In the current sociopolitical climate we live in where hatred and division have run rampant among our “leaders”, we should strive to be kinder and more empathetic to one another
Exclaiming that you will refuse to view someone's work (and therefore be incapable of judging it, which is necessary if you're trying to discuss a competitive event) is exactly a lack of empathy and only diminishes your own mind, literally forcing it to be more ignorant.
If I say, "(a) this guy is mean to his sister, therefore (b) he is an untalented figure skater" -- yes, that would not qualify as a example of logical inference.
But if I say, "(a) this guy is mean to his sister and I do not give my support or approval to people who are mean to their sisters. Therefore (b) I will not buy a ticket to watch him skate, however talented he may be" -- that is neither logical nor illogical, neither intellectual nor 'anti-intellectual.
Someone being mean to their sister has nothing to do with their skating. You either like their skating or you don't, and that opinion should not change depending on a perceived off-ice personality. The merit of the artwork exists on its own and if you are censoring yourself from seeing it for no good reason, that's anti-intellectual. It makes you incapable of giving intellectual discourse on the topic, as you have removed yourself from being able to do so.
Importantly, there are many skaters at an event, and none of the skaters at these events make money from ticket sales anyway. Anyone who is watching a competition is already experiencing it regardless. It's simply petty to decide that you will refuse to watch a certain thing, at no detriment to yourself or anyone else. We aren't talking about buying clothes from a sweatshop manufacturer here. And anyone who has ever gone to a sports event and bought plastic food containers is already a hypocrite and contributing to the World's problems.
Why does it matter that it's his sister anyway? Your proclamation that you've never said you dislike your sister (which isn't even what was being said in the clip) is simply a statement that you've never had reason to say such a thing about your sister. Umm, good for you? That's not the reality of life for everyone.
Also funny how everyone is just blindly assuming Maia has never made similar comments to him and that their conversation is something she deems unacceptable. For all anyone knows, they have arguments like this semi-frequently and to her it's fine, because she wants to be real with each other and push each other to be their best, and having heated moments is something that will pass and doesn't change how they will still support each other.
Simon, even if it were in a private conversation as he thought his microphone was off, was talking ill about Meagan
And Maegan has publicly "talked ill" about her competitors and the judges. Which should be completely common place. If you think someone's program is trash or the judges are scoring things incorrectly, then say so. Some people in return felt Maegan was being a b***h by saying the things she did, and said so in private. A completely normal occurrence. It's simply people expressing their opinions. Nobody is innocent there, and that unrelated opinion never changed their commentary of the performances, including hers when she was competing.
Have you ever said you don't like someone or words to that effect in a private conversation?
Everyone has. Anyone who says differently is lying. People just want to feel better about their own morality by jumping on instances like this where there's an easy target.
Everyone also disagrees with the religious or political opinions of many other people on the planet. I find that religion has caused far more harm to society than it has helped. Should I block myself from everything that has ever been produced by a religious person, or a Trump supporter, because of my dislike of those things? No, that only creates more problems, the same here in these instances of trying to entirely discredit and diminish another person because you dislike one thing they said.
)
