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Generally, the notion that people should accept less pay because they live their work is bullshit, and the lines of work that engage in and encourage this kind

Generally, the notion that people should accept less pay because they live their work is bullshit, and the lines of work that engage in and encourage this kind of reasoning are exploitative. Period. We see this same dynamic in many lines of graduate education as well, a huge oversupply of students competing over a very long period of time for a tiny number of academic and research positions, and occasionally partying through the nose for the opportunity. And like the Olympics, the biggest payouts are for the management class, whose main tasks seem to be further commercializing the whole edifice. This commercialization happens to be synonymous with expanding exploitation of those lowest on the ladder (Mo labor Mo profits) and expanding the ranks of the managing class for their business school bros from the ivies. (Pretty similar dynamics also appear in the non profit sector, fwiw.)

eanzenberg 10y ago
No. The IOC retains all the mind-share of the 'Olympic Spirit,' for lack of better terms. A curling competition on NBC will draw 0 viewers (and 0 money) ((estimating)). A curling event in the Olympics draws viewers because and only because it is 'The Olympics.' Take 'The Olympics' out of every esoteric event and you'll quickly see how little viewership it'll get.
- forgetsusername 10y ago
  I guess that depends on what sports your country enjoys. Here in Canada curling championships get a pretty wide viewership (but the money isn't great).
djsumdog 10y ago
Olympics destroy the economies of the cities they play in. This article shows just the insane amount of salary at the top get. These are people who are literally the top of human form and athleticism. The Olympics entertain the planet and bring in insane amounts of money and have insane trademark enforcement. If I make over $100k for sitting on my ass all day writing software, then certainly these people deserve far more than they're getting. They shouldn't need to depend on additional endorsements/advertising money. Just by making it to the Olympics, they should get a decent amount, and those bastards at the top can afford to get a little less...shaving a few $100k here and there and distribute it.
- cmurf 10y ago
  Kirk to Spock: "They're still using money. We need to get some." ... Gillian: "Don't tell me they don't use money in the 23rd century." Kirk: "Well, we don't."
  - djsumdog 10y ago
    eh..a little off topic, but I still want to comment on it. :-P Star Trek's utopia has a couple of major important technologies: * Removal of energy scarcity - dilitium is mined off planets, by robots and provides cheap limitless energy * Replicators - Controlling the atom to the point where we can make exact duplicates. If everyone can replicate a Rembrandt, the original no longer has its insane value. There's no wait to authenticate if something is "real" or "original" Some people prefer "real" food, even realizing the difference is pretty much all in their heads. All basic things can be copied and only the very complex can't be duplicated (like Lt Commander Data's brain). So in such a universe, an athlete gets everything a regular earth citizen gets, and visa-versa. It doesn't matter if you're in Star Fleet or choose to bus tables in a restaurant, you get the same type of living accommodation, and you can live or work anywhere thanks to transporters and limitless energy. People choose the jobs they want. Star Fleet isn't a military operation and you can resign at any time. In this world, a lot of useless jobs would go away .. Olympic committee trademark enforces for example. The whole thing breaks down terrible in some episodes. In DS9, Sisko's dad owns a restaurant with a bus boy. Someone chooses to be that bus boy .. for no money. Maybe if the writers used a robot bus boy?
    - danso 10y ago
      I think the whole thing breaks down with holodecks. Why would anyone put up with reality with virtual reality is so real? The propaganda budget must be huge, to convince people that there is value in serving real-life society (and the Federation) to prevent society from being wiped out by an external force.
      - ktRolster 10y ago
        Because getting time scheduled in a holodeck is really tough. They must have a high energy requirement or something.

eanzenberg 10y ago

No. The IOC retains all the mind-share of the 'Olympic Spirit,' for lack of better terms. A curling competition on NBC will draw 0 viewers (and 0 money) ((estimating)). A curling event in the Olympics draws viewers because and only because it is 'The Olympics.' Take 'The Olympics' out of every esoteric event and you'll quickly see how little viewership it'll get.

forgetsusername 10y ago
I guess that depends on what sports your country enjoys. Here in Canada curling championships get a pretty wide viewership (but the money isn't great).

djsumdog 10y ago

Olympics destroy the economies of the cities they play in. This article shows just the insane amount of salary at the top get. These are people who are literally the top of human form and athleticism. The Olympics entertain the planet and bring in insane amounts of money and have insane trademark enforcement. If I make over $100k for sitting on my ass all day writing software, then certainly these people deserve far more than they're getting. They shouldn't need to depend on additional endorsements/advertising money. Just by making it to the Olympics, they should get a decent amount, and those bastards at the top can afford to get a little less...shaving a few $100k here and there and distribute it.

cmurf 10y ago
Kirk to Spock: "They're still using money. We need to get some." ... Gillian: "Don't tell me they don't use money in the 23rd century." Kirk: "Well, we don't."
- djsumdog 10y ago
  eh..a little off topic, but I still want to comment on it. :-P Star Trek's utopia has a couple of major important technologies: * Removal of energy scarcity - dilitium is mined off planets, by robots and provides cheap limitless energy * Replicators - Controlling the atom to the point where we can make exact duplicates. If everyone can replicate a Rembrandt, the original no longer has its insane value. There's no wait to authenticate if something is "real" or "original" Some people prefer "real" food, even realizing the difference is pretty much all in their heads. All basic things can be copied and only the very complex can't be duplicated (like Lt Commander Data's brain). So in such a universe, an athlete gets everything a regular earth citizen gets, and visa-versa. It doesn't matter if you're in Star Fleet or choose to bus tables in a restaurant, you get the same type of living accommodation, and you can live or work anywhere thanks to transporters and limitless energy. People choose the jobs they want. Star Fleet isn't a military operation and you can resign at any time. In this world, a lot of useless jobs would go away .. Olympic committee trademark enforces for example. The whole thing breaks down terrible in some episodes. In DS9, Sisko's dad owns a restaurant with a bus boy. Someone chooses to be that bus boy .. for no money. Maybe if the writers used a robot bus boy?
  - danso 10y ago
    I think the whole thing breaks down with holodecks. Why would anyone put up with reality with virtual reality is so real? The propaganda budget must be huge, to convince people that there is value in serving real-life society (and the Federation) to prevent society from being wiped out by an external force.
    - ktRolster 10y ago
      Because getting time scheduled in a holodeck is really tough. They must have a high energy requirement or something.