Why is it sour grapes to point out cheating?

Question

Apparently everyone thinks it amounts to bad sportsmanship and sour grapes if one complains of cheating. Why is that? Shouldnt the cheaters be the ones who are poor sports?

So if you are playing chess with someone and he tries to move a piece on the board without you looking.....and you end up losing the game.....are you saying it is sour grapes if you complain about how he cheated?

Answer 1

It isn't at all 'sour grapes' to point out cheating. You have the right to voice that, should cheating be the case but you should make sure that you have proof. You can't just go around implying that people cheat, how's about some facts of some sort first?? No one likes being accused of something they didn't do, always remember that!!!

Answer 2

Firstly it's how you are complaing about the cheating - not everytime a US athlete loses it's because of cheats - it's because they weren't the better person on the day.

Secondly there are appropriate channels to go about cheating - you can lodge an official complaint with the IOC for instance.  As far as I know that hasn't been done and if it had been, it didn't go in your favor because China still has the contested medals.

Thirdly, the only evidence that you have is a couple of news reports about the ages of the gymnasts, uncovered by American's of course.  Firstly there could be errors in translation or the media outlet could've gotten it wrong - there is no definitive proof of fraud - if there was you wouldn't all be crying foul as the medals would've been stripped already.

Finally it's the pure arrogance and ignorance which have been expressed not only on these forums, but in the media, by other athletes and so on.   There is a dignity in losing gracefully - it would do the US good to learn it.

Answer 3

It's sour grapes because their is no proof of cheating in most of the complaints.

If the evidence is there, it's not sour grapes

but without proof I'm afraid it is.

Answer 4

Does U.S. not follow the "innocent until proven guilty" philosophy ? Oops of course you don't ! Sadaam was innocent of possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction !

Answer 5

hhhmm...is it ALWAYS a coincidence that any proof or information that is posted on the Internet or even in print somehow disappears and is no longer available to the public...i.e., newspapers in China quoting different ages and bdays for one same athlete - with direct quotes from the athletes themselves - and then even a different one on the passport?  how many different birthdays can one single person have!..or publications discussing the lip syncher Chinese officials hired to "sing" in the opening ceremony as opposed to having the girl whose voice they used appear because she was too "ugly" and "fat" to appear during the ceremony..oh and had crooked teeth! come on, how must that little 7 year old girl felt!  how disgraceful and disrespectful.  I understand the Chinese want these games to be the "perfect" games, but nothing can be perfect, and they don't realize that in their strive for unrealistic perfection.  And besides, they are only giving themselves a bad name by trying to be known for the most "perfect" games because they are not honest and sincere in their approaches..these Olympics are a big joke.  In conclusion then, why should they be honored when they're "accomplishing" all this in an immoral and dishonest way..

Answer 6

Not in the least.  I really don't even know why people are saying that.  And I agree completely with you when you say the cheaters are the poor sports.  If you can't play by the rules/fair then you are automatically (in my book) a poor sport/sour grapes/sore loser.

Out of a billion people living in that country, they couldn't find 3 of-age girls to compete?

Besides the age thing, I'm, by far, more mad that they are somehow being awarded ridiculously high scores for performances that are filled with visible flaws.

Answer 7

the "cheating" is pure conjecture at this point.

Answer 8

Proof of evidence. Documented proof that the Chinese government is forging passports to gave their girls the 15 going on 16 or 16 years old. That is the real proof.

If you can do that; I am happy for all people to say nasty things about China. If not; shut up.

[[ verybadb...]] You must be VERY proud and please pat on youself on the back for giving us SUCH reliable sources (1 primary newspaper of the subject 2 Blogs that is SO RELIABLE]

Answer 9

Because cheating is at the soul of our Country and Capitalism. Its the American way.

Answer 10

Here is some proof of China cheating, changing the birth dates of some of their gymnastics team. I agree that it seems disingenuous at best that everyone complains that pointing out cheaters amounts to "sour grapes" but that the cheaters themselves "deserved" to be rewarded for their deceit. Hm. Strange values.