Soccer or Rugby?

Tim Robbins

In the spirit of getting to know your fellow atheists,
may I propose the survey:

Do Atheists prefer Soccer, Rugby?

doctoremma

Tim Robbins wrote: »

In the spirit of getting to know your fellow atheists,
may I propose the survey:

Do Atheists prefer Soccer, Rugby?

As a girl, I am obliged to prefer whichever sport fields the fittest men. As my top ten "to do" list has long included Thierry Henry, I'm a football girl.

Tim Robbins

doctoremma wrote: »

As a girl, I am obliged to prefer whichever sport fields the fittest men. As my top ten "to do" list has long included Thierry Henry, I'm a football girl.

I thought Rob Kearney would would be on that list.

Deedsie

Can't beat a good game of Hurling really. Best sport when two evenly matched teams are going hell for leather... Followed by Rugby and then soccer and Gaelic football are about the same. The occassional cracking game of soccer/football can't make up for all the shíte ones.

fitz0

Ice hockey. Soccer's too slow but rugby can get pretty exciting.

Tim Robbins

Deedsie wrote: »

Can't beat a good game of Hurling really. Best sport when two evenly matched teams are going hell for leather... Followed by Rugby and then soccer and Gaelic football are about the same. The occassional cracking game of soccer/football can't make up for all the shíte ones.

Although a lot of friends say very similar,
I find it very hard to watch and wonder what the hell the tactics are?

Also, Hurling, GAA look too influenced by Soccer / Rugby. The shape of posts are a rip off from Rugby. And the idea of a goal is a rip off from Soccer. Also, the fact they aren't international makes GAA sports a lot duller.

Dades

Soccer, because I've played it (and still do) for 20 years. Don't support a team, though used to be a big Juve fan in the 90's.

I watch Leinster and Ireland rugby, too.
But as I haven't played the game for a looong time, I feel I have less connected to the sport. It's more a tribal thing.

Honey-ec

doctoremma wrote: »

As a girl, I am obliged to prefer whichever sport fields the fittest men. As my top ten "to do" list has long included Thierry Henry, I'm a football girl.

Congratulations, you've just insulted every "girl" who actually has an interest in/plays sport for sport's sake.

Rugby for me.

Penn

I pretty much hate all sports. I don't even get into the whole argument of "They're just a bunch of millionaires running round a field for an hour" etc, I just don't enjoy watching, discussing or listening to sports.

I especially hate it being presumed I'm interested in sports, which is equatable to it being presumed you're going to baptise your child and get married in a church. Mitchell & Webb pretty much summed up perfectly everything I hate about sport:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_uOgyBK1c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

Deedsie

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Although a lot of friends say very similar,
I find it very hard to watch and wonder what the hell the tactics are?

Also, Hurling, GAA look too influenced by Soccer / Rugby. The shape of posts are a rip off from Rugby. And the idea of a goal is a rip off from Soccer. Also, the fact they aren't international makes GAA sports a lot duller.

Nonsense, Hurling is far older than either rugby or Soccer. So perhaps they were influenced by hurling?

I disagree with everything you posted there. What makes the international aspect less dull? Did you watch any of the 2010 world cup? So very boring! Take a look at the 2010 all Ireland Hurlong final. Unbelievable game, atmosphere, skill, excitement...

Also Gaelic Football is the descendent of an Irish sport Caid, far older than soccer & Rugby so any influences are possibly coincidental!

DEVEREUX

Where's the "like all of the above sports" option ??

saintsaltynuts

Rugby is ghey.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

where's the starcraft option?

Jimoslimos

Both, that said there's not a lot of sports I won't watch (even cricket:eek:).

That said both rugby and soccer have their fair share of religious nutcases, I'm thinking specifically of those Saffas at Ulster and the Scottish prop(?), Euan Murray is it? who doesn't play on Sundays.

Jimoslimos

Penn wrote: »

I pretty much hate all sports. I don't even get into the whole argument of "They're just a bunch of millionaires running round a field for an hour" etc, I just don't enjoy watching, discussing or listening to sports.

