The Sochi Winter Olympics starts today.
Here’s a post from the London 2012 Summer Olympics. (Yes, I
have a lot of conversations on backlog.) It's relatively short. I thought this would be an appropriate
time to post it.
A friend makes a point. A friend of his says it’s not valid
just because he doesn’t want it to be. I state facts to support my friend’s
point. His friend says the facts shouldn’t matter because, well, they just
shouldn’t.
Hot-cha!
Enjoy...
David
With all this talk about Olympic medals and what they get
paid for winning one and what taxes they should or should not pay - I have a
proposal, let’s pay the troops tax free for every medal they earn, after all
its not like they are being mollycoddled in four star hotels while they are
representing us!!!!!
Carlingford
Well David, The Olympics has always been a peaceful sporting
organisation all about bringing nations together in the name of sport. I fail
to see why you feel the need to connect sport and war ,athletes and soldiers ,
olympic medals and war medals?? I cant see your point [It's annoying enough, the amount of smugness oozing here, but to be so fucking wrong on top of it. Sport & war - yeah, totally different. Athletes & soldiers - yeah nothing similar there. Medals & medals - sure, I guess nothing is similar about receiving a medal and receiving a medal.]
Bill Mancuso
Well, Carlingford - Are you suggesting we should not tax
people for running and jumping and swimming, but we should tax people who
signed up to risk their lives to protect a nation? And the running, jumping,
swimming people - who only risked their sponsor's money and losing and going
back to work - often go on to a life of fame and multi-million dollar contracts
afterward, whereas people who risk their lives - if they survive - often go on
to a life of lost limbs, post traumatic stress, suicide, poverty and being
completely ignored by the country they actually risked their lives to defend.
Since sports and war are directly related, I can't see your point. [I wasn't being smug. I was being a sarcastic dick.]
Carlingford
Hi Bill, History tells us that goverments never treat their
service men well after a conflict situation . On that point i agree that these
guys should be given all the money and support they deserve. But why link it to
the olympics or sport? Why not rock stars or movie stars? The list goes on .
These guys are only doing their jobs and yea they should pay tax like everybody
else.
Having grown up in a conflict situation in northern ireland
for thirty years ive seen what war can do to people first hand and its not
pretty . But ive learned that their are victims on both sides . So my friend
ill leave this with one word - Peace [Aside from making no sense, this paragraph serves no purpose to the topic. It was introduced in order to portray some sort of self-importance to this smug fuck. Victims on both sides of what? The Olympics vs. war? Oh, you grew up in Northern Ireland? And you were caught right in the middle of the IRA and British soldiers, uh, conflicting? Well, color me impressed, big guy!]
Bill Mancuso
‘Governments never treating their service men well’ is not
the point. Your conflicted Northern Ireland life is not the point. Seeing what
war can do to people is not the point.
Your argument is that nothing can be linked to anything ever
because nothing is exactly the same. Rock stars and movie stars? Why don't you
ask about other random professions like, 'Why not wedding planners or
botanists?' Because those subjects are not connected like war and sports are.
David simply asked the completely relevant question as to
why argue over whether Olympians (who battle each other for fun and self gain
while being sponsored by others at no risk to themselves) should or shouldn't
have to pay taxes while soldiers (who battle each other at the ultimate risk to
themselves for the benefit of others) should be taxed.
Sports and war are a direct comparison. Especially since it
is a fact that the Olympics were started because of war.
It is only your own fault that you do not see this
completely relevant and obvious point.
Peace to you as well.
Carlingford
You brush peoples experiences and views off with an
arrogance that amazes me. [Aww. He's upset that I wasn't impressed about his conflicted upbringing. Now, I'm sad that he's sad.] Why do you assume that sportsmen dont pay taxs? Sport
and conflict and religon [Wha?] should never be linked thats what has this crazy world
the way it is.
Bill Mancuso
I am not brushing off anyone's experiences or views. They
are simply not the point of this topic. What amazes me is that you think simple
facts are 'arrogant.' I am not, nor have I ever assumed that athletes pay no
taxes. You are inventing things I have not said and adding unrelated matters
into this discussion of taxes upon athletes and soldiers. Please re-read
David’s original post if you are confused about the topic. And not to sound
like I'm brushing off your experience or view, but religion has nothing to do
with this, either, so why did you just inject that into this discussion?
However, sports and conflict are directly
related - so once again, David’s original post is a completely logical proposal
- no matter what your views and wishes about whether or not they SHOULD be
linked.
They are.
Is that crazy? Yes. But that's also not the point.
Carlingford
When you are finished sifting through my posts looking for
words to emphasise that are 'not the point' i do understand the point david was
making . [I’m just making the conscious choice to ignore it.]
Yes as i said earlier i do agree these guys deserve to be rewarded as much as
possible for their service to their country. But an olympic medal and a war
medal should not be compared in my opinion . [Your opinion is irrelevant.] Leave sport alone they should not
be mixed. [Not mixed - compared. Pay the fuck attention to something other than yourself.] Michael phelps has won 18 golds for the usa. Should he not be
aplauded for this ? Now you will probably tell me he has nothing to do with
this and is ' NOT THE POINT'
Bill Mancuso
I totally agree with you. That's not the point. And again,
regardless of your opinion, it is a fact war and sports are intertwined.
Carlingford
Sadly it may be fact bill but it doesnt make it right. You
and me are never going to agree on this so as the old saying goes "we'll
agree to disagree" [In regard to that first sentence, you apparently don't even agree with yourself.]
O O O O O
“Agreeing to disagree” is the most annoying retreat by
people who have no argument against facts. You cannot disagree about a fact.
The term when dealing with facts as opposed to opinions should be “Let’s agree
that I don’t care about facts.”
O O O O O
Oh, and fuck Vladimir Putin in the ass with a rainbow-colored pineapple and
fuck the incredibly corrupt International Olympic Committee, too.
O O O O O
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