Wednesday, December 14, 2005

I heard this interesting argument a couple of days back. Basically, it was about whether one could live in a world which music or a world without sports. Personally, I feel that such an argument isn’t really possible. Difference parts of the brain are simulated by sports and music. Any and every animal takes part in sports in one form or another. Don’t say that handicapped people don’t play sports. I’m not saying in a world where there are sports and yet people can’t play. I’m talking about a world where the very concept of sports in alien. Where simply trying to explain the very concept of sports will cause their brains to explode. Of course, such a world is beyond imagining.

Likewise with music.

Of course, let us simplify this matter. Image a world where there are no sports, only music. Of course, not as rigid as the world described above. Eventually, people will start dancing to the music. Some dancers will be better than other dancers. Eventually the best dancers will become so good that the lesser dancers will occasionally spend time just watching them pirouette around and around. At this point the good dancers will begin to meet up, and start dancing together, in a club. However, eventually they’re fame and fortune will set them apart. It will make them proud, perhaps even over-zealous. They will notice that some of their numbers are better than others. But among the best, who will know who the best is. At this point the dancing will become competitive and, well, what do you know, you have a sport!

A world without music will be slightly difference. Imagine a world populated only by deaf people. They will learn to live without music. Well, music as we know it. But, they will find alternatives. Symphonies of Lights. Or just deep, deep vibrations that you can feel through your feet. Or really high ones you can feel in your teeth. It doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that a form of music will always, always exist.

And so will a form of sports.

We play sports because we’re living. A sport is just a form of natural selection for civilized people. Actually that’s not really true. Games are just a form of natural selection. Long long ago, people used to run very fast from things with rather large teeth. The fastest runner would be the most popular, the life of the party. If only because all his fellows were eaten, while he was just severely out of breath. Nowadays, even if people down run around as much, there are other games. Video games, board games, even the really subtle ones like convincing someone to buy a car. These ‘games’ are needed. They are ingrained into our bodies. We are driven to strive to achieve something that no one has ever achieved before, so that we can survive. This drive cannot be denied, but it can be contorted and twisted. This is why NASCAR exists. And figure skating.