Can you justify competitive eating?

[philialeaf]

For my deal I had to eat 8 bitty burgers in an hours to get my name on the wall. I ate 12… What mamde me able to eat that much? It was one of those hungery days for me. My friend ate his 6 coney dogs to get him name on the wall also. Eating those burgers likely was good for me. All that protein kept my blood sugar from dropping for hours( I was hypoglycemic back then). Food is one are where I’m glad the USA broke a bit from it’s northern European roots. In much of the Northern European culture people fill up rather enjoy eating. I’mm glad we don’t have that type of survivalist attitude twards food anymore.

Dude, I’m liking your attitude! Thank you for replying. I need to apologize about not being so clear before. I really am not bothered at all by small scale eating contests; they’re just not for me. So you were extra hungry one day and got your name on the restaurant wall for eating 12 mini burgers–that’s kinda cool. What bugs me is the person who is hailed as a hero for eating massive, inhuman and dangerous amounts of food. This is how the “professionals” earn huge amounts of prize money. I don’t know how many of them there are, but it just really bothered me to hear a child want to emulate that. What you and your buddy did is not the scale that I’m talking about. You are definitely making me think more about this! Maybe I’m not against competitive eating altogether, but just don’t like it being hailed as a sport and a way to achieve fame and glory. That’s a little weird. But it’s also to be expected in a country where so many people have some unhealthy view of food or another!

Yes, food should definitely be enjoyed. I’m totally with you on that. I’m not sure how much a person can enjoy downing several whole chickens in a go, but whatever.

As for the comment that I need to focus on other things, I do! I also like to start conversations about things that I haven’t seen discussed before, and wanted to get some Catholic points of view. I don’t think we should ban things that are unhealthy; I was bringing up the morality of it, not whether it should be made illegal. Yes, there are way worse things a person can do but they are already being discussed. This is one I found interesting and thought I’d bring it up!

So now what I would like to know is, if you have participated in an eating contest, how do you feel about the large scale ones that people actually risk their health to train for and participate in? And do you think they should think about people wanting to emulate them, or is that just someone else’s problem? What about kids looking up to them?

Thanks for reminding me to not judge others or poo-poo fun. I do see too many Catholics and other Christians come across that way, whether we want to or not. These forums are a fun way to talk to other Catholics, but sometimes it’s hard to tell where someone really stands just by reading a paragraph or two.

Thanks again to everyone who put in their 2 cents! I’m still listening if anyone has other thoughts on it!

 

[aspawloski4th]

Dude, I’m liking your attitude! Thank you for replying. I need to apologize about not being so clear before. I really am not bothered at all by small scale eating contests; they’re just not for me. So you were extra hungry one day and got your name on the restaurant wall for eating 12 mini burgers–that’s kinda cool. What bugs me is the person who is hailed as a hero for eating massive, inhuman and dangerous amounts of food. This is how the “professionals” earn huge amounts of prize money. I don’t know how many of them there are, but it just really bothered me to hear a child want to emulate that. What you and your buddy did is not the scale that I’m talking about. You are definitely making me think more about this! Maybe I’m not against competitive eating altogether, but just don’t like it being hailed as a sport and a way to achieve fame and glory. That’s a little weird. But it’s also to be expected in a country where so many people have some unhealthy view of food or another!

Yes, food should definitely be enjoyed. I’m totally with you on that. I’m not sure how much a person can enjoy downing several whole chickens in a go, but whatever.

As for the comment that I need to focus on other things, I do! I also like to start conversations about things that I haven’t seen discussed before, and wanted to get some Catholic points of view. I don’t think we should ban things that are unhealthy; I was bringing up the morality of it, not whether it should be made illegal. Yes, there are way worse things a person can do but they are already being discussed. This is one I found interesting and thought I’d bring it up!

So now what I would like to know is, if you have participated in an eating contest, how do you feel about the large scale ones that people actually risk their health to train for and participate in? And do you think they should think about people wanting to emulate them, or is that just someone else’s problem? What about kids looking up to them?

Thanks for reminding me to not judge others or poo-poo fun. I do see too many Catholics and other Christians come across that way, whether we want to or not. These forums are a fun way to talk to other Catholics, but sometimes it’s hard to tell where someone really stands just by reading a paragraph or two.

Thanks again to everyone who put in their 2 cents! I’m still listening if anyone has other thoughts on it!

It’s just that I see so many traditional ways of fun being poo pooed thesedays. Examples, tracter pulling, demolition derbys, sports. I am related to people who actually say, why have fun when you can get some work done? I avoid perople like that like the plague. next thing you know I’ll be told that money I spent to fix one of the radios in my antque radio collection could of fed the poor. Suvival for the sake of survival isn’t how I roll.

 

[PeterMuz]

Define good in that type of case.

Do you not know what the word good means??? The key is that if you are doing something that would really harm your body, you probably should not be doing it. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Also gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body,” (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

 

[philialeaf]

I am related to people who actually say, why have fun when you can get some work done? I avoid perople like that like the plague. next thing you know I’ll be told that money I spent to fix one of the radios in my antque radio collection could of fed the poor.

