Causal Draft – Unicorn

Posted on November 17, 2024 by unicorn45678

Are Not Naturally Aggressive

Pitbulls are often misunderstood due to their reputation and how they’ve been portrayed. This view usually overlooks important elements that may lead to any dog’s aggression, even if pit bulls are well known for being violent dogs. Instead of blaming them as a breed, we should consider that human behaviors have an impact on their actions.

Abuse, neglect, and poor instruction can have a stronger influence on how a dog reacts to certain situation than their breed. Pitbulls were initially bred for protection and fighting duties; however, this was never their main goal. Many of these pit bulls had been bred to fight other dogs because of their strength and commitment, but breeders also like dogs to be more trustworthy around other people, which requires choosing a dog that is pleasant and faithful. All these traits were bred into dogs to make them responsive to people. Pit bulls have a reputation for getting along with people, and, as a result of that, they weren’t bred to be aggressive. People just have that idea about these dogs because of what they hear and see. As Enos stated in an article related to this topic:

They were bred as working dogs and family companions prior to being bred to bull bait and then dog fight. Animal aggression and human aggression are not synonymous in the canine world, as they are in the human world, and it is often difficult for people that are unfamiliar with the breed/s to understand that dog-aggressive does not mean human aggressive.

Dogs like pit bulls are naturally friendly and sociable due to their breeding ability to work with people. Pit bulls are well known for their loyalty and have an urge to develop close relationship with their owners. Pit bulls are friendly and loving when they are brought up in a structured and caring environment. Many owners experience with pit bulls are not often in line with the fact that they are inherently dangerous, in reality pit bulls are no different from any breed of dog, with the proper care and training these dogs can develop to be decent dogs. As stated in this article, “There hasn’t been any evidence to show that Pit Bull breeds are more aggressive than other dogs, and in fact, studies actually show the opposite. Temperament tests by the American Temperament Test Society measure each breeds ability to positively interact with humans in different situations, and Pit Bull breeds each scored at 85% or higher, which is better than the general dog population” (Rain 2021).

How a dog is raised makes a big impact on how they behave, and also pit bulls are no different from other breeds in regard to this. A dog’s behavior is greatly influenced by how it is handled, trained, and cared for, however if a dog is abused, ignored, and taught to be harsh, it may become hostile. Many people tend to point the finger at the dogs, and in reality, it’s not the dog’s fault that he behaves this way, it’s how the dogs owners treat their pets. As explained in this reading “another study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior compared canine aggression in Golden Retrievers, known for being sweet, docile and loving, with Pit Bull breeds and found no differences whatsoever.”(Rain 2021).

Pit bulls that are raised in safe and caring environments tend to be properly trained and well behaved, they have also become very passionate, entertaining and great Family pets. Even when it comes to kids many pit bull owners will tell you that their dog is very affectionate and kind, this is because pit bulls are just like other dogs that live in a clean and well-trained socialized home. Socialization is a very important factor for dogs so that they can interact safely with both animals and humans. Pit bulls usually show hostility as an outcome of how their being treated, and not just because they are innately violent. It’s important to not pay attention to these stereotypes and realize that pits bull require proper training, socialization, and a loving home just like any other dog. As mentioned, “Due to their history ‍and use in dogfighting, Pitbulls have ​gained ‍a negative reputation in some circles. This can‌ lead to prejudice and discrimination against the breed, making it challenging⁣ for‌ owners to find proper training resources and support. Overcoming these stigmas and providing a positive training environment for⁢ Pitbulls is essential‌ in their overall success.” (Alex 2024)