I especially hate it being presumed I'm interested in sports, which is equatable to it being presumed you're going to baptise your child and get married in a church. Mitchell & Webb pretty much summed up perfectly everything I hate about sport:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_uOgyBK1c

I love that 1st M&W sketch, cracks me up every time!

As I said before, I enjoy watching sport, but I don't engage in the level of fanaticism displayed by your average football fan. Top-level sport is a business akin to the entertainment industry. Some people like horror, others prefer romcoms - no different to those choosing rugby over soccer. Others shun the Hollywood mainstream and instead watch low-budget arthouse shoite - LOI fans anybody?:P

Sarky

I don't hate all sports. I just don't believe in them.

I will occasionally watch rugby, but only for the bits where huge people smack into eachother at speed. It feeds my love of ragdoll physics. The game itself matters nothing to me.

they're both boring

Tim Robbins

Deedsie wrote: »

Nonsense, Hurling is far older than either rugby or Soccer. So perhaps they were influenced by hurling?

I disagree with everything you posted there. What makes the international aspect less dull? Did you watch any of the 2010 world cup? So very boring! Take a look at the 2010 all Ireland Hurlong final. Unbelievable game, atmosphere, skill, excitement...

Also Gaelic Football is the descendent of an Irish sport Caid, far older than soccer & Rugby so any influences are possibly coincidental!

It's not.
IRFU is actually older than GAA. Games like taic were played between pitches but the GAA got their ideas of having rules, regulations, post, competitions the shape of a pitch being rectangular from Soccer / Rugby.

I loved soccer when I was young but I find it very difficult to watch it now. Very boring. And I hate the diving.

Jimoslimos

Tim Robbins wrote: »

It's not.
IRFU is actually older than GAA. Games like taic were played between pitches but the GAA got their ideas of having rules, regulations, post, competitions the shape of a pitch being rectangular from Soccer / Rugby.

To drag this thread in a slightly atheistic direction, one of the main flaws of rugby is the subjective nature of the rules, especially at scrums. And this forum over most understands the dangers of people having their own interpretations of so-called sacred (rule) books.

Deedsie

Tim Robbins wrote: »

It's not.
IRFU is actually older than GAA. Games like taic were played between pitches but the GAA got their ideas of having rules, regulations, post, competitions the shape of a pitch being rectangular from Soccer / Rugby.

I loved soccer when I was young but I find it very difficult to watch it now. Very boring. And I hate the diving.

Your claim was posts and goals... Posts in rugby are far higher than in GAA... Goals are far wider in soccer. The FA and RFU may be older than the GAA but hurling and football were played prior to 1884. The regulations were more in relation to standardizing team numbers and the playing rules. The essence of both games was in place prior to modern day soccer and Rugby. The dimensions of a GAA pitch are nothing like a soccer pitch either. Far bigger in fact.

Also this happened 125 years ago, do cop on, of course different sports are influenced by others.

Are you actually trying to refute the claim that hurling is older than Rugby. Associations that govern them be damned... That hurling some how copied soccer or rugby is one silly comment!

I see the soccer lads have umpires behind the goals lately. I can't watch soccer anymore they are copying GAA regulations.

Tim Robbins

Jimoslimos wrote: »

To drag this thread in a slightly atheistic direction, one of the main flaws of rugby is the subjective nature of the rules, especially at scrums. And this forum over most understands the dangers of people having their own interpretations of so-called sacred (rule) books.

Scrum is a major problem alright but what's the solution? Get rid of the scrum - one of the most fantastic spectacles in all of rugby.

What's an utter joke is the steps rule in GAA. IT is as if they change their mind what four is. At least with a scrum it can be very difficult to say who is cheating and you can get get cases when both are. The steps and tackle rules in GAA are nonsense.

Tim Robbins

Deedsie wrote: »

Your claim was posts and goals... Posts in rugby are far higher than in GAA... Goals are far wider in soccer. The FA and RFU may be older than the GAA but hurling and football were played prior to 1884. The regulations were more in relation to standardizing team numbers and the playing rules. The essence of both games was in place prior to modern day soccer and Rugby. The dimensions of a GAA pitch are nothing like a soccer pitch either. Far bigger in fact.

