Olympic hockey

And that's a fundamental flaw in the human condition: tribalism. Us rather than them. Our land, our resources, rather than theirs. Our god(s) rather than theirs. Our army versus theirs. And yes, our sports teams versus theirs.

With tribalism in full swing, we care more about our tribe and less about anyone else's. And here's the real killer, Candy: we start to regard the other tribes as less worthy, less deserving, less possessing of human rights, and ultimately, less human.

For example, how many MAGAs think that the Bill of Rights applies only to troo-bloo Americans? Trump certainly thinks that!

Look at how Trump is using tribalism. AMURRICA!!! and USA! USA! USA! Hand in hand with that is a disdain for and antagonism toward all other tribes.

What competition teaches is that tribalism is good and noble and that conflict is an inherently positive thing and makes us all better. I'm sorry, but I can't accept that. I'm a student of history. For all of recorded time, the more tribalism and conflict, the more miserable people's lives have been--including those on the "winning" sides.

I don't think most people take sports that seriously. One roots for their preferred team, gives some good natured ribbing to the opposing team and enjoys the athleticism and talent of both teams. 

Some friends of mine do tailgate parties for the Seahawks games quite frequently. Tailgating isn't allowed in any of the official lots but much of the street parking for several blocks around the stadium become tailgate areas. 

I have gone several times. When fans of the opposing team walk by we often give a few boos and jeers. We also offer them a plate of food and a beer. 

It's all in good fun. 

As far as toxic tribalism is concerned I would say that partisan politics and Dem vs Rep has been way more damaging to our country than Michigan vs Ohio State. 

Go Wolverines! 

That's my point. Tribalism is a natural human instinct, and sports fandom feeds into that instinct.

So I guess the question really should be: is tribalism adaptive or maladaptive? I can see arguments for both. Competition does make us stronger, hones our skills, etc. It also gets a lot of us killed and consumes immense amounts of resources.

So perhaps I could regard sports as a defanged version of warfare. Fewer people killed, more beer consumed, etc.

Sports is way better than politics, that's for sure. 

It's just disappointing when sport is brought into politics like the hockey team was. 

Did one of the guys give Trump his gold medal?

No. Just a blowjob. That was the price of admission; they drew straws. Trump kicked the poor guy in the head for not doing it right.

Trump flogged the tired and false narrative of AMURRICA being the bestest, bigliest, greatest nation in the world. MAGA LUVVVS that, as their worldview is that we should return to the 1950s, when we were by far the richest and most powerful nation in the world. Republicans saw that as an opportunity to take over the entire planet; Democrats saw that as an opportunity to help the entire planet. For a while, the latter sentiment prevailed. But now, with Mein Trumpf at the helm, we're an aggressive, hostile nation bent on world domination.

That wets the panties of MAGA to no end. Trump is "manly" and "strong." OOOOOOOO!!

So when the US hockey team was used as a propaganda tool, the message--stated unequivocally by Trump--was that their success proved America's superiority, not just in sports, but in ..everything. And I loathe that false message.

The downside of the Olympics is that it drags sports into politics. The Olympics is a war, bloodless perhaps, but still a war. I do so wish it wasn't, but as long as the Trumps of the world treat it as such, it will continue to be.

USA! 🤮 USA! 🤮USA! 🤮

(Go ahead, children, call me unpatriotic. You know you want to.)

I always laugh when I see MAGA "men" acting like Trump is their alpha.

If your alpha is a 79 year-old man with narcissistic personality disorder, in the early stages of dementia, can no longer control his bowels and likes to diddle 13 & 14 year old girls you are so far down the scale of masculinity you might want to check your pants to verify that you even have a dick. 

Not a single statement is true 

Yes, we know that not a single statement you make is true, but what does that have to do with your sick erotic obsession with an elderly narcissistic pedo?