Unpopular Opinions you have (non-football)

Status
Not open for further replies.

Joshen

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Posts
6,290
Likes
5,256
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Seattle Seahawks
Until the world sits in a big circle joining hands singing kumbuayh and simultaneously destroying all weapons bloody oath I'd want them. (Not to use obviously purely as it is a massive deterrent against any invasion in the future). We then send the message not to try anything dodgy, tell the US we will determine our foreign policy not them etc. Obviously no need to be as stupid as other nations. Get the finished product up and running then warn everyone off.
Fun fact: the US offered Australia a nuclear weapon during the Cold War however, they/we declined.

The problem with acquiring weapons (apart from massive public outcry etc.) is that no matter how much you profess to getting them for purely defensive security reasons perceptions from other states are that there is always the chance that they could be used offensively. I.e. ensuring security from military build up makes others feel less secure (the security dilemma). This is likely to lead to other states similarly increasing military build-ups creating a cycle of insecurity.

From limited sample space I'd say you're a political realist (dominant thought in international relations).
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Run n Spread

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Posts
7,469
Likes
5,156
AFL Club
Collingwood
Fun fact: the US offered Australia a nuclear weapon during the Cold War however, they/we declined.
Really. I thought we tried to acquire them from the Brits and the US put the brakes on the deal. Strong mail from the other board is the US have a nuke on our shores.

The problem with acquiring weapons (apart from massive public outcry etc.) is that no matter how much you profess to getting them for purely defensive security reasons perceptions from other states are that there is always the chance that they could be used offensively. I.e. ensuring security from military build up makes others feel less secure (the security dilemma). This is likely to lead to other states similarly increasing military build-ups creating a cycle of insecurity.

That's why you don't do an Iran or North Korea. You don't wave them around till they are finished or put the diplomatic word out that you have them but aren't going nationalistic about it. Countries like Japan probably have them (with their nuclear industry) but they are for self defence so they don't bother getting showy over it.
 

Ahern2Boof

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Aug 13, 2012
Posts
6,092
Likes
11,484
Location
Waiting for Josh Kelly #2020
AFL Club
North Melbourne
I don't rate steak. Like, I am genuinely disappointed when Mum says we're having steak for tea. (Dad's favourite, so have it often)

Have had it at different places cooked by different people and still the same, just don't see what the fuss is about.
 

LukasTheGreat

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 7, 2011
Posts
11,873
Likes
12,621
Location
Perth
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
Other Teams
Manchester United
I don't rate steak. Like, I am genuinely disappointed when Mum says we're having steak for tea. (Dad's favourite, so have it often)

Have had it at different places cooked by different people and still the same, just don't see what the fuss is about.
have you tried a nice, medium rare, rib eye?
 

Total_Juddshanks

Premiership Player
Joined
Aug 4, 2005
Posts
4,160
Likes
3,765
Location
Fee
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
The good ones
The Melbourne cup is a shit sporting event and its place in Australian popular culture is mystifying. Most Australians know bugger all about horseracing but feel the need to pretend they are mavens on cup day。And as a viewing spectacle it is so brief and so pointless that the only excitement is generated by betting. If we all just had an office lunch (which in my experience are usually dodgy chicken, woollies antipasto platters and bread rolls) and placed our bets on which of fifteen identical raindrops would run down the side of a glass window it would be just as meaningful a sporting event.
 

kfc1

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Posts
11,089
Likes
9,938
AFL Club
Essendon
If we all just had an office lunch (which in my experience are usually dodgy chicken, woollies antipasto platters and bread rolls)...
We must work together because that is exactly what was for lunch at my office.

Otherwise I tend to agree. It holds no interest to me at all. Although I have to say that the anger about it is growing year by year and I'm wondering why that is? Is it because Channel 7 etc are going that extra length with patronising promotion that it's a natural fight back to over saturation?

It's a bit of a shame to see so much anger towards something that is a pretty typically Aussie event, well regard and part of the landscape and tradition.
 

