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Am I justified in hating this athlete?

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Eight years ago, the world's then-top sprinter, Justin Gatlin, tested positive for illegal performance enhancing drugs and was banned from competition for four years. He has always denied ever using drugs and never apologized even though there was strong circumstantial evidence against him in addition to his positive test. After serving his ban, he is back competing again, and at age 32, which is quite old for a sprinter, is destroying everybody and running faster than he did during what should have been his prime, when he was convicted of being on drugs. Although he is passing drug tests and there is no evidence that he is currently involved in any wrongdoing, many track fans accuse him of continued drug use, hate him, and root against him. Is this attitude justified?

Edited by happiness
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I am having trouble seeing how another human being's behavior is determining your happiness. Yes, we must judge others, but why should that lead to "hate".

My doubts about his legitimacy and anger over his past transgressions make it impossible for me to enjoy performances that would normally be exciting.

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Happiness said:

My doubts about his legitimacy and anger over his past transgressions make it impossible for me to enjoy performances that would normally be exciting.

 

To make your happiness dependent on others is to make yourself subject to their whim. Don't be a slave to the behavior of others. Why should you be angry about someone cheating? Their cheating has hurt themselves. It may also have left a cloud over competitions that they have engaged in. However, you have no control over this and you never will. What sport has not had cheating? Is the enjoyment of all sport thereby spoiled?

 

Consider other areas of life. Does the fact that some people cheat their way through college diminish the value that you place on college degrees? Does the fact that some people defraud old ladies of their savings to live extravagantly diminish your appreciation of the highly productive?

 

It seems to me that if you have judged a person's performance as suspect, then you should ignore that person's performance and appreciate the extraordinary athleticism of those whom you deem untainted. I don't see a reason for "hate" or "anger". To make yourself dependent on others is to make yourself their dutiful subject.

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