Do you believe we should bring back gladiator fights?

[Orange Joe]

We tried that in the uk.

Copycats

American Gladiators > UK gladiators. :P

[Easo]

I have heard that this is the 21st century, not the 1st one...
NO, FFS!

[Kallisto]

But a gladiator could still just be either killed of during the fight, or killed by the order of the ruler. This is a huge different compared to martial art, not to mention the usage of lethal weapons. So no, we shouldn't bring those back.

People that died in Gladiator rings were at a no higher rate than those that die in modern boxing. It was extremely rare and costly. Gladiators were superstars who were legitimately fattened up to make sure that they were not killed, sometimes fights were even rigged. Anyone that died in a gladiator pit was almost certainly being executed for some of the harshest crimes withing Roman law but were also citizens of Rome that made them immune to crucifixion (Which was reserved for the worst of the worst, even murder wouldn't get you that punishment.).

If you want modern Gladiator go watch boxing or MMA it's more similar than people realise. Hell modern day Pro wrestling is much closer to how old gladiators lived and fought than what movies show us.

[Deleted]

Yes but only if theyre remote controlled robots, not actual people.

[Mitters]

Let the presidential canditates from the US fight each other to the death in an arena, the winner becomes president.

Warmongering Gladiator Donald Trump, Rank #1 Freedom Fighter

[Biotec]

There were generally three kinds of gladiator fights that happened in Rome.

The first was for sport. It's where people would have about four "classes" with different equipment (for example, trident and net) and it was far more civilized than people make it out to be. Rarely people died, as there was a referee who stopped the fight if it got too serious. These generally weren't the kind where the emperor would let the other man die, until emperors like Caligula who were just doing it to be a dick. These people were basically boxers/MMA fighters but with weapons instead of fists. I'd be for bringing this back since everyone was a willing participant and the weapons used generally weren't things that could kill people easily.

The second type was man vs animal. Pretty self explanatory. Id be against this as it's glorified animal torture, but places like Spain still do it today. Now man vs robot, I could get behind that.

Finally there were criminal executions, which is what we usually see in modern media. Rarely people would come out alive, and despite it showing massive crowds cheering in modern media most people left the stands because they couldn't watch the brutality of it, and people were generally looked down upon for staying to watch it. Again id be against bringing this back.

[Simulacrum]

Sure, and we should have our politicians compete.

[Astronom]

These people were basically boxers/MMA fighters but with weapons instead of fists.

By the late republic gladiator fights had basically evolved into this. Fights specifically to the death were rare and reserved for special occasions. The sport was very dangerous though of course, and accidental deaths would have occurred far, far more commonly than in modern martial sports. Especially given medical care back then (although I think gladiators generally received pretty good care for the time).

Its only logical that fights to the death would have been rare. It was time consuming and expensive training gladiators - it would have been uneconomic to throw their lives away so readily.

[Kallisto]

Especially given medical care back then (although I think gladiators generally received pretty good care for the time).

Outside of Emperors they were given the best care. Top Gladiators and Chariot racers were richer in ancient rome than the top sports stars of today are

[Powerogue]

What if it was by choose to enter the ring?

Well we have nonlethal variants of that idea, and good old fashioned video games, which suffice well enough.

[May90]

Of course! As long as the OP becomes the first gladiator.

Yes, use it for the world leaders to settle their grievances.

"Imagine a king who fights his own battles. Wouldn't that be a sight?" - Achilles, Troy (2004).

[Zulkhan]

Of course! As long as the OP becomes the first gladiator.

If Sir becomes the first gladiator I'll gladly become the second myself.

[ParanoiD84]

It would quickly become the nr1 entertainment to watch that's for sure people always like to watch some slaughter. Also it was the best entertainment back in the days.

Could use it with criminals only, where if they win the whole thing they have a chance for release.

[Deleted]

Truth is that people would likely love it just as much as back in Roman times.

As a species we haven't evolved one bit. Same people, just with better technology.

[Mistame]

Big arena + mud + hot chics = win.

[THE Bigzoman]

According to my mother, UFC/greco wrestling/football is no different from being gladiators.

[Forogil]

I have no interest in boxing, mma, etc. The Flynn Effect also shows that we are getting smarter.

Yes, and not only smarter but also in general nicer; I can recommend Pinker's "Better Angels of Our Nature".

[slime]

We should try to move forward as humans, not backwards.

for as long as feminism is a thing, we will always be moving backwards as humans.

[Moralgy]

for as long as feminism is a thing, we will always be moving backwards as humans.

Woaaa, feminism promotes gladiator fights coming back?

[Aeula]

So long as it's to the death and has a great commentary team, then yeah for sure.

Modern 'sport' is so dull it'd be nice to see something honourable and glorious for a change.