How do you feel about video games being called a sport?

[GNR]

To me, a sport is something that requires both physical exertion and athletic ability. I think the notion of video games being called a sport absurd and ludicrous, and I'm not talking about the "eSports" tag, I'm talking about people calling it an actual sport and putting it along the same lines as basketball, football, soccer, etc. As a sports fan and lover of video games, I find the idea that gaming can be a considered a sport absurd.

[Everlong]

Anybody who calls video games a sport needs to get out more.

[SortaCreative]

I think the label of sports isn't quite right for games.

In fact I think it does a disservice to the type of effort needed to play games competitively.

So no, I wouldn't call competitive professional gaming a sport if there was a better word for it.

But in our current world, it's the best short hand to describe exactly what it is. They can be competitive, be televised competitions, attract a high quality of player, have championships with large cash prizes. Be a career path people can aspire to and do well in. Ultimately anything considered a "legit sport" (and I use that term loosely because I think it's subjective) started out as a hobby or a game played to pass the time. This is no different and if you turn your nose up at it, I think you're being quite narrow minded.

[Hanley!]

Yeah, I think it's dumb to refer to them as a sport for the same reason that I disagree with poker being called a sport. It's a game. There's a reason they're not called 'video sports'.

I think maybe people think there's some kind of stigma around the word 'game'. Games are childish or juvenile, but people take sports seriously. And nothing is more serious than video games (sadly kinda true these days).

Fuck that though. They're games. Own it. There's nothing wrong with taking games seriously.

[War Daddy]

It's a very competitive hobby the way I see it. MLG is pretty top I think for gaming.

[Viazon]

I feel about this the same way I feel when people call darts a sport.

[The Legend]

I feel about this the same way I feel when people call darts a sport.

Actually, people that call video games a sport make people that call darts or poker a sport look credible.

[Hanley!]

I feel about this the same way I feel when people call darts a sport.

Actually, people that call video games a sport make people that call darts or poker a sport look credible.

Why?

I mean, I kinda see what you mean with darts. That involves at least a small amount of physical exertion. But poker? I don't see why that's more credible as a sport than video games are.

I'm a fan of both poker and video games too, they're both hobbies of mine. So this isn't supposed to be condescending. I just don't think that 'sports' are any better than 'games' anyway. So I'd rather just call things by the names that make the most sense.

[SlightlyJames]

People get pissy about the exact definition of the word sport and its application. I don't really care what moniker you slap on it, eSports, Competitive Gaming, whatever.

What matters in my eyes is that a number of games like CSGO and League of Legends are legitimately competitive environments that people pour countless hours into improving both in terms of game knowledge and physical precision.

Squabbling over what to classify these competitions aside, they're no less legitimate of a competition than anything that purists would classify as a sport.

[JPG619]

I don't call it a sport. to me a sport requires physical activity also I see they call poker on sport but that totally not.

I rank video games as a form of entertainment and the same lines as watching movies

[Str8Shooter]

Yeah I don't see the big worry about what it's classified as. I understand maybe thinking it doesn't get enough respect. But if you can manage to play video games competitively and make a living doing it, who really cares? You've clearly already got a pretty badass life.

[The Legend]

I feel about this the same way I feel when people call darts a sport.

Actually, people that call video games a sport make people that call darts or poker a sport look credible.

Why?

I mean, I kinda see what you mean with darts. That involves at least a small amount of physical exertion. But poker? I don't see why that's more credible as a sport than video games are.

I'm a fan of both poker and video games too, they're both hobbies of mine. So this isn't supposed to be condescending. I just don't think that 'sports' are any better than 'games' anyway. So I'd rather just call things by the names that make the most sense.

My response was more meant to be joking more so than serious.

[DBSoT]

I keep reading about the definition of a sport being that it has to include "physical exertion" and "athletic ability." Would you same people consider a Dance Dance Revolution competition a sport or a Wii sports competition a sport? Or how about competitive treadmill running. They meet your criteria. People that box in the definition "Sports" come off as elitest IMO. I don't care if its competitive pottery, if it has a competitive environment and a sanctioned league then I don't care if someone calls it a sport. I have been a competitive bowler my whole life and I have had to defend my sport many times. And everytime I have had the discussion, the other person comes off like an elitest prick. Sorry for the venting, but you all know what happens when something strikes a nerve.

[UTK]

I keep reading about the definition of a sport being that it has to include "physical exertion" and "athletic ability." Would you same people consider a Dance Dance Revolution competition a sport or a Wii sports competition a sport? Or how about competitive treadmill running. They meet your criteria..

If competitive treadmill running couldn't be a sport, then track and field can't be a sport either.

[GNR]

I keep reading about the definition of a sport being that it has to include "physical exertion" and "athletic ability." Would you same people consider a Dance Dance Revolution competition a sport or a Wii sports competition a sport? Or how about competitive treadmill running. They meet your criteria. People that box in the definition "Sports" come off as elitest IMO. I don't care if its competitive pottery, if it has a competitive environment and a sanctioned league then I don't care if someone calls it a sport. I have been a competitive bowler my whole life and I have had to defend my sport many times. And everytime I have had the discussion, the other person comes off like an elitest prick. Sorry for the venting, but you all know what happens when something strikes a nerve.

