Thoughts on the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics

[watthong]

On 7/29/2024 at 2:34 PM, Yellowtail said:

Decent will not be tolerated.

 

Learn how to spell @Yellowtail Us here already having a hard time taking anything you said seriously, please for Christ sake (no this is not a reference to the Last Supper, Christians around the world beware) don't make it any harder.

[Cameroni]

49 minutes ago, watthong said:

 

I don't know how the Last Supper theme came up. 

It was an allusion to France's culinary heritage. Just as the headless woman referred to France's history. And the horse was just a horse not a horseman of the apocalypse. The Christian outrage says more about Christian tunnel vision than satanic credentials. I don't know where they get Satan from, honestly. 

[roo860]

6 hours ago, watthong said:

 

I bet it was by design, knowing some folks, especially prudish Yanks would get epileptic over a rather minor detail (at least this one was shaven...) Reminding me of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction that caused a national rukus wayback. Or James Cameron taken to the woodshed for one supposedly nude scene of Kate Winslet posing for deCaprio in Titanic. FWIW, the last two instances cited consisted of showing one, just one, female nipple each time. I myself have a hard time suspending my disbelief at the silver screen whenever I see American actresses humping away with their male partner while still wearing a bra.

I didn't zoom in to see the detail of his testicles, but thanks for the heads up.😉😉

[huangnon]

Thoughts on the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics?

 

I've seen worse. Marginally.

 

 

[Wrwest]

20 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Christians gave up the Inquisition 400 years ago, Muslims are still chopping off heads of unbelievers

And yet, there are still cultural religious tests applied in the USA today. Try running for elected office and not being Christian or, at least, proclaiming you are. I live next to two of the largest Moslem countries, no reported government beheadings reported?

[metisdead]

A post with a derogatory slang trolling comment toward Americans has been removed.

[Yagoda]

Just now, Wrwest said:

And yet, there are still cultural religious tests applied in the USA today. Try running for elected office and not being Christian or, at least, proclaiming you are. I live next to two of the largest Moslem countries, no reported government beheadings reported?

Religious test? No wonder there are no Jewish people in office whatsoever

[Baht Simpson]

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

.. but for some reason the 'LBGQT+ line' steps far deeper into territory 'other art' is not permitted or tolerated in public. 

 

 

 

 

It's not just an LGBT+ thing and it's not just art. 

 

The annual naked bike rides in public?

The Japanese penis festivals?

Nudist beaches?

Endless naked figures in public art museums?

Virtually naked men and women at Brazilian festivals.

 

90% straight and showing a lot more than this. You see more on a public beach. If some people weren't so determined to be offended by it, it would pass without much notice. It's something that should raise an eyebrow at most but some think it's the fall of the West. The whole thing is being misrepresented and overplayed. 😀

 

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Baht Simpson said:

It's not just an LGBT+ thing and it's not just art. 

 

The annual naked bike rides in public?

The Japanese penis festivals?

Nudist beaches?

Endless naked figures in public art museums?

Virtually naked men and women at Brazilian festivals.

 

90% straight and showing a lot more than this. You see more on a public beach. If some people weren't so determined to be offended by it, it would pass without much notice. It's something that should raise an eyebrow at most but some think it's the fall of the West. The whole thing is being misrepresented and overplayed. 😀

 

I think you've made a wholly valid point in exampling the 'other festivals'... However, the point I made about 'time and place' holds fast.... 

... the Brazilian festivals, Sidney Gay Pride, Japanese Penis Festivals etc can be avoided - they are 'in their place, in their time' and people know what to expect before attending of viewing....   they are not 'thrust' (pun not intenteded) onto the 'world family viewing stage'...

 

That said: I find the annual naked rides utterly ridiculous... 

.... and if the people were running around thrusting steel willy's at each other in a lewd over-sexualised manner at the Televised at the opening of the Rugby World Cup rather than respectfully participating in a 'Kanamara Matsuri ceremony (to pray for easy childbirth, marital harmony, and protection from infections) at the Kanayama Shrine, then

your point would have greater strength - even so, the 'commercialisation' of such a ceremony has brought with it lewd connotations - I mean, a vulva lolly-pop... 

 

Nudist beaches can also be avoided, then are not a globally televised event during prime time viewing.

 

 

Perhaps you are correct that this issue is being over played and misrepresented, but I don't think this (the Olympic Opening ceremony) was the time or the place for what was quite a lewd and potentially offensive performance - those in charge of the ceremony should have been more clever about this....

 

Am I offended... No of course not, but I understand the why people maybe - if watching with children I can understand parents thinking... W.T.flook is this ???...  thats not appropriate for family TV viewing.... in much the same way, the EuroVision Song Contest is no long appropriate for family TV viewing...  Its been taken over and decency seems to have been knee-capped.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 31 by richard_smith237

[pedro01]

The ceremony was trash, lacked any artistic merit and was simply attention seeking at it's lowest 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 7/29/2024 at 12:09 PM, roo860 said:

This was indeed the highlight of the show, some 'bloke' with one of his bo!!ocks hanging out.

