this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2024
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[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 67 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

For folks like me that were curious, yes it's Peter Thiel.

[–] intrepid@lemmy.ca 31 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Of course it's him. All other billionaire sociopaths have the sense to stay silent about the dystopian future they dream of. But honestly, he doesn't get the negative attention he deserves.

[–] 50gp@kbin.social 7 points 8 months ago

he should start by getting doping olympic gold in weightlifting and die to the drug cocktails he wants others to ruin their body with

[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 5 points 8 months ago

He’s a bizarre dude for sure

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

He's one letter away from being Thief

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 43 points 8 months ago (2 children)

God, I really hope this doesn't come to be. No offense to the people excited by it, and I totally get the appeal, but this would damage society so much. People taking performance enhancers, especially to extreme levels, put themselves insanely at risk medically. If this gets normalized, it'll only be a matter of time before it becomes mainstream to bet on blowouts, heart attacks, roid rage scandals, etc. At that point, it'll essentially be a tiny leap away from the game shows of Running Man, and then I'll lose all faith in humanity.

[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 14 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Is it so much worse than existing, popular sports like boxing or American football which are known to cause brain damage to the athletes involved?

[–] Damage@slrpnk.net 10 points 8 months ago

It's got to be mathematically worse 'cause you can combine the two

[–] criitz@reddthat.com 6 points 8 months ago

Yes, it is worse

[–] Laticauda@lemmy.ca 4 points 8 months ago

Probably not but that doesn't mean we need even more dangerous and deadly sports to add to the pile.

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 2 points 8 months ago

That's a somewhat fair question except that we learned about the medical side effects over time after the sport was established. Now, if people started trying to specifically bet on the over/under on CTE or if UFC got rid of tap-outs, I'd equate it a bit more.

The fact that there has been growing concerns and increased societal pressure to do better regarding the health of athletes, anything that poses them more as sports-creatures who should be willing to die for their profession could lead to significant backsliding.

[–] wolfshadowheart@kbin.social 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I just want people to be able to compete if they use cannabis. But you're right that it would likely devolve lol

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 15 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Now THAT, I'd fucking watch. The Bowlympics. Smoke a bowl, then do your best!

[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

I did my best!

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 41 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Cool if you want to see a man run 100m in 7 seconds before his heart explodes on the finish line.

Is this just bumfights with a higher budget?

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 18 points 8 months ago

Based on the current level of aftercare and brain damage already in contact entertainment, it's all bum fights with a higher budget.

[–] agitatedpotato@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

Its Peter Thiel suggesting this, so for him it's exactly just bumfights.

[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

In a capitalist society these are your lords and ladies and kings and queens. So shut your pleb mouth and respect your betters!

[–] DdCno1@kbin.social -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Reminder that Communist nations were the ones that drove the professionalization of sport and they were also using illegal substances as a standard practice, including on minors, in order to enhance their performance, consequences be damned. Kids were told the substances were "vitamins" and left in the dark about the long-term health effects.

In the end, it's absolutely power that corrupts, no matter if you're ruling from under the banner of a red star or serving the almighty dollar.

[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 1 points 8 months ago

Especially absolute concentration of economic power. That's why state-socialism specifically was a bad idea. But ironically wealth inequality is now so advanced that we almost have a plutocracy that works similar to a state-socialist system. Different ideals, ideology and tactics, but overall strategy is similar. And we're also seeing similar inefficiencies.

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 23 points 8 months ago

The headline avoids mentioning that this is legendary douchebag Peter Thiel of Palantir fame.

[–] LavaPlanet@lemmy.world 18 points 8 months ago (1 children)

They really just see people as ants in a display, don't they.

[–] CaptainSpaceman@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

They are "people", while we are something lesser

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 18 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I didn't expect the unreal tournament dystopia, I've got to be honest

[–] CaptainProton@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

Came here to say this...

I guess that's one way to shorten life expectancies while maximizing worker productivity...

[–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 16 points 8 months ago

As cool as I think the concept is I don't think it's worth the inevitable deaths

[–] doublejay1999@lemmy.world 15 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Can’t wait to watch tweakers dropping dead on live tv, trying to run a marathon.

[–] nullPointer@programming.dev 13 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Mutant League is a much better name

[–] doublejay1999@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

In every way, but it’s probably trademark Hasbro

[–] angelsomething@lemmy.one 12 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Wasn’t this a comedian’s bit like ten years ago?

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 3 points 8 months ago (2 children)
[–] elgordio@kbin.social 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)
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[–] criitz@reddthat.com 2 points 8 months ago

I think many comedians have made this joke over the years

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)
[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Instead I want sexiness competitions. The Thirst Games.

[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

This is why we need to push the banks to offer better payment services. Fucks like him got rich with paypal because of inefficiencies in our banking systems. They are basically taxing all e-commerce by 1-3%.

I was finally able to do an insta-wire transfer to an online shop last month for the first time. Just my bank, transfering money and instant reception. But I still need to log in to a janky ass mobile app and approve each payment with an password / pin that needs to be short ergo insecure. Banks are still not offering the use of fido2 authentication. And there is still no electronic standard where a shop can send a payment request to autofil the wire transfer. There are better payment processors now but they still gobble up ~1% of the transfer. It's a fucking racket.

[–] troyunrau@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Somehow Canada had this figured out for ages. C'mon southern neighbours!

[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 3 points 8 months ago

Well I was talking Europe and SEPA. Hopefully we'll see more improvements so that the money faucet to these payment services dries up.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 11 points 8 months ago

This is something I'd like to see in like, some alternative reality just out of morbid curiosity however in real life the effects would be just too horrid. What a fucking psychopath

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

Bread and circuses

[–] Boiglenoight@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago

something Bioshock something something Olympics

[–] rxbudian@lemmy.ca 4 points 8 months ago

Future replacement of BattleBots

[–] pan_troglodytes@programming.dev 3 points 8 months ago

now do the same thing with baseball!!

[–] Mammal@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Anyone who would get enjoyment from watching this kind of event has a diseased soul. As has been said elsewhere: It's BumFights with a higher budget.

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