Serious question…
Do you think there’s a limit
to world records?
This is truly my question for the day. Every time the Olympics rolls around (which is every two years to you people who live under rocks), (but I guess if you live under a rock, you’re probably not reading this blog), (so never mind), I wonder if there’s ever going to be a time that world records simply cannot be beat.
(Why yes this gem of a post is what I’ve come up with after a week’s absence. Blame it on either my writer’s block or my Michael Phelps/Olympic obsession.)
Think far, far into the future, like when we’re all driving around cars that fly and wearing shiny silver outfits and it’s always dark and robots cook and clean for us. (Which is how I assume everyone sees the future, right?) Isn’t there going to be a time when we cannot go any humanly faster. Let’s look at swimming as an example. Right now, world records are set by shaving mere milliseconds off of previous times. Occasionally, a swimmer is able to beat a previous world record by a whole second.
I can fathom how seconds and deciseconds and centiseconds and milliseconds can be shaved from previous records. New swimsuit technology and advances in technique can all help with beating world records. I get that. What I can’t fathom, though, is how eventually people could possibly shave even one more millisecond off of a time. It simply is not possible for a swimmer to complete the 100 meter butterfly in 10 seconds. Or even one minute. Barring of course, the IOC allowing jet engines to be surgically implanted in swimmer’s rear ends to help propel them.
So do you think there’s a limit? Will world records ever stop being broken?
My brain hurts now.
The end.
Well actually it really is the end…at least for me and Haiku Friday. I’ve decided to stop hosting Haiku Friday with Christina, though I plan to be a participant occasionally. It’s very difficult and stressful to post every single Friday on demand, so I’m going to eliminate this stress.
To play along for Haiku Friday, follow these steps:
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. What’s a haiku, you ask? Click here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your generic blog URL). We will delete your link if it doesn’t go to a haiku. If you need help with this, contact Christina or myself. REMEMBER…ONLY sign Mr. Linky if you have a HAIKU POST. Seriously.
3. Pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button above.
There probably will be a time when records can’t be beat. I totally see robots doing my bidding in the future. Something to look to…
Actually I believe their WILL be a time when a swimmer can swim 50m butterfly in 10 seconds.
It’s all down to evolution, nutrition and better coaching methods. And of course better less detectable drugs. 
Hopefully they will develop a very good testing procedure for jet propelled ass. Snork.
Did you hear? They’ve just caught two athletes (not sure of nationality) for illegal drugs. I would have been able to tell you what events, and where they are from, but my 4 month old was wailing at the time
Ness’s lastest post..Olympic Fever
It’s taken me forever to come back to Haiku Fridays, but I was apparently struck with a case of poeticitis (or whatever).
Untypically Jia’s lastest post..I’m So Mature – - And Poetic
SURELY there will be a time when world records can’t be beat. Some of the recently broken world records make sense to me… like Michael Phelps, for example. He has huge feet, and he can bend his ankle 15 degrees farther than most people, so basically his feet become giant fins. As an ex-competitive-swimmer, that makes sense to me. Plus I’m sure that people will always try to beat the drug tests, and maybe with steroids they will go faster. But these sports records- any way you cut it, it will take you a certain amount of time to get from point A to point B. There has to be a limit to the natural abilities of the human body.
Melinda’s lastest post..randomly funny: who’s the daddy?
I’ve been thinking about that too. There just has to be a time when we can’t go any faster. There has to be. Unless we start grafting cheetah dna into babies. (Ugh. I was being sarcastic, but when I read what I wrote I felt a little sick. It’s a horrible thought!!)
the dragonfly’s lastest post..A River in Egypt
I think if humanity changes, the rules will change with it.
AndreAnna’s lastest post..Need to smile?
I am sad that you aren’t hosting it anymore, but I totally understand. While I tried to write a haiku about you, it ended up being about Giggles instead.
Hope all is going well. Did you get the 50mm lens yet? Don’t know why I am bursting to know.
Heather~Domestic Extraordinaire’s lastest post..In honor of Jennifer’s last "official" Haiku Friday
@Heather~Domestic Extraordinaire: I did get the lens! There are a few pictures on my flickr account that I took with the lens. They are the ones from the farmer’s market. Too lazy to get the link.
And I’m honored that you did a haiku in honor of me…I’ll be right over.
Sometimes I wonder if people in the future will purposefully break their bodies to work better in the pool – is it possible to break your elbows to make them double jointed? Or something like that?
I dunno, but Phelps is freak, a beautiful, chiseled freak.
Cathy’s lastest post..Well, Dad: It Could Be Worse: I could have married a Democrat.
I guess eventually, there has to be, but it seems hard to see the end of it now. I’m pretty confident no one will ever swim 50 meters in 10 seconds though. I think the records have a ways to fall first. Crazy, isn’t it?
Mom24′s lastest post..Summertime
Jen, you just don’t seem yourself. Is everything okay over there in Hoo-ville?
