Comments on: Heartless twit, or not? http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:38:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: outkast http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-263026 outkast Thu, 17 Jan 2008 03:59:37 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-263026 I think we ALL see the blessing in this athlete being able to compete through the miracle of science, John M, so I disagree with your notion that we're not seeing the forest for all the trees. This particular thread, however, is about whether or not this guy should be allowed to compete in Olympic events against other athletes who haven't been "blessed" with similar devices. :) I think we ALL see the blessing in this athlete being able to compete through the miracle of science, John M, so I disagree with your notion that we’re not seeing the forest for all the trees.

This particular thread, however, is about whether or not this guy should be allowed to compete in Olympic events against other athletes who haven’t been “blessed” with similar devices. :)

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]]> By: Michael Martin http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-263006 Michael Martin Thu, 17 Jan 2008 03:00:50 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-263006 Let him compete, but on a provisional basis—no medals, no records—and see what happens. He would have to qualify, just like any other athlete, with world class times in qualifying meets. It could be a great encouragement to other handicapped people. Future games will not be inundated with handicapped athletes since the qualifying standards are very high for all athletes. My goodness, if we can expand the Olympics to include skateboards and ping-pong, why not a few handicapped athletes? Let him compete, but on a provisional basis—no medals, no records—and see what happens. He would have to qualify, just like any other athlete, with world class times in qualifying meets.

It could be a great encouragement to other handicapped people. Future games will not be inundated with handicapped athletes since the qualifying standards are very high for all athletes.

My goodness, if we can expand the Olympics to include skateboards and ping-pong, why not a few handicapped athletes?

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]]> By: trr http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262949 trr Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:07:44 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262949 Good point, John M. I do think the ruling is a good and right one though. Kyle A says it well. Good point, John M. I do think the ruling is a good and right one though. Kyle A says it well.

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]]> By: John M. http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262814 John M. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:03:39 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262814 I think we're missing the forest for the trees here. Whether this particular ruling is right or not, it is an incredible blessing to mankind that prosthesis development has reached a stage where the question can even come up. Praise God for providing creativity and intelligence to the engineers and doctors who develop these devices. I think we’re missing the forest for the trees here. Whether this particular ruling is right or not, it is an incredible blessing to mankind that prosthesis development has reached a stage where the question can even come up. Praise God for providing creativity and intelligence to the engineers and doctors who develop these devices.

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]]> By: Kyle A http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262616 Kyle A Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:03:57 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262616 A sport should not be about a person's feelings. As others have pointed out, it's about who, under equal (or nearly equal) conditions, can run the fastest. Why not let him compete in a motorized wheelchair that can outrun any human alive? That would obviously be unfair. So why let him use artificial limbs that scientists have determined give him an automatic advantage over others? A sport should not be about a person’s feelings. As others have pointed out, it’s about who, under equal (or nearly equal) conditions, can run the fastest. Why not let him compete in a motorized wheelchair that can outrun any human alive? That would obviously be unfair. So why let him use artificial limbs that scientists have determined give him an automatic advantage over others?

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]]> By: krm http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262597 krm Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:06:10 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262597 I would have to agree with the prohibition on the use of the prosthetic legs. I am not sure how I would go as to some other type of prosthetics without the "unfair advantage" factor. I tend to think that running would sort of inherently require athletes woth actual OEM legs. But I haven't worked through all the permutations/variations in my mind. I would have to agree with the prohibition on the use of the prosthetic legs.

I am not sure how I would go as to some other type of prosthetics without the “unfair advantage” factor. I tend to think that running would sort of inherently require athletes woth actual OEM legs. But I haven’t worked through all the permutations/variations in my mind.

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]]> By: rdean http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262465 rdean Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:38:34 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262465 #1: “Heartless twit.” I thought this thread was about me! I never thought you were "heartless". #1: “Heartless twit.” I thought this thread was about me!

I never thought you were “heartless”.

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]]> By: DC Lawyer http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262442 DC Lawyer Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:56:23 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262442 Ironically, given the challenges the guy faces, he may well have an unfair advantage. I can't say the decision is irrational. Ironically, given the challenges the guy faces, he may well have an unfair advantage. I can’t say the decision is irrational.

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]]> By: Make it Man http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262438 Make it Man Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:51:05 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262438 They're not allowing the use of these legs for the same reason we don't allow the use of steroids or special shoes with springs... They’re not allowing the use of these legs for the same reason we don’t allow the use of steroids or special shoes with springs…

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]]> By: NJLawyer http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-262404 NJLawyer Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:49:22 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/15/heartless-twit-or-not/#comment-262404 I feel for Pistorius, but isn't using blade that give him an unfair advantage a little like taking steroids? I agree with Lester. I feel for Pistorius, but isn’t using blade that give him an unfair advantage a little like taking steroids? I agree with Lester.

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