Who is better, Athletes or scientists?

Question

I just can't understand what's with the world' obsession with sports, It has always been my least favorite interest, What's the point if a team wins or loses?!! I mean why should we care?! I think the people who really deserve recognition, wealth, and all the luxuries of this life are the scientists, researchers, etc... Whom we owe our modern and comfortable life to, Ironically most big shot athletes are unintelligent and been lazy at school! Don't you agree with me?
Before you answer just take a moment to imagine your life without technology and your life without sports, Which one would you pick?

Answer 1

Scientists by far and this is answered by myself who has played base ball for 40 years. Look at it this way if no other way. Science develops better technology for sports, i.e., better equipment. In all fairness the world needs science more then the people who play pro sports.

Answer 2

Well, all I know is that professional athletes get paid more than scientist. Also one of the best students in my calculus class was a starter on a D-I basketball team.

If an athlete goofs off in practice he won't get to play. If he goofs off during a game he might lose his job. On the other hand if a scientists goofs off who knows, who cares.

If the scientist works for a government instittute he probably does nothing but goofs off. I've seen Phd chemist at work with gas chromatagraphs and high speed centrifuges, IR spectrum equipment fritter away the entire day breaking down paint resin formulas of the competition. Meanwhile a couple of guys fresh out of college hand their butts to them on a platter, using mixers made out of drill motors, and test equipment fabbed from hardware store items.

Science is the search for knowlege. Whether this knowledge has any practical use or not cannot be known in advance. The result is most of the manhours consumed by researchers winds up in the scrap heap.

Fact is you present a false choice. We don't have to chose between scientist and athletes we can have both. I'd pay to watch and athlete perform, I think most people would rather shave their head with cheese grater while chewing on tin foil than watch a scientist at work.

I know several doctors who obtained their undergraduate degrees on athletic scholarships, so the dumb jock sterotype is a bit thread bare.

Answer 3

I know what you mean exactly. When everybody gets ready for the super bowl I'm like "who the **** cares" and then it's over and life returns to normal. Did anybody get cured of Aids? NO, I mean really. Maybe it has to do with me not living in a city that has any good sports teams, maybe if I lived in New York City I'd be all gaga over it to, but for now, I'm like did anyone invent a drug that cures cancer? Then I don't really care.

Answer 4

This is like comparing apples and oranges, but let me give a few alternate views to consider...

First, keep in mind that anytime you don't personally care for something, that doesn't automatically invalidate it, or mean it doesn't have redeeming value. In fact, that should be a signal to you that it may be an area you need to pay more attention to and learn about, because prejudice can blind us to important things.

I am a great admirer of science, and I also enjoy many sports. When I was a kid, I loved science, chemistry, electronics, computers, etc. Even though sports weren't my favorite thing to do after school, I'm glad I did both. I actually got pretty good grades in phys-ed because I picked and chose things I liked... weightlifting, ping pong, archery, swimming, and that helped raise my GPA.

So what good are sports today with all their hoopla and marketing? Well, for one thing, professional sports are all about pushing the limits of human abilities. That is a good thing, because anytime we improve ourselves in one area, there is a spillover effect into other areas. A lot of people who become interested in sports at a young age go into related scientific fields when they get older like sports medicine, where many medical innovations are made. In this way, sports helps science.

Sports can help build the self-esteem in young people who aren't as intellectually inclined as their peers. Sports can provide a positive outlet for kids who might otherwise get involved in negative activities. Sports are also a way for disenfranchised and impoverished kids to be able to go to college, where they may very well go on to careers in science.

Think about how sports are a great source of morale. In times of war, sporting events have helped keep our troops spirits high. It gave them something to root for in a patriotic way. Wouldn't you rather have happy soldiers defending your country?

Do you enjoy any of Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies? Well thank the sport of body-building. He never would have become an actor, or Governor of California, if it wasn't for sports.

How about a sport that requires great intelligence - chess. Maybe not a sport in the strictest sense, but chess demonstrates a very important aspect inherent to sports... STRATEGY. Strategy is crucial in almost all areas of life. You can become a better strategist by playing sports.

Another thing to consider is that many technological innovations have been sped up by sports. The first television stations that were available in HD were SPORTS stations. The revenue is what helps to fuel continued development of the technology.

Here's another one - the sport of auto racing. Auto racing is THE LARGEST SPECTATOR SPORT. Countless innovations in the cars we drive today are a direct result of R&D done on racetracks over the last fifty years. Cars being as safe as they are today are a direct result of motorsports.

Psychologists have theorized that sports provide us with a modern outlet for our most basic evolutionary urges like being competitive and hunting. Some have postulated that without this outlet, sports, a society can not be healthy.

I could go on and on, but the point I'm making is that there is no black and white in life... it's never "either this or that." Everything in life is related and interdependent. If you practice incorporating this type of thinking in your reasoning, you will become a smarter and more effective person

And remember, you don't have to like something to see merit in it.

Answer 5

Seems that the common, working-class person has always obcessed over living their life through the glories and achievements of others since they are unable to have or create any meaningful life of their own. Science has made our lives better while sports entertains some of the population who are incapable of making anyone's life better.

Answer 6

scientist are special in proving points or helping with cures

But athletes they train and work hard to become the best..they put themselves through alot

Why and how would you consider these better then one another..

Answer 7

Theres a big difference between the 2 its not a fair debate

Answer 8

scientists are better than athletes,if i am supposed to compare,coz scientists try to discover something new and impart a contribution to the world....

Answer 9

Its all about the athletes baby!

Answer 10

scientists... at least they make a concreete, substantial contribution to the world.