“Why have fun…?” Ouch–I can see where you’re coming from! We need to have fun now and then and not worry about what “could have” been done differently to help the world. Even Jesus said the poor will be with us always. Enjoy your radio collection, and I hope no one harrasses you about having a hobby!! We all need a hobby to keep up our mental health!

 

[philialeaf]

Do you not know what the word good means??? The key is that if you are doing something that would really harm your body, you probably should not be doing it. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Also gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body,” (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

PeterMuz, thanks for posting that passage–to me it’s a very important one, and one of my arguments against some of the practices I was referring to. Maybe not eating 12 mini burgers one time you’re really hungry, but definitely the large scale contests that people “train” for by eating huge amounts of vegetables and drinking lots of water to stretch their stomachs. I read that the competitive eating organizations don’t condone this because it can be dangerous to one’s health, but competitors do it nonetheless.

I can definitely see our friend’s point that Catholics (and I would say other Christians) do need to lighten up, though! Do you think his eating 12 mini burgers and getting recognized by the restaurant in a small college town can be compared to the competitions that I’m talking about? I really don’t care about trying to figure out “where the line is” or anything like that! We’re not the judges–Christ is! Also, everyone needs different amounts and kinds of food to be healthy. I’m prone to believe that eating 12 mini burgers one time isn’t going to harm one’s health, may even be good for you! (My parents love to brag that I ate seven hot dogs one time when I was two years old.)

Personally, I think when it starts involving “tricking your body” for the sake of winning a competition and doing things your doctor warns against, it’s a problem. Your body is a temple! Little restaurant challenges are common and can be fun, let’s not condemn anything that resembles something “bad” or “unhealthy” for fear of a slippery slope. People do have some ability to discern.

 

[CWBetts]

I don’t really care what any foreigner thinks of our culture. When there are natual disasters through out the world who donates the most help? The USA buddy! We help others far more than we get helped by any stretch of the imagination. We deserve a little fun activity where we do what we want, and have a little fun.

Herein lies the problem. On this thread your arguments have been all about you, how you like to have fun, what you want, etc. You start this post with the three most damaging words in humanity: “I don’t care.” There is nothing wrong with having fun, but not at the expense of others. Will the food consumed at eating contests “solve world hunger”? No, but could they feed the hungry people in your community? Absolutely. There is homelessness, hunger, and suffering right in our back yards. If we start there, we can change the world. One way to start is to take into consideration how our recreation can be more in line with the teachings of Christ.

 

[choy]

to quote David Letterman on his comment about competitive eating…

“folks, this is why the world hates us (America)”

 

[philialeaf]

to quote David Letterman on his comment about competitive eating…

“folks, this is why the world hates us (America)”

 

[aspawloski4th]

Do you not know what the word good means??? The key is that if you are doing something that would really harm your body, you probably should not be doing it. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Also gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body,” (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

You know as well as I do that everyone’s definition of good is a little different from eachothers. Back when my mom had her 3rd or 4th child which were pretty close together. Some idiot told her it wasn’t good that she was making accryllic paintings and selling them at art fairs, by the way which were only 2 or 3 a year. Becuase it takes time from rasing the children. Well since she was told that her creative spirit has been runined in the name of good, in theis case is survival. Of course I know what good means, most likely better than most Americans and most Catrholics thesedays which is not very hard. I may be God’s, but I still have to amke my own decisions, and take care of my other than physical needs, no one else will.

 

[CWBetts]

You know as well as I do that everyone’s definition of good is a little different from eachothers. Back when my mom had her 3rd or 4th child which were pretty close together. Some idiot told her it wasn’t good that she was making accryllic paintings and selling them at art fairs, by the way which were only 2 or 3 a year. Becuase it takes time from rasing the children. Well since she was told that her creative spirit has been runined in the name of good, in theis case is survival. Of course I know what good means, most likely better than most Americans and most Catrholics thesedays which is not very hard. I may be God’s, but I still have to amke my own decisions, and take care of my other than physical needs, no one else will.

Thats why to find what is “good” we need to look into the Scriptures, study the Catechism, and spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Its amazing how much that clears things up.

 

[aspawloski4th]

Herein lies the problem. On this thread your arguments have been all about you, how you like to have fun, what you want, etc. You start this post with the three most damaging words in humanity: “I don’t care.” There is nothing wrong with having fun, but not at the expense of others. Will the food consumed at eating contests “solve world hunger”? No, but could they feed the hungry people in your community? Absolutely. There is homelessness, hunger, and suffering right in our back yards. If we start there, we can change the world. One way to start is to take into consideration how our recreation can be more in line with the teachings of Christ.

So I am speaking in the first person, big deal! Take me somewhere where someone is getting the raspberries for lets say enjoying an eating contest. You will see just how selfish or unselfish I am when I step in tto dend the honor of that person, and take some hell for him or her. I havent had a chance for doing that in connection with a eating contest yet, but I have stepped in to give people a hand in defending their honor before, and all I hope to get in return for it is maybe a new friend if possible. You are mixing up priority of importance with choice of which person to speak in terms of. I feel uncomfortable speaking for others when it comes to preferences and I don’t like to make decisions for people, but I do know what I am comfortable with and how I roll. It would be silly to think that I speak in the first person for any other reason.

