Turnip45 t1_j9zbrau wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:56 PM

Reply to comment by Gnonthgol in ELI5: How did association football become the most popular sport in the world, more popular than any other sport that was spread around the world? by astarisaslave

> And still today there are places where a rowing boat is just as versatile as a car and therefore just as common.

I’m kinda skeptical of that and would be interested to know where this is, however assuming this is true… this places highly restrictive geographic requirements as a barrier to entry and you still need a boat, oars, and a way to either transport it to/from the water or store it nearby. Not exactly something kids can do in any playground on earth.

Gnonthgol t1_j9zinjb wrote on February 25, 2023 at 6:41 PM

I am not suggesting that kids get their own boat and boathouse. I have lots of fun memories of borrowing the boat of by parents or even the neighbors boat which they have to go fishing, transport things across the lake and through the canal, etc. in order to race with my friends at the time.

mynewaccount4567 t1_ja0tvs8 wrote on February 26, 2023 at 12:13 AM

I think they mean rowing as in the Olympic sport of rowing. Those boats are pretty specialized and expensive. It’s a different motion than just a rowboat so it’s not as easily transitioned to the “real thing” like a kid playing football without appropriate gear.