The sport of kings August 12, 2011 6:30 AM Subscribe
This week on Slate's Hang Up and Listen podcast, hosts Josh Levin and Mike Pesca debate what is and isn't a sport.
Pesca: If you wanted to have a thumb-wrestling league, and you wanted to have real criteria, and you wanted to rank people on the internet, then it could be a sport tomorrow.
Levin (laughing): Anything that you rank people on the internet is a sport.
Pesca: Metafilter is a sport.
(Relevant portion at the 29-minute mark.)
Pesca: If you wanted to have a thumb-wrestling league, and you wanted to have real criteria, and you wanted to rank people on the internet, then it could be a sport tomorrow.
Levin (laughing): Anything that you rank people on the internet is a sport.
Pesca: Metafilter is a sport.
(Relevant portion at the 29-minute mark.)
Yet another reason we need jerseys with our user number on them.
posted by yeti at 6:34 AM on August 12, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by yeti at 6:34 AM on August 12, 2011 [7 favorites]
Great. Yet another sport I suck at.
posted by bondcliff at 6:36 AM on August 12, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 6:36 AM on August 12, 2011 [8 favorites]
And I'm winning
posted by The Whelk at 6:40 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 6:40 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ah, it's not a sport until there's wagering. Anybody want to lay down some odds on how this MeTa thread goes?
posted by .kobayashi. at 6:45 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by .kobayashi. at 6:45 AM on August 12, 2011
Entrance Fee: $5.
Two Members Enter.
One Member Leaves.
Metafilter® Brand
Protective Mouth Guard
FPP Auto Constructor
Padded Fingerless Gloves
Flak Jacket
Sarcasm Detection Goggles
Big Red Button
Snark Meter
Ideologically-Correct Earplugs
Shin Guards
Groin Shield
and
Auto-Response Sniper Rifle
Sold Separately.
posted by zarq at 6:50 AM on August 12, 2011 [8 favorites]
Neat. I rarely watch sports but listen to at least 50% of this podcast.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 6:52 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 6:52 AM on August 12, 2011
The Olympics would be much more interesting if it were based on the MeFi model. Anyone could participate in any sport or be in the audience for $5. The athletes and audience would all judge athletes performance. The audience would also judge each others participation as audience members. Regardless of the outcome of any game or sport, no one is given a medal. And best of all, minimal advertising.
posted by doctor_negative at 7:01 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by doctor_negative at 7:01 AM on August 12, 2011
The Olympics would be much more interesting if it were based on the MeFi model. Anyone could participate in any sport or be in the audience for $5. The athletes and audience would all judge athletes performance. The audience would also judge each others participation as audience members. Regardless of the outcome of any game or sport, no one is given a medal. And best of all, minimal advertising.
It isn't about winning or losing; the important thing is that everyone gets judged.
posted by ignignokt at 7:13 AM on August 12, 2011 [16 favorites]
It isn't about winning or losing; the important thing is that everyone gets judged.
posted by ignignokt at 7:13 AM on August 12, 2011 [16 favorites]
The Spanish judge always gives me low scores, I think he's colluding with the other competitors.
posted by empyrean at 7:14 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by empyrean at 7:14 AM on August 12, 2011
I have personally trounced Mike Pesca in nerdsport.
Say all you want about forgetting your glasses, dude, but it still came down to the showtunes.
posted by Madamina at 7:40 AM on August 12, 2011
Say all you want about forgetting your glasses, dude, but it still came down to the showtunes.
posted by Madamina at 7:40 AM on August 12, 2011
I was just thinking of my quest for favorites as like golf. I try to get the lowest score possible while still competing.
I'll get to 10,000; one favorite at a time...
posted by Eideteker at 7:46 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'll get to 10,000; one favorite at a time...
posted by Eideteker at 7:46 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
No one can touch me in the " singing songs from the Simpsons " match.
posted by The Whelk at 7:47 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by The Whelk at 7:47 AM on August 12, 2011
You scream and you leap.
posted by CautionToTheWind at 7:54 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by CautionToTheWind at 7:54 AM on August 12, 2011
No one can touch me in the " singing songs from the Simpsons " match.
Of course not; it's a non-contact sport; touching during competition is worth a extra goal kick at least!
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:57 AM on August 12, 2011
Of course not; it's a non-contact sport; touching during competition is worth a extra goal kick at least!
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:57 AM on August 12, 2011
Metafilter taught me how to injure a person with only my mind.
