General Discussion

hay rick

(9,569 posts)

46. Sports, real housewives, msm "news"...

Reply to nadinbrzezinski (Original post)

Tue Jul 24, 2012, 12:46 AM

Jul 2012

Lots of opiate out there.

I know a handful of guys who are knowledgeable about sports and also have an informed opinion on politics. I also know a handful of people who are well-informed on politics but almost entirely ignorant of sports. Sadly, I know many, many more who are knowledgeable about sports but mostly ignorant about politics.

The frustration is that their detailed understanding of sports demonstrates that these people are capable of paying close attention to a subject and understanding a lot of nuance and complexity. They use that ability to appreciate and understand sports but don't use it to gain an understanding of their society. It's their choice and our culture makes it an easy choice- but then we all pay the price because democracy ceases to have value when the electorate is uninformed.

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Sports, the new opiate of the people [View all] nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 OP

New? malaise Jul 2012 #1

What is new nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #3

LOL malaise Jul 2012 #4

OP just learned something zappaman Jul 2012 #6

Not funny malaise Jul 2012 #12

Hmmmm...my bad. zappaman Jul 2012 #15

When was the last time you heard an actual nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #29

"Bread and Circuses" AnnieBW Jul 2012 #14

Do you remember a talking head saying this on tv? nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #30

No Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2012 #69

That's why it caught my attention nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #71

I Never Played The Game dogknob Jul 2012 #13

I love sports zappaman Jul 2012 #2

Dude, if you're that aware of your environment... yoyossarian Jul 2012 #28

I disagree. zappaman Jul 2012 #31

Comparing politics to sports, or even mentioning them in the same sentence, is absurd. dogknob Jul 2012 #33

Politics is a blood sport. JNelson6563 Jul 2012 #56

sports is A BUSINESS frylock Jul 2012 #74

If the OP is ridiculous why is this topic part of sports curricula in universities? malaise Jul 2012 #52

No offense.. Upton Jul 2012 #53

Knowledge = malaise Jul 2012 #55

Politics bongbong Jul 2012 #78

New.... well, sort of.... 2on2u Jul 2012 #5

Not new. Noam Chomsky identified this in those exact words long ago. snot Jul 2012 #7

Isn't that the truth malaise Jul 2012 #21

New on tv nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #22

"New on TV"? zappaman Jul 2012 #24

And apparently new to some DU'er's, so worth repeating – snot Jul 2012 #40

I follow the NHL and the NFL very closely. MrSlayer Jul 2012 #8

I bet you can chew gum and walk at the same time too! zappaman Jul 2012 #9

I know a ton of liberal sports nuts BeyondGeography Jul 2012 #10

Sure..people into sports don't know a damn thing.. Upton Jul 2012 #11

Of course there are liberals and leftists who know sports and also know malaise Jul 2012 #23

Did I say all? nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #34

Hahahaa--at the "new" part of that! Lex Jul 2012 #16

You're Wrong thelordofhell Jul 2012 #17

Ask me about the ACA. Then ask me about UNC basketball, Redskins football ... 11 Bravo Jul 2012 #18

One of those things is not like the others zappaman Jul 2012 #19

Who was the MVP in the first game in the Dean Dome? taterguy Jul 2012 #36

i don't know. If it was Len Bias, I'm going to be pissed. 11 Bravo Jul 2012 #37

Steve Hale, torched the Dookies for 28 taterguy Jul 2012 #51

New? Tell that to the Romans. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #20

New on the tv from a talking head nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #32

Bread and circuses. Now it's Doritos and sports. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2012 #25

It's not sports tkmorris Jul 2012 #26

i would personally rather have a conversation BOG PERSON Jul 2012 #27

LOL! cherokeeprogressive Jul 2012 #38

Says a person whose favorite group is "Socialist Progressives" on a political web site. RC Jul 2012 #59

i meant a person IRL (in real life) BOG PERSON Jul 2012 #64

Reality shows are the new opiate of the people, not just sports meow2u3 Jul 2012 #35

I apologize for not accepting that having hobbies is a bad thing. 2ndAmForComputers Jul 2012 #39

I think there's some truth to it ... but then it's also true that people who *don't* follow sports fishwax Jul 2012 #41

The enjoyment of sports is a very human habit bhikkhu Jul 2012 #42

I'll thank you to not take my name in vain. opiate69 Jul 2012 #43

It's not sports that is the opiate, it's the soap opera television version of sports. HuckleB Jul 2012 #44

The Iroquois played lacrosse instead of having wars. ErikJ Jul 2012 #45

Sports, real housewives, msm "news"... hay rick Jul 2012 #46

Which was the point commentator made on current nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #47

It would be a far better world if sports Sherman A1 Jul 2012 #48

I wouldn't say sports fans Shankapotomus Jul 2012 #49

I've known a lot of non-sport fans JonLP24 Jul 2012 #50

I call bullshit---to the talking head who said it. trumad Jul 2012 #54

Not this again. mathematic Jul 2012 #57

I suggest you trash the thread nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #60

Why trash the thread? mathematic Jul 2012 #62

Well, this was recognized a few Millenia ago nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #77

Naw, sorry, the new opiate is the computer, the smart phone, MadHound Jul 2012 #58

Stochastic opiate...nt SidDithers Jul 2012 #61

I'm going to agree with this. Alduin Jul 2012 #63

Opiates are the new opiate. reflection Jul 2012 #65

I am not!! opiate69 Jul 2012 #66

Me neither! reflection Jul 2012 #68

I call B.S crimson77 Jul 2012 #67

Many voters know more about politics than I know about football Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2012 #70

You are all too correct, I see this all too often Populist_Prole Jul 2012 #72

This is an important issue brindis_desala Jul 2012 #73

I'm deeply sure many sport fans also pay attention to politics too. DisabledDem Jul 2012 #75

We also give criminal sports personalities a pass on their behaviour gopiscrap Jul 2012 #76

I deeply apologize for enjoying sports, as well as entertainment of any kind. AngryOldDem Jul 2012 #79

Obama is a huge basketball fan. deaniac21 Jul 2012 #80

Let me help you with the reading comprehension nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #81