July 24th, 2012
08:20 PM ET

Overheard on CNN.com: One-eyed Olympics mascots 'creepy,' but giant mouse OK?

Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.

The run-up to the London Olympics has had its share of moments by far, but one of the most unusual things about 2012 is the pair of one-eyed um, creatures, known as Wenlock and Mandeville. As the story goes, they were created out of magical droplets of steel left over from the Olympic Stadium. CNN.com presented a quiz of other odd or controversial mascots throughout the years, but readers had plenty of interesting ways of describing the monocular duo.

Olympic mascots: Cute or creepy?

Too sci-fi for the Olympiad?

Wastrel Way: "If these things had been in a '50's horror movie it would now be considered a classic."

Oh, snap.

tradster: "Creepy mascots and that Olympic tower is an eyesore. Leave it to British to make the Olympics a platform for their eccentricity. I say draw in two eyes and call that one eye a nose, and voila, you've got Snoopy."

But talking rodents are another thing altogether.

nonamevot3r: "Not Creepy, unusual, and why is a six-foot talking rat (Mickey Mouse) not creepy? It was a nice idea to anthropomorphize something other than an animal for a change; two blobs of steel left over from the building of the stadium trying to join up with their friends at the stadium seems to be a very sensible idea. We were promised a number of short films of their travels around the country to get to Stratford in time for the Olympics; it is shame that these don't seem to have made it onto the TV apart from in a negative sense. Go Wenlock, go Manderville."

If you're going to be in London, be sure to share the sights and sounds of the Olympics on CNN iReport. But these folks say they can't bear to watch the games unfold.

KevinHee: "Everything in London has been embarrassing so far ... the super ugly tower, the creepy mascot, the insane logo, the military security force, etc. I have absolutely no expectations for the opening ceremony, it will be ridiculous."

Wildvine: "I won't even watch the Olympics. London has been nothing but creepy and the Olympics haven't started yet."

Could these creatures potentially be offensive? This comment is interesting, considering the pair were named after the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock, which helped inspire Pierre de Coubertin to launch the modern Olympics, and the Buckinghamshire village of Stoke Mandeville, where the Paralympics were founded.

25891: "Creepy is right. Are they the mascots for the (Paralympic) games as well? That would be rather insulting for sight-challenged athletes."

The most-liked comment alluded to an apocalyptic scenario. It is 2012, after all.

babyrex: "Can you say New World Order? Lots of Illuminati symbolism at the Olympics this summer. ..."

That's not the only story that got people talking. We also saw lots of comments about the availability of trucking jobs in the United States.

Tons of trucking jobs … that nobody wants

This person said they are a truck driver.

Jeffrey Seymour: "I've been driving for 19 years now and I'm still making the same pay rate as I did 16 years ago when a big pay raise started. How many of you are making the same as you did 16 years ago? Would you be willing to take a job that paid you wages from 16 years ago? The problem the truck companys have is that they are screwing their employees and expecting to get away with it. It's funny that this article uses Schneider, J.B. Hunt, Swift and Werner, company's with the worst reps. If they want the drivers, they need to start to treat them with respect and pay them what they are worth (and that is with the miles to make it worthwhile)."

Some of our commenters said the issue is not so simple.

jtsj16: "Of course they hire cheap labor! Nearly everyone hires the cheapest labor that they can find to do the job. If you make widgets and you pay workers twice what the guy down the street pays, you aren't going to be in business very long unless you can convince the consumer that your product is that much better, because you won't be able to sell it for the same price. I work daily with union construction contractors and I know what this is like. We have to try to convince building owners and general contractors that our work is better so the added price is worth it.

"My point was not to argue about the cost of workers. My point was that not every CEO or owner of a company is rich and has multiple homes with luxury cars in each garage stall. Many of them do fairly well, but not like you think. And again, as I mentioned before, they daily have huge risks out there and they risked a lot in most cases to get where they are today. Don't begrudge someone for making money. Go out and figure out a way to do it yourself!."

One reader opined that no one should be surprised.

BrightGeorge: "The beauty of the free market at work. Trucking companies aren't paying enough so potential employees are staying away. Start offering $75/hr with a $10,000 signing bonus and see if you get enough job applicants then. Anytime you see a statement like 'can't hire enough workers,' make sure to add 'at the salary that's being offered.' "

Maybe this reader is on the way to a different career.

Fornacis: "We should go back to using rail ... who wants to live in a truck, shower in filthy truck stops, drive on the interstate with idiots, for low pay, and meanwhile your wife is (sleeping with) your best friend, and/or neighbor."

Mike Dooley: "Fornacis, I think you've got yourself a hit on the country charts there."

What's your take? Share your opinion in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. Or sound off on video via CNN iReport.

Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.

soundoff (43 Responses)
  1. chilipepper

    I think they're teeth.

    July 26, 2012 at 8:51 am | Report abuse |
  2. owners

    Mass surveillance society's mascot i am not surprised!!

    July 26, 2012 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
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