Conversation with sons about sports- WARNING - LONG

Maggie said:

Sunday dinner involved a conversation regarding cycling, spandex,
Fred's, and all the other terms I have learned from this newsgroup.
Now I won't tell you that my sons have any interest in cycling. It is
just not their thing. They are very athletic, especially the younger
one....but cycling is not for them. Instead of associating cycling with
Lance Armstrong, they seem to associate it with people who lost their
license for a DUI or can't afford a car.

I don't think that atypical or anything. Cycling doesn't get much
attention in the US.

Quoted message said:

We talked about it after watching a program called "THE WUSSAFICATION
of AMERICA". It was a show about how we try to protect our children
from losing, being critized, or saying or doing anything at all to harm
their self esteem. It took this philosophy to the point where some
believe we are truly contributing to "THE WUSSIFICATION OF AMERICA."
Or as others said, "we are not preparing them to face the real world."

Yep. Too damn much media attention to every damn thing and looking at
people crying on TV. We are collectively hypersensitive and want to
micromanage everything about our kids lives.

Quoted message said:

This Wussification of our country seems to have begun when a group of
people set out to take the horrific sport of dodgeball out of gym
class. (Personally I loved dodgeball. It gave me permission to whack
someone with a dodge ball and not get yelled at.)

Now comes the part of the show that interested me. What sports do you
think were considered too rough for kids, and which do you think were
considered nice and comfortable for the growing child's delicate self
esteem? Which sports do you think these ANTI DODGE BALL FANATICS WANT
BANNED OR CHANGED?

Where do you think cycling fit in? Three guesses, the first two don't
count.

Cycling was considered a safe, kind, caring sport.

Obviously, they didn't think very far into this...If they really thought
more about things like riding in the streets, it would be taken off the
list ASAP. They probably think kids should ride in the parking lot, or
the neighborhood and wear full-body armor, too.

Yet I remember the

Quoted message said:

BMX, MONGOOSE days of my sons childhoods where ramps were built, turns
were made in the air, two trips to the ER were made, and racing their
dirt bikes would have been followed by enough bruises to send the child
protection agencies to see me if they went to school in shorts.

Any sport can be taken to the extreme. Taking dodge ball out of gym
class is ridiculous in my opinion. You are supervised. Do people think
dodge ball will not be played outdoors after school? I did not see the
sense in that show. EVERY sport can be good for a child or bad for a
child. What's up with all this anyway? Soon they will be taking all
sports out of school then cutting out gym class.
Maggie

Roger Zoul said:

Maggie said:

We talked about it after watching a program called "THE

WUSSAFICATION

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of AMERICA". It was a show about how we try to protect our

children

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from losing, being critized, or saying or doing anything at all to

harm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

their self esteem. It took this philosophy to the point where some
believe we are truly contributing to "THE WUSSIFICATION OF

AMERICA."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Or as others said, "we are not preparing them to face the real

world."

Quoted message said:

Yep. Too damn much media attention to every damn thing and looking at

Quoted message said:

people crying on TV. We are collectively hypersensitive and want to
micromanage everything about our kids lives.

Our young men and women seem to not be having any problems conducting
combat operations. I think the next generation will be even better
prepared due to a heavier, more violent TV/movie/video game diet. Heck,
the Army even gives away a combat simulation game so that kids can get
a head start. I don't know what we're turning out, but I don't think
it's wussies.

:
: This Wussification of our country seems to have begun when a group of
: people set out to take the horrific sport of dodgeball out of gym
: class. (Personally I loved dodgeball. It gave me permission to whack
: someone with a dodge ball and not get yelled at.)
:
: Now comes the part of the show that interested me. What sports do you
: think were considered too rough for kids, and which do you think were
: considered nice and comfortable for the growing child's delicate self
: esteem? Which sports do you think these ANTI DODGE BALL FANATICS WANT
: BANNED OR CHANGED?

I can't agree with you on the dodgeball. It sounds as if you were one of
those who excelled at dodgeball, but many, many kids are just used as
punching bags in that "sport". I was always good at it, but I could see the
horror and the pain--even back then--on the non-athletic kids' faces. They
were terrified, especially the ones who wore glasses. What were the
so-called benefits of dodgeball? Teamwork? No. It was just as you
said---horrific. It was just a vehicle for the bigger, athletic kids to
beat up on the smaller ones. Good riddance to dodgeball!

Pat in TX

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Our young men and women seem to not be having any problems conducting

combat operations<<

They havent subdued iraq yet!!!! [censored] took poland in 3 days and
france in a short time. The problem is allowing and expecting to women
to pull their weight and contribute in a combat capacity.

Pat said:

Quoted message said:

This Wussification of our country seems to have begun when a group of
people set out to take the horrific sport of dodgeball out of gym
class. (Personally I loved dodgeball. It gave me permission to
whack someone with a dodge ball and not get yelled at.)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Now comes the part of the show that interested me. What sports do
you think were considered too rough for kids, and which do you think
were considered nice and comfortable for the growing child's
delicate self esteem? Which sports do you think these ANTI DODGE
BALL FANATICS WANT BANNED OR CHANGED?

