Great Debate: Are eSports sports?

~~FireWaterBurn~~ · 05-21-2012, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

Do you consider snooker a sport? Or throwing darts?

Neither are very physical and require much fitness from the contestants.

I don't consider them sports, and that goes for pool/billiards as well. Same with things like poker.

Guybrush · 05-21-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireWaterBurn

I don't consider them sports, and that goes for pool/billiards as well. Same with things like poker.

As far as I know, the rest of the world generally considers snooker to be a sport.

Paedantic Basterd · 05-19-2012, 11:37 AM

Whether or not you think it's silliness, you've got to admit that logically, GB and Tuna have it nailed.

Guybrush · 05-19-2012, 01:20 PM

Well, having read a bit more, I agree with GB and Tuna. I'm no expert on what's sport or not, but I figure if snooker is a sport and darts is a sport - and certainly if chess is a sport - then eSports can be sports. Certainly StarCraft!

MoonlitSunshine · 05-19-2012, 01:45 PM

Almost everyone defending eSports in this thread seems to be focusing on the people who are giving no reasonable argument. I feel that I at least offered reasonable reason not to consider them sports: not because I think they aren't "worthy" or any ridiculous reason like that, but because it would create an unnecessary ambiguity.

Hey, here's a similar idea, why don't we take all games involving a ball and call them all "Ball". They all share the common denominator of being played competitively and involving a ball, so that makes them the same, right? There's a reason why we call them Football and basketball and baseball. It allows us to make a distinction between different things.

The simple truth is that, to me, it seems like those proposing such a name-merge are in some way embarrassed by the term "eSports" when in fact it's just a name, like the way email is different to mail, ecommerce is different to commerce, and electronics are different to... err, nevermind. The simple fact that they have been given the moniker eSports implies that they are already considered sports at least on a general level. Why is it so important that that "e" that is a valid identifier be removed?

Mrd00d · 05-19-2012, 02:07 PM

I think GB and Tuna have it down, and Moonlit makes a valid points. eSports seem to be a subset type of sport.

FETCHER. · 05-19-2012, 03:00 PM

This is absolutely ludicrous.

~~FireWaterBurn~~ · 05-19-2012, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FETCHER.

This is absolutely ludicrous.

Agreed. If nothing else, calling gaming a sport is kind of a slap in the face to real athletes. I'm still not sure the reason why any gamer would want gaming to be considered a sport. Again, I assume a deep-seeded jealousy of some sort for that motive.

**Janszoon** · 05-19-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireWaterBurn

I think it's some sort of deep-seeded jealousy that they would never admit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireWaterBurn

Again, I assume a deep-seeded jealousy of some sort for that motive.

I just want to point out—since it's bugging me—that the term is "deep-seated" not "deep-seeded".

~~FireWaterBurn~~ · 05-19-2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I just want to point out—since it's bugging me—that the term is "deep-seated" not "deep-seeded".

Thanks, it seems to make less sense that way but you are correct

05-19-2012, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Well, having read a bit more, I agree with GB and Tuna. I'm no expert on what's sport or not, but I figure if snooker is a sport and darts is a sport - and certainly if chess is a sport - then eSports can be sports. Certainly StarCraft! __________________ Something Completely Different

05-19-2012, 01:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
MoonlitSunshine Dat's Der Bunny! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,097	Almost everyone defending eSports in this thread seems to be focusing on the people who are giving no reasonable argument. I feel that I at least offered reasonable reason not to consider them sports: not because I think they aren't "worthy" or any ridiculous reason like that, but because it would create an unnecessary ambiguity. Hey, here's a similar idea, why don't we take all games involving a ball and call them all "Ball". They all share the common denominator of being played competitively and involving a ball, so that makes them the same, right? There's a reason why we call them Football and basketball and baseball. It allows us to make a distinction between different things. The simple truth is that, to me, it seems like those proposing such a name-merge are in some way embarrassed by the term "eSports" when in fact it's just a name, like the way email is different to mail, ecommerce is different to commerce, and electronics are different to... err, nevermind. The simple fact that they have been given the moniker eSports implies that they are already considered sports at least on a general level. Why is it so important that that "e" that is a valid identifier be removed? __________________ "I found it eventually, at the bottom of a locker in a disused laboratory, with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard". Ever thought of going into Advertising?" - Arthur Dent

05-19-2012, 02:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mrd00d Stoned and Jammin' Out Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern California; Eugene, OR; mobile Posts: 1,602	I think GB and Tuna have it down, and Moonlit makes a valid points. eSports seem to be a subset type of sport. __________________ Mrd00d's Last.fm

05-19-2012, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Whether or not you think it's silliness, you've got to admit that logically, GB and Tuna have it nailed.