We've Glorified Weakness

[bluesblaster]

the world belongs to those that show up

 

[One Drop]

According to Wellington (seemingly) they were also designed to help foster a confidence and belief that they could beat one's opponents, which in turn helped create the nation's ruling elite. Deservedly so IMO.

What is the purpose of sports in today's schools, in your opinion?

If I had a say it would be to teach children the joy of exercise, help keep them fit and healthy and gain good habits of staying in shape, and learning to cooperate and work as a team. Giving an outlet the the very competitive is fabulous, but it is easily handled with extra-curricular team or individual sports.

The whole thing is a construct of the right, a talking bullet point that neither describes a real problem not represents any kind of reality.

 

[ColonelZulu]

I did them too Zulu, in the mid 70s during high school. Yes, there were (even then) field work and greasy spoon jobs that my classmates wouldn't even get near and were taken by illegal aliens. I also did cushy work at JC Penny, a photo shop, etc... but I had to hustle for those and take lots of bs from "the man". Mind you, I'm not complaining. That's the reality of living in the USA if you're not rich. And I was too busy to complain about who or what alien was taking whatever job I was entitled to. I simply got there first and said, 'yes, I'll do it'. End of story.

My Dad was a maintenance man at the Y and an electrician on the side. His parents were from Spain and Puerto Rico. We had 7 kids in our family.

I'm not talking about part time jobs during high school. I did that too. Construction demo, landscaping, snow shoveling. Sure...did all that too.

I mean after high school. Nobody in my family had ever gone to college (and I'm talking all previous generations on both sides). Nobody told me about loans and grants and such. The only thing I knew was manual labor and that is what was expected.

So, I was in Florida, in the Summer sun, digging trenches for slabs to lay in plumming and electric. I got up at 5:00 to get to McDonalds and open up.

I had no drivers license or car, so I had to ride my bicycle.

So, when you make the claim that only illegals are:

"looking for day jobs or working in the dirtiest, low-paying jobs that US nationals won't touch with a ten foot pole."
it's untrue and insulting.

As if only illegal immigrants work hard. It's BS.
Some do. Some don't. Just like all kinds of people.

When one tries to attribute General behavior to a segment of society based on origin, age, race, religion, etc. it's called prejudice.

 

[guitardefector]

As if only illegal immigrants work hard. It's BS.
Some do. Some don't. Just like all kinds of people.

You're absolutely right. It's just what I see over here in California goes against that thought.

 

[ColonelZulu]

The whole thing is a construct of the right, a talking bullet point that neither describes a real problem not represents any kind of reality.

What "whole thing"?

Is that "whole thing" referring to "organized sports for youth" or "scholastic athletics" or what?

If so, how is an activity a "talking bullet point"?

What "real problem" do you think it is "describing" and by what means?

How is any of that "of the right"?

Is the importance of competitive sports a political position?

 

[ChrisB2]

It is our goal (mine and the parents) to make it fun for them. Trophies make it more fun.

WINNING makes it fun. A trophy is an award given for triumphing over your opponent, not for showing up. A game without a winner and a loser is known as a puzzle. There's nothing wrong with puzzles, or woodcarving, or painting pictures, or writing music. But sports, by definition, are competitive activities where one team wins and the other loses.

Geeeez......

 

[bluesblaster]

its all about being "inclusive" these days, so as to not offend or ruffle feathers lest we be threaten with legal repercussions for hurting someones feelings

 

[bachlover]

What is the purpose of sports in today's schools, in your opinion?

If I had a say it would be to teach children the joy of exercise, help keep them fit and healthy and gain good habits of staying in shape, and learning to cooperate and work as a team. Giving an outlet the the very competitive is fabulous, but it is easily handled with extra-curricular team or individual sports.

The whole thing is a construct of the right, a talking bullet point that neither describes a real problem not represents any kind of reality.

I guess the best that I can come up with is to build character (teach the value of perseverance, teamwork in achieving a mutual goal, work ethic, practice in honing skill and the execution of it), and at the same time teach the sense of accomplishment that can come from using those traits to attain victory (or to deal with defeat). Nobility and grace in losing is just as important as that in winning, and the skill set needed to deal with defeat and grow from it just as important if not more so.

 

[ErebusBass]

Crazy Cyclist With Death Wish Crashes Into An Innocent Car

This actually happened to me once. She was in the bike lane, I was driving. She went to make a left turn without even LOOKING to see if someone was there. I was there. She went over the car and bounced off of the pavement. Wasn't wearing a helmet. Never heard what happened to her after they loaded her into the ambulance but she was conscious and talking.

Not saying its never the driver of the car's fault, but sometimes people on bicycles smash themselves into moving vehicles. I was really lucky there were so many witnesses of that accident. The cop seemed kind of mad at me until everyone else told him what happened.

 

[Bassguy61]

WINNING makes it fun. A trophy is an award given for triumphing over your opponent, not for showing up. A game without a winner and a loser is known as a puzzle. There's nothing wrong with puzzles, or woodcarving, or painting pictures, or writing music. But sports, by definition, are competitive activities where one team wins and the other loses.

Geeeez......

I can absolutely understand this perspective, but I can see the other side as well. Up to a certain age, I can see the "everybody get's a prize", because the goal of these leagues (usually rec leagues) is to build interest in the sport and help the kids build skills to improve in it. That way when they reach the higher age brackets, they hopefully have the foundation they need to compete.