Well no, I wouldn't consider Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Sports a sport because they're both video games, and I already said that video games aren't sports. And competitive treadmill running? Seriously? I mean if that were actually a thing, sure I'd consider it a sport, but until then, I feel like you're grasping at straws. Bowling is totally a sport, you have to actually use your body, not sit in a couch or a chair or whatever.

See your whole point about the pottery bit is where I think we disagree. If all that was required is a competitive environment and sanctioned league, then sure we could call anything a sport. Bingo, Academic Decathlon, Debate, etc. would all be considered sports under your definition. And maybe some people are okay with that, because it's a just a word, after all. But to me, "athletic ability" and "physical exertion" is what makes sports sports. As an avid fan and former athlete myself, it's annoying and insulting to try and claim that something like video games is a sport, because all you do is sit there on your ass. I'm not trying to take away from the hard work that gamers and whatnot put into their craft, but calling it a sport is absurd. It's an insult to the grueling toll that athletes put on their bodies to try and say that freaking Starcraft is in the same category as running a marathon.

[Circled Square]

I agree with GNR minus the athlete "I worked sooo hard blah blah dappy doo zee" rhetoric I hear people who are in sports say. I agree it's way harder than playing Starcraft because it causes you physical pain and training isn't necessarily 100% about fun like games are, but I think the way we put athletes on some Godly pedestal is wrong and to be honest kinda strange. I think it's a great message to kids that they should stay in shape...but...IDK, there's something off about it. Wish I wasn't retarded so I could explain it better.

[SortaCreative]

I keep reading about the definition of a sport being that it has to include "physical exertion" and "athletic ability." Would you same people consider a Dance Dance Revolution competition a sport or a Wii sports competition a sport? Or how about competitive treadmill running. They meet your criteria. People that box in the definition "Sports" come off as elitest IMO. I don't care if its competitive pottery, if it has a competitive environment and a sanctioned league then I don't care if someone calls it a sport. I have been a competitive bowler my whole life and I have had to defend my sport many times. And everytime I have had the discussion, the other person comes off like an elitest prick. Sorry for the venting, but you all know what happens when something strikes a nerve.

Well no, I wouldn't consider Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Sports a sport because they're both video games, and I already said that video games aren't sports. And competitive treadmill running? Seriously? I mean if that were actually a thing, sure I'd consider it a sport, but until then, I feel like you're grasping at straws. Bowling is totally a sport, you have to actually use your body, not sit in a couch or a chair or whatever.

See your whole point about the pottery bit is where I think we disagree. If all that was required is a competitive environment and sanctioned league, then sure we could call anything a sport. Bingo, Academic Decathlon, Debate, etc. would all be considered sports under your definition. And maybe some people are okay with that, because it's a just a word, after all. But to me, "athletic ability" and "physical exertion" is what makes sports sports. As an avid fan and former athlete myself, it's annoying and insulting to try and claim that something like video games is a sport, because all you do is sit there on your ass. I'm not trying to take away from the hard work that gamers and whatnot put into their craft, but calling it a sport is absurd. It's an insult to the grueling toll that athletes put on their bodies to try and say that freaking Starcraft is in the same category as running a marathon.

Why does it make you so angry?

Does it bother you that ESPN are showing Heroes of the Storm tournaments on their channels? BUT MAH SPORTS. DEY JUST SIT ON THEIR FAT BUTTS PLAYING GAMES HUUUR DUUUR.

[The Legend]

I keep reading about the definition of a sport being that it has to include "physical exertion" and "athletic ability." Would you same people consider a Dance Dance Revolution competition a sport or a Wii sports competition a sport? Or how about competitive treadmill running. They meet your criteria. People that box in the definition "Sports" come off as elitest IMO. I don't care if its competitive pottery, if it has a competitive environment and a sanctioned league then I don't care if someone calls it a sport. I have been a competitive bowler my whole life and I have had to defend my sport many times. And everytime I have had the discussion, the other person comes off like an elitest prick. Sorry for the venting, but you all know what happens when something strikes a nerve.

Well no, I wouldn't consider Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Sports a sport because they're both video games, and I already said that video games aren't sports. And competitive treadmill running? Seriously? I mean if that were actually a thing, sure I'd consider it a sport, but until then, I feel like you're grasping at straws. Bowling is totally a sport, you have to actually use your body, not sit in a couch or a chair or whatever.

See your whole point about the pottery bit is where I think we disagree. If all that was required is a competitive environment and sanctioned league, then sure we could call anything a sport. Bingo, Academic Decathlon, Debate, etc. would all be considered sports under your definition. And maybe some people are okay with that, because it's a just a word, after all. But to me, "athletic ability" and "physical exertion" is what makes sports sports. As an avid fan and former athlete myself, it's annoying and insulting to try and claim that something like video games is a sport, because all you do is sit there on your ass. I'm not trying to take away from the hard work that gamers and whatnot put into their craft, but calling it a sport is absurd. It's an insult to the grueling toll that athletes put on their bodies to try and say that freaking Starcraft is in the same category as running a marathon.

Why does it make you so angry?

Does it bother you that ESPN are showing Heroes of the Storm tournaments on their channels? BUT MAH SPORTS. DEY JUST SIT ON THEIR FAT BUTTS PLAYING GAMES HUUUR DUUUR.

I've not once seen a video game tournament on ESPN.

[SlightlyJames]

I've not once seen a video game tournament on ESPN.

This is what he's referring to.

[SortaCreative]

I've not once seen a video game tournament on ESPN.

So then it must not be true if you've not seen it.