 

What a bunch of right wing social media and later regular media claimed was shown in this photo apparently wasn't what was shown at all, per the following credible fact-checking source:

One More Thing… No, an Olympics Opening Ceremony Dancer Did Not Expose His Privates

NewsGuard

 

"The Janet Jackson moment that wasn’t.

 

What happened: Far-right sources on X are falsely claiming that a dancer who participated in a controversial drag queen skit during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony exposed his testicles, either intentionally or unintentionally.

...

A closer look: As evidence for the claim that a backup dancer exposed his testicles, far-right sources on social media pointed to a photo they said showed one of the dancers, who was dressed in minimal clothing, suffering from a wardrobe malfunction in which the dancer’s privates are exposed. (The performer appears to be French dancer Germain Louvet, who posted a photo of himself wearing the same outfit on Instagram three days after the ceremony, on July 29.)

...

Actually: The dancer’s testicles were not exposed. Users appear to have misinterpreted upper thigh skin for his testicles coming loose and dropping out of his suit.

A NewsGuard review of the video footage from the opening ceremony found that Louvet’s tights ripped, revealing his upper thigh, which some viewers mistakenly thought were his exposed privates."

 

(more)

 

https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/false-olympics-claims-terrorism-crime?open=false#§one-more-thing-no-an-olympics-opening-ceremony-dancer-did-not-expose-his-privates

 

 

Edited July 31 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think you've made a wholly valid point in exampling the 'other festivals'... However, the point I made about 'time and place' holds fast.... 

... the Brazilian festivals, Sidney Gay Pride, Japanese Penis Festivals etc can be avoided - they are 'in their place, in their time' and people know what to expect before attending of viewing....   they are not 'thrust' (pun not intenteded) onto the 'world family viewing stage'...

 

That said: I find the annual naked rides utterly ridiculous... 

.... and if the people were running around thrusting steel willy's at each other in a lewd over-sexualised manner at the Televised at the opening of the Rugby World Cup rather than respectfully participating in a 'Kanamara Matsuri ceremony (to pray for easy childbirth, marital harmony, and protection from infections) at the Kanayama Shrine, then

your point would have greater strength - even so, the 'commercialisation' of such a ceremony has brought with it lewd connotations - I mean, a vulva lolly-pop... 

 

Nudist beaches can also be avoided, then are not a globally televised event during prime time viewing.

 

 

Perhaps you are correct that this issue is being over played and misrepresented, but I don't think this (the Olympic Opening ceremony) was the time or the place for what was quite a lewd and potentially offensive performance - those in charge of the ceremony should have been more clever about this....

 

Am I offended... No of course not, but I understand the why people maybe - if watching with children I can understand parents thinking... W.T.flook is this ???...  thats not appropriate for family TV viewing.... in much the same way, the EuroVision Song Contest is no long appropriate for family TV viewing...  Its been taken over and decency seems to have been knee-capped.

 

 

 

 

You make a very good point, there is a time and place for everything, and those festivals are a place that people can celebrate in whatever way they want to celebrate, on their own and with their own, and it's all good.

 

When it comes to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, historically they have usually been carried out with a sense of grace, dignity and elegance. This ceremony did not possess very much of that and there is no need to rub their lifestyle in everyone's faces. 

 

Ladyboys might be popular in Thailand, and for some there is some appeal. I've seen some lady boys that were very attractive. I've rarely ever seen drag queens that I've said the same thing about. Nor anyone else. Some are a monstrosity. 

[Yellowtail]

They got precisely the response they desired. 

[still kicking]

American medal tally

Real tally 

[impulse]

13 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

What a bunch of right wing social media and later regular media claimed was shown in this photo apparently wasn't what was shown at all, per the following credible fact-checking source:

 

You call that credible?  I call it gaslighting.  Those are balls.  Thigh skin doesn't come in a pouch.

 

They need to deduct credibility points for that one. 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

15 hours ago, pedro01 said:

The ceremony was trash, lacked any artistic merit and was simply attention seeking at it's lowest 

Celine Dion was great!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

3 hours ago, impulse said:

 

You call that credible?  I call it gaslighting.  Those are balls.  Thigh skin doesn't come in a pouch.

 

They need to deduct credibility points for that one. 

 

 

NewsGuard is not the only credible source saying the same thing:

Fans mistakenly claim performer’s testicle was shown during Olympics opening ceremony

Jul 27, 2024

...

"However, while many were convinced that a testicle was on show for the millions watching around the world and pictures of the incident have gone viral on social media, the reality is that it was a simple wardrobe malfunction involving the performer’s tights. [emphasis added]

 

A round hole in the black tights started out as testicle-shaped when Katerine began his song but as the performer unfroze and danced, it became clear that the split was becoming bigger.

 

Later into the performance which then focused on a dance troupe who were floating along the River Seine, the camera cut back to Katerine’s background performers dancing to the music. By that time, the hole in the performer’s black tights had ripped across nearly the entire front part of their right thigh."

