Sports: another form of opiate of the masses?

[PierceAndPierce]

Marx viewed religion as "opiate of the masses." He believed that religion was a tool used by capitalists to better control the proletariats.

While sports and religion are different beasts, I am curious with regards to how Marx would view sports today. Asides from the fact that sports have now become another medium for the advertising and marketing of goods, it seems as if many people (especially those of working class backgrounds) utilize sports as an escape from the daily grind of existence. In other words, sports keeps members of the proletariat occupied, thus keeping their minds and energies away from revolutionary activities. While I wouldn't say that sports today play a role similar to that of religion in industrialized societies of the 19th century, I do believe that sports today serve as an opiate of the masses that is almost as effective, if not more effective than religion.

Therefore, if Marx were here today, what would you guys think he would have to say about sports? Would he say that the sports today is another from of opiate of the masses, or would he argue that sports remain a pure, unadulterated activity that has been untouched by capitalism?

[hmkpoker]

There's a big difference, in my mind.

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it seems as if many people (especially those of working class backgrounds) utilize sports as an escape from the daily grind of existence. In other words, sports keeps members of the proletariat occupied, thus keeping their minds and energies away from revolutionary activities.

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Couldn't you say the same of movies, theme parks, TV, sex, vacation cruises, computer games, books, magazines, bars, clubs, theater, museums, and all hobbies or forms of entertainment? In your ideal world after your revolution, will people not watch/play sports anymore, or do other things that are fun? Why is spirituality any different?

When you don't watch sports, no one identifies you as a heretic and burns you at the stake. No one tells you that you're going to hell. That's the difference.

[madnak]

All I know is Yankees fans and Red Sox fans hate each other a lot. I mean, you think politics people hate each other? No way. These guys would seriously kill over this game.

Opiate? No way. Sports turn people into psychopaths.

[chezlaw]

Marx would watch cricket and think it good. He would agree with you that most other sports are an abomination of capitalism.

chez

[bunny]

Cricket...good? You're going to burn, infidel.

[chezlaw]

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Cricket...good? You're going to burn, infidel.

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yeah but only for eternity - a mere bagatelle to us cricket fans.

chez

[bunny]

/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[guesswest]

There's nothing intrinsic to sports that stops people thinking about or exploring ideas, there is with religion, certain ideas are prohibited. That's where they differ IMO.

If the only issue is that sports are a distraction/take time away, then that applies to everything we do, certainly everything we do for fun.

[luckyme]

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If the only issue is that sports are a distraction/take time away, then that applies to everything we do, certainly everything we do for fun.

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A couple aspects of major sports that a lot of other activities don't share -
- they don't participate
- they take it seriously, as if it were important.

There is something about that combination that may have an value as an opiate.

luckyme

[moorobot]

[ QUOTE ]
Marx viewed religion as "opiate of the masses." He believed that religion was a tool used by capitalists to better control the proletariats.

[/ QUOTE ] I don't believe this is accurate. Marx said that the reigious people themselves use religion as a tool in response to the opression of the capitalists: the religious people themselves create religion in order to deal with the terrible conditions being imposed on them, not the priests or the capitalists. That is why he also called religion the heart of a heartless world and the sigh of the opressed creature. You might say that capitalists cause religosity amongst the workers by creating terrible conditions for so many people, however.

I do believe sports is a very effective opiate, regardless of who is using it as a tool.

[theweatherman]

Far less sports than celebrity gossip.

If you look at celebrity tv shows it is ridiculous. These people literally are there just to be gawked at by the lower classes. They serve little to no purpose beyond their entertainment (meaning, acting) and their private lives are incredible wastes of time for all those who learn about them.

People are much more upset when Brad dumps Jennifer, than when Israel bombs some Palestinians, or the US loses a couple dozen soldiers in a week, or any other number of incredibly important and significant events takes place.

[Peter666]

Historically, it is the communist nations which were very obsessed with dominating sports. Since they could not compete economically, they would do all they could to win international events such as the Olympic games.

The USSR pioneered illegal drug use in sports, and lots of their dominance in the Olympics is directly attributable to this. Some "modern" supplements for weigtlifting such as creatine were developed by the Russians and used since the 1950's. This would give their contestants an automatic, illegal advantage.

There were no scruples of any sort on the part of the USSR.

[madnak]

I defeat all man. If he dies, he dies.

[J. Stew]

Follow the money to see where sport is touched by inauthenticiy. Look at levels of sport where the game is played, 'IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME' and you find purity. Adults were once kids, they experienced the Spirit of the game at some level if they played, they hate life now (some) because they have forgotten that Spirit, and they seek to relive some underlying feeling they once had but that has since been forgotten amidst the stresses of delusion. Capitalism works in some ways, attachment to capitalism results in becoming stale, like all attachments imo. Navigation through what works while remaining sensitive to the implications of investing yourself in something is a naturally delicate process.

[Mrs. Utah]

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Therefore, if Marx were here today, what would you guys think he would have to say about sports? Would he say that the sports today is another from of opiate of the masses

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Sports are not an opiate for the masses. Sports is about status - which is the basis for almost all male actions and which is the basis for sexual selection and survival. We cheer for teams to win because it enhances our status. Thus, sports fill a very specific function.

[moorobot]

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Sports are not an opiate for the masses. Sports is about status - which is the basis for almost all male actions and which is the basis for sexual selection and survival. We cheer for teams to win because it enhances our status. Thus, sports fill a very specific function.

[/ QUOTE ] Well, the cubs pulled that one out tonight so I guess I'm going to get laid tonight for sure: off to the bars I go!!!

[moorobot]

[ QUOTE ]
Historically, it is the communist nations which were very obsessed with dominating sports. Since they could not compete economically, they would do all they could to win international events such as the Olympic games.

The USSR pioneered illegal drug use in sports, and lots of their dominance in the Olympics is directly attributable to this. Some "modern" supplements for weigtlifting such as creatine were developed by the Russians and used since the 1950's. This would give their contestants an automatic, illegal advantage.

There were no scruples of any sort on the part of the USSR.

[/ QUOTE ] Blaming Marx for the USSR is like blaming Jesus for the crusades: very different philosophies.

I say this even though I am not a Marxist. I am a socialist, but Marx would have considered me a "utopian" socialist as opposed to a "scientific" one like him.

[madnak]

Wait, when your home team wins the girls in your area put out more?

No wonder people get so invested in these games! How did I never realize?

I think I'm a sports fan now.

[Duke]

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Therefore, if Marx were here today, what would you guys think he would have to say about sports?

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Be excellent to each other... and party on, dudes!

~D