I tried it in the ring against a kickboxer, and got knocked out. But if you stand still for five minutes, I can totally do it.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:01 AM on August 12, 2011
I tried it in the ring against a kickboxer, and got knocked out. But if you stand still for five minutes, I can totally do it.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:01 AM on August 12, 2011
Metafilter is pretty rank, isn't it?
posted by crunchland at 8:16 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by crunchland at 8:16 AM on August 12, 2011
Can I... see your vest?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:22 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 8:22 AM on August 12, 2011
No one can touch me in the " singing songs from the Simpsons " match.
That's where you're a Viking.
posted by dismas at 8:27 AM on August 12, 2011
That's where you're a Viking.
posted by dismas at 8:27 AM on August 12, 2011
I kind of thought he meant Metacritic, not Metafilter. Also, the same segment of "Hang Up and Listen" quoted an article I wrote for Slate years ago about whether math olympiad was a sport!
posted by escabeche at 8:37 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by escabeche at 8:37 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
But they can touch you in other matches?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:50 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:50 AM on August 12, 2011
Metafilter is pretty rank, isn't it?
Why do you hang out so much on a site you seem to hate?
posted by kmz at 9:09 AM on August 12, 2011
Why do you hang out so much on a site you seem to hate?
posted by kmz at 9:09 AM on August 12, 2011
Can I... see your vest?
i heard it was made from real gorilla chest.
posted by elizardbits at 9:10 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
i heard it was made from real gorilla chest.
posted by elizardbits at 9:10 AM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
My MetaFilter fantasy roster is amazing.
No I'm not telling you who's on it my fantasies are my own private business thankyouverymuch.
posted by nickmark at 9:24 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
No I'm not telling you who's on it my fantasies are my own private business thankyouverymuch.
posted by nickmark at 9:24 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Is it possible your grandma could beat you at it? Then it's not a sport.
posted by one_bean at 9:30 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by one_bean at 9:30 AM on August 12, 2011
The "yes it is" argument has this going for it: Like amateur softball and recreational bowling, you can drink beer while you play.
posted by longsleeves at 9:31 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by longsleeves at 9:31 AM on August 12, 2011
Why do you hang out so much on a site you seem to hate? --- Masochists need a place to go, too.
posted by crunchland at 9:34 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by crunchland at 9:34 AM on August 12, 2011
If Mefi is a sport I want to be the equivalent of the 12th man on an NBA roster whose job it is to jump up and cheer crazily when the superstar pulls off a vicious dunk. (I mean those guys collect hundreds of thousands of dollars (millions even) to basically watch pro-basketball from courtside seats and scrimmage with the best players in the world.)
Sweet gig, that.
posted by oddman at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sweet gig, that.
posted by oddman at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
By Hemingway's definition, MeFi may be a game but it's not sport. Because there's only four sports:
Motor racing, bullfighting, mountain climbing, boxing ...
If your life is not in imminent danger, then it's just a game. Of course, I haven't seen the stats for how many people have been killed while MetaFiltering.
posted by philip-random at 10:04 AM on August 12, 2011
Motor racing, bullfighting, mountain climbing, boxing ...
If your life is not in imminent danger, then it's just a game. Of course, I haven't seen the stats for how many people have been killed while MetaFiltering.
posted by philip-random at 10:04 AM on August 12, 2011
No, I'm not drinking beer this early, stopped drinking a couple years back.
posted by longsleeves at 10:21 AM on August 12, 2011
posted by longsleeves at 10:21 AM on August 12, 2011
I kind of thought he meant Metacritic, not Metafilter.
It the context given, I think you're right.
Pesca, get out here and explain yourself!
posted by inturnaround at 10:28 AM on August 12, 2011
It the context given, I think you're right.
Pesca, get out here and explain yourself!
posted by inturnaround at 10:28 AM on August 12, 2011
Mike Pesca is wonderful.
posted by Apropos of Something at 10:31 AM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Apropos of Something at 10:31 AM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
Of course, I haven't seen the stats for how many people have been killed while MetaFiltering.
"Banhammer" is not a metaphor.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:35 AM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
"Banhammer" is not a metaphor.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 10:35 AM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
Pesca, get out here and explain yourself!
