they will be facing a public relations nitemare
Georgia's PM critical of luge officials
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=40313.html#officials+delay+reopening+olympic+sliding+track
I think this is Olympics is already turning into a bit of a public relations nightmare. At least half the news articles involve either the luge deaths or violent protesters.
Blaming the driver though? That's cold.
Certainly anyone who uses the luge track now is taking their life in their hands. Can we agree on that?
From an engineering perspective, I was personally outraged after witnessing this, this was most definetly avoidable even with the higher speeds.
They say there was nothing out of the ordinary yet they have made changes to the height of the wall near the accident. I believe some other changes were made as well.
Yes, they're having the luge events start lower down on the track.
I'm not familiar with these tracks but would be surprised to see vertical beams on other courses in the same general location as the Whistler course.
Now the Canadian coach is unhappy with the changes.
Driver error led to death: Staudinger
Canadian luge coach Wolfgang Staudinger says driver error, not the lightning-fast Whistler course, led to the death of a 21-year-old slider from Georgia in a training run crash at the Vancouver Olympics.
"It was not a track issue. It was a driver error — 100 per cent," the coach told The Canadian Press on Saturday, referring to the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili. "There must have been a huge driving error."
The Canadian coach, who won bronze as a doubles slider for Germany at the 1988 Olympics, also criticized the push to get more "exotic" athletes into the Games.
"It's serious business," Staudinger said of luge. "It's not just like sliding on a kids' hill on a Krazy Karpet." [...]
Staudinger said he wanted the men's start line left where it was.
"We all were ready to race from the top," said the coach, adding at a team meeting Friday afternoon he didn't see any Canadian racers who were "particularly shaken up."
The new configuration will negate Canada's experience advantage on the track and make the men's competition exceptionally close, he said.
"It's changing the entire thing," he said. The track "is absolutely safe. The track was safe before."
This whole affair sounds very ugly.
Cockerline calls luge an unfair sport“Luge isn’t fair."
Not when you're trying to win. And medal pressure is what Canadians were feeling when they restricted foreign athletes from broad access to their infamously difficult track leading up to the Games.
http://www.canada.com/sports/2010wintergames/luge/Cockerline+calls+luge+unfair+sport/2562254/story.html
That Canadian coach, Wolfgang Staudinger, is a real piece of work, ain't he?
From NR's link:
Kumaritashvili was ranked 44th in the world, and barely qualified for these Olympics. He had taken 26 runs on the course and opted out in January at a chance for more. Instead, he took part in a World Cup event in Europe because he needed to participate in five World Cups, the minimum required to compete in Whistler.
I really don't have a lot of sympathy for people who engage in high risk activities who are then killed in its pursuit. Whether that activity is luge, base jumping, high mark snowmobiling, race car driving, occupying other countries, or crack cocaine, if the likely outcome of an even minor mistake is certain death, don't call it "tragic".
Having said that, the speed at which VANOC and the IOC have exonerated and absolved themselves of any responsibility is really...unremarkable. So it goes with the olympics, wth their mafia organization, fascist leanings, and unscrupulous athletes for whom a death of a fellow participant means merely more publicity.
Fuck the Canadian coach.
Sorry, I meant to say "Fuck that racist asshole of a Canadian Coach".
The whole idea of a "winter games" was to give European countries an exclusive venue where they wouldn't get their assess continually kicked by the darker peoples of the world. So now Canadian coaches insist that their advantage not be negated to allow for "exotic" participants. Isn't there anyplace in the world where white folk can dominate a sport anymore, like God intended? Oh yeah, this place. Maybe he can coach there.Good.
Changes on Luge Track Could Offset Canadian Team’s Advantage
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/sports/olympics/14luge.html
Good.
Changes on Luge Track Could Offset Canadian Team’s Advantage
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/sports/olympics/14luge.html
Good. Teach those bastard Canadian Olympic officials that they need to play fair, or not at all.
I am truly disgusted by this (from the linked article above):
Canada gave athletes from other countries relatively little access to most Olympic venues in an effort to give Canadian athletes a competitive advantage for the Games.
