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andy andy
 
M$2 February 06, 2009 01:43 AM

Do you think Michael Phelps should have been suspended by the USA swimming team?

http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&Alias;=Rainbow⟪=en&ItemId;=2354∣=2943
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imsoronry imsoronry
 
February 06, 2009 01:50 AM
I am on the fence about this one but I would have to say no. While he showed bad judgment with this as well as the dui it has to be rough to have every step you make televised. I remember being his age and the mistakes I made. Granted he is getting endorsements and part of that is image but he needs to have a close circle of friends (and choose them wisely)that he can trust. I just don't know if I would be able to be as strong as he is so far with everything I am sure he gets thrown at him. Star statis is I'm sure addicting and unless your put into that position I don't believe we can objectively put ourselves in his shoes
 
It was unfair to choose no best answer
Why reply "definitely well said" If the time was taken to respond in that manner then I don't understand why a best answer was not given.Meaning of the word. definite - precise; explicit and clearly defined;
 
 


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spoon spoon
 
February 06, 2009 01:52 AM
Very well put!

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andy andy
 
February 06, 2009 01:57 AM
Definitely, well said.

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bulldogge1... bulldogge1...
 
February 06, 2009 06:35 AM
Agreed. Not understanding that a camera is always around could continue to be a problem. The Swim organization has to keep up appearances.
That said, it's just a little weed, and he's still a kid.

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robbrown robbrown
 
February 06, 2009 02:03 AM
I agree with @imsoronry too.

But the other side of the fence is that (as much as it shouldn't be), pot is illegal. Phelps knows that he's the Miss. America of swimming and people look to him.

We need some sort of moral compass and at the very least the law should provide the baseline for this. Like it or not.

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imsoronry imsoronry
 
February 06, 2009 02:14 AM
While I do agree that the law should handle this i don't think that one person should be accountable for everybodys moral compass. I believe that all people need to find a compass within and not let it be quantified my an individual on tv.

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robbrown robbrown
 
February 06, 2009 02:17 AM
I feel ya.

But he's in the spotlight. He's the figurehead of the US swimming team.

He made an individual choice (and that's cool with me), but for the US swimming team to suspend him sorta makes sense.

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imsoronry imsoronry
 
February 06, 2009 02:20 AM
We agree to disagree thanks for the conversation I love this site kinda new to it but its great to here other peoples thoughts

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jabba jabba
 
February 06, 2009 04:04 AM
I have to disagree wholeheartedly. Instead, we should have an evolved sensibility and realize that some laws are stupid and need to be eradicated. That is how a society makes progress Rob, not by continuing to think inside of a box.

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robbrown robbrown
 
February 06, 2009 10:04 AM
Yup, I agree with you Jabba.

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jabba jabba
 
February 07, 2009 05:50 AM
So you're changing your stance then?

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robbrown robbrown
 
February 07, 2009 12:22 PM
Oh no. I think that Kellogs, etc pulling his sponsorships is justified and the suspension from the swim team is the least of his worries really. The negative PR being generated is astonishing and all-in, completely unjustified.

But I do agree that "we should have an evolved sensibility and realize that some laws are stupid and need to be eradicated. That is how a society makes progress". The problem is we don't and we need ways to positively enforce a baseline of behavior. This is the underlying concept of the law.

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jabba jabba
 
February 07, 2009 11:08 PM
I agree with you. What do you think about marijuana as a substance? Do you think it's any worse than alcohol.

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robbrown robbrown
 
February 08, 2009 12:33 AM
Nope. I don't.

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vigneshnm vigneshnm
 
February 06, 2009 02:07 AM
well i would say no. maybe he just went to his extreme.one needs to have a self control on himself be what the circumstance is.in this case phelps wasnt.this incident should be a lesson to him.he will come back fighting fit both mentally and physically after all he is a professional sportsman.

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jacobjones jacobjones
 
February 06, 2009 02:16 AM
I don't think that Phelps should have been suspended by the USA swimming team. Phelps has already apologized and I believe that he is aware of what he has done and the consequences of it. I believe that the US swimming team penalized Phelps in order to save their own asses in case they were going to be question in regards to supporting Phelps activities.

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lesliec lesliec
 
February 06, 2009 02:18 AM
I don't think he should be suspended for one stupid mistake. He has admitted he messed up. He was an instant celebrity and just handled it wrong. I'm sure it wont happen again, no need to damage his career over it.

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imsoronry imsoronry
 
February 06, 2009 02:27 AM
While I dont think he should be suspended he also had a dui in 2004 so this would be his 2nd stupid mistake and also cute kid on your website. Ill be a grandpa in a couple of weeks

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marcel m marcel m
 
February 06, 2009 02:59 AM
I definitely think he should have been suspended because far too many kids and people for that matter look up to him, for him to decide to indulge himself in some pot. Once he broke all those records at the Beijing Olympics he in a sense had to cease acting selfishly, all his actions required him to look at the broader picture as an icon to many all over the world.
Source(s):
http://media.www.tcudailyskiff.com/media/storage/paper792/news/2009/02/05/S...


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cromely cromely
 
February 06, 2009 03:30 AM
I don't think he should have been suspended. As far as I am aware, Marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug. Heck, if he can perform as well as he despite recreational use, his athletic prowess is even more impressive.

Let's focus on his ability to swim faster than anyone else and let that be the main factor is determining he status on the team.

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jabba jabba
 
February 06, 2009 03:59 AM
Fark no. Am I allowed to say Fark? If not, a Mahalo guide can replace it with "fark," but I simply want to get across the point that the suspension does nothing but help to de-evolve society. The fact that someone can be the greatest Olympic swimmer in history and still socially/recreationally smoke weed should be a giant wake-up call to people. Make them go, "Hmmm..maybe it really is the equivalent to beer." But instead, we have to put up with the perpetuation of a lie. The swim team had no obligation to do anything. Instead, they caved into the pressures of conservative groups who want people to continue to live in a fantasy world where pot will drive you insane and make you ruin your life. Beer is the substance that, when abused, can drive you insane and cause you to dig yourself into a grave.
Source(s):
http://www.mahalo.com/Marijuana_Decriminalization
http://www.mahalo.com/Marijuana_Legalization

 
It was fair to choose no best answer
Was it fair? Hmm...there's no universal definition of fair. What's fair to one person isn't fair to another.
 
 


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sylvia sylvia
 
February 06, 2009 02:41 PM
No. He should not be suspended for a picture of him in a British Tabloid. I heard that he thought the thing he was handed was a snorkle.....

If they want to drug test him and they find there is an illegal substance in his body then they would have full grounds to suspend him. I have not read the swimmers manual but I am pretty confident in saying that there is no suspension clause for an imbarrassing picture.

The more concerning offense was his DUI. There should have been ramifications for that one.

Being alarmed by a picture but not by an actual illegal infraction is totally backward.

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akkadian akkadian
 
February 06, 2009 03:12 PM
No, THC is a miraculous life-rejuvenating drug, and it's use by a natural-born swimming champion, and all-round heroic dude in his 'free' time, should in no way indicate lack of professionalism on his part.
Source(s):
Me


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