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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think horses do not belong in the Olympics

759 replies

StunningCunt · 07/08/2012 15:31

They've got this horse prancing sideways with a toff in a top hat on the top, and they are devoting hours of TV coverage because we might get a gold medal in this nonsense?

Why don't they just have a dog show there and be done with it?

Competitive sheep herding?

Motor racing?

OP posts:
theodorakis · 08/08/2012 12:41

And I do feel sorry for the bikes, I am quite sure they would love to go out for rides by the river in the fresh air. How mean of those silly little men.

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 12:42

And that's exactly why you're getting a bit of flak, Emilie....

catgirl2012 · 08/08/2012 12:43

FFS Emilie

The difference between training a dog to do an action in exchange for a reward and the sport of dressage has been explained to you on several occassions

Ignorance is fine. I am totally ignorant about lots of things

Willful ignorance is just Hmm

MaryHansack · 08/08/2012 12:43

That is not a sport. It is a slightly strange circus trick
interesting take puff - in fact dressage is a martial art from when the army was on horseback, the horses were trained to say, move sideways, or do a 90 degree turn, so that a troop of them could move together smoothly......

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 12:44

Just to clarfy, its your refusal to become a little more enlightened, despite many posters with vastly superior knowledge taking the time to explain why you are wrong. And it's not a matter of opinion, it IS a matter of being right or wrong.

Fireandashes · 08/08/2012 12:44

Emilie, people are becoming rude because they're losing patience with you, because you've essentially come on here saying "I know nothing about any of this but I'm going to air my prejudiced baseless viewpoints, educate me otherwise.". So posters who DO actually know what they're talking about have painstakingly explained various factual aspects and you have to all intents said "nope, doesn't fit with my ingrained view of the world, I'm going to carry on spouting prejudiced baseless opinions."

Do you have ANY idea how ignorant that makes you seem?

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 12:44

Why? I haven't been talking about that most of the time.

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 12:47

X posts. Sorry. I disagree. I've asked several questions, some of which have been answered in a way that would appear to negate my concerns - some of which people have said, well actually, yes she did have a decent leg-up into the industry, but she's still a good rider. And I've said, well, she had a leg up, and yes, she is a good rider. That's not very fair.

How have I maintained that my 'ingrained view' is therefore superior to what you lot have essentially agreed with?

AllPastYears · 08/08/2012 12:49

"Firstly I think if it is dependant on the training and skills of an animal, it is not partcularly a measure of the human. And how well you can train an animal isn't something I really think qualifies you for a medal in sport."

Maybe we could stick you on one of these horses and see how you get on? Grin

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 12:52

The difference is that Emilie is not interested in discussing sport, just politics. It's so boring, bashing posh people is a sport in itself, I think as well as the Olympic dog show (actually a lush idea!) there could be a event for bashing rich people/tories/royal family members/people who live in the ME etc. The prize could be a solid gold Guardian.

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 12:53

By all means, I'd be crap. I just think it is a discipline - albeit a very very skilled one - that doesn't measure only the human but measures the skill and willingness of an animal alongside this.

I'm not saying it isn't difficult or hard work. The contrary, in fact, but also, I think it's different to most other sports which involve only the human body and possibly inanimate equipment.

I do find cycling pretty bizarre and uninteresting as well, and don't start me on table tennis. But horses are horses and when you combine a horse and a person, that's not the same as just a human on their own with few variables in their equipment. iyswim

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 12:56

that's not the same as just a human on their own with few variables in their equipment

You're actually quite right Emilie - its a lot harder when your "equipment" has a mind of it's own....

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 12:56

Theodorakis, you're right, I am interested in the politics of it.

But I don't think I've bashed anyone. At least I haven't tried to.

bisjolympics · 08/08/2012 12:57

If people are criticising equestrian events as being for rich people only that is the start of a very slippery slope. Sailing and cycling aren't cheap sports either.

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 12:59

Yes, Cake - really, really hard I should imagine. But still, dependant on that creature, which means it can go either way. Yes? I mean in your favour or against it.

It isn't just about the human element. I don't really care if it is part of the olympics or not, but I do think it is a different sort of thing to most of the other events.

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 12:59

I agree sort of but surely a horse is more of a variable than a bike that can be trusted not to get spooked or simply refuse to do something. A bike doesn't wake up with toothache that will seriously affect it's performance and there is a team of (extremely sad) people checking it is perfect. The silly little man just has to climb on it without forming a trusting relationship with it.
Table tennis should be banned, the balls are far to small.

dapplegrey · 08/08/2012 13:00

EmilieFloge. Can't you just get behind team GB and celebrate their successes rather than bringing class war into it?
All those riders will have worked bloody hard for many years whatever their background.

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 13:01

Table tennis is crap.

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 13:03

Dapple, I'm sure they have. I didn't bring class war into it btw. I was trying to put the view of those of us/them who might think there is an element of elitism to the sport.

I think a lot of other people have already stated this viewpoint - the thread had over 300 messages when I joined it.

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 13:03

there are table tennis people?? seriously??
Very interested to know what demographic the average table tennis player comes from. Definitely one that has way too much time and money in life!

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 13:03

Theodorakis many are the times I have picked myself up off the ground and cursed myself for not getting involved in a lovely easy sport like cycling... Ok you might fall off sometimes, but the bike doesn't suddenly decide to dump you with no warning, or take off for home, or cart you under some low hanging branches or try and jump a hedge.

You can also chuck a bike in your boot and go off for a cycle at a moments notice. You can clean it with a hosepipe and it doesn't try to run away from the water or stand on your foot....

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 13:05

In fairness, you have taken a huge flaming and stuck around without bitching. I actually admire the fact that you can say what you think and stick to it without resorting to bitching to defend yourself. I am guessing you are quite a calm person (except when watching table tennis).

WhitegoldWielder · 08/08/2012 13:06

Human on their own? Take out all the team sports then.

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 13:07

Cake, I feel your pain. I once got thrown onto a car bonnet and the bastard ran off and was missing for days. we had to pay for the livery the police had put him in and buy a new car bonnet for the poor driver.

LeeCoakley · 08/08/2012 13:09

Table tennis is amazing! Went to Excel on the first day and found out the format has changed because it was too boring to watch (according to a chap sitting in front of me). And they've listened to you as well theo, the balls are bigger now!