Ask HN: Are you boycotting Qatar World Cup? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Are you boycotting Qatar World Cup?

16 pointsjackallis17 comments

As an Argentine, it's really hard to not know about the World Cup and I would wager most (male, at least) friend groups will see each other more often during the games, since last World Cup

In that context, I have resolved to not watch any official broadcast, pirate any games I may want to see and only interact with related media (like a page that tracks results of the games for the betting we are doing with my friend group)

Yes. I've never been an avid football fan but I used to occasionally watch World Cup and European Championship matches together with friends. I've stopped doing so since the 2018 World Cup in Russia and I will continue to boycott any events FIFA has a part in.

FIFA is an almost comically evil organization straight from a James Bond film. They even have the appropriate boardroom: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/30a4v6/this_is_fifas_...

They're corrupt, they don't care about how people are treated in their host countries or even about the most basic of human rights, as their dealings with Qatar have made abundantly clear, and they are absolutely shameless about it.

Sure, my team even failed to qualify to make things easier.

More seriously, I think I'll watch it nonetheless. FIFA and its subsidiaries are corrupted to the bone, but what can I do? I love football, and they'll run the game for a long time.

Even when the host country doesn't commit human rights atrocities to build the stadiums I don't end up watching. Not sure if that counts as me boycotting though.

i thought about it, but now that i'm a hundred years old, i know that boycotting is a very limited tactic, etc.

i suspect i will give it the same level of attention as other shit i just don't care about much or at all - nfl, etc.

i should prob look up if there are any coordinated actions happening that might actually improve conditions/outcomes for all the victims of QWC policies.

tho, i'm usually focused on US crimes, since i'm american, and they're usually a zillion times worse.

Why? Honest question...

I assume it's about the human rights and safety abuses, but haven't been paying attention to the details.

Will do, in the same way I boycott every sport that's not MMA or competitive Fighting Video Games: by not watching it and not buying its stuff.

Ok, I may click in some news about results from my country's team. Which leads to the question: what is the definition of boycotting here?

Nope. I don't watch the World Cup regardless.

Unintentional boycott?

been boycotting it for years. so makes not much of a difference for me. I prefer watching premier league anyways

Yes.

hmm never heard of it

No, of course not why should I boycott Qatar ? Is Qatar responsible for death of millions of innocents like US or Europe ? Is Rainbow propaganda should now be universal truth ? and imposed on other culture s ? Should Sport become a political arena now ?

No sorry I will not boycott Qatar World Cup

This is whataboutism

Yes

Apart from the rampant whataboutism and cultural relativism in this comment, the question of human rights isn't a political but a universal one. Human rights are non-negotiable.

If a country or organization can't accept (or can't be arsed to) basic human rights, I don't want to associate myself with that organization or country in any way and I certainly won't be supporting any affairs or business that might benefit them.

While there certainly are human rights issues or even blatant human rights violations in almost any country, there's a fundamental difference between that and an almost complete disregard for such basic principles and the nonchalant, devil-may-care, "Fuck human rights, just show us the money!" attitude FIFA displays.

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