Also this happened 125 years ago, do cop on, of course different sports are influenced by others.

Are you actually trying to refute the claim that hurling is older than Rugby. Associations that govern them be damned... That hurling some how copied soccer or rugby is one silly comment!

I see the soccer lads have umpires behind the goals lately. I can't watch soccer anymore they are copying GAA regulations.

Show me evidence of the first competive game GAA played under agreed rules please?

My claim is hurling and taic, caic or whatever you call it was just some makey up thing. The GAA brought structure, rules etc and made them into sports. They got these ideas form Rugby, Soccer.

IT's like saying the history of Rugby is British Bulldog or murder ball.

joseph brand

Why can't we Atheists all agree on one sport? You're like a clowder of cats. :rolleyes:

I love playing soccer, 6-a-side Astro pitch. Great craic. Rugby wasn't 'available' in the part of Dublin where I'm from. Soccer is great because all we needed, as kids, was a ball and jumpers for goalposts.

The premiership matches annoy me lately with all the diving, but I can't wait for the Euros!!

MisterEpicurus

Is this not a strange discussion for a forum on A&A, surely it's more After Hours than here...what difference does the question make if you're atheist... :P

Tim Robbins

MisterEpicurus wrote: »

Is this not a strange discussion for a forum on A&A, surely it's more After Hours than here...what difference does the question make if you're atheist... :P

Because we are rational - that's why.

MisterEpicurus

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Because we are rational - that's why.

Irrational reply

Dades

MisterEpicurus wrote: »

Is this not a strange discussion for a forum on A&A

It's still managed to turn into a debate. :pac:

Jimoslimos

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Scrum is a major problem alright but what's the solution? Get rid of the scrum - one of the most fantastic spectacles in all of rugby.

What's an utter joke is the steps rule in GAA. IT is as if they change their mind what four is. At least with a scrum it can be very difficult to say who is cheating and you can get get cases when both are. The steps and tackle rules in GAA are nonsense.

No doubt there's plenty of rules in GAA that could be reviewed. # of steps is near impossible to police, handpass rule also. Offside in soccer is another one - I read somewhere how it is physically impossible for a linesman to accurately determine the striker's position at the exact moment the ball is struck.
I also think hurling often suffers from being lumped in with the same rule-book as Gaelic football. Two different sports.

As for the scrum, I also wouldn't like to see it removed. Having lived in Australia briefly and having to endure the dross that is league is one good reason! It does need refinement and improvement though, whether that is changing technical aspects (# of players, taking out the 'hit') or technology (pressure pads on jerseys to determine correct binding?).

Gbear

Jimoslimos wrote: »

As for the scrum, I also wouldn't like to see it removed.

I think it's more to do with the whole brain damage thing.:pac:



I like both, although only international Rugby and only club football.

What really pisses me off is not calling it fooball.

Of all the sports called football, it is the one that involves the most amount of feet.

equivariant

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Show me evidence of the first competive game GAA played under agreed rules please?

My claim is hurling and taic, caic or whatever you call it was just some makey up thing. The GAA brought structure, rules etc and made them into sports. They got these ideas form Rugby, Soccer.

IT's like saying the history of Rugby is British Bulldog or murder ball.

+1 to this.

I love hurling and football (grew up playing football), but I have no time for the whole "hurling is more than 2000 years old" waffle that is regularly spouted by the gaelic culture mafia.

The idea that modern hurling is the same sport as some games played a thousand years ago between entire villages is ludicrous. Perhaps they were both played with sticks and balls but that is about it. There have been football type games around for at least as long.

This whole "ancient game" rubbish smacks of a desperately insecure attempt to validate the supposed superiority of gaelic culture. Its the same as a lot of the waffle and BS that surrounds the Irish language (more properly Irish Gaelic I think).

UDP

This thread has amazingly shown that yet again atheists do not have anything more in common with each other than the they do with non-atheists except for the lack of belief in a god.