 

 

https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/27/fans-mistakenly-claim-performers-testicle-seen-olympics-opening-ceremony-21310234/

 

 

[John Drake]

Has criticism of the opening had an impact on television audiences watching these games? Viewership up to expectations or below? I have no idea. I haven't watched anything. All the events with judges need to be scrapped anyway. If you can't measure it, time it, or determine it through events where the last man standing wins, then it doesn't need to be part of the games.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

3 hours ago, impulse said:

They need to deduct credibility points for that one. 

 

No, they don't....

 

 

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/newsguard/

 

 

[Baht Simpson]

20 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think you've made a wholly valid point in exampling the 'other festivals'... However, the point I made about 'time and place' holds fast.... 

... the Brazilian festivals, Sidney Gay Pride, Japanese Penis Festivals etc can be avoided - they are 'in their place, in their time' and people know what to expect before attending of viewing....   they are not 'thrust' (pun not intenteded) onto the 'world family viewing stage'...

 

That said: I find the annual naked rides utterly ridiculous... 

.... and if the people were running around thrusting steel willy's at each other in a lewd over-sexualised manner at the Televised at the opening of the Rugby World Cup rather than respectfully participating in a 'Kanamara Matsuri ceremony (to pray for easy childbirth, marital harmony, and protection from infections) at the Kanayama Shrine, then

your point would have greater strength - even so, the 'commercialisation' of such a ceremony has brought with it lewd connotations - I mean, a vulva lolly-pop... 

 

Nudist beaches can also be avoided, then are not a globally televised event during prime time viewing.

 

 

Perhaps you are correct that this issue is being over played and misrepresented, but I don't think this (the Olympic Opening ceremony) was the time or the place for what was quite a lewd and potentially offensive performance - those in charge of the ceremony should have been more clever about this....

 

Am I offended... No of course not, but I understand the why people maybe - if watching with children I can understand parents thinking... W.T.flook is this ???...  thats not appropriate for family TV viewing.... in much the same way, the EuroVision Song Contest is no long appropriate for family TV viewing...  Its been taken over and decency seems to have been knee-capped.

 

 

 

 

I agree if it's filth but people's borderlines  vary when it comes to judging that. Kids love Taylor Swift, Arianne Grande, Troye Sivan etc and millions go to their concerts with half-naked dancers and lots of suggestive behavior and pelvic thrusting.

 

I do take your point that in this case it was unexpected though. I would never censor this but would hope if parents thought that this was too explicit on t.v. they would explain to their kids what it was. There must be plenty of shows where something comes on that might be a little too near the mark and they have to do that. As for the moralisers on here, they've got an off switch.

 

And thank you for your contention that anyone can avoid Pride. Many on here can't seem to, and moan about it being shoved down their throats.

 

Nice to talk to someone that has differing views but tries to explain rather than attack. 🙂

 

 

Edited August 1 by Baht Simpson

[Baht Simpson]

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Celine Dion was great!

Yeah, bless her. She's had a tough time of it lately. 

[Baht Simpson]

15 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Has criticism of the opening had an impact on television audiences watching these games? Viewership up to expectations or below? I have no idea. I haven't watched anything. All the events with judges need to be scrapped anyway. If you can't measure it, time it, or determine it through events where the last man standing wins, then it doesn't need to be part of the games.

I'm sure the closing ceremony will get record viewing numbers. All those moralisers with their popcorn ready forensically analyzing the show for something to be offended by and blame wokeism. 😀 

[impulse]

7 minutes ago, Baht Simpson said:

All those moralisers with their popcorn ready forensically analyzing the show for something to be offended by and blame wokeism.

 

Leaving aside any moralizing, the production had the quality of an impromptu high school skit.

 

Or, at best, something out of SNL.

 

[Yellowtail]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Leaving aside any moralizing, the production had the quality of an impromptu high school skit.

 

Or, at best, something out of SNL.

 

And it's like postmodern art in that it (coincidentally) takes significantly less talent to produce. 

[Baht Simpson]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Leaving aside any moralizing, the production had the quality of an impromptu high school skit.

 

Or, at best, something out of SNL.

 

It wasn't meant to be a morality play. It was just a representation. A few minutes to display then get off. London Olympics had Mr. Bean to represent English culture. Lol.  Don't take it so seriously.

[Baht Simpson]

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

And it's like postmodern art in that it (coincidentally) takes significantly less talent to produce. 

Our resident art expert.  😀 

[Yellowtail]

3 minutes ago, Baht Simpson said:

Our resident art expert.  😀 

Thanks, you're too kind.  😀 

[spidermike007]

It really doesn't matter how you feel about the content, how you feel about the portrayals, or how you feel about the statements they may or may not have been trying to make, and whether or not they were trying to cram their preferences down our throats.

 

What really matters is that the production quality of a good portion of the ceremony was exceptionally low, and compared to many Opening Ceremonies that we've seen in the past few decades it was very poorly done. 

[Kinok Farang]

On 7/28/2024 at 8:19 PM, Jingthing said:

I loved it.

You would.

[Kinok Farang]

If asked to judge the opening ceremony i would say,

It's immoral.

It was ungodly.

Pandered to 0.02% of the worlds population.

And the participants and organisers should rot in hell.

But i don't really care one way or another.