Quoted message said:

I can't agree with you on the dodgeball. It sounds as if you were one
of those who excelled at dodgeball, but many, many kids are just used
as punching bags in that "sport". I was always good at it, but I
could see the horror and the pain--even back then--on the
non-athletic kids' faces. They were terrified, especially the ones
who wore glasses. What were the so-called benefits of dodgeball?
Teamwork? No. It was just as you said---horrific. It was just a
vehicle for the bigger, athletic kids to beat up on the smaller ones.
Good riddance to dodgeball!

Pat, I agree with Maggie in general, but I agree with you about dodgeball. It
was nothing more than a gym teacher sanctioned hazing ritual, which usually
resulted in meeker kids going to the nurse's office with bloody (or broken)
noses. ISTR a few concussions too, from point blank shots taken off court when
the gym teacher wasn't looking. [censored] like this is bound to put some kids off
exercise forever -- unfortunately the kids who probably need it the most.

Taken to the other extreme though, now we have this:

http://worldsportstackingassociation.org/index.htm

This is actually considered a sport, as part of the physical education
curriculum! It was featured on NPR the other day.

Matt O.

Tim McTeague said:

your Yoda-like knowledge to a simple child's game. Tim McTeague

Hey, Are you comparing me to a short, pointy earred, old creature who
was the revered Jedi Master for centuries, the same Yoda who was the
most powerful in the Force. Thanks!!!!
Maggie. Washing her pointy ears

What station was "THE WUSSAFICATION of AMERICA" on? I'd love to see
it.

Thanks...

Mike

I always preferred Slaughter-Ball to traditional dodge-ball...much more
strategy and teamwork, further distances so more time to react. More like
the dodge-ball in, well, the movie DodgeBall. Where by the way Lance
Armstrong has a small role...

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The benefits of dodgeball are simple. LIFE IS DODGEBALL.

If your life has been dodgeball, I sure feel sorry for you.

My life has been a series of bike rides. Some solitary, some on a tandem,
some club rides. A few have been events, like centuries. Lord knows, going
through labor the first time was like a double.

Life has been a series of bike rides: some have been hilly rides, up and
down, up and down. Some have been in the rain. Sometimes it's a glorious day
in the sunshine, with all the flowers in bloom, and you'll see a goldfinch
flying by.

Sometimes you hit a bump and wipe out. You are sore for a long time -- you
might even still bear the scars of that tumble. Still, eventually you got
back on the bike and put on more miles, because it it's more fun to ride
than to give up.

There's always the adventure of the open road. Even if you've been down a
particular stretch a thousand times, this time you might encounter something
different.

I'm glad life is a series of bike rides for me. I hope it's a series of bike
rides for the rest of you, too.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky

Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Bartow W. Riggs said:

I always preferred Slaughter-Ball to traditional dodge-ball...much

more

Quoted message said:

strategy and teamwork, further distances so more time to react. More

like

Quoted message said:

the dodge-ball in, well, the movie DodgeBall. Where by the way Lance

Quoted message said:

Armstrong has a small role...

I may be one sick puppy....but that was a drop dead hilarious movie. I
was laughing so hard when I saw that movie I couldn't see. It did not
get critical acclaim, but it was funny as hell.
Maggie

Claire Petersky said:

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The benefits of dodgeball are simple. LIFE IS DODGEBALL.

If your life has been dodgeball, I sure feel sorry for you.

My life has been a series of bike rides. Some solitary, some on a

tandem,

Quoted message said:

some club rides. A few have been events, like centuries. Lord knows,

going

Quoted message said:

through labor the first time was like a double.

Life has been a series of bike rides: some have been hilly rides, up

and

Quoted message said:

down, up and down. Some have been in the rain. Sometimes it's a

glorious day

Quoted message said:

in the sunshine, with all the flowers in bloom, and you'll see a

goldfinch

Quoted message said:

flying by.

Sometimes you hit a bump and wipe out. You are sore for a long time

-- you

Quoted message said:

might even still bear the scars of that tumble. Still, eventually you

got

Quoted message said:

back on the bike and put on more miles, because it it's more fun to

ride

Quoted message said:

than to give up.

There's always the adventure of the open road. Even if you've been

down a

Quoted message said:

particular stretch a thousand times, this time you might encounter

something

Quoted message said:

different.

I'm glad life is a series of bike rides for me. I hope it's a series

of bike

Quoted message said:

rides for the rest of you, too.