I never thought about records being unable to be broken, but I guess there has to come a time. Then the Olympics will be over, or events will have to add something like morphing.
Jim: Ling Tao Ti will now morph into a giraffe midair as she completes her double twist toe loop vault.
Don: Last year, Jessica Jones did a similar vault for the gold, but that was a 6.2 difficulty, her morph was a carp. No one has attempted a giraffe.
Jim: That’s right, Don.
laurie, thatsthewayitis’s lastest post..Dig my curves.
I just re-read the end of your post. I’m sorry you’re stopping, but I completely understand. You have to do what’s right for you. Obviously I’ll still be reading, but I’ll miss coming by every Friday morning.
Hope you’re doing OK, you were missed this week.
Mom24′s lastest post..Summertime
I confess that I
am obsessed with Michael Phelps
… hoping he’ll succeed ;–)
I’ve been posting about him (and other athletes who have captured my attention in these Beijing Games) regularly at Small Reflections since the Olympics started. As for new World Records … I suspect folks will always push the edge of the envelope and find a way to do ‘the seemingly impossible’ because it’s in their DNA.
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller’s 2nd blog’s lastest post..Sky Watch #7 & HF #64 – Cloudy Collages
I wonder about the continued breaking of world records – I would guess that as technology advances that maybe the big new records will just be set in other sports. This year, the major focus is swimming (as it should be, because have you SEEN Phelps?!) but there are lots of other sports that aren’t focused on. As technology for new basketball shoes or whatever comes up, I wonder if that won’t become the new thing.
But since we keep having all of these new records set, is there a point at which it becomes less special? It’s easy to get excited about new records that are set every few years or so, but when they are being broken in every race, it almost makes them more common than rare.
Maggie’s lastest post..Wordless Wednesdsay: Full Bloom
It’s so funny you’ve just posted this – we were just talking about this at home. I noticed last night that the current world record for one of the track events is 9 seconds. NINE. So…in another few Olympics will there be no need to even have that race? Because it seems once you get under, say, 5 seconds, there would be no point to watch. I have no idea. It’s all very interesting to think about.
Cynthia’s lastest post..The Olympics So Far
Yes, that’s everyone’s vision of the future
I guess you have a point about the records thing – I haven’t really given it any deep thought. Watching hunky athletes generally renders me incapable of much thought really
Annie’s lastest post..Heartache and Healing
I didn’t ‘catch’ the fact that you won’t be hosting HF any longer until I re-read your post (after leaving the 2nd link & comment at Christine’s, reading her post and returning here) … but I’ve come back to say ‘thanks’ and I’ll miss you on Fridays … though I fully understand. Sometimes I think about skipping HF myself, yet when Friday’s roll around … haiku shows up in my posts whether I intend to write it or not.
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller’s lastest post..Haiku Friday #65 Admittedly Olympic Obsessed
I have been totally addicted to the Olympics all week. I’m wondering how many more nights I can stay up until 1:00. Yikes. Getting pretty sleepy. I’m planning a nice nap today if I can get other things done before then, that is.
I think there has to be a point when the records stop being broken. I think it will then be a contest to see who can get closests and they will reminisce about way back when Michael Phelps set all the world records. Or some other equally good person that comes along.
Mommy Daisy’s lastest post..Pay It Forward v2.0
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but world is a one syllable word. Sorry to be so anal, but I am always counting when reading haiku. I recount my about five times before I actually believe I have 5, 7, 5.
Love your blog!
Vicki’s lastest post..Haiku Friday and 4 x 4 progress
It’s too early to hurt my brain like that… but you can be sure I’ll be thinking about it all day developing a headache…
Sadie’s lastest post..Puppy Brain
Thank you for taking the time to co-host Haiku Friday for all this time! I will still enjoy your Haikus when you participate.
Rachael’s lastest post..Dear God, Please help him be ready soon…
I have often wondered the same thing…however, if you believe in evolution I am betting there will always be someone to break the records.
Sandy’s lastest post..Too weird
I wonder the same thing all the damn time.
I also wonder when they will run out of music to compose.
Sometimes it all hurts my head.
Loralee’s lastest post..Let’s not have a repeat of 2002, ok?
I picture the future as being just like the Jetsons cartoon–complete with maid!
In the Trenches of Mommyhood’s lastest post..Sarah’s Olympic Opinion
I think there will come a time when no one can beat say Michael Phelps records. I almost feel bad, but I kinda want him to miss winning one. I mean really, give someone else a change will ya.
Then I look at his mom in the stands and realize how much time she must have spent in the pool bleachers and I take it back. Cause I’m a snarky bitch, but not heartless.
Issa’s lastest post..Maxi Dress: Not all it’s cracked up to be
I think it’s a rather thought-provoking post you presented to us, Jennifer!
Sorry I’m not a participant of your last Haiku Friday host. I just couldn’t bring myself to think of anything interesting this week. (Or ever.) It’s nice to take a step back for awhile, huh?