Yeah, I also can't see how one might think MeFi is a sport, even by the "Anything that you rank people on the internet is a sport" definition. I mean, we've got favorites, I guess, but there is no Favorites Leaderboard or anything like that, and there aren't even user stats (joined on, number of posts, witty titles) in our bylines. It's among the least sport-like forum-type sites on the Internet, as far as I know.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:55 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I also can't see how one might think MeFi is a sport, even by the "Anything that you rank people on the internet is a sport" definition. I mean, we've got favorites, I guess, but there is no Favorites Leaderboard or anything like that, and there aren't even user stats (joined on, number of posts, witty titles) in our bylines. It's among the least sport-like forum-type sites on the Internet, as far as I know.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:55 AM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
If your life is not in imminent danger, then it's just a game. Of course, I haven't seen the stats for how many people have been killed while MetaFiltering.
Ever heard of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
posted by loquacious at 11:07 AM on August 12, 2011
Ever heard of Deep Vein Thrombosis?
posted by loquacious at 11:07 AM on August 12, 2011
I think there are three criteria required to classify something as a sport. It must a: have some element of physicality to it (i.e. not be an activity that can in any way be described as "sedentary"), b: be an activity that you cannot fully participate in by yourself, and (pursuant to point b) c: it must have some element of defense.
Thus, there are lots of things that are (or can be) competitions, but not sports.
The problem is that the moment you unclassify something as a sport, the participants/adherents immediately feel slighted in some fashion. For better or worse, the perception of "sport" is such that it somehow elevates the given pursuit above the lesser activities of a "competition" or "game" - that, because what they are engaged in is a "sport", this validates it in some fashion.
posted by namewithoutwords at 11:35 AM on August 12, 2011
Thus, there are lots of things that are (or can be) competitions, but not sports.
The problem is that the moment you unclassify something as a sport, the participants/adherents immediately feel slighted in some fashion. For better or worse, the perception of "sport" is such that it somehow elevates the given pursuit above the lesser activities of a "competition" or "game" - that, because what they are engaged in is a "sport", this validates it in some fashion.
posted by namewithoutwords at 11:35 AM on August 12, 2011
Favorites have demeaned MetaFilter into a mere sporting contest and this proves that everybody knows it.
[Walks away from hand grenade left in the center of the ring.]
Now... FIGHT!
posted by charred husk at 11:58 AM on August 12, 2011
[Walks away from hand grenade left in the center of the ring.]
Now... FIGHT!
posted by charred husk at 11:58 AM on August 12, 2011
I kind of thought he meant Metacritic, not Metafilter.
I think you're right as well!
posted by Miko at 12:02 PM on August 12, 2011
I think you're right as well!
posted by Miko at 12:02 PM on August 12, 2011
Strange game. The only way to win is not to play.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:16 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:16 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I kind of thought he meant Metacritic, not Metafilter.
I think you're right as well!
Way to kill my media-mention buzz! I have sent an email to Josh Levin to investigate, and I'll report back if I get an answer.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 12:35 PM on August 12, 2011
I think you're right as well!
Way to kill my media-mention buzz! I have sent an email to Josh Levin to investigate, and I'll report back if I get an answer.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 12:35 PM on August 12, 2011
Determining what is and is not a sport is itself a sport. Discuss.
posted by davejay at 12:41 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by davejay at 12:41 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yet another reason we need jerseys with our user number on them.
I got one kicking around somewhere - 3/4 sleeve baseball shirt w/ white body and MeFi Blue imprint and sleeves, number on the back. Matt was offering them through CafePress (I think) way back when.
Guess that means this really is a sport, even though most of us are just bench warmers.
posted by dchase at 12:52 PM on August 12, 2011
I got one kicking around somewhere - 3/4 sleeve baseball shirt w/ white body and MeFi Blue imprint and sleeves, number on the back. Matt was offering them through CafePress (I think) way back when.
Guess that means this really is a sport, even though most of us are just bench warmers.
posted by dchase at 12:52 PM on August 12, 2011
I really hope Bill Simmons never discovers MetaFilter.
posted by lukemeister at 1:03 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by lukemeister at 1:03 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Metafilter is a sport.
No, I'm the original. AskMe and MetaTalk are sports.
Green and grey indeed. Nothing but the original blue over here.
posted by Meta Filter at 1:09 PM on August 12, 2011
No, I'm the original. AskMe and MetaTalk are sports.
Green and grey indeed. Nothing but the original blue over here.
posted by Meta Filter at 1:09 PM on August 12, 2011
Sorry to harsh your buzz, Horace! It's just that his mention of ranking people seems more like something you do on MetaCritic.
