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Is anybody else gonna watch the Paralympics? (midwest.social)
submitted 3 months ago by clark@midwest.social to c/casualconversation@lemm.ee
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This year is the first time I've watched the Olympic games, and I absolutely loved watching judo. Imagine my thrill when I found out judo will also be featured in the Paralympics!

Anybody else planning to watch the Paralympics? If so, what sport? I am a bit curious about "blind football" and "wheelchair basketball" (as titled in my language), so I might give those a try as well.

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[–] ShareMySims@sh.itjust.works 18 points 3 months ago

I watch about the same of both, and watch similar categories of sports - athletics, gymnastics, swimming. Not really in to team sports, cycling, weights, martial arts, stuff like that.

I also stay braced for an unnecessary amount of ableism from the reporting and viewing public, and the athletes achievements being turned in to "inspiration porn" instead of being regarded as excellent in their own right, but try to focus on the idea that seeing disabled athletes is enough to "normalise" disabled people to some (though it will also give some the wrong impression that disabled people who don't compete are just being "lazy"), and that that's better than being completely excluded from participation.

I think my favourite part of the Paralympics though is hearing the athletes talk about how incredible it is to be the majority for two weeks. Where everywhere you turn it's disabled people as far as the eye can see, of all different shapes sizes ethnicities and abilities, and for a rare and brief moment, you're surrounded by people who truly understand and share your experience of the world.

[–] MrsDoyle@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Wheelchair basketball is brutal - they slam around the court like charioteers. Really exciting.

[–] WanderingSoul@feddit.uk 4 points 3 months ago

More exciting than just basketball too!

[–] wildwhitehorses@aussie.zone 2 points 3 months ago

Isn't the nickname 'murderball' is that wheelchair rugby?

[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm all Olympiced out. I feel guilty for not watching every time, but I would genuinely watch it if it was on the year after.

A 4 year cycle of Olympic, paralympics, winter, winter para would be ideal for me.

[–] De_Narm@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

There are also the Special Olympics and Deaflympics, which have their own cycle. I didn't check, but there is probably something every year already.

[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

I didn't think Special Olympics was an acceptable phrase. I also thought deaf people compete in the paralympic games.

I could do with a better understanding, but as I mentioned above I'm all Olympiced out and I'm not really interested enough to read up. It might seem harsh, but I don't care enough and don't think I should feel guilty about it.

(I'm not saying you suggest I should feel bad by the way)

[–] clark@midwest.social 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Why don't they merge the Paralympics and Special/Deaflympics?

[–] napoleonsdumbcousin 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

My thoughts as a layman:

They probably have very different rulesets. Deaflympics "only" has to account for the fact that the athletes cannot hear sounds like speaker announcements, starting pistols etc., whereas Paralympic athletes have physical disabilities that directly influence their performance.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 8 points 3 months ago

Wheelchair basketball is probably the most exciting sport I have ever had the pleasure of watching live. Definitely tune in for that.

Those athletes move up and down the court in a CHAIR 2 or 3 times as fast as I could at a full sprint.

[–] Maestro@fedia.io 7 points 3 months ago

Sadly climbing/bouldering won't be in the paralympics until 2028

[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago

Probably. I do it as often as I can, with it being much more genuine than the actual Olympics, as this year will show.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I tend to watch the chair events when I manage to keep times straight, though if they have streaming options, it'll be easier.

Dunno why, really, other than having worked with/for a lot of people that are chair bound maybe. The racing is kinda obvious I guess, it's like cycling in a way, and short to mid distance races are always fun.

But basketball, and other sports being done from a chair doesn't seem like it would be as hype as it actually is for me. I don't actually enjoy team sports usually, but both basketball and murderball are just balls out awesome.

I do sometimes watch other stuff just for the cool factor of some of the adaptive gear, like what runners use.

[–] ShareMySims@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

FYI

having worked with/for a lot of people that are chair ~~bound~~ users

A wheelchair is an aid for mobility and freedom, not something people are bound to, just like you aren't bound to your legs, but rather simply use them to get around.

[–] Wrufieotnak 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

While I understand what you mean and also agree with the sentiment, you should change how you phrase that argument. Because I am indeed quiet literally physically bound to my legs.

[–] ShareMySims@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 months ago

you should change how you phrase that argument

No, I'm good.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Well, since that's the term used the last time I was still working for/with people in chairs, and nobody has offered a different term for people that can't get around without a chair, I'm at a loss to why the terminology should change.

You can be bed bound still.

You do understand there's a difference between a chair being one of multiple options and one being the only available option, right? Like, a person can have mobility issues where a chair is the best option because of pain levels, safety, etc, but could still use other mobility aids. And then there's people that have no other options (as of yet, regarding technology development). The term chair bound has no meaning other than that, that I've ever seen.

Secondarily, considering the term is also used by chair bound people in my disability and chronic pain support group, idgaf what some random internet site says.

Also, I am bound to my damn legs. If they disappear, I either drag my ass everywhere by my arms, or I get a damn chair. I'm also cane bound at this point since the risks of not using it so far outweigh any possible reason for not using it that it reaches absurdity to call it an option.

Some things are just dumb when it comes to nitpicking terminology, and this is one of them

[–] ShareMySims@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I am a wheelchair user, as is the person who wrote the article I'm sure you didn't read, and we are offering you another term.

The term is accepted and preferred by the community in general, and I provided you with one of thousands of detailed articles written by wheelchair users (E: as well as official government and other institutional and community guidelines) that explain why. You not wanting to listen to members of a group when they tell you your language is inappropriate or simply outdated, and to adapt and grow and show minimal respect, is a you problem, not a "nitpicking" problem. Your use of ableist language for emphasis, and pulling the "but my wheelchair using friend never corrected me" doesn't help your cause either.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The "community in general"?

Where was the election held? What was the quorum for an official decision?

Seriously, you're claiming authority here, so what is that authority?

Edit:

and pulling the "but my wheelchair using friend never corrected me" doesn't help your cause either.

That's not what I said. I said people, plural, in a disability group. One that has more than one chair bound member. I also indirectly covered a long history of interaction with disabled people, including chair bound individuals.

You are literally the first person to have brought this up. It has never come up in group meetings, inservices on the job, via online support groups, or from any other sources at all.

From my end of things, you're making a specious claim to a community, with only a single article as your call to authority.

So, don't get this twisted here. You jumped into a casual conversation over a single term and then went all dickish because I didn't immediately comply with your wishes. As far as I'm concerned, even if/when you do back up your call to authority, you're still an asshole. So, you know, put up or shut up. I'll wait until you provide that proof of authority before blocking you, since if there actually is a big enough movement within the disabled community to change a term, I'm fine with that. I just don't accept your claim without more than what you brought to the table.

[–] WanderingSoul@feddit.uk 2 points 3 months ago

I didn't go out of my way to watch the Olympics, but I managed to watch a fair amount by having it on in the background while doing chores/waiting for other programs to start. Will do the same with the Paralympics.