I kinda like how my town's leagues do it. My son plays baseball and basketball, and they do it the same way. Up to the 11/12 year old bracket, they do all of the typical things folks mention: limits on runs per inning, not continuing to update the scoreboard while letting the clock run, etc... Again, they do this to try to keep the games as positive as they can for the kids. Not from a "I don't want to hurt your feelings" perspective, but to help them keep interest in the game (long term). At the end of the year, yes, everyone gets some kind of token for participating, but the winning teams DO get the big ol' trophies. There's no mistaking whether your team did well or not. Once they reach the 11/12 year old bracket, all the gloves come off. The games are just like the rules say, no nods to "participation". I think being set up that way serves a purpose in the long run.

 

[aborgman]

I'm fine with protesting and even whining. Looting and burning, not so much. Those types of activities harm the ostensible cause more than advance it.

Ehhh.. worked pretty good for the folks that founded our country.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

WINNING makes it fun. A trophy is an award given for triumphing over your opponent, not for showing up. A game without a winner and a loser is known as a puzzle. There's nothing wrong with puzzles, or woodcarving, or painting pictures, or writing music. But sports, by definition, are competitive activities where one team wins and the other loses.

Geeeez......

So when you play a game, you don't have any fun unless you win? What a miserable existence.

I play pickup basketball pretty regularly and have fun win or lose. It's more fun to win, obviously, but losing is still more fun than not playing.

Edit::: If a trophy is a reward for winning, and winning isn't its own reward that means you're playing for glory, not love of the game. I won't teach kids to play for glory.

 

[slobake]

This actually happened to me once. She was in the bike lane, I was driving. She went to make a left turn without even LOOKING to see if someone was there. I was there. She went over the car and bounced off of the pavement. Wasn't wearing a helmet. Never heard what happened to her after they loaded her into the ambulance but she was conscious and talking.

Not saying its never the driver of the car's fault, but sometimes people on bicycles smash themselves into moving vehicles. I was really lucky there were so many witnesses of that accident. The cop seemed kind of mad at me until everyone else told him what happened.

Yup, there are crazy,inattentive and obnoxious cyclists that affect the rest of us. There are also drivers and even pedestrians that act the same way.
Most of us are just trying to get somewhere. Embracing an us vs them attitude can create more problems. I have seen it with cylcists, motorists and others. There is no "us vs them" there is only us.

 

[Bassguy61]

So when you play a game, you don't have any fun unless you win? What a miserable existence.

I play pickup basketball pretty regularly and have fun win or lose. It's more fun to win, obviously, but losing is still more fun than not playing.

Not sure if this was directed to me or not... I agree with you. That's why I actually like some of the ways my son's leagues do things. They try to build the enjoyment of just playing (and learning at the same time). I also like how they recognize everyone, but the top teams still get additional recognition of their accomplishments.

 

[aborgman]

So, when you make the claim that only illegals are:

"looking for day jobs or working in the dirtiest, low-paying jobs that US nationals won't touch with a ten foot pole."
it's untrue and insulting.

It may not be "only" illegals - but when there is an immigration crack down and farms end up having to let stuff rot in the fields because they can't hire anyone to pick it... there definitely are far from enough US nationals that will take the jobs.

 

[bluesblaster]

This actually happened to me once. She was in the bike lane, I was driving. She went to make a left turn without even LOOKING to see if someone was there. I was there. She went over the car and bounced off of the pavement. Wasn't wearing a helmet. Never heard what happened to her after they loaded her into the ambulance but she was conscious and talking.

Not saying its never the driver of the car's fault, but sometimes people on bicycles smash themselves into moving vehicles. I was really lucky there were so many witnesses of that accident. The cop seemed kind of mad at me until everyone else told him what happened.

I think that some of these people just expect everyone to yield to them, I see a guy a lot of mornings riding down the side of a busy road during rush hour, there is no shoulder so he's precariously squeezed between the curb and tons of steel rolling along at 40-50 mph inches away from him, no helmet and earphones on. Theres a sidewalk he could use, But Noooooo, he apparently believes he's just fine and no one would dare hit him. The problem there is that the lanes are narrow and you have to move to your left for you know who to get around him, and if there is a large truck in the left lane next to you, where ya gonna go ? your not gonna sideswipe the big truck are you ? of course not, and guess who's in the way ?

 

[aborgman]

But sports, by definition, are competitive activities where one team wins and the other loses.

Well... except the definition of sport doesn't require competition.

Sport:

1
a : a source of diversion : recreation

b : sexual play

c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in

 

[slobake]

I think that some of these people just expect everyone to yield to them, I see a guy a lot of mornings riding down the side of a busy road during rush hour, there is no shoulder so he's precariously squeezed between the curb and tons of steel rolling along at 40-50 mph inches away from him, no helmet and earphones on. Theres a sidewalk he could use, But Noooooo, he apparently believes he's just fine and no one would dare hit him. The problem there is that the lanes are narrow and you have to move to your left for you know who, and if there is a large truck in the left lane next to you, where ya gonna go ? your not gonna sideswipe the big truck are you ? of course not, and guess who's in the way ?

We can all start telling stories about how someone in traffic is creating problems. I have lots of experiences too about drivers who almost killed me because they weren't paying attention or just didn't care, I also can share experiences with cyclists and pedestrians too. All that will lead to nowhere except to dig deeper trenches for some people.

 

[Munjibunga]

Ehhh.. worked pretty good for the folks that founded our country.

OK, then let's DO IT!

 

[Munjibunga]

So when you play a game, you don't have any fun unless you win? What a miserable existence.

I play pickup basketball pretty regularly and have fun win or lose. It's more fun to win, obviously, but losing is still more fun than not playing.

Edit::: If a trophy is a reward for winning, and winning isn't its own reward that means you're playing for glory, not love of the game. I won't teach kids to play for glory.

To paraphrase Cher, "I've been a winner and I've been a loser. Winner is better." (Winner/loser substituted for rich/poor.)