These dogs are not natural aggressive by choice, so maybe people can consider to be less cruel and aggrieves towards them. “Animal aggression and human aggression are not synonymous in the canine world, as they are in the human world, and it is often difficult for people that are unfamiliar with the breed/s to understand that dog-aggressive does not mean human aggressive. Even breeders who selected dogs for reproduction specifically for dog fighting would not tolerate dogs that showed any signs of aggression; they had to be able to pull their dog out of a fight without getting bitten, and to trust the dog with the family at the end of the day.” (Enos 2014). Pit bulls or any dog in pictural, cannot control how they react to certain situation. Pit bulls usually show a pleasant and polite attitude when they receive proper care and are raised in a welcoming household. If they are not given proper care, any dog might turn hostile. A dog may become aggressive as a form of defense or a response to fear if it has been neglected, mistreated, or trained to be mean. This does not mean that the dog is inherently hostile, it indicates that negative events have influenced its behavior. Not just pit bulls, but all dogs share this trait. Because pit bulls were used to guard dogs and street fighting dogs, many people believe that these dogs are the most various dogs ever, although it may seem like it, but it isn’t their fault, blaming the breed for human behavior is just unfair. The key takes away from this all dogs including pit bulls require training and care in order for them to show that they are genuine and kind pets. They are as lively and friendly animal, as any other breed if they are raised properly. The way how their treated by their owners has a greater impact on their behavior than their breed.

References

Sara K. Enos (2014). The Problem With People, Not Pit bull. TIME

https://time.com/2927759/the-problem-with-people-not-pit-bulls/

Oil Alex (2024). The Truth About Training Pitbulls: Tips and Challenges.

https://www.oliandalex.com/the-truth-about-training-pitbulls-tips-and-challenges/

Kim Rain (2021). The Truth About Pit Bulls: Dispelling Myths About This Misunderstood Breed. The Daily Wag

https://wagwalking.com/daily/the-truth-about-pit-bulls-dispelling-myths-about-this-misunderstood-breed

Posted in Causal Draft, Unicorn | Leave a comment

Causal Rewrite – Unicorn

Posted on November 17, 2024 by unicorn45678

Pit Bulls Are Not Naturally Aggressive

Pitbulls are often misunderstood due to their reputation and how they’ve been portrayed. This view usually overlooks important elements that may lead to any dog’s aggression, even if pit bulls are well known for being violent dogs. Instead of blaming them as a breed, we should consider that human behaviors have an impact on this breed behaves.

Abuse, neglect, and poor instruction can have a stronger influence on how a dog reacts to certain situation. Many pit bulls had been bred to fight other dogs because of their strength and commitment, however breeders also like dogs to be more trustworthy around other people. This requires choosing a dog that is pleasant and faithful, all these traits were bred into dogs to make them responsive to people. Pit bulls have a reputation for getting along with people, and, as a result of that, they weren’t bred to be aggressive. People just have that idea about these dogs because of what they hear and see. As Enos stated in an article related to this topic:

They were bred as working dogs and family companions prior to being bred to bull bait and then dog fight. Animal aggression and human aggression are not synonymous in the canine world, as they are in the human world, and it is often difficult for people that are unfamiliar with the breed/s to understand that dog-aggressive does not mean human aggressive.

Pit bulls are naturally friendly and sociable due to their breeding ability to work with people. Pit bulls are well known for their loyalty and have an urge to develop close relationship with their owners. These animals are friendly and loving when they are brought up in a structured and caring environment. Many owners’ experiences with pit bulls are not often aware with the fact that they are inherently dangerous, in reality pit bulls are no different from any breed of dog, with the proper care and training these dogs can develop to be decent dogs. As Rain mentioned in an article:

There hasn’t been any evidence to show that Pit Bull breeds are more aggressive than other dogs, and in fact, studies actually show the opposite. Temperament tests by the American Temperament Test Society measure each breeds ability to positively interact with humans in different situations, and Pit Bull breeds each scored at 85% or higher, which is better than the general dog population

How a dog is raised makes a big impact on how they behave. Pit bulls are no different from other breeds in regard to this. A dog’s behavior is greatly influenced by how it is handled, trained, and cared for, however if a dog is abused, ignored, and taught to be harsh, it may become hostile. Many people tend to point the finger at the dog, and in reality, it’s not the dog’s fault that he behaves this way it’s how the dogs owners treat their pets. As Rain explained in this reading:

Another study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior compared canine aggression in Golden Retrievers, known for being sweet, docile and loving, with Pit Bull breeds and found no differences whatsoever.

Pit bulls that are raised in safe and caring environments tend to be properly trained and well behaved. They also become very passionate, entertaining and great family pets as well. Even when it comes to kids many pit bull owners will tell you that their dog is very affectionate and kind. Pit bulls are just like other dogs that live in a clean and well-trained socialized home. Socialization is also a very important factor for dogs so that they can interact safely with both animals and humans. Pit bulls usually show hostility as an outcome of how their being treated, not just because they are innately violent. It’s important to not pay attention to these stereotypes and realize that pits bull require proper training, socialization, and a loving home just like any other dog. As Alex states in this text:

Due to their history ‍and use in dogfighting, Pitbulls have ​gained ‍a negative reputation in some circles. This can‌ lead to prejudice and discrimination against the breed, making it challenging⁣ for‌ owners to find proper training resources and support. Overcoming these stigmas and providing a positive training environment for⁢ Pitbulls is essential‌ in their overall success.

Pit bulls or any dog in pictural cannot control how they react to certain situation. Pit bulls usually show a pleasant and polite attitude when they receive proper care and are raised in a welcoming household. If they are not given proper care any dog might turn hostile. A dog may become aggressive as a form of defense or a response to fear if it has been neglected, mistreated, or trained to be mean. This does not mean that the dog is inherently hostile, it indicates that negative events have influenced its behavior. As Enos states in an article relate to this topic:

Animal aggression and human aggression are not synonymous in the canine world, as they are in the human world, and it is often difficult for people that are unfamiliar with the breed/s to understand that dog-aggressive does not mean human aggressive. Even breeders who selected dogs for reproduction specifically for dog fighting would not tolerate dogs that showed any signs of aggression; they had to be able to pull their dog out of a fight without getting bitten, and to trust the dog with the family at the end of the day.

Not just pit bulls but all dogs share this trait. Because pit bulls were used to guard dogs and street fighting dogs many people believe that these dogs are the most various dogs ever. Although it may seem like it, but this isn’t their fault, blaming the breed for human behavior is just unfair. The main point of this is that all dogs including pit bulls require training and care in order for them to show that they are genuine and kind pets. They are as lively and friendly animal, as any other breed if they are raised properly. The way how their treated by their owners has a greater impact on their behavior than their breed.

References

Sara K. Enos (2014). The Problem With People, Not Pit bull. TIME

https://time.com/2927759/the-problem-with-people-not-pit-bulls/

Oil Alex (2024). The Truth About Training Pitbulls: Tips and Challenges.

https://www.oliandalex.com/the-truth-about-training-pitbulls-tips-and-challenges/

Kim Rain (2021). The Truth About Pit Bulls: Dispelling Myths About This Misunderstood Breed. The Daily Wag

https://wagwalking.com/daily/the-truth-about-pit-bulls-dispelling-myths-about-this-misunderstood-breed

Posted in Causal Rewrite, GRADED, Portfolio Unicorn, Unicorn | 3 Comments

Robust Verbs: PRblog24

Posted on November 17, 2024 by PRblog24

There is a huge problem in Vancouver with heroin addicts committing crimes to support their habits. The “free heroin for addicts” program is doing everything they can to stop the addicts. The problem is that there is a large crime rate due to the addicts. It is obvious that addicts have a hard time getting through their day to day lives. Daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships are hard to maintain because of the fact that they are using. By heroin users being addicted, they will do whatever they have to do to get their hands on the drug. The types of crimes committed are those of breaking and entering as well as stealing. There are no limits to where they will go to retrieve this drug so that they can feed their addiction. The problem with this program is that it won’t help to ween these addicts off using heroin. It is only trying to save the city from rising crime rates that they’re up to. By providing the drug, these addicts will be off the streets, which in turn will prevent them from committing minor street crimes. This will also keep the heroin users out of the hospital. It is pointless that the hospitals have to deal with people that want to use bad drugs or unsanitary needles and find themselves being unable to afford hospital bills and hard to cope without the drug. This program gives people free heroin in the cleanest way possible. This will in turn fix the city  but not the addiction that these people face.

