[Discussion] Is speedcubing a sport?

[Phlippieskezer]

I definitely don't consider it a sport, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.

I don't understand why people make such a big deal about. :-/
Personally, I'm a hobbyist, not an athlete. I have my chess board (which I have unfortunately not touched in a while due to a large overseas move, and lack of players) a few metres away from me, my Guhong right next to me, and Grim Angus (a figurine from a a tabletop game "Warmachine," or, technically, "Hordes") beside my keyboard. That doesn't prove anything other than that I'm a nerd/geek/dork (which you don't actually have to be in order to cube).
Also, hobbies are no less competitive, enjoyable, etc. Chess tournaments are HUGE in the areas of South Africa that I used to live in, we all know cubing can be competitive, and even tabletop gaming to a degree (though there's a lot more luck involved).
That being said, I don't consider golf a "sport."

I personally don't consider cubing a sport because then the word becomes to flexible and you can use it for just about anything, resulting in a useless word. People ask for language to provide a systematic, objective, and definite way of defining things. This is wrong.
Why? Because linguistics is full of contradiction and ambiguity.

More-or-less the closest you can come to a systematic/objective method of determining whether or not something is a "sport": http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5607/1271671539757.jpg
According to this, (speed)cubing is a "Race (at best)" and chess is either a race or a game (depending on your variation. Blitz and most competitive games tend to be under "Race [at best]")

At best, cubing is a pseudo-sport (not following the diagram), IMO.

 

[sa11297]

Oh can be tiring and feet solving can be also so that would require athletic abilities, making cubing a sport. not that it matters

 

[MrIndianTeen]

It is a sport if you consider these 2 definitions --

Sport -- an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature

1) cubing is a sport because it has a competitive nature that requires skill.

Athletic -- involving the use of physical skills or capabilities, as strength, agility, or stamina

2) It is athletic because it requires finger agility.

SO CUBING IS A SPORT BY DEFINITION.

 

[Phlippieskezer]

But you can twist and turn the word "athletic" in so many ways...

I need agility in rolling my dice and moving my figurines in Warmachine. Therefore, it is a sport.
Competitive eating is then a sport as well, etc., etc.
Linguistics is too flawed for there to be a definite answer.
I think the word "sport" because far too vast then.

 

[Nestor]

Speedcubing a sport? I don't think it quites fit the definition, I consider it a competitive hobbie (99% of the time you are competing only against yourself, though).

Just don't compare chess to cubing. Ever. As challenging as cubing can be, it is not on par with what chess has to offer in terms of complexity, challenge and mastery. Anyone talented enough can simply memorize/execute and break world records in this hobbie after a couple of years... in chess it takes a lot, lot more (strategy and having an opponent affecting the dynamics are just a couple of the things speedcubing lacks to be par with it).

 

[Rpotts]

I think the word "sport" because far too vast then.

OH NO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES

 

[Xishem]

OH NO THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES

This.

Another function of language is to form and shape to new usages.

 

[CubeCow]

Do you consider speed cubing a sport?

Yea cuz...:
1: It requires finger dexterity
2: There are not only competitions, but global competitions
3: It doesn't only take finger dexterity, but also skill
4: It has equipment and practice
5: There are tactics and strategies
6: If you have any more let me know!

No way! Cuz...
1: No Inherent risk of injury?
2: Idk, I think cubing is a sport if you think speed cubing isn't a sport, let me know why!

 

[biscuit]

no... Just no. I love it but it is not a sport. A sport takes your entire body working together while cubing is just your hands. A sport has an inherent physical risk while cubing does not (ok you can get hand injury's but shut it)

 

[mDiPalma]

cubing: no

speedcubing: yes

 

[Thatoneguy2]

I don't think it's really a sport. It should require some physical exercise at least...and no, moving your fingers does not count as exercise, sorry.

 

[tx789]

Speedcubing isn't a sport. It has no physical exertion as said before by others. I put it in a category of psuedo sport. Things people call sports that aren't become of the lack of physical exertion.

Also

Do you consider speed cubing a sport?

Yea cuz...:
1: It requires finger dexterity

So does playing a musical instrument.

2: There are not only competitions, but global competitions

So does a lot of things. An example is paper, scissors, rock.

3: It doesn't only take finger dexterity, but also skill

As do many, many things. This is almost the same reason as the your first reason..

4: It has equipment and practice

You have to practise to get good at anything and equipment is a very broad thing. If you play music you need to have equipment and practise.

5: There are tactics and strategies

As with games. Whether they are a computer game or a board game.

All I'm trying to say is those reasons aren't good ones since they can be applied to things no considered sports. That very, few if at all say are sports. Playing Music fits all these reasons is that a sport?

 

[CubeCow]

Speedcubing isn't a sport. It has no physical exertion as said before by others. I put it in a category of psuede sport. Things people call sports that aren't become of the lack of physical exertion.

Like Chess?

 

[Ollie]

Why is a risk of injury criteria to class something as a sport? Besides, what about repetitive strain injury?

I would say that speedcubing (agreeing with Matt) can be classed as a sport in the same way Chess is, technically. But it doesn't affect anything in the scheme of things, so who cares.

I would challenge the physical exertion argument by saying that your cubing endurance can be indirectly improved by doing physical activity. I go to the gym to stay fit, but exercise improves your overall cognition so you can practice more events for longer (especially BLD) by staying healthy. This is something a lot of the top chess players do too. But see above ^

 

[tx789]

Like Chess?

In my opionion chess isn't a sport. I'd say psuedo sport but only because people consider it a sport.

 

[Bunyanderman]

If Poker is a sport, cubing is a sport.

 

[Skullush]

High physical exertion is not required for something to be a sport. Anything that can be done competitively can be a sport in the appropriate setting. Anything that has a championship at any level is a sport. Poker is a sport, chess is a sport, cup stacking is a sport (albeit a silly one), League of Legends is a sport (an even sillier one), and speedcubing is a sport.

 

[CubeCow]

High physical exertion is not required for something to be a sport. Anything that can be done competitively can be a sport in the appropriate setting. Anything that has a championship at any level is a sport. Poker is a sport, chess is a sport, cup stacking is a sport (albeit a silly one), League of Legends is a sport (an even sillier one), and speedcubing is a sport.

Thank you. Someone that things along(Aolong, haha so punny) the same lines of me.

 

[Ordway Persyn]

I think its a sport to the people who want it to be, and not a sport to the people who don't.

 

[obelisk477]

spôrt/Submit
noun
1.
an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.