Non competative competative sports

[Rageaholic]

I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said. In my OP, I criticized parents who freaked out over their children losing at a sports game. I can't stand super competitive people who have to be the best at everything and push their kids to be better than everyone else. I've known people like that and they are almost always unhappy, fighting with each other over stupid shit. It's not a good way to live life.

Now I don't think everyone is a winner, and I really disagree with the overly PC croud. But I do see their point, some people take it too far. You don't have to be a winner to avoid being a loser.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I don't see what's so bad about coming second, third or fourth. In the aforementioned Chase Me Charlie at the gymkhana mentioned in my first post, I came second cuz my horse was fed up with the game and didn't want to jump any more. I was perfectly happy with that; in fact, if the other girl's horse had refused the jump, I would have let her have the first place cuz I was getting sick of it, too. XD But she jumped it and got the red rosette. The problem lies in people who believe that first place is the only place worth having.

[Amanita]

Thanks Kittercat The manager at Tandy leather told me that people with artistic backgrounds tend to do well with leathercraft. Were I to do another apron, it would probably go faster though, since I've figured out the tooling. I just hope the rest of the costume turns out as well!

Anyone remember hearing about how british schools a few years ago were trying to do away with games like musical chairs, because they were unfair to kids who weren't big and strong?
What bullshit. Here's an idea- instead of banning everything, how about playing a variety of games, which require different skills to win? Some games will favour being big and strong, while others might favour brains over brawn, or teamwork and collaberation.

[Plaidman]

They likely banned it, because no parent or teacher, really wants to tell the truth to students.

That the myth that if you work hard enough you can do anything you want.

No. It doesn't matter how hard you work at some things, you will never be good at at period. You will fail misery, and get to watch others do it effortlessly, and they will laugh at you. It gets to the point where you've tried numerous things, and again, fail. Alot. Once you failed at everything, and your not good at anything, that lie that you just have to work hard at it just hurts more, since you've already worked damn hard, you already pushed yourself to the limit and past it, and you still fail MISERABLY at it, and then on top of it all, you get to see the huge admiration and praise others get for doing so well, while you get. Nothing. No heart. No skill. Your nothing.

[kibbles]

I don't think it'd be fair that someone not be praised for their accomplishments merely because people feel that they have to baby others who may not be so talented in one are or another.

[Plaidman]

I don't think it'd be fair that someone not be praised for their accomplishments merely because people feel that they have to baby others who may not be so talented in one are or another.

But it's totally fair to praise others, and never praise another? Yeah, they might have skills in other areas, but it doesn't matter. Not in school where children spend most of their growing years. The only thing school, and school officals, and parents care about in that, are sports and some areas of acedimic like spelling, math, music.

What happens when a student is not in any of that? Maybe he or she is ok at cooking, and that's it. No school will praise that. No school gives rewards and medals, and assembies prasing the greating of your cookies. They do praise and give rewards, money, prizes, because you can hit a ball, and slam someone to the ground.

Those are what your being taught growing up. To smash someone weaker then you, and get rewarded. To show your strengths off and crush those weaker then you, and you get lots of praise and rewards, while if you cannot do that, you are shunned and called names and are treated like shit.

Those aren't nice life lessons at all. They teach you to be a shithead that can only show off your power. If you are weak in all areas, your nothing but a complete loser for your entire life simply because you cannot compete with anyone on any level at anything.

[Lace Neil Singer]

*shrugs* Maybe in your school that happened; it didn't happen in mine. I may have sucked at track sports and gym, but I was showered with praise for my regular appearence up on the stage at prize giving.

And I agree with kibbles. If a collegue did substandard work and slacked off the whole time, I doubt you'd want them to get as much kudos from the boss as you. Don't see how it's different for sporting events. If you can't play sports, then volunteer to collect javelins or hold the tape, like I did. I also got praised mightily for being helpful.

[Plaidman]

With work I agree. It's bullshit the one that does all the work gets none of the praise, which does happen. Alot.

But it's also bullshit to basically praise students, for being able to beat people up, which is all sports is. The better person who is stronger then others. It teaches that strength is all that matters.