Vancouver is facing a crisis as heroin addicts attempt to fund their addictions. The program “Free Heroin for Addicts” attempts to reduce these crimes, but does not address addiction and its impact itself. Addicts’ main concern is finding their next fix, making it difficult for them to maintain jobs and everyday responsibilities. The need for this fix is so large that they will go to extreme lengths to receive it, even if it includes breaking the law. This program aims to reduce crimes and keep addicts off the streets, however, the problems many face due to addiction will not be resolved. Heroin addicts will still have their dependency on the drug, even if supplied cleanly without cost. While crime rates may decrease, the root problem of addiction will remain the same.

Posted in GRADED, PRblog24, Robust Verbs | Leave a comment

Robust Verbs – Unicorn

Posted on November 17, 2024 by unicorn45678

Heroin Addicts in Vancouver are commiting crimes to support their habits. A program called “free heroin for addicts” is doing everything they can to stop them. Due to Addicts using drugs they have a hard time getting through their day to day lives, daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships. Heroin Addicts will commit crimes such as breaking into homes and stealing items to get drugs. This program won’t help to stop these addicts off using heroin, it’s only trying to save the city from rising crime rates. By providing addicts with drugs, they’ll be off the streets, which will prevent them from committing crimes. This will also keep addicts out of the hospital. Many addicts end up in the hospital with unsanitary needles and bad drugs in their systems. Most of the time addicts aren’t able to pay their hospital bills so it’s pointless for the hospital to deal with these types of patients. Free heroin is given to people that are a part of this program in the cleanest way possible. Overall, this will fix the city but not people’s addictions.

Posted in GRADED, Robust Verbs, Unicorn | Leave a comment

Robust Verbs – SkibidySigma

Posted on November 17, 2024 by SkibidySigma

There is a huge problem in Vancouver with heroin addicts committing crimes to support their habits. The “free heroin for addicts” program is doing everything they can to stop the addicts. The problem is that there is a large crime rate due to the addicts. It is obvious that addicts have a hard time getting through their day to day lives. Daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships are hard to maintain because of the fact that they are using. By heroin users being addicted, they will do whatever they have to do to get their hands on the drug. The types of crimes committed are those of breaking and entering as well as stealing. There are no limits to where they will go to retrieve this drug so that they can feed their addiction. The problem with this program is that it won’t help to ween these addicts off using heroin. It is only trying to save the city from rising crime rates that they’re up to. By providing the drug, these addicts will be off the streets, which in turn will prevent them from committing minor street crimes. This will also keep the heroin users out of the hospital. It is pointless that the hospitals have to deal with people that want to use bad drugs or unsanitary needles and find themselves being unable to afford hospital bills and hard to cope without the drug. This program gives people free heroin in the cleanest way possible. This will in turn fix the city  but not the addiction that these people face.

Heroin addicts in Vancouver commit crimes like breaking and entering and theft to support their habits, creating a significant problem for the city. To reduce crime, the “free heroin for addicts” program provides the drug in the cleanest way possible, aiming to keep addicts off the streets and out of hospitals. While this approach may lower crime rates, it doesn’t address the underlying addiction. Addicts struggle to maintain daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships because their drug use consumes their lives. Desperate to feed their addiction, they will go to any lengths to obtain heroin. Although the program reduces the city’s rising crime rates, it won’t help wean addicts off heroin. Hospitals shouldn’t have to deal with addicts who use impure drugs or unsanitary needles and can’t afford hospital bills. This program may help the city, but it doesn’t solve the addiction these people face.

