Blazer Dancers must GO!!!

[Voodoo]

WOW its the freaking playoffs and people are talking about the Blazer dancers? Seriously?

[Devilzsidewalk]

It is much more entertaining to see a well choreographed routine than it is to see a bunch of grown women in skimpy clothing shaking their asses.

no

[baas9]

The dancers are a part of the show and if people don't like them, they don't have to go to the games.

While this is a true statement I don't think it is the answer to others having an alternative position/opinion. If we had that same mentality during civil rights, we would still be fighting for African Americans to use the same bathrooms in the south... "If you don't like it, you can leave" is a very close minded position and disregards the validity of the other person's values. That doesn't sound very *Portland* to me.

The Blazer dancers are incredibly tame compared with what kids can see on network TV or (the limitless flavors of porn) on the internet. Anyone who thinks their 12 year old hasn't already seen a playboy is fooling themselves and I would imagine that most elementary school age kids have seen and probably been very confused by some random sex act they saw on the internet.

If this is true, it is a sad sad commentary on the condition of our society. I don't have a 12 year old yet, but I pray that he won't have to be exposed to that before he is ready to process it.

The vast, vast majority of the crowd either enjoys or doesn't care about the Blazers dancers and the amount of the crowd who opposes them is probably a minuscule minority. They can spout off like blowhards if they want, but the ultra-majority of fans who like the dancers will get their way.

Its true that this is probably not going to change (like I mentioned earlier) but that does not mean that people cannot have their own opinion on the subject. Minority opinion does not mean it is wrong... it is simply a different perspective or set of beliefs. I've said a few times that the original blog entry/posting was over board and reaching as far as its claims (which I didn't agree with), but that does not mean that others opinions/points of view are not valid.

The idea that they're just silly little ditzes with excellent bodies and no brains who really don't know any better is insulting and sexist.

Totally agree!

Also, there's nothing wrong with appreciating the dancing and bodies that they've worked hard for. While the routines may be secondary for most of us, their skill as dancers sets them apart from boxing's round card girls and adds an element that can be enjoyable to the whole audience, regardless of gender.

Now this I don't agree with in part. There may be nothing wrong with you appreciating it, but that doesn't mean that me or anyone else who would like to not have to see that at a basketball game, should have to see it. Like was said before, there are multiple opportunities for anyone to "appreciate the dancing bodies" at dozens of places or even in your own homes. But, when it is the only professional sport in town and you would like your children to have that experience, it is sad to me that you/I might have to make the choice not be a part of it or to cover my kids eyes.

I'm not saying that it will change anytime soon (in fact it may never change), but that doesn't mean I have to embrace it or shrug my shoulders and just give in to something that I morally object to. Just because the internet is flooded with porn and Portland has more strip clubs per capita, doesn't mean that I should expose my family to it.

[baas9]

baas, it may not be necessary, but neither is anything else at the Blazer games. The guys shooting t-shirts up into the stands isn't necessary. The people coming around selling concessions isn't necessary. The announcer isn't necessary cuz I'm watching the game and can see what's going on. None of it is necessary, but I enjoy all of it. If people don't want to watch the dancers, then look away, go to the concession stand or bathroom during timeouts, or just don't come to the games at all. They don' t show em on tv so grab a seat on the couch and watch it I guess.

I'm fairly certain that shooting t-shirts into the stands, selling popcorn and cotton candy and having someone announce names and fouls during the game is not exposing people to morally objectionable content. If I'm the only one who sees a difference there, I guess we would have to agree to disagree.

I suppose if they were shooting t-shirts with naked women on them or Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendars or Victoria's Secret catalogs or if the announcer was shouting obscenities... then those things would be morally objectionable to some too.

Like I said before, I can and will choose what is best for me (whether I need to stay home and watch or not). It is just frustrating that I have to make that choice at all when the basketball game and the great experience that I and my kids could be a part of has nothing to do with the other "entertainment".

[Charcoal Filtered]

Yeah. Beer isn't integral to basketball either. Maybe we should ban alcohol too. Keep drunk drivers off the road and eliminate boorish behavior and make certain our children are not exposed to alcohol and those who drink it.

I'd much rather ban alcohol than hot chicks.

Very good points. I am not a fan of the guy that thinks because he paid $7 a beer that he needs to make an ass of himself or the other negatives. However, I go to the usher if there is a problem or contact the arena if I think they are letting things get out of hand. If the dancers are so bad that they are causing harm to the kids watching them, contact the team or the arena.

If I have to see more lame antics from Blaze instead of cuties, someone is going to pay.

[Voodoo]

Hasn't this argument been argued over the course of multiple decades? I was shocked when I went to Europe and in their 'normal' daily news papers they had topless women in proactive stances across the third page. But then I soon realized this was considered 'normal' there and I soon went back to work - I was there for some training.

bass9 I also find your analogy of the Civil Rights movement and what Sabas' was saying fairly spectacular. I think I may misunderstand your point here, but with that said here I go. What Sabas' was saying is that you have the choice to not participate in a Blazer game - thus its your choice to not partake in something that you find morally objectionable. Whereas the Blacks in the South never had the choice to use a bathroom of their choice, or a drinking faucet of their choice. Choice and the freedom and liberty to make your own being the key here.