Like cheerleading. It's the pretty girls that are that, not skill.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Sports no more teaches children that to be stronger is to be inherently better than academics teaches children that to be smarter is to be inherently better. Which is to say that, in a way, they both sort of do, but I don't think most people go past the good at math = good at math level of the equation. If you're good at something you get praised by those that value it.

Still, I find it hard to believe that anyone's really talentless in all things. Not since my classmates thoroughly dispelled that same illusion I had cast on myself since day 1 of middle school. Everyone, teachers, students, you name it agreed that I sucked at sports, and was incredibly awkward socially, but that when it came to figuring out a problem I was some kind of genius. There's a longer story behind that that I won't go into lest I thread-jack, but seriously. Everyone is good at something, it's just a matter of getting over the limits imposed by others, the limits imposed by yourself and figuring out what the fuck it is, then, DOING IT.

[/rant]

[Lace Neil Singer]

With work I agree. It's bullshit the one that does all the work gets none of the praise, which does happen. Alot.

But it's also bullshit to basically praise students, for being able to beat people up, which is all sports is. The better person who is stronger then others. It teaches that strength is all that matters.

Maybe for some sports, but not all. I might have been good at hockey cuz I was bigger than the other girls, but I was good at badminton cuz I was skillful; the same thing that was an advantage playing hockey was a disadvantage playing badminton. Not to mention the sight disadvantage I had cuz I refused to wear my glasses...

I don't see how all sports can be given the blanket statement "praising students for beating people up". Another sport I played as a kid, tho not at school (I went to an all girls school and it was considered unladylike) was football, which you call soccer. Skill in tackling and defending is what you need; and if you're too heavy handed (or footed!) tackling, you will get sent off.

If you hate sport, that's all well and good. But there's no reason to shower hatred on all people who play it, just cuz you can't do it or to be bitter towards all sport.

[AdminAssistant]

The issue is that both schools and parents value athletic skill and success over academic skill and success. (Look at average scholarships given to student athletes, and compare to those given to the top tier academically). No Child Left Behind has practically eliminated any pressure to succeed academically as well. When the kid who spends class picking his nose earns a F in Algebra, but the teacher is forced to pass them on anyway, that's a problem.

Increasingly, schools do not provide arts opportunities to students. In times of tight budgets, that's the first thing to go. (While the football team is built a new indoor practice stadium.) So those who aren't good at sports, but who are good at arts, get fewer opportunities to 'show off' as it were. And the kid who aces every test nearly gets beat up for blowing the curve.

I think the inherent difference here, Lace, is that the UK probably does a better job of balancing athletics with other things than we do. We're very sports obsessed, especially when it comes to kids.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I will cherish the admittance of our superiority over you lot.

It's interesting tho, that in the Americanisms that have made their way over here, such as cheerleading, it's still skill that wins over looks/bulk. It's as tho we've adopted it and put our own stamp on it.

[KnitShoni]

Like cheerleading. It's the pretty girls that are that, not skill.

Not necessarily. It may be possible in some places to become a cheerleader just by being pretty, but there is a level of dancing and gymnastic skill involved. Plus, our cheerleaders tended to be in the honors and AP classes, and several were musicians of some sort or in drama, so even if they weren't cheering, they still had other things going for them than just looks.

[linguist]

Not necessarily. It may be possible in some places to become a cheerleader just by being pretty, but there is a level of dancing and gymnastic skill involved. Plus, our cheerleaders tended to be in the honors and AP classes, and several were musicians of some sort or in drama, so even if they weren't cheering, they still had other things going for them than just looks.

not to mention that in true competitive cheerleading, a number of the girls involved tend not be the skinniest or best looking ones. for some of the more complex vertical formations, you need larger more muscular girls to form the supports on the bottom.

[kibbles]

But it's totally fair to praise others, and never praise another? .

I have never said that in any part of my post. Most, if not all sports, require skill in addition to strength and just because some people are bitter that they cannot excel at a sport or academic subject, doesn't mean that praise should be withheld from those who do.

I do not think anyone should be condemned for not having talent in certain areas. But, if a person is literally unable to excel in anything, does that mean no one around them should receive praise so that person can be coddled?