Marklar_33

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Posts
21,973
Likes
12,698
Location
Tas
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
D'Backs, Hurricanes
The Melbourne cup is a shit sporting event and its place in Australian popular culture is mystifying. Most Australians know bugger all about horseracing but feel the need to pretend they are mavens on cup day。And as a viewing spectacle it is so brief and so pointless that the only excitement is generated by betting. If we all just had an office lunch (which in my experience are usually dodgy chicken, woollies antipasto platters and bread rolls) and placed our bets on which of fifteen identical raindrops would run down the side of a glass window it would be just as meaningful a sporting event.
24...

Only if they were the 24 best raindrops from all over the world, would it mean as much!
 

Inferno

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 7, 2006
Posts
5,655
Likes
2,986
Location
Tramland
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Charlotte Hornets
Really. I thought we tried to acquire them from the Brits and the US put the brakes on the deal. Strong mail from the other board is the US have a nuke on our shores.
Nah. The US offered them and we declined on the logic that if we had nukes Indonesia would try to get them as well and the idea of a regional arms race and rivalry with them was not a wise one, particularly when the communists were strong enough to be a major political force up there.




That's why you don't do an Iran or North Korea. You don't wave them around till they are finished or put the diplomatic word out that you have them but aren't going nationalistic about it. Countries like Japan probably have them (with their nuclear industry) but they are for self defence so they don't bother getting showy over it.
Massively unlikely but they'd be fully capable of getting a nuke very quickly if they wanted to though. So would most developed nations with access to uranium for that matter.
 

neroblack

Premiership Player
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Posts
3,147
Likes
2,030
Location
Berwick
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls
The Melbourne cup is a shit sporting event and its place in Australian popular culture is mystifying. Most Australians know bugger all about horseracing but feel the need to pretend they are mavens on cup day。And as a viewing spectacle it is so brief and so pointless that the only excitement is generated by betting. If we all just had an office lunch (which in my experience are usually dodgy chicken, woollies antipasto platters and bread rolls) and placed our bets on which of fifteen identical raindrops would run down the side of a glass window it would be just as meaningful a sporting event.

At least you've acknowledged that your opinion is unpopular.

I don't understand how someone wouldn't enjoy it, there's plenty to do even if you're not interested in the horse racing itself. If you are interested in it, it's a genuine world class field that you have the opportunity to see first hand.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

imadodgyumpire

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 10, 2011
Posts
17,428
Likes
12,709
AFL Club
Carlton
The Melbourne cup is a shit sporting event and its place in Australian popular culture is mystifying. Most Australians know bugger all about horseracing but feel the need to pretend they are mavens on cup day。And as a viewing spectacle it is so brief and so pointless that the only excitement is generated by betting. If we all just had an office lunch (which in my experience are usually dodgy chicken, woollies antipasto platters and bread rolls) and placed our bets on which of fifteen identical raindrops would run down the side of a glass window it would be just as meaningful a sporting event.
To add to your point. Of the 100,000s of horse races in Australia each year that some could choose to make their only bet for the year, they choose what is known as the single hardest race to pick a winner.
 

Catfish Alley

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Posts
16,058
Likes
12,281
Location
Vancouver
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Oilers
To add to your point. Of the 100,000s of horse races in Australia each year that some could choose to make their only bet for the year, they choose what is known as the single hardest race to pick a winner.

Haha, very true! I might go to a track a few times a year and am usually successful. I haven't backed a Cup winner for a long time though.

Australian's do generally have a good knowledge of racing. Most people at least understand track conditions, odds, barriers, handicapping etc. That's probably due to growing up watching the Melbourne Cup. I've been to tracks at other places of the world and so many people have no clue whatsoever.
 

Lemma

Premiership Player
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Posts
3,985
Likes
980
Location
Fogarty St
AFL Club
North Melbourne
The Melbourne cup is a shit sporting event and its place in Australian popular culture is mystifying. Most Australians know bugger all about horseracing but feel the need to pretend they are mavens on cup day。And as a viewing spectacle it is so brief and so pointless that the only excitement is generated by betting. If we all just had an office lunch (which in my experience are usually dodgy chicken, woollies antipasto platters and bread rolls) and placed our bets on which of fifteen identical raindrops would run down the side of a glass window it would be just as meaningful a sporting event.