Posted in GRADED, Robust Verbs, Skibidy Sigma | Leave a comment

Visual Rewrite – SkibidySigma

Posted on November 17, 2024 by SkibidySigma

0 : 00

The video opens with an overhead shot of a dining table. The composition is rectangular and symmetrical, and the wooden table is the central focus, emphasizing a domestic, intimate setting. On the bottom left, an African American man is immersed in paperwork, signifying responsibility , while a plate of uneaten food and coffee sits in front of him. On the right, a child who is also African American and likely his son is sitting on a chair with cereal, juice, and a phone on the table. There are also some extra condiments in the center of the table. This arrangement visually communicates a physical and emotional distance between the two figures, even as they share the same space.

0:01 – 0:03

The camera transitions to a closer side-angle shot of the father, who is deeply engrossed in his work. The light filtering through the window behind him casts a cold, muted tone, reinforcing the emotional detachment. In the foreground, the blurred silhouette of the child with their head resting on their hand adds to the feeling of disconnection and depression.

0:04 – 0:07

The camera zooms in on the child, who stirs their cereal absentmindedly, their gaze distant. The dim lighting highlights the child’s drooping posture and tired expression. The father appears to have said something that has angered his child, as the kid throws his hands up and gets up and leaves in frustration.

0:07 – 0:10

The camera focuses on a glass of juice and a cereal bowl as the text “It can be difficult to know how your kid truly feels” overlays the screen. The background shows the father slightly blurred, reinforcing the idea that the child is not easily understood and is having a hard time.

0:10 – 0:13

The child is now shown in silhouette against a softly lit background, sitting in their room on the bed. The framing isolates the child, emphasizing loneliness. The text “Music can help them open up” appears, introducing the idea of a solution or bridge for connection between the family.

0:14 – 0:15

A close-up shows the child wearing earphones, listening intently. The lighting is softer, and the focus on their expression hints at a moment of comfort or escape through music.

0:15 – 0:18

The child is seen sitting at a table in warm, yellow ambient lighting. The text “When you can’t find the language, Find the Lyrics” appears, addressing the challenge of articulating emotions. The cozy setting contrasts signaling a shift toward understanding and warmth.

0:18 – 0:22

The father and child sit together at the table. The father looks at the child with a compassionate expression while placing his hand on top of his sons and they start talking. The lighting remains warm, signifying a breakthrough in their communication.

Posted in Portfolio Skibidy Sigma, Skibidy Sigma, Visual Rewrite | 1 Comment

Robust Verbs-Phoenixxxx23

Posted on November 17, 2024 by phoenixxxx23

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Posted in Phoenixxxx, Robust Verbs | 1 Comment

Robust verbs- lil.sapph

Posted on November 17, 2024 by lil.sapph

Vancouver has a huge problem caused by heroin addicts committing crimes to support their addiction. The “free heroin for addicts” program aims to stop this by giving free heroin to them in the cleanest way. Clearly the addicts’ dependency on the substance leaves them to struggle to maintain jobs, interactions, and relationships. With this dependency, crimes they commit including breaking and entering as well as stealing regularly bring up crime rate in the city. Providing the drug only takes these addicts off of the street preventing them from committing those minor street crimes. The safe administration of this drug to the addicts functions to stop many of them from ending up in hospitals for their using and use of unsanitary needles. When they are released, the hospital bills are unable to be afforded by these patients who then find themselves still unable to cope without the drug. Unfortunately, while the program will the city from rising crime rates, it won’t save these individuals from the heroin addiction they face. 

Posted in GRADED, lil.sapph, Robust Verbs | 2 Comments

Causal Rewrite- Goat81

Posted on November 17, 2024 by GOAT81

The Influence of Artistic Focus on Technical Skills
in Olympic Ice Skating

In recent years, the world of Olympic figure skating has seen a significant change in how judges score performances, with more focus on artistic expression and less on technical skills. While this has made the sport more visually appealing, it has raised questions about how it affects skaters’ technical abilities. This essay suggests that as the focus on artistry increases, the quality of technical execution is declining since athletes are spending more time on choreography and presentation instead of mastering challenging jumps and spins.

