This is disturbing: new study shows changes in brain connections and function after just a single season of football

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t understand how anyone can enjoy watching it while knowing that nearly everyone on the field is suffering this kind of brain damage. It’s messed up.

+1

We are too comfortable with violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's important to consider the dangers of football but culturally, it's an American sport that will be around. Assume that kids will continue to play and then try telling your kid they can't. See how that goes.

With the other contact sports- you just can't not do anything because it can hurt you. I mean I think sitting around with nothing to do is just as bad. I think that the world can't function with everything being safe. It's like healthy food - you know that junk food sometimes is needed LOL even though it's horrible for you. Sorry but there's a ton of healthy shit I spit out cause it's gross! So it's got to be a balance and it's not easy.

I agree that if all the sports football really is so dangerous but I also understand why some parents let it go. It's really the NFL and American society that has to change in order for kids to refrain from the sport however. It's not just on the parents - how popular is the Super Bowl?!

Sports do decline over time. Look at horse racing in the us. And greyhound racing. NASCAR is also on the decline. It seems impossible that the nfl could lose popularity, especially given the massive marketing machine behind it, but in the 1970, the most popular spectator sport in the US was horse racing. And I’m sure it doesn’t crack the top ten or top 15 today.

Interest in the NFL has been declining.
And the NFL is promoting flag football. They see the writing on the wall too.

I certainly hope football will be on the decline but I'm not holding my breath! Football is a way to an education in many parts of this country. It's very much ingrained into our culture in a way horseracing was not. Nobody else in the world actually plays NFL football - rugby is as physical and violent a game but it's not NFL. The NFL is a Fing machine - exactly right PP. College football is as popular as NFL is - that's a lot of football! I think what will be more likely is that over time, more people will become aware of the dangers of football and it may be less popular in younger ages but overall, football as we know it will continue to be played en masse. You just can't let go of traditions in a generation. It needs to be a cultural change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's important to consider the dangers of football but culturally, it's an American sport that will be around. Assume that kids will continue to play and then try telling your kid they can't. See how that goes.

With the other contact sports- you just can't not do anything because it can hurt you. I mean I think sitting around with nothing to do is just as bad. I think that the world can't function with everything being safe. It's like healthy food - you know that junk food sometimes is needed LOL even though it's horrible for you. Sorry but there's a ton of healthy shit I spit out cause it's gross! So it's got to be a balance and it's not easy.

I agree that if all the sports football really is so dangerous but I also understand why some parents let it go. It's really the NFL and American society that has to change in order for kids to refrain from the sport however. It's not just on the parents - how popular is the Super Bowl?!

Sports do decline over time. Look at horse racing in the us. And greyhound racing. NASCAR is also on the decline. It seems impossible that the nfl could lose popularity, especially given the massive marketing machine behind it, but in the 1970, the most popular spectator sport in the US was horse racing. And I’m sure it doesn’t crack the top ten or top 15 today.

Interest in the NFL has been declining.
And the NFL is promoting flag football. They see the writing on the wall too.

I certainly hope football will be on the decline but I'm not holding my breath! Football is a way to an education in many parts of this country. It's very much ingrained into our culture in a way horseracing was not. Nobody else in the world actually plays NFL football - rugby is as physical and violent a game but it's not NFL. The NFL is a Fing machine - exactly right PP. College football is as popular as NFL is - that's a lot of football! I think what will be more likely is that over time, more people will become aware of the dangers of football and it may be less popular in younger ages but overall, football as we know it will continue to be played en masse. You just can't let go of traditions in a generation. It needs to be a cultural change.

To think its declining is just silly. It's making money hand over fist

Look at the most watched live broadcasts of 2023. Almost all football (College & Pro)



There may be fewer kids playing in youth, but that could be due a number of factors, including availability of other sports. Regardless, there are enough kids playing to keep the pipeline running for decades. To say the NFL is in decline is delusional. It is THE American sport and is in no danger of being dethroned

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was going to ignore this thread as the uninformed unthinking internet post that blankets social media. But it’s so ignorant that against my better judgement I decided to respond.

1. It turns out that many sports and activities damage the brain.

Soccer- https://www.columbiaradiology.org/news/soccer-heading-linked-measurable-decline-brain-function#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20at%20Columbia,over%20a%20two%2Dyear%20period.

Gymnastics - https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-06-07/womens-gymnastics-brings-high-risk-for-concussion

Basketball- https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/basketball-concussions-a-risk-in-contact-sports-not-just-football/

Etc.

2. More to the point - bran injury fears are a distraction from the real health problems confronting children which are inactivity, obesity, and diabetes.

See https://mottpoll.org/reports-surveys/top-10-child-health-concerns-exercise-obesity-smoking-lead-list

3. The thing I hate most about post like this are the people who post them. They’re usually either well meaning people who saw a link and have a flash reaction which they immediately post on a board or they’re a culture warrior who see themselves as a paladin for what is good and right.

To the OP if you’re the former- think before you post. But if you’re the latter take a big step back and f**k your own face.

So my choices for my kids are brain injury or obesity? I think you missed a few steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t understand how anyone can enjoy watching it while knowing that nearly everyone on the field is suffering this kind of brain damage. It’s messed up.

+1

We are too comfortable with violence.

I used to love football. Grew up in a football town with championship high school and professional teams, went to a big football college. I cannot watch it any more. Just like I never could watch boxing.