I agree with you, I'd also add that it's completely barbaric that they're whipping horses, some of them who are too young to race - purely for entertainment.
Even bullfighting in Spain has gotten less popular because of animal abuse lately, hopefully horse racing follows suit soon, it's nothing short of a disgrace.
 

neroblack

Premiership Player
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Posts
3,147
Likes
2,030
Location
Berwick
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls
I agree with you, I'd also add that it's completely barbaric that they're whipping horses, some of them who are too young to race - purely for entertainment.
Even bullfighting in Spain has gotten less popular because of animal abuse lately, hopefully horse racing follows suit soon, it's nothing short of a disgrace.

I usually don't bother responding to these kinds of comments, as in general I don't care for other people's opinions, however, if you're seriously comparing bull fighting to horse racing, then you're just showing that you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
 

Lemma

Premiership Player
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Posts
3,985
Likes
980
Location
Fogarty St
AFL Club
North Melbourne
I usually don't bother responding to these kinds of comments, as in general I don't care for other people's opinions, however, if you're seriously comparing bull fighting to horse racing, then you're just showing that you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
I don't agree with abusing animals for entertainment. It's an argument of consent - animals can't consent.
But enlighten me, I'm interested to know more tbh
 

Catfish Alley

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Posts
16,058
Likes
12,281
Location
Vancouver
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Oilers
I don't agree with abusing animals for entertainment. It's an argument of consent - animals can't consent.
But enlighten me, I'm interested to know more tbh

A horse can certainly choose not to run. Yes, they can be trained, but they are bloody big animals and little crack of a crop won't make them budge if they don't want to. I'd recommend talking to an owner, strapper, jockey etc. For the most part, nobody cares for the horses more.
 

neroblack

Premiership Player
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Posts
3,147
Likes
2,030
Location
Berwick
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls
I don't agree with abusing animals for entertainment. It's an argument of consent - animals can't consent.
But enlighten me, I'm interested to know more tbh

Well, the starting point for bull fighting is that the aim is to kill the bull. The 'entertainment' here is that people come along specifically to watch the animal die.

For horse racing, simply, horses are an animal that are designed to run. Some people may have a moral issue with racing them - but I don't see how that qualifies as abuse. It's a massive industry in many parts of the world, and there will always be elements of it that are questionable, but the majority of owners and trainers go to great lengths to care for their horses (not just the successful ones either).

On whipping, whilst it is still called a whip, it is governed extremely tightly now, as it should be.
http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_New_Australian_Whip_Rules.aspx
 

Gough

Moderator
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Posts
40,689
Likes
66,457
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Moderator #2,421
I don't rate steak. Like, I am genuinely disappointed when Mum says we're having steak for tea. (Dad's favourite, so have it often)

Have had it at different places cooked by different people and still the same, just don't see what the fuss is about.
You need to man up and look to your father for guidance. Next you'll be admitting you like quiche.
 

kfc1

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Posts
11,089
Likes
9,938
AFL Club
Essendon
I don't have a problem with the whipping, I think they should do it for athletics as well. Would be awesome to see Usain Bolt giving Damien Oliver a piggy back in the 100ms
 

Total_Juddshanks

Premiership Player
Joined
Aug 4, 2005
Posts
4,160
Likes
3,765
Location
Fee
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
The good ones
I don't have a problem with the whipping, I think they should do it for athletics as well. Would be awesome to see Usain Bolt giving Damien Oliver a piggy back in the 100ms
Would be worth watching.

Interesting to read the whipping rules and I don't dispute most people who are involved in racing genuinely love and care about horses, it just does nothing for me. I hate the two hour build up on cup day, which invariably consists of Bruce Mcavaney in an Anorak, reading his cribbed notes about jockey x or trainer y, pretending he has the faintest clue what's going on, and using the phrase 'what a great story it would be if...' every thirty seconds or so.

I'm not an animal libber by any stretch, and there are far far worse evils in the world, but I do think it's probably fundamentally a bit ethically questionable.

At the end of the day, however much the people involved love horses, it's a sport which involves breeding and training animals to run really fast in hazardous conditions whilst a bloke (sometimes) hits them with a (padded) stick to try to make them run faster. Quite a few of those animals will suffer injuries and be euthanized because they were forced to participate, and the only benefit people derive from putting the animals through that is a few minutes entertainment. Not really sure it can be justified on those terms. At least when a cow gets the chop we are getting sustained pleasure from the cuisine that results, as well as a shyte load of protein.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom