Do you believe we should bring back gladiator fights?

[Deleted]

We could, of course, always send our soldiers fight their wars on Mars. Make it a "war planet". Perpetual peace on Earth, perpetual war on Mars. Mars is, after all, the god of war.

[cant cook clean or iron]

Should people be locked up for participating in mutually consensual actions? I don't think so.

So to answer the question - yes. But I would not be promoting such events and don't think many would nowadays.

[Zulkhan]

I don't see the point. There are plenty of athletic disciplines that focus on the application of determined skills in combat, for sport and entertainment. Anything going further than that would likely promote violence for the hell of it and that would be an obvious regression of our society.

[Deleted]

I don't see the point. There are plenty of athletic disciplines that focus on the application of determined skills in combat, for sport and entertainment. Anything going further than that would likely promote violence for the hell of it and that would be an obvious regression of our society.

I would like to see fencing and other forms of weapon-based combat return as a decently watchable sport though.

[Santti]

To the death? No. Non-lethal? Depends I guess.

[Rudkobing]

It would be fun, but its just a bad idea. Of course, it would be fun to see Oprah vs. Donald Trump or Kim Kardashian vs. Kayne West.

[josykay]

Contrary to popular belief, gladiatorial games were not generally fought to the death. They were little different from current high impact martial arts competitions and therefore still exist.

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.

[RenegadeXan]

gladiator were essentially slaves because no one in the right mind would risk their life to that, they were not owning their life.

[zorkuus]

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

[Ghostpanther]

No, I'd like to think mankind has moved on from being ruthless savages, that kill people for mere entertainment.

I agree. However, we still are at the " Enjoy watching blood fly from fights inside rings and cages" stage. :P

- - - Updated - - -

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

Lol! We would want to have our Ultimate Fighter Champion to run for President? Of course inside a ring with light armor and weapons being used is a different type and style of fighting. They might suck at it.

[tobzhax]

gladiator were essentially slaves because no one in the right mind would risk their life to that, they were not owning their life.

Gladiators were (mostly) slaves - however they did have the choice, again in most cases, to actually become a gladiator (Virgil writes that it had to be signed by the slave that he wished to become a gladiator - and also by his owner, but Virgil also says that the slaves signature was legally property of his master, so take from that what you will) - in fact it was a sort of quasislave social caste used to move up the social ladder. If you won, you could become a 'freedman' literally meaning you won your freedom and possessed all the rights of a Roman, the same term was given to slaves who fought in the Imperial Roman Army for set periods of time which seemed to change by Emperor. This arrangement probably wasn't for the benefit of slaves of course, it worked well for the owner as he received the winnings whether the slave became a star 'freedman' or died after a few bouts.

[Deleted]

UFC 195 is live now!

[Nefarious Tea]

Fact of the day: Gladiatorial fights originated in Etruscan funerary custom.

OT: I think we should. Mandatory for convicted criminals (the US prison system is there for profit anyway; what bigger profit could you get out of it than 100,000 seat sporting events?), voluntary for the population at large.

[tobzhax]

From every intro Classics textbook in circulation:





The Etruscan's

[Super Kami Dende]

I'd personally love to watch some Gladiator coliseum matches.

[Donald Hellscream]

To the death? No fucking way, even if it was deathrow inmates fighting to the death I would still think people fighting each other to the death for the amusement of others to be wrong.
if you want to see people kicking the everliving shit out of each other watch UFC or something like that.

[Anonymous1038853]

Could be interesting if it were strictly voluntary. How that would be done, I have no idea.

But in principle, no. Sports already meet the desire for self-validating conflict well enough, in my honest opinion.

[Donald Hellscream]

Were you able to freely decline those or was there a penalty?

I'd assume you could just stay the fuck away from the place where the duel was supposed to take place. You'd probably be branded a coward though.

[zorkuus]

Lol! We would want to have our Ultimate Fighter Champion to run for President? Of course inside a ring with light armor and weapons being used is a different type and style of fighting. They might suck at it.

There would be no rewards in this fight (other than the winner gets to live) so need for that. It would only serve as a means to prevent idiots in power dragging a country into a war. If you're a peaceful leader you don't need to participate.

[Deathquoi]

I only support a four way gladiator battle between Sir Riptor, Jaylock, Jayburner, and Tennisace.