A major part of this change is the International Skating Union’s (ISU) introduction of the International Judging System (IJS) back in 2004. This system created a scoring method that breaks performances into two main parts: the Technical Element Score (TES) and the Program Component Score (PCS) (ISU 2022). The TES looks at the technical skills, focusing on the execution and complexity of jumps and spins, while the PCS highlights artistic elements like interpretation, musicality, choreography, and skating skills. Over time, the PCS has gained more importance, sometimes overshadowing the TES, leading skaters to focus more on artistry than on technical challenges.

The way the IJS is set up has changed how skaters design their routines. With the PCS being such a big factor in overall scores, many skaters choose to spend their efforts perfecting choreographed parts and boosting their artistic performance (Smith, 2022). This shift is largely because getting a higher score in the PCS is often easier compared to the more strict standards for the TES. For example, skaters who are great at artistic expression but include fewer difficult technical elements can still score well, while those with more impressive technical skills but weaker artistic presentation may lose points (Smith, 2022). As a result, some skaters have adopted a safer approach, opting for simpler technical elements to avoid mistakes during tough jumps, like quadruple jumps (Chen, 2023).

Some critics claim that focusing on artistry makes figure skating more appealing to a wider audience, making it more exciting for viewers. They argue that balancing artistry and technical skill makes performances richer and more impactful (Johnson 2021). However, this view misses an important point about figure skating as a competitive sport. While artistic expression is valuable, the sport was originally all about technical skill. By putting artistry first, figure skating might lose its competitive core, as routines shift from showcasing athletic ability to emphasizing performance style.

Adding to this complexity is the issue of judging bias. Although the IJS was created to make scoring clearer and fairer, it can still be influenced by regional preferences. Judges from different countries might have their own ideas about what great artistry looks like, which can affect their PCS scores (Doe,2023). This potential bias shows up in the different ways artistry and technique are valued in various competitions and by different judges. Even though the IJS aims for consistency in judging, there’s still room for interpretation that could favor artistic over technical skills (Doe,2023).

The effects of these changes are clear when we look at recent trends in Olympic figure skating. A review of scoring patterns from the last few years shows that skaters are trying fewer technically difficult moves, especially compared to earlier times. The average number of quadruple jumps attempted in each program has gone down, with skaters choosing safer options to boost their PCS (Chen, 2023). This reflects a wider trend in the sport where the focus on presentation and choreography often takes priority over technical mastery.

In closing, while the growing emphasis on artistic expression has certainly made Olympic figure skating more beautiful to watch, it has also led to a decrease in technical skills. Skaters are focusing more on choreography and presentation to improve their PCS, often at the cost of challenging technical elements like jumps and spins. This shift jeopardizes the very essence of figure skating as a competitive sport, where technical excellence used to be key. To maintain the integrity and competitive nature of the sport, it’s important for organizations like the ISU to rethink how they balance artistry and technical skills in their scoring systems, ensuring both aspects are valued fairly.

References

  1. (ISU,2022) . Official Judging Guidelines. ISU Handbook. Retrieved from ISU
  2. (Smith,2022). The Evolution of Figure Skating Scoring. Skate America. Retrieved from Skate America
  3. (Johnson,2021). How Figure Skating Merged Athleticism and Artistry. The Guardian. Retrieved from The Guardian
  4. (Doe,2023). Judging Biases in Figure Skating. US Figure Skating. Retrieved from US Figure Skating
  5. (Chen,2023). Breaking Records with Quad Jumps. NBC News. Retrieved from NBC News

https://www.skateguardblog.com/2020/04/the-evolution-of-technical-merit-and.html

https://olympics.com/en/podcast/podcast-artistry-vs-technical-figure-skating

https://milanocortina2026.olympics.com/en/figure-skating

Posted in Causal Rewrite, Goat81, GRADED | 9 Comments

Causal Argument- Goat81

Posted on November 17, 2024 by GOAT81

The Influence of Artistic Focus on Technical Skills
in Olympic Ice Skating

In recent years, the world of Olympic figure skating has seen a significant change in how judges score performances, with more focus on artistic expression and less on technical skills. While this has made the sport more visually appealing, it has raised questions about how it affects skaters’ technical abilities. This essay suggests that as the focus on artistry increases, the quality of technical execution is declining since athletes are spending more time on choreography and presentation instead of mastering challenging jumps and spins.

