Competitive eating

[jooxis]

What do you think about competitive eating contests?

These are contests where participants compete in who will eat the most (for example) hot dogs in under 5 minutes and they win a cash prize. These types of contests are most popular in the USA and Japan.

http://www.allthingscupcake.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/joey-chestnut.jpg

Do you find this perverted and immoral considering how many people struggle with starvation/lack of food worldwide?

[longears15]

Even before you consider worldwide starvation and poverty, I find the concept of stuffing one's face like this totally and utterly obscene. I was waiting for an appointment yesterday evening and there was a commercial news program on in the waiting room showing a clip of such a competition. I felt ill watching it. I honestly cannot understand what could make a person want to stuff their face like that.

To answer the question you pose - yes, I do. I hate seeing anything - food or otherwise - go to waste. I do virtually all the cooking for my family and prepare almost everything from basic ingredients, partly because there is nothing wasted. A lot of the food scraps go to the animals, or if it's something they can't/won't eat, it goes into the compost. We even use stale bread - I just let it dry out completely, then run it through the food processor to be used as breadcrumbs. Leftovers go into the fridge for lunch or dinner the following day - either that or I make a double batch of the meal and freeze half in containers as quick meals for later in the week.

There must be associated health risks as well, I would think. I know that not all the people who compete in these things are overweight, but I certainly can't imagine that it's healthy to be doing these things

[appelsapgodin]

I wouldn't want to say pervereted and immoral, because I think those are too strong words to use for something like this.

I do think I find it shallow and dumb, because of the way we waste food in western society. Because of the struggles with starvation/lack of food worldwide and because of problems with obesity in the same societies that waste food also.

I think it degrades the value of food. But I also think there are much, much more things worse than food-eating contest that degrade the value of food.

[fakepeeps7]

It's just another example of how people take food for granted in the developed world, of how disconnected they are from the thing that's meant to give them life. It's also extremely wasteful, IMO, and kind of a slap in the face of anyone who doesn't have enough to eat.

[Vanito]

Theres far worse things on this planet than a few idiots who jam themself full for dumb entertainment.

[levini]

Well honestly thats a TOTAL waste of food that we could be giving to poor countries where people struggle with poverty But as appelsapgodin said its not perverted but i think it is immoral to be hosting stupid pointless contests to see who can stuff their faces with hot dogs and other foods. Theres far worse things on this planet than a few idiots who jam themself full for dumb entertainment. true to that Vanito, but The big problem is world hunger if we were to put the food that we use for entertainment to something more helpful then we could end something and move on to another problem instead of being a part of the problem.The big problem lies with the fact that these contests dont do anything but provide five minutes of entertainment But if these contests donated food to charities (or something at least) thgen it would be better but honestly that is really hurtful to someone who struggles with weight and people who struggle to feed their kids

[Oaktree]

While I do think they're a waste, the argument about world hunger doesn't always apply. If the food can't get to somewhere it is needed, it will be wasted anyway. Much of the starvation in the world occurs in places that the food can't get to. There's also the problem of cost for some people, but food costs will only go so low. After a certain point, the manufacturer would be losing money if he lowered his prices any more. What eating competitions do do, is raise the demand, meaning that more food will be put on the market and may go to waste. They're also rather disgusting and highly unhealthy.

[paksetti]

Huh. You find using excess food for a competition perverted and immoral, but you don't find using excess money for The Sims, a computer, and Internet access perverted and immoral.

I think they're a little dumb, but I honestly don't care about them one way or another. You get to pick what stupid crap you're going to spend your money on, because the lucky few of us living in developed countries are going to spend are money on stupid crap. Until you give up any sort of luxury you have to help those in developing countries- shut up.

Different Strokes, Different Folks, I say.