Warm Regards,
Claire Petersky

This is a good read about a guy who gained self esteem from Dodge Ball.
(link at the end) Everyone is good at something. Self esteem comes
from the things you do well. Whatever that may be. You love cycling.
You see your life as a series of bike rides. That's fabulous. My life
is not a dodge ball game, I just learned alot from dodge ball. I
learned a heck of a lot playing "gorilla" in the empty lot with my
brother and his friends. "Gorilla" was much worse than dodgeball and
there was absolutely no adult supervision to help when you were being
thrown around.

For my son, Life is a series of snowboarding adventures, skateboarding
adventures and skydiving adventures he has had.

For others it may be the tennis games, the baseball games, or just free
play in the handball courts in their neighborhood.

Anyway, this guy wrote a piece on how dodgeball helped him and his self
esteem. It was the one thing he did well. When we do something well,
our self esteem raises.

You are an amazing cyclist Claire. That's great. I'm not. I did become
a pretty good dodgeball player though. ;-) And I can still dodge those
"incoming." ;-)
Ride on...
Love,
Maggie
http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/wallace/wallace32.html

Mike said:

What station was "THE WUSSAFICATION of AMERICA" on? I'd love to see
it.

Thanks...

Mike

It was on last week. In the evening EST. I think it was Friday night,
because I was packing for Atlantic City. I'll try to find out if it is
going to be on again. Are you in Eastern Standard Time?
Maggie

Maggie wrote:
:: I learned something from dodgeball. I learned what it means to work
:: hard to protect myself. There is a benefit in Dodgeball in my
:: opinion. But thats just my opinion. ;-) And we all know I always
:: have one. ;-)

What have you learned from cycling? You have to avoid being run over, you
know.

Roger Zoul said:

What have you learned from cycling? You have to avoid being run

over, you

Quoted message said:

know.

So far I have learned that cycling is not a sport for wusses. Cycling
also has many faces. From the toddler on her first trike....to the 75
year old riding to the corner store.

In between there are many levels of skill.

It's a sport of many colors. All beautiful.

At this point I have not been in a situation where I could be run over.
I am still a wussy rider. BUT TRYING TO IMPROVE!!!
All good things,
Maggie.

Hi Magie -

Yes, I'm in eastern time zone. I will also get my TiVO to search for
WUSSAFICATION. hehehe

Thanks...

Mike

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:20:16 -0400, "Roger Zoul" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Maggie wrote:
:: I learned something from dodgeball. I learned what it means to work
:: hard to protect myself. There is a benefit in Dodgeball in my
:: opinion. But thats just my opinion. ;-) And we all know I always
:: have one. ;-)

What have you learned from cycling? You have to avoid being run over, you
know.

I learned not to make this mistake:

Got up at 6am (my wristwatch still says 5am - I'm not doing EDT this year,
sorry, except to catch Jennifer on TNT.)

Expecting overcast I looked outside and it looked clear.

Ride was planned for 9am, but had my cycling shoes on by 7.

Enjoyed watching the sunlight play in through the back window and the
japanese cherry in the backyard.

At 8 the wind picked up, but it was still sunny. Missed the best of the
morning sun hoping to miss the rush hour traffic, yada, yada - not have sun
in eyes at am twilight. Sheesh. the brain never STFU!

Catch the sun while you can - don't wait, don't think. GO! dammit. ;-)

jj

jj said:

Got up at 6am (my wristwatch still says 5am - I'm not doing EDT this
year, sorry, except to catch Jennifer on TNT.)

Who?

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> writes:

....

Quoted message said:

Life has been a series of bike rides: some have been hilly rides, up and
down, up and down. Some have been in the rain. Sometimes it's a glorious day
in the sunshine, with all the flowers in bloom, and you'll see a goldfinch
flying by.

Sometimes you hit a bump and wipe out.

That's when other people - especially other riders - stop
to see if you're alright, and if they can help, as you
would do for a fallen fellow rider. Independence is fine
and dandy, but maybe we underrate interdependence. One
important thing I've learned (and not from dodgeball) is
that interdependence is a hallmark of Civilization.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 07:09:56 -0700,
<[email hidden]>, "Claire Petersky"

Quoted message said:

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The benefits of dodgeball are simple. LIFE IS DODGEBALL.

If your life has been dodgeball, I sure feel sorry for you.

My life has been a series of bike rides. Some solitary, some on a tandem,
some club rides. A few have been events, like centuries. Lord knows, going
through labor the first time was like a double.

Life has been a series of bike rides: some have been hilly rides, up and
down, up and down. Some have been in the rain. Sometimes it's a glorious day
in the sunshine, with all the flowers in bloom, and you'll see a goldfinch
flying by.

Sometimes you hit a bump and wipe out. You are sore for a long time -- you
might even still bear the scars of that tumble. Still, eventually you got
back on the bike and put on more miles, because it it's more fun to ride
than to give up.

There's always the adventure of the open road. Even if you've been down a
particular stretch a thousand times, this time you might encounter something
different.

I'm glad life is a series of bike rides for me. I hope it's a series of bike
rides for the rest of you, too.

That's beautiful Claire. Thank you.
--
zk