Does the UFC make the world a slightly worse place?

[Armitage Shanks]

I've been a fan for 20 years now, and I used to convince myself that the UFC, and MMA in general, was a place where people, whether actually fighting or just watching, could vent the stresses and angst of life in a formal arena. I've seen how many gyms are full of kids with nowhere else to go, who would end up on the street or in jail, and who have channeled all that negativity into becoming a highly skilled martial artist.

Recently, though, (this decade, really) I've begun to question the impact of MMA and particularly the UFC on society. I wonder if it is exacerbating the negativity we're witnessing in the world right now, or at least a sort of avatar for it - evidence of a downturn in humans being respectable to one another.

Bit deep for Sherdog maybe, but wondered if the recent hue of the mood of the UFC, especially after the Conor incident, has made you question its position in sport and society in general?

 

[ortizgnp]

 

[MusterX]

It can't have that much of an impact, its a niche sport. Most people could care less and don't follow it.

 

[Serial Killer]

It just exposes who you really are.

If you are a good person and watch UFC - You will still be a good person

If you are a sh*ty person and watch UFC - You will still be a sh*ty person

Answer = Does NOT Matter

 

[Armitage Shanks]

It just exposes who you really are.

If you are a good person and watch UFC - You will still be a good person

If you are a sh*ty person and watch UFC - You will still be a sh*ty person

Answer = Does NOT Matter

Haven't you read the book 'Nudge'? Society is based on the idea that people can be nudged in certain directions. ie we create a world where we try to bring the best out in people. Make dicks less dick-ish. So I think it DOES matter.

 

[Serial Killer]

Haven't you read the book 'Nudge'? Society is based on the idea that people can be nudged in certain directions. ie we create a world where we try to bring the best out in people. Make dicks less dick-ish. So I think it DOES matter.

No but I know what you mean. Even the question is nudging in one way or another because I think the UFC (MMA) has made the world slightly better.

 

[I WILL CUT YOU]

It's mostly just the new Conor fans that make MMA suck.

TMZMMA

 

[DLX]

It's dying anyway, so luckly for TS any negative impact the sport has should go away soon.

 

[binny]

It is in fact not good for the world. At least the McGregor (non)Fighting Championships isn't.

 

[Omega Man]

It makes my life better. There are much worse things happening every day that are making the world a worse place. Trump is a prime example. No way MMA can come close to that.

 

[Lemmy]

Haven't you read the book 'Nudge'? Society is based on the idea that people can be nudged in certain directions. ie we create a world where we try to bring the best out in people. Make dicks less dick-ish. So I think it DOES matter.

this is absolutely true.

on top of that governaments aren't an "emanation of their people" anymore but act like they are an elite that have to educate the population, pretty much trashing every promises they had prevoiusly made in order to get your vote and, while on paper they are different, right and left big parties seem to end doing the same things.

everywhere you watch someone is acting like he knows better and you have to listen (and obey).
i cannot help but i don't have a tv since 2005.

 

[LockardTheGOAT]

It provides entertainment for millions while providing prosperity (in the form of money and/or a huge sense of accomplishment) for the participants themselves. So my answer is No.

 

[DeeDubb]

Spectator sports, in general, are pretty bad for us. At worst, they lead to jingoism, racism, and violence (soccer in particular), at best, they are distractions for people who are on the low rung of society’s ladder to keep them satisfied and prevent a violent uprising (this goes all the way back to the Coliseum).

 

[Jermu]

ufc have made my life slightly better. Don't know about society but here mostly no one even knows ufc or mma.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

The world is only a bad place because it contains humans. Thats it really.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

I don't like how UFC has brought all these violent, low-IQ foreigners into my country

 

[Liquid Smoke]

Haven't you read the book 'Nudge'? Society is based on the idea that people can be nudged in certain directions. ie we create a world where we try to bring the best out in people. Make dicks less dick-ish. So I think it DOES matter.

It doesn't fucking matter!

 

[TheScorpionDude]

I've been a fan for 20 years now, and I used to convince myself that the UFC, and MMA in general, was a place where people, whether actually fighting or just watching, could vent the stresses and angst of life in a formal arena. I've seen how many gyms are full of kids with nowhere else to go, who would end up on the street or in jail, and who have channeled all that negativity into becoming a highly skilled martial artist.

Recently, though, (this decade, really) I've begun to question the impact of MMA and particularly the UFC on society. I wonder if it is exacerbating the negativity we're witnessing in the world right now, or at least a sort of avatar for it - evidence of a downturn in humans being respectable to one another.

Bit deep for Sherdog maybe, but wondered if the recent hue of the mood of the UFC, especially after the Conor incident, has made you question its position in sport and society in general?

It's not helping but it's not hurting either.

It's not the UFC that makes people act like that, the whole world is going bananas.

The UFC is not the cause, it's an effect.

It's how the world is usually before a big war breaks out.

After the war there will be peace and respect for about 50 years or so, after which everyone will become an asshole again, and then a new war will come ... you get the point.

It's a never ending cycle or respect and douchebaggery.

 

[capnlarge]

The UFC entertains so it has made my life slightly better.

Now on the other hand, the UFC has made Jon McCain's life slightly worse.

So it really depends on who you are...

 

[Skarsgard]

Eh, it gives some people an outlet. It gives others a tool to be shitbags.