Now, if he'd said ranking on people....
or is that just 1980s NJ-speak?
posted by Miko at 2:03 PM on August 12, 2011
Now, if he'd said ranking on people....
or is that just 1980s NJ-speak?
posted by Miko at 2:03 PM on August 12, 2011
is that just 1980s NJ-speak
It is certainly 1980s Milwaukee speak.
posted by everichon at 2:25 PM on August 12, 2011
It is certainly 1980s Milwaukee speak.
posted by everichon at 2:25 PM on August 12, 2011
The MetArena
Oh god I just had the most horrible thought ever: "Official dance of MetaFilter."
posted by Sys Rq at 3:31 PM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh god I just had the most horrible thought ever: "Official dance of MetaFilter."
posted by Sys Rq at 3:31 PM on August 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think there are three criteria required to classify something as a sport. It must a: have some element of physicality to it (i.e. not be an activity that can in any way be described as "sedentary"), b: be an activity that you cannot fully participate in by yourself, and (pursuant to point b) c: it must have some element of defense.
By this definition, billiards is a sport, and while I'm an avid player and advocate (if curling is in the olympics, and there's no reason it shouldn't be, billiards sure as hell should be an olympic event), billards is a game. A very good game, but a game. There's nothing wrong with being a game, or being paid to play a game.
My metric for separating sport from game is this: If a professional can wear exposed jewelry during it, then it's a game. Baseball is a game.
There are also races and competitions, though, which are neither sports nor games. A race is, well, a race. A competition is a matchup of discrete skills, like target shooting or something.
posted by cmoj at 3:55 PM on August 12, 2011
By this definition, billiards is a sport, and while I'm an avid player and advocate (if curling is in the olympics, and there's no reason it shouldn't be, billiards sure as hell should be an olympic event), billards is a game. A very good game, but a game. There's nothing wrong with being a game, or being paid to play a game.
My metric for separating sport from game is this: If a professional can wear exposed jewelry during it, then it's a game. Baseball is a game.
There are also races and competitions, though, which are neither sports nor games. A race is, well, a race. A competition is a matchup of discrete skills, like target shooting or something.
posted by cmoj at 3:55 PM on August 12, 2011
Oooooooh, can I be Mike Vick?
posted by nathancaswell at 4:09 PM on August 12, 2011
posted by nathancaswell at 4:09 PM on August 12, 2011
What do you know, Mike Pesca emailed me back! He allowed as how it's possible he meant Metacritic, but he does read MetaFilter and was happy to have given it a plug.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:41 PM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:41 PM on August 12, 2011 [3 favorites]
Vicious. Dangerous. And yet we are all winners.
posted by artof.mulata at 5:26 PM on August 12, 2011
posted by artof.mulata at 5:26 PM on August 12, 2011
"What are you doing?"
"Puttin' on the foil! Every post! You want some?"
".... No."
posted by cmyk at 5:35 PM on August 12, 2011
"Puttin' on the foil! Every post! You want some?"
".... No."
posted by cmyk at 5:35 PM on August 12, 2011
Can somebody come up with an analogy for my role if metafilter was a sport because I can't think of one but I'm sure it would be hilarious
Like the guy who collects major league baseball jockstraps or something
posted by tehloki at 6:11 PM on August 12, 2011
Like the guy who collects major league baseball jockstraps or something
posted by tehloki at 6:11 PM on August 12, 2011
Like the guy who collects major league baseball jockstraps or something
That is... not a thing... I hope.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:41 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
That is... not a thing... I hope.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:41 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
The gladiators Metafiltered ... to the death!
I am now imagining Matt in a toga looking at me with thumb pointed down, thousands cheering.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:53 PM on August 12, 2011
I am now imagining Matt in a toga looking at me with thumb pointed down, thousands cheering.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:53 PM on August 12, 2011
Like the guy who collects major league baseball jockstraps or something
That is... not a thing... I hope.
Well Jock staps are a known fetish item so, not even nearly outside the realm of possibility.
posted by The Whelk at 8:54 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
That is... not a thing... I hope.
Well Jock staps are a known fetish item so, not even nearly outside the realm of possibility.
posted by The Whelk at 8:54 PM on August 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
or is that just 1980s NJ-speak?
It's also 1980s suburban NY speak.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 10:12 PM on August 12, 2011
It's also 1980s suburban NY speak.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 10:12 PM on August 12, 2011
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posted by GenjiandProust at 6:33 AM on August 12, 2011 [7 favorites]