"Fair play" is part of the branding and marketing of these Games. I really think it's a mistake to imagine that the Games are really "fair" in a meaningful sense.
So, "not at all" sounds good to me.
It certainly does appear that the host country has an advantage. That's plain wrong.
Apart from the tragic death of Nodar, the Georgian luger, this is a public relations nitemare for Canada.
Winter Olympics athletes blame hosts for death of Nodar Kumaritashvili
Canadians are accused of limiting practice runs and turning luge racers into 'crash-test dummies' at Whistler
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/13/luge-death-winter-olympics-kumaritashvili
That's quite a stretch of the imagination.
The winter games started in 1920/1924, at a time when European nations were still dominating the summer games (though in part because there were very few independent "darker" countries to take part, and some of those athletes would possibly be competing for their imperial metropole).
Japan and occasionally Turkey were the only non-European/North American nations to place in the top ten at the summer olympics until the 1970's. 1976 saw Cuba place in the top ten for the first time, and South Korea and China emerged as strong competitors in 1984.
So sorry, no, there's no evidence for your theory that the winter games were started to put an end to "their assess [being] continually kicked by the darker peoples of the world".
Are Games becoming a disaster?
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/news/2010/02/13/12870301.html
Gravity, Time, Weight, Momentum, Velocity, Steel beams combined to welcome a luger missing the last corner with a collision into steel beams at 90 mph.
Physics, Bad Design, a tradgety. It does make the hosting country look rather inept though. The luge is much like a big curvy half-pipe down a big hill. You'd think we could engineer such a shute on a big hill that wouldn't send the luger airborn into steel beams at 90 mph. We have mountains, and we build courses and stuff... how did this happen?
Remember 1999 when the world was worried about computers failing and the power going out and stuff at 2000. The Chinese government passed a law or order that the executives of the Chinese airline had to fly across the country on Jan. 1, 2000. While that's a bit extreme, why shouldn't luge course designers be required to ride down that gravity well on a tiny sled to test it out for safety.
How is that something like twelve people have crashed and been injuired on this shute and it was just opened?
Good.
Changes on Luge Track Could Offset Canadian Team’s Advantage
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/sports/olympics/14luge.html
Good. Teach those bastard Canadian Olympic officials that they need to play fair, or not at all.
I am truly disgusted by this (from the linked article above):
Canada gave athletes from other countries relatively little access to most Olympic venues in an effort to give Canadian athletes a competitive advantage for the Games.
Are you at all familiar, with what kind of concssions Canadian athletes have been given in previous games on foreign soil, or ice for that matter?
I think the principle of "fairness" dictates that all athletes, in every venue, need to have the exact same access to practice, otherwise the host country obtains an unfair advantage. This principle should apply to all Games, past, present, and future. Do you have a problem with that?
The comments of the Argentinean competitor (in the video) are perhaps the most relevant part of this article.
http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/columns/story?columnist=c...
It's not just the The New York Times that commented on Canada's lack of fairness. Here is our own Gerald Caplan:
(excerpt)
Canada - lovable, fair-minded, tolerant, decent Canada - has allowed its athletes to practice at venues denied to other countries' athletes. Other countries are furious at Canada's poor sportsmanship. If it were us being discriminated against this way, we'd scream about unfairness.
By the way, someone at CAPP posted Caplan's article without giving the author credit: (it's the opening post)
I think the principle of "fairness" dictates that all athletes, in every venue, need to have the exact same access to practice, otherwise the host country obtains an unfair advantage. This principle should apply to all Games, past, present, and future.
But it never has. There are members of the Canadian skiing team, for example, who were born, raised & still live in Whistler. How could you ensure that they don't have any advatage over other competitors?
I think the point being made is that access to Olympic venues for training and practice has to granted equally to all athletes - in this case Canada blatantly denied access to foreign athletes for adequate training and practice runs.
