What do DUers think about eating contests? Freedom or gluttony?

[Mika]

Watching the turkey eating contest yesterday (which was looping on cable news every 15 minutes or so) I was really wondering what kind of American message/image that scarfing down 10 pound turkeys as fast as humanly(?) possible was broadcasting to the rest of the world - especially while we're at war with an impoverished nation or two.

Any thoughts & ideas?

[Mutley]

1. Both.

I personally think eating contests are disgusting, but if someone wanted to make them illegal I would be outraged at the loss of the freedom.

[Eric J in MN]

35. Good answer (nt)

nt

[Radio_Lady]

36. Frankly, folks, I don't give a SH**! Because that's what eating turns

into anyway. (Except for the food that sits on your butt and hips.)

We went to a crayfish eating contest held here in Oregon. It was truly disgusting. I didn't watch...

[manic expression]

2. That's a valid thought

However, I would argue other shows are even more ridiculous in terms of wanton waste.

"My Supersweet 16" is probably the most disgusting show I've seen. It is a bunch of rich kids wasting their parents' money for a single worthless party. Consider the fact that so many cannot find adequate shelter or enough nutrition. It's reason enough to be ashamed of this country.

I actually think the show is one of the most effective arguments for redistribution of wealth.

[Shipwack]

3. Well, they're both, actually...

Freedom means that you are allowed to be a gluttonous idiot.

[shenmue]

4. I just think they're stupid

Who needs to prove they can do something like that?

[WritingIsMyReligion]

13. Doncha know? 'Tis the MANLY, PATRIOTIC thing to do!

:sarcasm:

:eyes::eyes:

[Clara T]

5. Gluttony

It's the non-negotiable American Way of Life.
Robots must consume-Beep-Beep-Beep.

It's important for the rest of the world to see us in our plastic orgies of over-indulgence.

Pass the Tums.

[Strathos]

6. If those people are having fun and not hurting or torturing anyone

have at it.

I don't really see the harm.

We should be more worried about the people who are being tortured and the children that are being killed or going hungry in the United States more than some fools stuffing themselves to capacity.

[jilln]

25. The turkeys were tortured

Just so someone could stuff them into their faces and probably throw them up later.

[Strathos]

34. That's the reson most turkeys are on this earth

To be eaten.

I'm sorry, I'm as liberal as anyone I know, but the crazy PETA people and everyone else that wants to push an agenda of their own on everyone in the world.

Do we not bitch about churches pushing religion in and through government? Do we not bitch and moan and complain each time someone's rights are taken away?

Well, I see PETA and vegetarians as no different than those Xtians who want to push something on people that really don't want it or need it.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

7. The freedom to be a glutton

insensitive, stupid...but what are you gonna do?

[BiggJawn]

8. Stupidity.

Like hotdog or hamburger eating contests.
I didn't see that. Was that little guy from Japan who's Hotdog eating champ there?

I'm reminded of flagpole sitting and dance marathons.

[Dudley_DUright]

14. This was the topic of CSI: Las Vegas last night

The mentioned the guy's name, but I don't remember what it is.

[BiggJawn]

15. Takeru Kobayashi

The diference between Kobayashi-san and our local "Champ" is that the local guy looks like he "trains" every day...

[Vogon_Glory]

17. I Watched CSI: Las Vegas Too, And I Was

I watched CSI: Las Vegas, too, and I was repulsed. It may have been cute for small children in a society of plenty to scarf down three or four hotdogs in a dare with their buddies, but I personally feel that when you reach the age of responsibility (say about the time many liturgical Christians get confirmed and Jews go through Bar Mitzvah), it's time to hang that particular game up. As an adult, I know too many people with eating disorders, I am quite aware of hunger here in America and abroad, and it's time to shape up and put the 'extreme eating' funds into the hands of a local food bank.

[Mika]

9. I am really wondering what message/image this is broadcasting..

.. especially in light of the fact that at the same time as this display of gluttony our country is wreaking so much havoc in a couple of impoverished nations, embargoing Cuba, exploiting child labor, undermining developing economies, denying AIDS meds, etc, etc.

I know that "we" have the freedom to do so, but what is the message beamed the world over via cable news of such contests.

[mrcheerful]

11. Of course this could be a good thing

for the homeless and under fed in this country. Though I've noticed that most of those that participate in these kind of events are ever either.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

12. The "message" is that Americans are a bunch of unthinking gluttons,

which sadly has become true in many respects.

[mrcheerful]

16. Yeah I knew that.

I was just trying to make a point that maybe people should do something for those less fortunate then them.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

10. Gluttony, stupidity, and, yes, their freedom.

:puke:

[OnionPatch]

18. Freedom to be a glutton

And sure, people are starving. But what are you going to do, make being an asshole illegal?

[Mika]

19. Not my point. Point being, what message is this sending worldwide..

.. in light of our actions elsewhere.

[ohio_liberal]

20. It's entertainment, nothing more, nothing less

Stupid as can be, for sure. But it's just entertainment. Like truck pulls or WWE wrestling

[sbj405]

21. I wonder that the 13 M children in THIS country that are hungry think.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this country.

--36.3 million people--including 13 million children--live in households that experience hunger or the risk of hunger. This represents more than one in ten 0households in the United States (11.2 percent). This is an increase of 1.4 million, from 34.9, million in 2002.

--3.5 percent of U.S. households experience hunger. Some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day. 9.6 million people, including 3 million children, live in these homes.

--7.7 percent of U.S. households are at risk of hunger. Members of these households have lower quality diets or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot always afford the food they need. 26.6 million people, including 10.3 million children, live in these homes.

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/04/editorials/hungry_us_children.htm

[tx_dem41]

22. Ummmm....freedom AND gluttony.

Not sure why it was an either/or question. :shrug:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

23. Freedom.

Specifically, the freedom to be an asshole.

[WinkyDink]

24. Disgusting, is what I call them.

Choking hazards.

[0007]

26. Freedom means you can buy all the stupidity and mockery that money

can buy and fuck everyone else. This is wrong in every sense.

I don't have a good answer to curb this insanity.

[Crankie Avalon]

27. Are we and Japan the only countries that do this sort of thing?

Europeans don't do this, do they?

It would be nice if they would just think to donate all that food to the hungry instead of using something so precious as food for a circus, but I guess you can't mandate that every citizen exhibit normal good sense 24/7 in their interactions with the rest of society.

[burythehatchet]

28. Eating contests are the epitome of what America means today

Think about it.

[manic expression]

31. So true n/t

[Ron Green]

29. I wonder if we can educate our way out of this sort of thing.

This is a question that's always on my mind: Can eating contests, tractor pulls, Wal*Mart, professional wrestling, SUV's, fast food, pre-teen beauty contests and so many other soulless and pleasurable diversions ever be "outgrown" through education about more meaningful ways of living our lives and relating to each other and to the earth? As Neil Postman (or someone like that) wrote: "The first curriculum is always Television."

I don't think we have enough will to make our education stronger than Television.

[hlthe2b]

30. pretty symbolic of "western excess.." but, whatever...

I'd never want to watch nor take part.... Frankly I just don't get it, but live and let live, I guess.

[RB TexLa]

32. guess everyones gotta have a hobby n/t

[LiberalPersona]

33. America isn't

the only country that has eating contests.
Ever heard of a sushi eating contest in Japan?

[Neil Lisst]

37. I find such contests appalling, insensitive, and culpable.

What a picture we present to the world, not just of this gross gluttony that has no purpose, but the entertainment orgy which surrounds it!

What next? Parabolic vomiting for distance?