What are your thoughts on UFC?
Do you like it or not? Why?
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10 comments:
No likey.
It's a slippery slope to the day when we pit criminals against each other to the death.
Unfortunately, history often repeats itself.
I'm for it.
They're not all criminals. It's very entertaining.
I'm guessing you don't like boxing or martial arts either, Andy?
It's not that I don't like boxing or martial arts--especially martial arts, which seems to be somewhat of an art form, it's just that UFC (and probably boxing) seems to appeal to the base desire within humans for violence and bloodshed.
Also, I'm not saying UFC fighters are criminals, I'm making reference to Roman gladiatorial practices.
Interestingly enough, I have two cousins who are UFC fighters--at a much lower level of course.
I like, dare say.... love it.
Is it violent? I guess it can be, but then again all sports can be. Ever seen hockey?
I think the hurdle that Dana White has had to overcome, and in my opinion has done with great sucess, is showing the technical side of the sport.
Many people think of it as nothing more than a street brawl in a cage. These arent guys from rival prison gangs locked in a cage to settle the score.
I also think that many people fail to see the skill, training and extreme athleticism that is involved.
These guys are amazing athletes. Consider that not only are they trained in boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai (among others) but they also need to have incredible endurance.
It is also argued that it is one of the safest sports there is. I can't say that I agree with that, but I still love it.
I also think that it is ironic that people that argue against the violence in UFC are the same people that barricade themselves in their living rooms with headsets on conspiring with random people on how they can annihilate their opponents with virtual machine guns.
Good point Heather, about virtual reality violence. That would also be why I'm staunchly opposed to horror films and over-the-top violent films like Kill Bill and Sin City. Something seems to have gone awry in a society which takes vicarious pleasure in watching the mutilation and violent assault of human beings.
I have to disagree that UFC is similar to football or hockey. The goal of UFC is to physically beat another human being into submission. The goal of football, hockey, et al is not.
Finally, I fail to see how being profiecient in the techniques of a brutal sport lend justification to its goodness. Just because one is good at something that is challenging, even impossible, for the average jane or joe doesn't make it right or good.
Are they good at what they do? Yes. Is it entertaining? One could make a strong case for it being so. Is it a good thing? That's something to seriously consider.
@ Heather & Andy - Are you one of those people that insists that the tragic events of Columbine and so many shootings similar to it are brought about by video game violence?
There is a massive difference between virtual fighting and actual fighting. When I sit at home in my chair playing whatever violent video game I play (we'll use CoD4), I'm not suffering any effects of the actual fighting. It doesn't make me want to go out and shoot someone. I have no interest in actually living in a house where zombies are continually attacking and I have to fight for my life.
My opinion is: That is mainstream media garbage that has been used to ease the minds of people, who cannot accept the fact that there are genuinely evil people out there, and explain why someone would do such a horrible thing.
@ Heather - I agree with Andy; your comparison of UFC to football or hockey is absurd. The closest comparison you could make would be boxing, where the point is to force the opponent into a state of unconsciousness by the use of your fists. This isn't to say I don't enjoy boxing, because I do. I'm also not against MMA, yet.
Also, I'd be interested in hearing who claims that it is more safe than other sports. That sounds insane considering there is rarely a fight without blood being spilled and some of the best have made their careers by destroying their opponents faces in addition to having their own mutilated.
@ Andy - I agree that a fighter's proficiency in the various fighting styles does/can not make the sport good (or 'right'), in your eyes. I can't say that I see it as bad (or 'wrong') at this point. To me, it is still a (somewhat twisted) art form.
This is an interesting conversation--thanks for bringing it up Keith.
Kevin, my beef is not so much against violence in video games as it is against the type of violence in anything that degrades humanity and reduces it to an object the abuse of which produces pleasure.
I suppose that line has to be drawn by the individual in many instances--for example, someone who derives a perverse pleasure from killing enemy soldiers in an otherwise inoccuous WWII game when compared to someone who doesn't. Still, games like Grand Theft Auto, although I've never played it, seem to blur the line by offering up images of violent mysogyny and racism among other things.
My question to all is this: If we're honest, are we defending such things because we enjoy them and are seeking to justify or at least assuage our consciences or because we really think they're nothing more than entirely innocent diversions?
That last comment was from me--for those who don't know who Emmaus Road Church is.
I hate signing in and out of different accounts--I've written as 3 different accounts by accident in this discussion so far.
Andy - If we are seeking to justify our actions, aren't we wrong to begin with? If you have to justify something you do, it probably isn't the right thing in the first place.
To answer your question though, I have to separate each instance depending on which game I'm playing. I have played GTA before but I can say it has been at least 3 years, probably longer since I've played it. I enjoyed the openness of the game world, being able to go anywhere is pretty cool. It gives you a little perspective of the real world and how big it really is. Of course, I did enjoy the bloody violence that ensued from starting the game up. That, too, got boring.
Anyways...my point is, yes, I agree a game like GTA, in it's basis is evil(?). Enjoying the challenge of killing the most Nazi soldiers compared to the other people I'm playing with, not evil.
Kevin, my point exactly concerning justification of our actions.
One of the problems of trying to make concrete statements about right and wrong is that while the intention is good, it can end up in legalism.
Take for instance the Church of the Nazarene's stance on dancing or movies. The original intent, I believe, was to give guidance and aid to people who wanted to live a holy life to keep away from institutions and actions that often led to ideas or activities contrary to a life of love and holiness. However, when it became nothing more than a proscription against any and every type of visual art or choreography, then it seems to have crossed the line. More often than not, it became a tool to create "us" versus "them" structures within the church--very damaging to sharing the love of Christ.
I never went to a dance as a teen and young man, and to be honest, I'm glad I didn't--pretty lame if you think about it. I hope my children will choose the same path and stay away from the peer pressure and heartache usually associated with it, but I don't think it will be a line drawn in the sand for me.
Back to UFC: As a pastor, am I going to tell people they shouldn't watch it--No. Will I offer my thoughts and reasoning for making other choices--Yes. Will I love people regardless--Of course.
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