Not all countires had restricted acess to the luge track:
Demtschenko may also play a role in the development of Edney, since the Canadian and Russian luge federations struck an agreement this year that will give the Canadians extra training time on Sochi's track in return for the Russians getting extra time here. The agreement came after the Canadians tired of American reciprocity demands.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/luge/news/newsid=38813.htmlIsn't that ridiculous? In the interest of fairness and integrity of the Games, shouldn't access to all athletic venues be equal for all???
It's all bullshit. The Games have zero integrity, and the money is better spent elsewhere.
From the Montreal Gazette:
Canadian coach Wolfgang Staudinger took exception to some of that logic. He agreed Kumaritashvili's mistake caused the crash, but he's not happy about starting from the women's start and he wondered how these officials would know the emotional state of the athletes.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Canadian+lugers+unhappy+over+changes+track/2563903/story.html#ixzz0fXzr5vm6
I am wondering why the men and women have to start in different positions. Why can't women and men start in the same positions? Can't the women handle starting in the same position as the men? Do the women suffer from breast drag which makes their luging unstable. Do men have an unfair stability advantage with a vertical keel located you know where?
From the link above:
Staudinger said the crash was caused by the driver's error.
"Hundred per cent, that was not a track issue," he said. "It was a driving error. Something happened in Corner 16 ... a huge driver error."
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili disagreed, saying there was definitely something wrong with the speedy luge track.
"One thing I know for sure is that no sports mistake is supposed to lead to a death," Saakashvili said.
Comment: How the f*ck does the Canadian coach know this tragedy was "driver's error"??? I think he's desperately trying to protect home field advantage. I think he should be thrown out of these games for unsportsmanlike conduct, or better yet, for being an asshole about this tragedy.US luge boss blasts Canada ...
"I understand that countries want to win, but please justify to me why you wouldn't let the Georgians train," Ron Rossi said, referring to the restrictive policies Canadians used prior to the Games.
Bear in mind that this is the Toronto Sun, a notoriously awful and right-wing paper, and the Americans are themselves implicated in trying, and failing, to get a special deal for themselves with the Canadian authorities over "extra" track access.
I am wondering why the men and women have to start in different positions.
Why do they compete separately?
I'm curious too. Perhaps body fat ratio difference would explain it along with the fact that I would think fat by weight would be less than muscle. With men having more density means more weight, with same volume, meaning a smaller profile with less drag. I hope my wife doesn't read this ;-)
From the link above:
Staudinger said the crash was caused by the driver's error.
"Hundred per cent, that was not a track issue," he said. "It was a driving error. Something happened in Corner 16 ... a huge driver error."
One of the Argentinean competitors said the same thing - the accident was not the fault of the track - the driver blew it - then he said that, if the pillars weren't there he'd would still be here to tell us about it.
I'm beginning to suspect that all this effort to blame the Georgian luger for his own death is a way for VANOC and the sporting bodies to avoid any liability.
I thought he said the Russians did it.
I think that Canadians could have and should have taken this event as an opportunity to develop more fair rules for allowing access to facilities. Instead they chose to stay with the status quo and now we are wearing the consequences. I hope that some good comes out of this and better rules of access is developed by international bodies to provide safe and fair competition.
I do think that we are making too much of the coaches choice of words. When he is speaking about exotic participants I believe he is talking about people like Ernie the Eagle (ski jump at Calgary Olympics). That sports that have an inherent danger must have strict entry requirements. I am not sure how though that it is relevant to the current situation.
I'm beginning to suspect that all this effort to blame the Georgian luger for his own death is a way for VANOC and the sporting bodies to avoid any liability.
Oh, I totally agree.
Have other host countries limited non-host-country athletes' access to facilities to the same degree as Canada has done in these Olympics?
Have other host countries limited non-host-country athletes' access to facilities to the same degree as Canada has done in these Olympics?
Have other host countries limited non-host-country athletes' access to facilities to the same degree as Canada has done in these Olympics?
I guess my question isn't whether those have been "the rules" for 40 years but whether other host countries have, in fact, taken the additional step of actually restricting non-host-country athletes' access to facilities in the same way Canada has?
