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> like Olympics, f1, world cup, TED, etc etc. It's disingenuous to claim that I lump those in the same category. Let's focus on my 'more for show than for ben
by Jedd 9y ago
> like Olympics, f1, world cup, TED, etc etc.
It's disingenuous to claim that I lump those in the same category.
Let's focus on my 'more for show than for benefit' qualification.
> it was 5bi spent for entertainment. Just like lots of other billions are everywhere in the world.
Do you mean 'just like other billions everywhere else spent on entertainment' or 'just like other billions everywhere else spent'. I'm not sure you're accurately reflecting my views by suggesting that I think entertainment has equal value to non-entertainment activities.
> just because it was in a country you perceive as poor and failed it shocks you.
Yeah, so stop right there.
I was working for the treasury department for NSW at the time that we were gearing up for the Sydney Olympics (later re-branded the NSW Olympics (later re-branded, as funding was sought further up the chain, as the Australian Olympics). There's nothing imperial, us-or-them, poor-vs-rich country about this. Take that particular card off the table.
> But, this is the same mentality that demonize food stamps and social programs for the poor in your rich country that are not 100% focused on making those poor people complacent and effective workers.
It really, really, is not.
- gcb0 9y agoyou kind of proved my point. I do lump all those events in the same bag and my point was that most people fail to see it and see the ones they like as culturally enriching and the ones they don't fancy as waste. the only problem on the article's event was lack of public. but I bet lots of local people wanted to go but lacked the means. just like the Olympics. but it doesn't show much because the Olympics manages to import rich foreigners just fine.
- Jedd 9y ago> you kind of proved my point. That was not my intent. > I do lump all those events in the same bag and my point was that most people fail to see it and see the ones they like as culturally enriching and the ones they don't fancy as waste. Are you genuinely suggesting TFA describes a non-wasteful event?
- totalZero 9y agoHow did anyone prove your point? You are just repeating yourself to claim that there are two voices in agreement.
- Cyph0n 9y agoCare to elaborate why you think Expo is less beneficial than the events listed in the comment you replied to?
- Jedd 9y agoThere are more than two categories. Grading the set objectively seems infeasible, and not very useful. I've lived in two cities as they hosted Olympics, but didn't attend either. I've been to a world expo. I've not been to a world cup or an F1 event (though I once worked in an office overlooking the F1). I think this Expo was a waste of resources. I suspect most TED conferences are not. I understand that Olympics, World Cup, F1 are highly lucrative for a handful of people, but typically a net negative for the host city / state. The corruption associated with at least two of those three is legendary, and well documented. If you would prefer to separate 'the event' from 'the corruption involved in the event', then good luck with that.