[SuicidiaParasidia]

i think in a world where eating contests exist, its laughable to see people questioning the presence of obesity.

though on the note of starvation...
darwinism. :/

[grumpy_otter]

While I do think they're a waste, the argument about world hunger doesn't always apply. If the food can't get to somewhere it is needed, it will be wasted anyway. Much of the starvation in the world occurs in places that the food can't get to. There's also the problem of cost for some people, but food costs will only go so low. After a certain point, the manufacturer would be losing money if he lowered his prices any more. What eating competitions do do, is raise the demand, meaning that more food will be put on the market and may go to waste. They're also rather disgusting and highly unhealthy.

GMTA. I was just about to point out that, as much as I admire the "poor people could eat this!" argument, that hunger is much more a problem of logistics than quantity. There is plenty of food (right now) to feed everyone on the planet--it's just a question of getting ti to them, which ain't that easy.

As for the contests--as long as they don't call it a "sport"--I'm sort of "who cares?" I hope it's a fad that will die out. Seems like a waste of time to me.

[anothereyjana]

Personally, I've always just found it dumb and eye-roll worthy, and really a waste of time and food---maybe you can't get the food to people in impovrished nations, but what about people like the homeless and needy within that country? If you're going to do something stupid like this, at least make it for a charitable cause or something.

I also have always found it a bit darkly funny how people in the US are always given the fat slob stereotype, and internationally we're always expected by others to be obese, and yet it's JAPAN, a nation which claims to pride itself on things like self-control, and are touted for having good fitness programs, that always wins the international eating competitions. ;)

[jooxis]

Huh. You find using excess food for a competition perverted and immoral, but you don't find using excess money for The Sims, a computer, and Internet access perverted and immoral.


That's a whole bunch of assumptions you made of me, based on nothing I have said. Where did I say any of this? I didn't even give my point of view on this subject at all. I asked a QUESTION to start a discussion. You don't even know what I think about it, so it makes no sense telling me to shut up.

More on topic - while wasting food in this way is not nearly the worst thing that goes on in Western societies, I do find the gesture somewhat rude and gross. People who stuff their faces until they puke and people who create art and decorations out of food are both "wasting" food, but the latter isn't disrespectful and in some way displays an appreciation for food. So I find food eating contests a very low-brow form of entertainment - although not contributing that much to the world hunger problem, it does well with symbolizing some of the issues with it.

[101ita]

I don't have much to think of it except that it's really disgusting and puts me off food.

Sure it's wasteful and really not useful in any way but there are better ways to help starving nations than to send them bunch of non nutricious contest hot dogs. :p
Building wells/pumps for water and teaching them how to harvest food is better, for example. You know the saying: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

[WayBack]

Eating contests always make me cringe. I'll never understand how anyone can feel victorious for eating more hot dogs than anyone else. "Yay, congratulations, you're the biggest pig in the world!" :wtf: I'll gladly leave the title to someone else.

It's disgusting, degrading, unhealthy and a waste of food but I don't see what it has to do with the world hunger. Those few extra hot dogs or hamburgers will not change anything.

[paksetti]

That's a whole bunch of assumptions you made of me, based on nothing I have said. Where did I say any of this? I didn't even give my point of view on this subject at all. I asked a QUESTION to start a discussion. You don't even know what I think about it, so it makes no sense telling me to shut up.


I wasn't talking to you. Did it say anywhere in my post "Jooxis needs to shut up"? If you didn't say you thought it was perverted and immoral, then I'm probably not referring to you.

Get the sand out of your vagina.

It was more of a collective "you" referring to the people who had stated they found it to be perverted and immoral.

[HystericalParoxysm]

MTS Staff friendly reminder:

Be nice or I will hit you with a shoe! If you can't be nice, then stfu! kthx.

[grumpy_otter]

HP, your avatar is freaking me out. Here's a shoe.

I just made a post in another thread about all the food I made on July 4th, and since THIS thread exists, just thought I'd say I never throw out food of any kind. All vegetable matter goes into my compost heap, which helps make vegetables for next year, and all meat is used to feed animals.

