>>>>>>>>>>The truth is that Robben is not alone. Professional soccer/football players must be the embarrassment of professional sports. The endless faking, diving, pretending to be hurt. The pretense of innocence when making blatant fouls. The protestations when penalized for clear and obvious fouls. These guys foul on purpose, hand the ball on purpose, and then lie about it when caught by the referee and, of course, a million cameras. These guys lie and cheat but are the "role models" of millions. I can only imagine how rugby players and American football players must laugh at these cry babies every time someone touches them. The game has become an embarrassment. Attached is a picture of the trophy all these "professionals" desire above all else.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Like rugby players never bend the rules "Fake blood anyone ?" Collapsing scrums, spear tackles etc.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>When I watch world class rugby or American football there are indeed fouls being committed. But invariably when the ref blows the whistle the offending players don't pretend they didn't do it. And the rest of the team don't all surround the ref complaining about it like children. And I rarely see a rugby player / American football player pretend to be hurt by a little shoulder push, roll around the ground in "agony" and then run around 2 minutes later. Rugby players and American football players are in a far, far harder game and complain a fraction of the time and rarely fake injury.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>One of the papers here was talking about how the USA would cope if their team went through on a penalty which was uncertain and how they feel about injury time meaning you can't be sure when the game will end. That introduction to moral ambiguity and uncertainty might be a very good thing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sorry, Nick, I don't follow your point. Please re-phrase.
>>>>>
>>>>>Well like Americans you are claiming the moral high ground for your sports. That might not be so clear when or of their team does well as a result of "cheating"
>>>>
>>>>I have no sports or any team that I support or country. I rarely watch any TV, sports or otherwise. I simply point out that when it comes to BS behaviour by sports people I have never seen it so bad as in soccer/football. By a very wide margin. I would rather lose than win by BS behaviour - it's a life principle here, not something to apply or suspend whenever it suits a purpose.
>>>
>>>
>>>If your rarely watch it why do you have such a strong view. Maybe its more about you. More confirmation bias I think.
>>
>>OK Doc, whatever. I replied to Hugo who commented strongly about one specific player, Robben. But you can analyze it as you like.
>
>You don't like being disagreed with do you Jos. You're a bit locked in there.

To sum the sub-thread so far:

1. Hugo pointed out and denounced the fake diving of one particular player (opinion)
2. I point out that faking is endemic to the sport in question (true)
3. I add that in other, much more physical contact sports, there is less faking (arguably true)
4. You claim that there is faking in other sports (true)
5. I agree but claim that it is to a lesser extent (arguably true)
4. You claim that perhaps the benefits of faking will affect one's moral high ground (opinion)
5. I say that this should not be the case, that faking is bad regardless of outcome (opinion)
6. You say perhaps my point of view has something to do with me and confirmation bias (off-topic psychoanalysis)
7. I don't want to debate your psychoanalysis and so simply refer back to where this sub-thread started i.e. point 1
8.You say I don't like being disagreed with (off-topic psychoanalysis - I now refer you to point 1 again)

I think I have nothing further to contribute to this sub-thread.