I’d be interested to know what the 70% non-verbal part of that communication is that would change the context of that statement.

“And for every 250 metres wonder how much money it cost to get it there - the millions of dollars to take it around the world, and remember that with every step a kid in some third world shit hole could have been vaccinated against something as common as the measles and not died.”– M.G.

… what about all the money that goes towards the NHL Playoffs??? where do we draw the line? we should all step back and take the time to think about that kid in a shit hole third world country whenever money is being spent on something that is for our entertainment purposes. That way we will always be grateful and humble.

Perhaps we should draw it in terms of rationality. If we spend Millions of Dollars, Euros, whatsoever for a mammoth-event like the olympics do we have to add the same amount just to promote it and for the media to have something to say? I’m not sure what it costs to do a jingle on tv or print some flyers to promote playoffs…

What does this have to do with politics? I’m talking about a fucking torch. And using ‘unity’ and ’supremacy’ in the same example isn’t advisable. MG

And yes everybody does have an opinion as seen above!!!

Quite simply, I like what the torch run stands for (although I have never been a huge fan of the Olympics) and what it does for the communities it visit’s.

… what about all the money that goes towards the NHL Playoffs??? where do we draw the line? we should all step back and take the time to think about that kid in a shit hole third world country whenever money is being spent on something that is for our entertainment purposes. That way we will always be grateful and humble.

Tuul:
“It’s funny to see how quick people are with damnation when it comes to others obviously not sharing their position ;)”

I assume since you quoted me that that comment was directed at me.

snip

Nope, that cited phrase was related to planet henley as it is him who sees opinions where there actually aren’t any ;o)

quote: Perhaps I did not make my point clear enough. I don’t mind opposing opinions - in fact I welcome them and enjoy the debate. It’s far better to have this than a bunch of lemmings all running toward the same cliff.

Fine!

quote: What I took exception to was the manner in which Planet made their point.

That’s why I quoted you to, just to pick up the issue.

quote: My point was simply that, if you have a valid point you can make your point without being rude and confrontational,

All fine - that is also what I meant to say. I just wanted to call attention to the fact that there wasn’t actually a clearly expressed opinion which someone (planet henley) could oppose to.

Hope I put that right ;)

I assume since you quoted me that that comment was directed at me.

Perhaps I did not make my point clear enough. I don’t mind opposing opinions - in fact I welcome them and enjoy the debate. It’s far better to have this than a bunch of lemmings all running toward the same cliff.

What I took exception to was the manner in which Planet made their point. My point was simply that, if you have a valid point you can make your point without being rude and confrontational, otherwise the value of your opinion just gets overshadowed by the fact that people think you are an obstinate asshole and don’t pay attention to what it is you have to say.

Quoting KET:

What would be nice is if they could run the torch over to the sun and light it directly from there.

Brilliant comment.

I think what I wrote above may have been interpreted as being a sarcastic comment. It wasn’t. I meant it at face value. I wish I had written it this way:

That was a brilliant comment, KET! :)

Dorothy

Planet Henley: You make some good points - unfortunately you can’t seem to voice your opinion without being condescending and confrontational. Here…I’ll show you what I mean:

“I am a fan of your music but your opinion on this topic is fucked”

“You are obviously not an athlete or sporting in anyway so this whole experience has simply gone over your head”

I personally don’t agree with your perspective on the Olympics and the torch. That said, perhaps one thing that you should have learned as “an athlete” was to respect your competitors.

I haven’t seen Matt stating any kind of “opinion” at all in the article. All he’s done is asking questions and being all the way sarcastic. It’s funny to see how quick people are with damnation when it comes to others obviously not sharing their position ;)

“I am a fan of your music but your opinion on this topic is fucked”

“You are obviously not an athlete or sporting in anyway so this whole experience has simply gone over your head”

I personally don’t agree with your perspective on the Olympics and the torch. That said, perhaps one thing that you should have learned as “an athlete” was to respect your competitors. I don’t think that you’d walk out on a soccer pitch and tell the other team they were fucked, or say the same thing to a competitor in a running race. Don’t assume that becuase somone doesn’t share your opinion on the subject that it’s because they are not athletic enough to have seen the light. ” A little bit of wit”? Can’t say that we agree on the definition of “wit” either.

Think about the joy this torch brings to the children of the world. I have seen this experience up close and people lining up for hours taking photos with the torch. A former Olympic marathon runner highlighted to the runners at Canberra that the day is all about the kids..

Noone wants to doubt that australian kids are having fun watching the olympic flame and having a picknick nearby the racetrack.
But not everything that’s fun to us makes sense. The whole torch - blow is for people that potentially attend the olympics and leave loads of money there. It’s not for poor people. Oh and of course no protesting please by people who feel oppressed or unhappy in either way, that would just ruin the whole party…

I don’t see the point in pushing an event that is about to degenrate into a propaganda-show promoting nothing but the chinese regime.Everyone should keep that in mind.
I imagine the propaganda-rallys of the nazis to have held some sort of “fun” as well for the attending people in those dark days. “Fun” is something that gets people behind a person or matter without them even noticing what’s really going on.
The perpetual striving of humans for entertainment might turn out the acutal catastrophy of our times.

Pure genious.

What would be nice is if they could run the torch over to the sun and light it directly from there.

Brilliant comment.

Thanks for your concern…

Think about the joy this torch brings to the children of the world. I have seen this experience up close and people lining up for hours taking photos with the torch. A former Olympic marathon runner highlighted to the runners at Canberra that the day is all about the kids.

I do work for Oxfam through the 100km challenge which raises millions of dollars every year in Australia. My boss also has a charity called Caring for Cambodia where we build schools and send clothes for them to wear due to the ridiculous laws in that country regarding what kids have to where to attend school. I know how many kids are less fortunate than me in the world and I have seen it first hand.

You are obviously not an athlete or sporting in anyway so this whole experience has simply gone over your head. Let it go and let the people participating enjoy it for what it is.

A little bit of wit for you champ - maybe you can light your cigarette off it when I bring it to Vancouver or use it as a lamp when you are awake at 3am.

Gotten a little bit worked up over a torch?