Take care!
Mandy’s lastest post..Could we BE any more Hoosier?
@Vicki: I hate to be the one to tell YOU this, but the way I say world, it IS a two syllable word. It’s a matter of dialect. I could also go into the whole /l/ as a syllable in and of itself and discuss linguistics…seeing as I’m a speech-language pathologist.
Your world-one syllable. My world-two.
And yes, you were being a little anal. But I’ll forgive you.
I just said “world” ten times. I can’t get it to be one syllable. It sounds like this:
whir-ild.
See? Two.
laurie, thatsthewayitis’s lastest post..Dig my curves.
Lordy, and when I say it it comes out wore-elld. Every time. I think I either need a speech pathologist or to spend more time out of the South. Nah. You Yankees just need to get with it!
TX Poppet’s lastest post..Pressure
Thanks for all the work you’ve put in helping host Haiku Friday!! Take some time for yourself and relax!
Becki’s lastest post..Haiku Friday
Of course there will be a limit. If we mutate into creatures made of light particles it will stop at the speed of light. If we mutate into creatures made from sound waves then it is the speed of sound. As long as the competition happens in the physical plane then the world record will be limited by the laws of physics.
We may never see the actual ultimate world record for swimming or running but it does theoretically exist.
T with Honey’s lastest post..Why can’t the ER take call-ahead like Outback?
See, you try to cut back and folks think you’ve gone off the deep end. Hope to still see you around HF frequently! (ps can you email me that chicago pic?)
McMama’s lastest post..P1020537 [Flickr]
See, I’m a Southerner and we say it like this…
whorl-duh
Duh is so fitting in this moment.
Queen of Shake Shake’s lastest post..I’m So Smart I Outwit Myself
I think about this a lot too. I am always amazed when there is a long standing world record. But at some point, yeah. Things gotta stop.
haha. maybe the pool is shorter in Beijing!
Glad you are choosing the things that you can let go of without getting overwhelmed by them.
I love having you in my wor-uld.
Miss’s lastest post..Awake
I think the Chinese put steroids in that water. Every single swimming race. It’s just too freaky to watch all the new “WR” lights go off. And, you need to try Plurk again. We’ve been discussing this very thing while watching the last few nights.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s lastest post..Sale of the Century
This post was too deep for me on a Friday. My brain no do so good after a long week of thinky too hard…but I will at least give an answer, and my answer is
maybe.
Was that vague enough so that people might think that I have an educated opinion on the topic without giving away my lack of inspiration? I sure hope so. I wouldn’t want peoples to think me’s dumb.
Petra aka The Wise (*Young*) Mommy’s lastest post..All About "I"
Jeez…I don’t know why Haiku Friday would be stressful for you. It’s not like you have the Haiku Police breathing down your neck about the syllable count in your posts…
Oh wait. Never mind.
People just keep getting taller, stronger and faster with each generation. Pretty soon they are gonna have to start changing some rules. Like making people swim with weights attached to their legs or making the basketball hoop 10 feet higher or something. I don’t know.
Kathryn’s lastest post..PSF- Healing Waters
Good for you, I am all for getting rid of the stressors in your life that you CAN get rid of.
And the world record thing…I almost think people are evolving to make new records??? For example did you see that thing about Phelps’ wingspan and crazy feet???
Amanda’s lastest post..The space between us
My husband and I were also just talking about it.
He informed me, in his geeky way,that one reason why times are faster with swimming is because the lanes are wider giving way to less waves, equaling faster times.
Helen’s lastest post..Why is it not acceptable to feel someone’s sweaty armpits?!?
Ive been SO worried about you .. as I was riding the elevator in the parking garage after work today .. I was actually preparing myself for the horrific, unthinkable .. i’m very glad to see youre still breathing.
Love
Madness
Madness’s lastest post..SMILE NICE DAMMIT !!!
Gee, this is my first visit and my first effort at Haiku Fridays. I got brought in by the Haiku Buckaroo contest via Lilacspecs.
What’s the saying “Records are meant to be broken”, er, no, that might be RULES…whatever…I think humans will ALWAYS push the boundaries of human endurance and ability…even if by nanoseconds…in one way or another, yes, records will always be broken as long as human beings are in the competition
Hotmamamia’s lastest post..Thank you Lilac
I am going to set a world record for how many towering piles I can put on my desk. That’s an unbeatable one, hands down.
it’s like a damn infinity paradox or something. You made my brain explode.
heather…’s lastest post..The Olympics Are Killing Me
Oh of course, THIS Friday was totally gonna be the day I jumped on the Haiku bandwagon. Another.Dream.Dies.
Okay, on another topic: Phelps. I’m uber-impressed with this many golds, but have none of you looked closely at Aaron Piersol? He makes me quiver. And I’m not a quiverer – just ask my husband.
Amy In Ohio’s lastest post..Just Do It