There are all these apps, and technology things that we have made, such as, tennis shoes, leggings, computer digital analysis, AI … so many things that we use to help us enhance our performance in sports That are allowed in profession.
Why, if you put something in your mouth, that is, and contrast to how you move your hand, or muscles, tech improved training motions, golf swing, running stride, what you put on your skin, whatever — why if you take a chemical is it not allowed?
Anybody see the difference?
And could you tell me what the difference is?
I’m serious. Please comment: why are performance enhancing drugs and different than any other performance enhancing tech ?
4 responses to “Enhanced Sports.”
Dear landzek,
Often, there is little or no level-playing field. Both the genetics and resources of an athlete will determine their chance of success.
There have also been the myth and romanticization of the self-made man succeeding against all odds. Some people simply do not realize that so many things and conditions have to fall into place for someone to achieve greatness. Even the greatest heroes, rulers or tyrants need thousands or millions of supporters and followers, plus good climate and sufficient natural resources.
Some high-flyers, champions or celebrities may utter “If I can do it then anybody can”. On the surface, their statement may seem to suggest that they are modest, democratic, inspiring and down-to-earth individuals who have succeeded through sheer effort and determination, and that they are encouraging others to do so in order to realise their dreams and potentials.
Yet, one cannot help wondering that these successful people are selling an idea or image of success based on the belief that an individual can transcend or overcome any obstacle. They seem to think that everyone has the same chance and is on a level playing field. They have forgotten that many conditions, peoples and infrastructures have to be present within an environment or a society for certain pursuits, successes or achievements to take place.
Put those same high-flyers, champions or celebrities in a more disadvantaged socio-economic or socio-demographic area, or in a third- or fourth-world country saddled with poverty, crimes and other social and cultural issues, the utterance “If I can do it then anybody can” can be readily exposed as vain and vacuous. Also, had they been born into a world in which they have to face poverty, crime, disability, disease, minority, discrimination, slavery, war, exploitation, marginalisation, ostracism, obscurantism and so on, none of them would go very far or even had the opportunity to enter their chosen professions.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
Thank you for the consideration of my Querry. I have come to a similar conclusion as you put about the multitude of forces that go into any success. Yes, I agree. It is such an massive oversimplification even to think that because this particular athlete might have trained at a higher altitude and so then they do better at a lower altitude, is contributing to their excellence, or their ability to do better than others. One starts to fall down the rabbit hole of all the elements that must’ve been in place in order for that person to have been able to train at the higher altitude. And, as we fall, even deeper, we really must conclude that there is no difference between taking cocaine, say, or steroids, or any other chemical enhancement, then wearing a state of the art microfiber, whatever synthetic pants and shirt that support your muscles to do whatever, etc. It’s really an ethical position. Just like marijuana is bad because people of color use it, As from the reefer madness days.
You know, I watched an old Dragnet the other day. And it was kind of amazing to watch this episode about these high school kids that smoked weed. And the over arcing ethical view and basic ignorant view upon marijuana that was being promoted back then.😄
…ah! I think I made a post a couple years ago: about how I think there should be two leagues in every sport. One league should be pure human like we ethically hold the highest gold, standard of no enhancement, drugs, and whatever just the way that we do it nowadays. And then there should be another league where the athletes signed some sort of legal contract, because, of course, they would have to be some sort of legal contract. But saying that the athlete is fully aware of the potential’s involved in damaging their own body and others, and then, just let these athletes do whatever the hell they want to enhance their ability in their athletic performance. If they die of a heart attack, or if they simply takeoff the head of another player, well playing football or hockey because they’re just so massively strength, enhanced, or whatever the hell, then let’s do it.! if the people agree and understand the potential consequences? I mean, let our technology have the reigns ! I think it would be pretty incredible to see what happened, honestly.
Dear landzek,
Unfortunately, this “anything-goes” scenario would never work because the situation would soon degenerate into chaos, mayhem and lawlessness, let alone deaths, injuries and crimes.
Since you mentioned AI in your post, one can see that you will be interested in body hacking, human enhancement, biorobotics, neurorobotics, transhumanism, posthumanism, singularitarianism and the like. Therefore, I would like to invite you to read my post metaphorically entitled “📈🌆 Growing Humanity with Artificial Intelligence: A Sociotechnological Petri Dish with Latent Threats, Existential Risks and Challenging Prospects 👨👩👦👦🤖🧫☣️“, published at
https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2024/04/17/growing-humanity-with-artificial-intelligence-a-sociotechnological-petri-dish/
Please be informed that my website works best on a desktop or laptop computer.
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle