I didn’t know people this stupid knew this many words.

I wasn’t insinuating that I, or you, don’t know what things would be like in a perfect world with perfect funding, and I think you know that.

I’m not really talking about “blaming” anyone—I’m questioning why they felt compelled in the first place, given the way the larger society we live in views and talks about men’s and women’s athletic achievements 99% of the time. I find it suspect when people feel compelled to stick up for those in positions of extreme…

I didn’t say I know, though—I said I stand by the assertion. I’m fully aware that what I’m expressing in that comment is only my interpretation, which is why I used I think/I found/etc. all over the place.

I think bringing up the fact that women got more medals than men was one of those things where you make the comparison because you’re trying to lend legitimacy to something people otherwise dismiss/don’t care about. I stand by the assertion that they didn’t do it to claim women are better than men at sports now, to…

You’re kind of making a mistake in assuming they don’t, though. Have you been to Ethiopia? Even in very remote villages there are lots of TVs—both in restaurants/cafes/bars and in people’s homes.

That’s hilarious, given that gymnastics is probably the sport that is most tailored to the typical strengths of men/women. You’d think a dude who hates when women swim slower would be happy about a sport where they don’t do the same things as men, but I suppose that would require him to believe the things women are…

There’s been a guy repeating in every Deadspin thread about the Olympics that these women aren’t actually setting “world records” because there are men who are faster.

Alternately: harder for the women to get there in the first place, because of these exact same issues/attitudes, even in countries that do fund/support women’s sports.

In the context of things that are totally optional...why not? Maybe “pander” wasn’t the best word, but it’s not “me, me, me” to opt out of something you don’t think meets your needs.

Based on this thread, where you’d be willing to live and how objectively corrupt/dangerous/oppressive a country is aren’t really related. Not sure why you keep talking about it.

“Africa is very unstable.” - You

Do you know anyone who lives or works in South Sudan? You’re using it as some sort of trump card, so hopefully you’re at least familiar enough with the situation to realize that—while definitely politically fraught and in turmoil in places—it’s not a dangerous and violent place for all of its citizens to live. I have…

This makes total sense, and I’m sorry you’ve struggled so much with it.

I specifically said it’s OK to want the articles to be written by men, and it’s for the exact reason you state.

And it wouldn’t be navel-gazing bullshit with the genders of the writers switched why, exactly?

I disagree only in that there are plenty of programs that are less intense/more recreational in nature for these sports. In those programs, a coach/teacher would only be concerned about your body if injuries were a concern, which is how it should be for kids who aren’t trying to be elite. I think absent physical…

This was actually something that made me really happy at these Olympics—obviously things have changed a lot, but even as recently as the 2000s I always felt like the Russian gymnasts and their coaches were so serious and reserved.

Do you mean not try to do them at the elite level, or not do them at all?