"Canadian coach Wolfgang Staudinger said limiting access is normal, and said Canada offered more training time than in any previous Games."
I wouldn't doubt that national bodies would try and take advantage of a rare injection of cash (infrastructure) into their sport.
One of the stories I read noted that the Russian team was given additional access on the condition that the Canadian team have additional access in Sochi in 2014. The Americans made an inferior offer ... or something like that.
Sorry, no link.
Just to be clear, the home side had a huge advantage that was wiped out by the shortening of the course (following the death of the Georgian luger). Wolfgang Staudinger was the coach for the Canadian team.
"Of course I think about (what could have been) this," said Staudinger. "In one way I'm mad. We had one fatal accident but we are in high performance sport. Everybody's trying to finish on the top and we had our home advantage taken away. I'm pissed off. But at the end I have to live with the jury's decision.
Mixed emotions over shortening of the course, etc.
Along with all the other reasons already stated as to why I hate the Olympics, here's another: mindless jingoism.
Along with all the other reasons already stated as to why I hate the Olympics, here's another: mindless jingoism.
Are you watching any of the Olympics?
Don't like the sexist nature of #33 and #37.
Are you watching any of the Olympics?
I am but I hate it. You might be oblivious to it but you're a prime example of conformity. To a tee.
Fore!
It's an unfortunate evil but yet you love to glorify it. I love it when normally tax-hating idealogues chest thump with nationalism over billions of wasted dollars. Kind of exposes them, no?
I watched about half of the opening ceremonies, and a little less than an hour every day of the skiing and speedskating. It really doesn't interest me in the slightest, just out of morbid curiousity. Right now I'm watching "Pete Seeger Live In Australia" on PBS, a 1963 concert. Seeger is very fine form.
Are you watching any of the Olympics?
I am but I hate it.
Why? Why don't you turn the channel or turn off the TV entirely?
I "hate" watching basketball, for example. However, I do a rather good job of not watching it on TV.
Why would you watch something that you "hate"?
I guess you missed my bit about conformity. I'm not going to disappear into the woods. I appreciate being able to socialize.
Have fun trying to denigrate legitimate opposition to the olympics. I'll appreciate the athletes for now if not disdain the culture.
I guess you missed my bit about conformity. I'm not going to disappear into the woods. I appreciate being able to socialize.
You have to watch the Olympics...in order to socialize??
Have fun trying to denigrate legitimate opposition to the olympics.
I just think it's hilarious that there were all of these protests to "Disrupt the Torch!!" and to "Stop the Olympics!!!"...but, once they start, people are all eagerly following the games on TV from their living room couches, even though they "hate" the games.
Figures you'd get so pedantic to sidestep my observations. I don't know what circles you travel Sven but it's good to know if Canada won a medal at the water cooler, up here at least. And it's a good intro into my critique.
I don't know what circles you travel Sven but it's good to know if Canada won a medal at the water cooler, up here at least. And it's a good intro into my critique.
So, you don't oppose the Olympics as a matter of principle.
Good to know.
I have little interest in winter sports. However, some tickets to speedskating were given to me and I went with my neighbours. Of course the arena was evenly balanced with red coloured Canadian supporters and orange coloured Dutch supporters. A Dutch skater in an early pair raced to a great time and took a big lead and their supporters went wild. A Czech skater later moved ahead of her. A Canadian skater moved into the bronze at the end. It was fun to watch but I wouldn't have gone if I had to pay for the tickets. The crowds are minimal in Richmond and focused around the Oval and the OZone, although the Netherlands sent over a container of bikes and you see orange coloured Dutch supporters cycling all over Richmond.
My daughter and her friends are taking in the free entertainment at the OZone and is having a great time (much to her surprise).
Have fun trying to denigrate legitimate opposition to the olympics.
I just think it's hilarious that there were all of these protests to "Disrupt the Torch!!" and to "Stop the Olympics!!!"...but, once they start, people are all eagerly following the games on TV from their living room couches, even though they "hate" the games.
Tee, hee, hee. I think it's hilarious you come to this board and think otherwise. Just me.
There's good reason to educate myself and observe the techniques.
All the best.
I don't know what circles you travel Sven but it's good to know if Canada won a medal at the water cooler, up here at least. And it's a good intro into my critique.
So, you don't oppose the Olympics as a matter of principle.
Good to know.
Are you thick?
It wasn't obvious to you what my critique is? The principle.
What am I doing wrong Sven that we keep seeming to misunderstand each other?
There's good reason to educate myself and observe the techniques.
I suppose you drive a Hummer, too? You know, to get a better understanding of why those darned consumers are...consumers?
Admit it. You're just as intrigued by the Olympics as every other Average Joe and Jane is.
Just put away that protest sign, grab a bowl of popcorn, and enjoy the "corporate" games.
It wasn't obvious to you what my critique is? The principle.
So, what are two or three things you've learned by watching the Olympics that have allowed you to sharpen your "critique"?
ETA: I can just imagine you sitting, stoically, on your couch at home as you watch the Olympics with your clipboard in hand, taking notes about observations that will hone your "critique" discussion at the water cooler.
But, seriously, what are just two or three fascinating - and indispensable - tid-bits that you've learned by watching those horrible games...tid-bits that you'd otherwise be ignorant of and, thus, be operating at a terrible disadvantage when you attempted to thoughtfully and carefully enunciate your "critique" of the games?
That death should just be brushed aside as one critique, eh. The resulting whinging from the Canadian coach too, ppsssshaaww., The officials blaming the victim, should I stop, you only asked for a few?
Sven, I don't recline on a couch, I have 2-3 TV feeds and 2 comps minimum. I work full time. You can criticize that if you like but I live just above the LICO here and I have my ways. It's good that you enjoy such a nice lifestyle and I guess I'd try to protect it too. Except, I wouldn't. What do you have against humans? Why shouldn't we take better care of our neighbours. Perhaps, you don't live amongst us. But you know where my efforts go to? Speaking about my privilege.
Next question.
That death should just be brushed aside as one critique, eh. The resulting whinging from the Canadian coach too, ppsssshaaww., The officials blaming the victim, should I stop, you only asked for a few?
Yes, I understand now. With those additional points added to your "critique" of the games, I'm sure you'll now be able to construct an incontrovertible argument for why all future Olympic games should be banned.
It's kinda like trying to say, with a straight face, that you must watch several hours of kiddie porn so that you can make a better argument as to why it's bad at your next chat around the water cooler...
Whatever Sven. Are you an octopus in real life or plasticman? Cause yu sure reach a lot.
From a friend:
http://www.cartoonbank.com/2003/Sure-I-follow-the-herd-not-out-of-brainl...
And that sheep actually believes what it is saying, too.
If you're willing to conflate things like that Sven, it says more about you than me.
For shame.
That death should just be brushed aside as one critique, eh. The resulting whinging from the Canadian coach too, ppsssshaaww., The officials blaming the victim, should I stop, you only asked for a few?
Yes, I understand now. With those additional points added to your "critique" of the games, I'm sure you'll now be able to construct an incontrovertible argument for why all future Olympic games should be banned.
It's kinda like trying to say, with a straight face, that you must watch several hours of kiddie porn so that you can make a better argument as to why it's bad at your next chat around the water cooler...
QFT
For once I'm going to try and take the high road. That was unacceptable Sven. Is that the best you got? Can't keep it clean you s...
For once I'm going to try and take the high road. That was unacceptable Sven. Is that the best you got? Can't keep it clean you s...
It's called an analogy, dude...
Oh, just so I'm clear, why was that "unacceptable Sven"?
No, it's called a smear dude. Why don't you stick to the facts of the topic. Dead people and excuses. Why call me a pedophile?
No 2 AM impunity, Sven, it's obvious that your reference is tasteless and unacceptable. Maybe you can acknowledge that and edit it out?
As for the berating, I suppose someone could also ask you three reasons you come on to babble and participate, and what you get out of it. RP was nice enough to answer that braintwister, would you be willing to answer this one?
Did I say you like kiddie porn?
No.
Did I say that people who oppose the Olympics like kiddie porn?
No.
Did I say that people who watch the Olympics must like kiddie porn?
No.
I'm saying that if someone argues that they must watch the Olympics in order to criticize the Olympics is like arguing a person must watch kiddie porn in order to oppose it.
In other words, my analogy is a critique of your logic...not of your character.
Naw man. I got him quoted. Let the mods deal with it.
It like saying: I must become obese in order to personally feel the adverse effects of obesity so that I am better able to argue that obesity is bad.
Get it?
Did I say you like kiddie porn?
No.
Did I say that people who oppose the Olympics like kiddie porn?
No.
Did I say that people who watch the Olympics must like kiddie porn?
No.
I'm saying that if someone argues that they must watch the Olympics in order to criticize the Olympics is like arguing a person must watch kiddie porn in order to oppose it.
In other words, my analogy is a critique of your logic...not of your character.
Sorry Sven, that's a real reach. I'm sad that you can't get the difference, that's scary.
Is that really how you feel?
It like saying: I must become obese in order to personally feel the adverse effects of obesity so that I am better able to argue that obesity is bad.
Get it?
I read the words but I just see a huge freshly dug hole.
It's kinda like trying to say, with a straight face, that you must watch several hours of kiddie porn so that you can make a better argument as to why it's bad at your next chat around the water cooler...
A modestly-competent reader of the English language could not possibly read what I wrote and conclude: Oh, man, Sven's smearing me!! He's calling me a pedophile!!
You really think I need as much ammunition to oppose kiddy porn than the olympics?
No 2 AM impunity, Sven, it's obvious that your reference is tasteless and unacceptable. Maybe you can acknowledge that and edit it out?
As for the berating, I suppose someone could also ask you three reasons you come on to babble and participate, and what you get out of it. RP was nice enough to answer that braintwister, would you be willing to answer this one?
And you joined Feb 12th,2010?
Everyone say ello to E.Taraman part deux...
Sven, I agree with you. You don't need to be hit in the head with a hammer to know it hurts.
Ah, now you're getting it!!
You're actually attacking the strength of my analogy...which is an appropriate response to what I wrote.
No 2 AM impunity, Sven, it's obvious that your reference is tasteless and unacceptable. Maybe you can acknowledge that and edit it out?
As for the berating, I suppose someone could also ask you three reasons you come on to babble and participate, and what you get out of it. RP was nice enough to answer that braintwister, would you be willing to answer this one?
And you joined Feb 12th,2010?
Everyone say ello to E.Taraman part deux...
LOL!!
Ah, now you're getting it!!
You're actually attacking the strength of my analogy...which is an appropriate response to what I wrote.
Ah, now you're backpedalling!!
No 2 AM impunity, Sven, it's obvious that your reference is tasteless and unacceptable. Maybe you can acknowledge that and edit it out?
As for the berating, I suppose someone could also ask you three reasons you come on to babble and participate, and what you get out of it. RP was nice enough to answer that braintwister, would you be willing to answer this one?
And you joined Feb 12th,2010?
Everyone say ello to E.Taraman part deux...
Sven, I agree with you. You don't need to be hit in the head with a hammer to know it hurts.
Quit speculating.
Sven, I agree with you. You don't need to be hit in the head with a hammer to know it hurts.
You better watch it, SparkyOne...RevolutionPlease will read your analogy and claim you are smearing him by indirectly accusing him of being a violent person!!
Love the deflections but it's in rabble reactions for all to see.
Sven, I agree with you. You don't need to be hit in the head with a hammer to know it hurts.
Quit speculating.
Indeed. If one has never been actually hit on the head with a hammer, I suppose it is inappropriate speculation to say: "If you get hit on the head with a hammer, it will hurt."
It's no dout better that one actually gets hit on the head with a hammer before jammering about the possible negative consequences of such an event.
It's kinda like saying: "I can't really criticize the Olympics unless I watch hours and hours of it."
RevolutionPlease, you surely will receive this year's award for the greatest expression of faux outrage on babble.