[fakepeeps7]

... and all meat is used to feed animals.

Cannibalism?

[grumpy_otter]

Cannibalism?

Oh dear. Am I not getting the joke? I meant that I throw leftover steak to the raccoons.

[fakepeeps7]

Oh dear. Am I not getting the joke? I meant that I throw leftover steak to the raccoons.

Oh, okay. I was worried you were feeding your leftover bacon to your pigs or something. :lol:

[paksetti]

I buy bacon exclusively for my pigs, of which I have several.
Bacon is good for every living creature, including plants- don't let the media fool you.








wut.

[Rectos Dominos]

I also have always found it a bit darkly funny how people in the US are always given the fat slob stereotype, and internationally we're always expected by others to be obese, and yet it's JAPAN, a nation which claims to pride itself on things like self-control, and are touted for having good fitness programs, that always wins the international eating competitions. ;)

There is some to truth to the stereotypes isn't over 31% percent of obese and about 33% overweight. Evertime my Dad goes to America he plays spot the skinny. My country Canada isn't much better when it comes to those rates. Japan well considering some of their game shows I am suprised that there is food eating contests.

[fakepeeps7]

There is some to truth to the stereotypes isn't over 31% percent of obese and about 33% overweight. Evertime my Dad goes to America he plays spot the skinny. My country Canada isn't much better when it comes to those rates.

It depends on what part of Canada you're talking about. Around here, the people are (for the most part) pretty svelte. (Cross the border into the U.S., though, and you notice the difference immediately. It's weird how an invisible line makes such a difference!)

Japan well considering some of their game shows I am suprised that there is food eating contests.

Why? A lot of their game shows don't make much sense. Neither does stuffing your face full of food to win a prize. Seems like it would be right up their alley!

Does anyone know if competitive eaters purge after contests? I can't figure out how they're so skinny if they're doing these things (and, presumably, training for them)...

[SchiZohybrid]

Regarding the gameshows; well, they did get a couple of nukes in the head, no? Seriously, the strangest things come from Japan.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j271/epigynum/japan_weird_shit.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j271/epigynum/wtf-in-japan.jpg
:rofl:

[Undercovers_Agent]

I'm a competitive eater in the local area. I downed 50 nuclear wings in about six minutes. But as for if it's immoral, yes I suppose so, but I don''t shove 9034934891242143214214712384578142372353 hot dogs in my mouth and have my stomache burst, plus where I compete you have to pay a registration fee, part goes to food, the other money goes to stoping world hunger.

[Rectos Dominos]

It depends on what part of Canada you're talking about. Around here, the people are (for the most part) pretty svelte. (Cross the border into the U.S., though, and you notice the difference immediately. It's weird how an invisible line makes such a difference!)
I live in BC which is apparently the fittest province my town is diverse in weight (small town). Richmond is considered the healthiest city the country. I defintly agree that there is a difference comparred to the US. My family and I went to a restraunt in Seattle we were the only svelte people there.
Why? A lot of their game shows don't make much sense. Neither does stuffing your face full of food to win a prize. Seems like it would be right up their alley!
Oops that was a typo. I meant to type not suprised :lol:
Does anyone know if competitive eaters purge after contests? I can't figure out how they're so skinny if they're doing these things (and, presumably, training for them)...
They could have fast metabolisms or not eat or eat very little for days before so their nice and hungry for the competition.

[SuicidiaParasidia]

Does anyone know if competitive eaters purge after contests? I can't figure out how they're so skinny if they're doing these things (and, presumably, training for them)...

it is actually possible for people to train their metabolisms.

but bulimia and jogging are..two different roads. i figure there are people who do both. of course, bulimics are fucking themselves up more than they are "training", but yeah...

[christx101]

Its sickening to think considering so many people starving struggling for food.

[grumpy_otter]

Did you read the whole thread or just the first post?