If you could, what race would you eliminate, and why?
 

I'd pick the 1600m.

I admit that I'm partially writing this out of frustration, since I had to wait a long time last night to pick up my cousin, whose 1600m race took place much later than scheduled. Go ahead and call me a racist if you want, but I seriously don't get the point of that race. We already have the mile race, which is less than 10 meters longer, and we already have the 1500m, which is run at the Olympics. What is the point in creating or having a third race? Granted, I have never competed in any of those distances before, but I don't see any reason why the training or race tactics for a 1600m race would be different than that of a mile or a 1500m race. It's just like creating a 6 mile/9656m race, a 10K race, and a quarter marathon/10549m race.

So, what do you think? Is there any race you want to eliminate? One of my buddies hates the sudden, sharp noises generated by the newly built drag strip that is not far from his home, though he doesn't mind the constant low hum generated by the existing NASCAR speedway. Another one of my friends wants to eliminate the marathon because of all of the associated street closures, noise, and trash.

[QUOTE=The Carnivore;507360]Is there any race you want to eliminate?[/QUOTE]

Am I allowed to chose Human? Or is that a species....

[QUOTE=chalsall;507361]Am I allowed to chose Human? Or is that a species....[/QUOTE]
Definitely pandas. Such fuss preserving them and for what? Get DNA samples etc just in case they contain the key to the cure for space-herpes and leave them to their own devices.

Race to the bottom. When all that matters is the price, not the value / quality / longevity of the purchase... or service agreement, or whatever. Sure, someone may be able to squeeze out a short term profit, but take the money and run, next time will not be so easy.

[QUOTE=nomead;507365]Race to the bottom.[/QUOTE]

Have you ever played a game of Go?

A 19 by 19 grid; black stones and white stones.

The first time I played it my brain exploded. Seriously.

[QUOTE=chalsall;507367]Have you ever played a game of Go?

A 19 by 19 grid; black stones and white stones.

The first time I played it my brain exploded. Seriously.[/QUOTE]

Sure, I've dabbled.

My mind didn't quite explode in the beginning, but that was because I was playing against another newbie and on a smaller beginner's board. But *kaboom* when I played the first time on a proper sized board against someone more experienced. By that point, I had learned the basic rule set and managing the little details went OK. But training on a smaller board didn't teach me anything about seeing the big picture of what was happening on the board outside of the immediate area of activity, couldn't see the forest for the trees. That proved to be too hard for me, so I finally gave up.

[QUOTE=nomead;507368]So I finally gave up.[/QUOTE]

Sucks to be you.

The game of Go is quite possibly the most easily thing to understand for "only humans".

No problem; we have inexpensive replacements based on silicon readily available.

Thanks for your submission....

[QUOTE=chalsall;507370]Sucks to be you.
[/QUOTE]
Story of my life, really, condensed into four words.

There are a number of human racing events I think are stupid or ridiculously dangerous, but I am loath to try to abolish them, on the grounds that participants who Darwinize themselves might be doing the human race a favor.

As far as other competitive races go, I would vote to eliminate greyhound racing. The creatures are sometimes treated poorly, and in some cases their retirement consists of being executed.

[url]https://www.wired.com/2016/03/two-moves-alphago-lee-sedol-redefined-future/[/url]

Liches. They're such a PITA in nethack.

[QUOTE=Dr Sardonicus;507373]There are a number of human racing events I think are stupid or ridiculously dangerous, but I am loath to try to abolish them, on the grounds that participants who Darwinize themselves might be doing the human race a favor.

As far as other competitive races go,[B] I would vote to eliminate greyhound racing[/B]. The creatures are sometimes treated poorly, and in some cases their retirement consists of being executed.[/QUOTE]
Seconded.
I think mistreatment goes with the territory. Forcing animals into intense displays for human entertainment is abusive and exploitative, whether it is racing, fighting, or whatever. :furious:

I'm a little surprised no one has yet suggested "the rat race".

[QUOTE=kriesel;507592]I'm a little surprised no one has yet suggested "the rat race".[/QUOTE]
Good one!

Apart from the idiom, the competitive racing of the actual rodents is still with us. And, judging by the following line, culled from a page devoted to it, I'd say it's here to stay:[quote]See the world recording breaking rat in his prime before he gets eaten by his owner’s cat.[/quote]

Balls!

[QUOTE=Dr Sardonicus;507632]Good one!

Apart from the idiom, the competitive racing of the actual rodents is still with us. And, judging by the following line, culled from a page devoted to it, I'd say it's here to stay:[/QUOTE]
Look, meals on wheels. [url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/churchill-canada-polar-bear-capital[/url]

[QUOTE=kriesel;508528]Look, meals on wheels. [url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/churchill-canada-polar-bear-capital[/url][/QUOTE]

Ah, yes, the Churchill polar bears! Reminds me of a favorite [url=https://twitter.com/saunieindiego/status/316376710352351233?lang=en]Gary Larson cartoon[/url].