A major part of this change is the International Skating Union’s (ISU) introduction of the International Judging System (IJS) back in 2004. This system created a scoring method that breaks performances into two main parts: the Technical Element Score (TES) and the Program Component Score (PCS) (ISU 2022). The TES looks at the technical skills, focusing on the execution and complexity of jumps and spins, while the PCS highlights artistic elements like interpretation, musicality, choreography, and skating skills. Over time, the PCS has gained more importance, sometimes overshadowing the TES, leading skaters to focus more on artistry than on technical challenges.

The way the IJS is set up has changed how skaters design their routines. With the PCS being such a big factor in overall scores, many skaters choose to spend their efforts perfecting choreographed parts and boosting their artistic performance (Smith, 2022). This shift is largely because getting a higher score in the PCS is often easier compared to the more strict standards for the TES. For example, skaters who are great at artistic expression but include fewer difficult technical elements can still score well, while those with more impressive technical skills but weaker artistic presentation may lose points (Smith, 2022). As a result, some skaters have adopted a safer approach, opting for simpler technical elements to avoid mistakes during tough jumps, like quadruple jumps (Chen, 2023).

Some critics claim that focusing on artistry makes figure skating more appealing to a wider audience, making it more exciting for viewers. They argue that balancing artistry and technical skill makes performances richer and more impactful (Johnson 2021). However, this view misses an important point about figure skating as a competitive sport. While artistic expression is valuable, the sport was originally all about technical skill. By putting artistry first, figure skating might lose its competitive core, as routines shift from showcasing athletic ability to emphasizing performance style.

Adding to this complexity is the issue of judging bias. Although the IJS was created to make scoring clearer and fairer, it can still be influenced by regional preferences. Judges from different countries might have their own ideas about what great artistry looks like, which can affect their PCS scores (Doe,2023). This potential bias shows up in the different ways artistry and technique are valued in various competitions and by different judges. Even though the IJS aims for consistency in judging, there’s still room for interpretation that could favor artistic over technical skills (Doe,2023).

The effects of these changes are clear when we look at recent trends in Olympic figure skating. A review of scoring patterns from the last few years shows that skaters are trying fewer technically difficult moves, especially compared to earlier times. The average number of quadruple jumps attempted in each program has gone down, with skaters choosing safer options to boost their PCS (Chen, 2023). This reflects a wider trend in the sport where the focus on presentation and choreography often takes priority over technical mastery.

In closing, while the growing emphasis on artistic expression has certainly made Olympic figure skating more beautiful to watch, it has also led to a decrease in technical skills. Skaters are focusing more on choreography and presentation to improve their PCS, often at the cost of challenging technical elements like jumps and spins. This shift jeopardizes the very essence of figure skating as a competitive sport, where technical excellence used to be key. To maintain the integrity and competitive nature of the sport, it’s important for organizations like the ISU to rethink how they balance artistry and technical skills in their scoring systems, ensuring both aspects are valued fairly.

References

  1. (ISU,2022) . Official Judging Guidelines. ISU Handbook. Retrieved from ISU
  2. (Smith,2022). The Evolution of Figure Skating Scoring. Skate America. Retrieved from Skate America
  3. (Johnson,2021). How Figure Skating Merged Athleticism and Artistry. The Guardian. Retrieved from The Guardian
  4. (Doe,2023). Judging Biases in Figure Skating. US Figure Skating. Retrieved from US Figure Skating
  5. (Chen,2023). Breaking Records with Quad Jumps. NBC News. Retrieved from NBC News

https://www.skateguardblog.com/2020/04/the-evolution-of-technical-merit-and.html

https://olympics.com/en/podcast/podcast-artistry-vs-technical-figure-skating

https://milanocortina2026.olympics.com/en/figure-skating

Posted in Causal Draft | 1 Comment