Now if the Blazer dancers were somehow barred from performing in the future because a minority of people are offended by it, then that would be very sad. Not because I care about the Blazer dancers at all, but because it would be a relatively small minority of people enforcing their beliefs upon the majority of people. And that is where I find issue, and that would be wrong imo. Plus it would be terribly ironic as it would not really be in the vein of the Civil Rights movement at all, as they were fighting for more freedoms and more liberties, not less freedoms and more restrictions.

[mojomarc]

Hasn't this argument been argued over the course of multiple decades? I was shocked when I went to Europe and in their 'normal' daily news papers they had topless women in proactive stances across the third page.

They were topless and serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control and expected occurence or situation? What does that involve--firefighting or maybe taking a CPR course? Regardless, that's HAWT!

[baas9]

Hasn't this argument been argued over the course of multiple decades? I was shocked when I went to Europe and in their 'normal' daily news papers they had topless women in proactive stances across the third page. But then I soon realized this was considered 'normal' there and I soon went back to work - I was there for some training.

I've seen some of the same stuff you are talking about in Europe and Africa, but what is right for the goose is not always right for the gander. Meaning that just because another country/society says its fine, does not mean that I or anyone else has to agree with it.

bass9 I also find your analogy of the Civil Rights movement and what Sabas' was saying fairly spectacular. I think I may misunderstand your point here, but with that said here I go. What Sabas' was saying is that you have the choice to not participate in a Blazer game - thus its your choice to not partake in something that you find morally objectionable. Whereas the Blacks in the South never had the choice to use a bathroom of their choice, or a drinking faucet of their choice. Choice and the freedom and liberty to make your own being the key here.

You are right about the analogy not being the right one. You are also right to say that it is my choice to attend/watch sporting events (specifically Blazer games) if objectionable things are happening and I have said that it is up to me to choose or deal with it. However, I don't think that just because the majority thinks or acts in a certain way that I should have to follow suit.

I may have taken the comment about "if you don't like it you can go somewhere else" out of context, but I still maintain that this kind of thinking doesn't have to exist at a Blazer game. I agree that it doesn't directly correlate but the principle of saying we want it a particular way and if you don't like it you can leave is not something I wish to have to deal with when one person's beliefs/morals and another person's don't really have an impact on the event in question.

[quote=Voodoo"]Now if the Blazer dancers were somehow barred from performing in the future because a minority of people are offended by it, then that would be very sad. Not because I care about the Blazer dancers at all, but because it would be a relatively small minority of people enforcing their beliefs upon the majority of people. And that is where I find issue, and that would be wrong imo. Plus it would be terribly ironic as it would not really be in the vein of the Civil Rights movement at all, as they were fighting for more freedoms and more liberties, not less freedoms and more restrictions.[/quote]

I would agree that it would not make sense to have the minority dictate the way things should be for the majority. But (running the risk of opening Pandora's Box), what about the issue California is facing with the subject of homosexual marriage? Didn't the majority of the state vote against it? If so, then why would it be okay for the vote to be overturned/ignored? Wouldn't that be the minority pushing their morals onto the majority? (also, I really don't want to argue about gay marriage either... not trying to start a mess... it is just that the correlation, I think, is valid no matter which side of the argument you are on)

My point is simply that I wish I didn't have to deal with, but I realize the I do (referring to some of the Dance routines of the Blazer dancers). The attitude of some people seems to be if you don't like it... leave, and that is not something that I would think would be encouraged in Portland of all places. I think that an opposing point of view should be tollerated and not tossed aside even if the majority of people don't agree with it (although I don't suppor the woman who wrote the initial article as she was out of line and trying to make connections that just are not there).

It is what it is and it will most likely not change, but what if the majority of the state of Oregon voted to have less revealing clothing? Should the Blazers change their policy or should they say, if you don't like it you can leave because of the desire of the minority to keep it?

[d-train]

Baas9, I agree that you are not wrong because you are outnumbered. I appreciate your willingness to argue your wrongheaded point of view (kidding). I especially appreciate the manner you express your point of view (serious). Even though I don’t agree with your moral judgment, I can appreciate your willingness to express your beliefs and your attempt to sway people to believe as you do. Everyone can learn something from your example.

[baas9]

Thank you d-train. I appreciate it.

I very much enjoy these boards because of the intelligence and honesty of the majority of the posters (at least the ones who have been around for a while and through the bad years... not so sure about all these bandwagoners ... I kid, I kid). But, in all honesty I enjoy discussing things where people don't share the same point of view because I think we can all learn from each other and also learn to appreciate the other perspectives.

Anyway, Go Blazers!