- Joined
- Aug 18, 2010
I think it I would be really stupid from ISU to think that the main problem is that the audiences are uneducated and can’t appreciate good skating .
Many people from the audiences are not hard core figure skating fans but people who watch figure skating once or twice a year, maybe only the big events and go to see live competitions or shows only if they have the opportunity. They like figure skating, buy tickets, fill the arenas but don’t feel the need to understand all the intricacies of the scoring system. And this is the normal attitude; one does not have to understand all the rules to “feel” greatness.
For example I do not know much about football, I don’t care to know everything about it, but when I see F.C. Barcelona playing I surely understand that those players are something special and it wouldn’t even cross my mind to question their win.
Also when I read a book I feel if the author is a great writer or not. I do not need a degree in literature to be able to appreciate it. I do not need to understand exactly why I was impressed and why I think I just read something remarkable.
The same used to happen and should happen in figure skating.
Great skaters manage to enchant the audiences, no matter the score system, current rules etc.
What happens if COP changes tomorrow? Will the audiences have to be re-educated?
I think gkelly said it perfectly. And I think you don't have to be educated to enjoy figure skating. You come and enjoy and root whoever your favorites are. But accept and respect what the judges gave to the placements because we do not know as much as the judges. The problem now is many people who do not fully understand the judging system (including myself) believed that they are as good as the judges and the competitions have to go their way or the results would be unacceptable.