Well for one thing quote #92 is not mine.
Well for one thing quote #92 is not mine.
Oh? You didn't write post #89?
RevolutionPlease, you surely will receive this year's award for the greatest expression of faux outrage on babble.
I don't look forward to your replies: I look FORWARD to babblers.
Well for one thing quote #92 is not mine.
Oh? You didn't write post #89?
Dude, put the bifocals on, SparkyOne is who you quoted.
Ah, now you're getting it!!
You're actually attacking the strength of my analogy...which is an appropriate response to what I wrote.
Ah, now you're backpedalling!!
I'm not "backpedling".
How about this: Why don't you tell all of us what, exactly, you think I meant with my analogy. Do you think I really was implying you are a pedophile?!?
If so, you need to go back and study Basic Reading Comprehension. Pedophilia has no conceivable substantive link to the subject being discussed (the Olympics). The only reasonable reading of what I wrote is that it was an analogy which highlighted the weakness of your claim that you must watch hours of the Olymics in order to formulate a proper critique of the Olympics.
No 2 AM impunity, Sven, it's obvious that your reference is tasteless and unacceptable. Maybe you can acknowledge that and edit it out?
As for the berating, I suppose someone could also ask you three reasons you come on to babble and participate, and what you get out of it. RP was nice enough to answer that braintwister, would you be willing to answer this one?
And you joined Feb 12th,2010?
Everyone say ello to E.Taraman part deux...
Sven, I agree with you. You don't need to be hit in the head with a hammer to know it hurts.
Quit speculating.
Here's #89. :)
Here's #89.
Yeah, you're right. I fucked up the quote. I was quoting, "Quite speculating" (which was, indeed, your quote). Now fixed.
RevolutionPlease, you surely will receive this year's award for the greatest expression of faux outrage on babble.
I don't look forward to your replies: I look FORWARD to babblers.
I agree with Sven, your outrage is misplaced. He was making an analogy, not accusing you of paedophilia. But feel free to be offended; the emotional charge of being outraged by nothing seems to have the same psychological effects as chocolate on many babblers.
By the way, how long will it take the NDP to react to this accident and demand an inquiry into violence in luge?
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I agree with Sven, your outrage is misplaced. He was making an analogy, not accusing you of paedophilia. But feel free to be offended; the emotional charge of being outraged by nothing seems to have the same psychological effects as chocolate on many babblers.
I'll remember that next time you're analogized to watching "kiddie"" porn.
This thread at the end is very troublesome, and it is amazing that some men think making "kiddie porn" analogies towards someone is just fine and normal.
It is NOT on several levels.
I'll remember that next time you're analogized to watching "kiddie"" porn.
Good gravy. Do you even know what "analogy" means?
Thanks remind, I'll try to spare the "faux outrage" next time. Especially the vicariously watching such implied.
I'll remember that next time you're analogized to watching "kiddie"" porn.
Good gravy. Do you even know what "analogy" means?
Indeed, I do. Your defence?
Apparently, of all things, the cross-country skiing track is unsafe.
After placing fifth in the 10-kilometre freestyle race,Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland told reporters, "the track is not for me, the track is not for the Olympics.''
She complained there were a lot of corners, and a lot of "dangerous downhills,'' and she said, "it was the first time in my life I see a track like that in the Olympics.''
Vancouver luge death down to 'driver error', says Sir Clive Woodward
• 'It's been classified safe ... the athletes think it's a safe track'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/14/vancouver-luge-death-clive-w...
UK Press Slams Canada's Hosting of the Games
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/15/host-canada-criticism.html
"Made in Canada, it should say. Made by the perversion of the Olympic movement for national gain: made by a culture of worthless aggrandisement and pride.."
The Brits are just jealous that one of the colonies are no longer kowtowing to them.
They're just getting an early start on trying to make themselves look good for 2012.
Kumaritashvili Told Father He Was Afraid Of Luge Track
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/luge/851728...
"He told me he was afraid about one of the curves of the track in Canada...If those pillars had not been there this would not have happened..."
Closing for length.