Rebel Earth No?

[Matt]

I don't understand that reference at all.

[Mynt]

Omg. New Mexico. I've driven through that state four times. It's so boring and awful out there. Then again, Arizona isn't very much different...

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

MMA = Mixed Martial Arts

It's not for everyone.

[Quaddy]

You didn't go to Santa Fe? I quite enjoy Santa Fe.

I...truth be told, I cannot stand MMA. People kicking the shit out of one another just reminds me of the fact that humanity has not advanced one iota despite the supposed advance of civilization.

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

It's far less barbaric than it seems really. Many a fan make it seem much worse and some fighters as well. A good multitude of the fighters are truly devoted to the martial arts. It's a way of crafting yourself into something. It's a study, it's a way of life. Martial arts is something you can devote yourself to and put your all into it when in competition. It is pure and raw at times but so what?

[Quaddy]

Romans said the same for their Gladiators.

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

Why must you try so hard to offend me?

[Mynt]

It's Quaddy.

[Quaddy]

I am not trying to offend you. You are entitled to you devotion to the sport, as I am entitled to my belief in its overt glorifying of bloodsport. For me, the devotion to the martial arts is not about glorifying violence but rather the understanding of its place in the world and in the human psyche. Men swinging at each other for money and glory--no matter their skill set, no matter the discipline of their actions--is, I feel, the antithesis of what the martial arts was meant to be. It makes a mockery of war and almost relishes blood and pain. Never, in all my years of reading the writings of the East, do they worship war or violence--it is, rather, a solemn necessity, an understanding that humans are violent and thus must prepare themselves for violence. Martial arts is, then, as much a philosophy, as much a mental discipline as it is a physical one. In fact, I have always believed that the physical aspect of the martial arts is by far the least important.

MMA and other such bloodsports--and that is what they are--are merely a means of satiating the bloodlust so prevalent in the human psyche. Where once gladiatorial games fulfilled this niche, and boxing, now we have MMA.

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

I suppose if you ignore the evolution of the martial arts over the course of time that's true.

Fighting outside of a sanctioned event is widely frowned upon. I'd say we've come a long way since 'slay a peasant in the streets for touching you' times of feudal japan.

Not to mention all the hoops MMA had to jump through, the rules and regulation they had to draft, and the emphasis on fighter safety that had to press to shake the title of 'human cockfighting' is proof to me at least that clearly, some things have changed since Rome.

[Quaddy]

Not necessarily. There were rules and regulations designed for fighter safety in Ancient Rome, as well. But that isn't the crux of my argument. What I argue is merely that the human psychological need for a violent expression of passion--bloodlust--is unchanged and, where once gladiatorial games and, more recently, boxing and wrestling fulfilled that need, we now have MMA. It is a play at war, turning dominance into sport, violence into something to enjoy...so that natural human aggression may be played out and society may continue to run.

And again, I was not referring to the "slay the peasants". I was referring to the writings of, say, Sun Tsu...

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

Anyway, you said we haven't advanced one iota.

I argue that we have indeed advanced, just possibly not much more than an iota.

Given the fact that you're a woman and I'm not (and you're much more well read and have studied more than me) I'm probably not going to 'win' this argument.

Which we are somewhat ironically having on the Rebel Earth board. The only thing better would have been if it was on the board for Perfect War.

[Quaddy]

Also, I do not equivocate MMA with martial arts. MMA is bloodsport. Martial arts are not. While MMA might consist of fighters who use the martial arts, I do not think of it as a martial art. For example, Sumo was a ritual, an almost religious experience. What I see when I watch MMA is a series of attention-seeking meatheads hitting at each other for glory. I could never, for example, see a group of samurai fighting for attention and money.

[Quaddy]

Ah, forgive me, I may have been unclear. The sport may have advanced. It's role in the human psyche has not. And the human psyche itself.

[Quaddy]

Ack- Its.

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

To me (and I'm not the only one) it is just another artform to be observed and/or practiced. I mean of all the other kinds of art I appreciate and some of which I practice it is the only one that I can improve on by improving myself physically and health wise. I can't become a better writer by getting washboard abs or improve my drawing ability by eating salad instead of cake (that might not be true but you see my point). It's the only one that I can only get better at by making myself better and the only one that drives me to do so.

For that reason I enjoy watching the fruits of the labors of other who are in some cases like minded people. To see where that drive gets them. I know I'm not the only one.

But that's just my take. You can't in essence change a person's mind with words so I respect our disagreement.

[Quaddy]

I wrote a paper on it, actually. But it was on my old 'puter, which exploded...

That makes me so very sad.

But anyway, my dislike of MMA means nothing. And should mean nothing. I am just not a person who enjoys seeing other people in pain.

[Quaddy]

I think we just see it differently, is all. I'm far more the monk, I think. The one who learns the art, but never expresses it.

[Mynt]

*lurks.* :3

[Quaddy]

And we've got Mighty Mynt, the Mightiest Mynt we've ever seen over here...lurking.

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

In practice yes. I'm something like that. I haven't had a real fight in many years.

[Quaddy]

Wax on, wax off. Just practice saying that in wise old man voice.

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

Actually my friend Colin has been teaching me some awesome Krav Maga and Haggana moves. Most can be executed from another trick he showed me to prepare to protect yourself without coming off violent. You know how people touch their open palms and bow their heads to pray? Well, if you do that thing with your hands when you speak you can keep your hands up to protect yourself without appearing hostile.

[Quaddy]

But then you'd look like an idiot.

I am a big fan of Capoeira myself. It comes out in Renegade a bit. If I were to ever take up a martial art, it would be this one...probably because of its dubious use as a martial art...

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

Actually no. I probably just explained it poorly as I'm prone to doing with stuff like martial arts (if I wrote and instructive guide to martial arts thousands would die trying to figure out why my jab was so complicated).

In practice it looks quite normal cause you can just touch with the tips of your fingers or something. Fuck it, my explanation is NOT going to work lol.