 

[CWBetts]

So I am speaking in the first person, big deal! Take me somewhere where someone is getting the raspberries for lets say enjoying an eating contest. You will see just how selfish or unselfish I am when I step in tto dend the honor of that person, and take some hell for him or her. I havent had a chance for doing that in connection with a eating contest yet, but I have stepped in to give people a hand in defending their honor before, and all I hope to get in return for it is maybe a new friend if possible. You are mixing up priority of importance with choice of which person to speak in terms of. I feel uncomfortable speaking for others when it comes to preferences and I don’t like to make decisions for people, but I do know what I am comfortable with and how I roll. It would be silly to think that I speak in the first person for any other reason.

Its not the point that you are speaking in the first person. It is that you say you don’t care. That sentiment is in direct conflict with the Gospel of Christ

 

[aspawloski4th]

to quote David Letterman on his comment about competitive eating…

“folks, this is why the world hates us (America)”

I could care less what people in other countrys think. We do more for the rest of the world than th rest of the world does for us. We are much deeper thinkers than most people of the rest of the world, Thus our vocabulary is the largest in the world barnone. They can wallow in the mire of survivalism, most Americans are above that.

 

[aspawloski4th]

Thats why to find what is “good” we need to look into the Scriptures, study the Catechism, and spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Its amazing how much that clears things up.

While those are a help the total answer isn’t in all those either. Lest we forget some of right and wrong is written on our hearts by God. We are supposed to have the ability to think for our selves.

 

[aspawloski4th]

Since it’s so common for people to prejudge me based on a post or two or a thread or two. Please go to my profile and look up past posts, and not just a few. You will find that I spend plenty of posting here defending other’s rights, and that I’m neither true liberal or true conservative. I’m a free spirit. I happen to find all the sniveling about competive eating here nuttier than a fruit cake.

 

[jmcrae]

I could care less what people in other countrys think.

This is why you have so much airport security, and why you have to carry identification with you where ever you go - because people in other countries are angry about the immorality that they see in America - not just the competitive overeating, but all of the excesses.

 

[maryjk]

For me, it comes down to, could I participate in something if I could not write about it to my child who lives in the Third World and lives on one meal a day of rice, vegetables, and beans?

What would he think of a culture where they can take enough food to feed his entire village for a whole week, and stuff it into one person who is not even hungry, for an eating contest?

Do you have air conditioning, a car, or a TV? Do you eat meat or dessert? Do you ever eat out? If you have or do any of these, how do you explain it to your child who lives in a Third World country?

What would he think of a culture where only one family lives in a house when he lives with not only his family, but all of his relatives? What would he think of indoor plumbing, when he doesn’t even have running water?

 

[maryjk]

This is why you have so much airport security, and why you have to carry identification with you where ever you go - because people in other countries are angry about the immorality that they see in America - not just the competitive overeating, but all of the excesses.

Is that why Israel has so much security? Because of their excesses? Or is it because unreasonable people hate them?

I guess there is no security when you get on an airplane in Canada?

 

[jmcrae]

Do you have air conditioning, a car, or a TV? Do you eat meat or dessert? Do you ever eat out? If you have or do any of these, how do you explain it to your child who lives in a Third World country?

With the education and support that I am giving him, he too receive these benefits. But there is no benefit to anyone with competitive eating - it is just a show-off of wasting food.

What would he think of a culture where only one family lives in a house when he lives with not only his family, but all of his relatives? What would he think of indoor plumbing, when he doesn’t even have running water?

Again, these are benefits that he receives through the program, through the support that we give. Within a year of setting up the program he actually had running water in his home, an indoor bathroom, a bedroom with beds and dressers in it to share with one of his brothers, and a school to go to.

There is a tangible moral difference between me taking my excess and giving it to him to improve his life, and someone else who takes their excess to purchase hundreds of hot dogs, pizzas, and pies, to stuff it into themselves and then throw it all up afterwards.

 

[PeterMuz]

You know as well as I do that everyone’s definition of good is a little different from eachothers. Back when my mom had her 3rd or 4th child which were pretty close together. Some idiot told her it wasn’t good that she was making accryllic paintings and selling them at art fairs, by the way which were only 2 or 3 a year. Becuase it takes time from rasing the children. Well since she was told that her creative spirit has been runined in the name of good, in theis case is survival. Of course I know what good means, most likely better than most Americans and most Catrholics thesedays which is not very hard. I may be God’s, but I still have to amke my own decisions, and take care of my other than physical needs, no one else will.

I understand your point, but you are talking it way too far if you think that can cover eating competitions. Yes we all need different things. Something may be unhealthy for you and healthy for me. For example, one of us could be allergic to wheat. Wheat has some good qualities about it. It can be a good source of fiber. But it could be bad for me if I am allergic.

Where you cross the line is what is morally right and wrong. You are making a relativistic argument. You are saying what is RIGHT for you may be WRONG for me. Thats relativism. My example is different because its not about how much you eat, its about WHAT you eat.