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Comment by oxide | Hacker News Reader

I disagree. I can't think of a single sport where the athletes aren't throw-away. That's what sports do. They suck the livelyhood out of their competitors for the pleasure of spectators.

American Football leaves people broken physically and mentally. Boxing causes a slow-building brain damage that leaves legends like Ali a shaking, stuttering mess until their dying day. You're only wanted in Basketball until your knee gives out.

Injuries are career-ending for any athlete, in any sport. I personally find Hockey more "disgustingly violent" than the UFC.

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Do you see a moral difference between violence-as-a-byproduct of a goal and violence-as-the-goal? If not, do you see how someone else might? Are you familiar with the tu quoque fallacy?

I will of course not convince you of much via a HN comment thread, this is for the others.

>Do you see a moral difference between violence-as-a-byproduct of a goal and violence-as-the-goal

Yes. I just don't think it applies to the UFC. Violence is not the goal of the UFC. It isn't a bloodsport, it isn't cockfighting. Moral arguments hold no water with me in regards to the UFC.

If you tune in to the UFC just to watch someone get the shit kicked out of them, you're missing the point entirely.

Personally, I watch the UFC to see two athletes of equal skill compete in what I consider a sport. Many fights end with zero blood. Some fights end in seconds. Blood is a very much a by-product IMO, not the end goal.

> That's like watching NASCAR in the hopes that someone will die in a fiery car crash.

You do realize that is exactly the reason most people watch Nascar, right?

not my best analogy.

Honestly, it was a good analogy. GP is as outside of NASCAR as he is of the UFC.

I think its disingenuous at best to say this is the reason most people watch NASCAR... I only know a few die hard NASCAR fans myself, but they are far more interested in the technical skills of the drivers than seeing someone potentially harmed for a little fireworks show.

> > Do you see a moral difference between violence-as-a-byproduct of a goal and violence-as-the-goal

> Violence is not the goal of the UFC.

Its perhaps not the goal, but its also not a byproduct. Its most accurately the mechanism.

Chess? Bowling? Archery? Shooting?

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