Has New Zealand gone soft?

[FROSTY:Me]

I had a scarey conversation with baby bikie last night.
We were talking about the Limpics. I asked him if he knew what the most important thing he needed to be a real winnner.
he came up with good food and exersize as being important.
I told him no The most important thing was the desire,the need to win was most important.
He really struggled with that concept.

It seems just doing your best is really being drummed into our kids by teachers.
Winning isn't important.
Am I just cynical or are we teaching our kids to take the easy option?

[Ixion]

When that one Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He'll ask, not whether you won or lost,But how you played the game

[Mully]

Exactly right, Frosty. This country has been heading down this path for some time.

Everyone gets rewarded - there is no additional benefit to winning.

Seems to me to be a bad idea long term. We will have no John Britten's prepared to take a chance on a crazy idea.

[svr]

I know what you're saying Frosty, but to be world class there is the small issue of `learning' (= training)
Given good genes do something to which you are genetically suited for 10 years / 10,000 hours and all else being equal you will be able to compete at a world level.

[Flatcap]

It seems just doing your best is really being drummed into our kids by teachers.
Winning isn't important.
Am I just cynical or are we teaching our kids to take the easy option?

This is true. Having winners means having losers. This is bad for the losers self esteem.

We must bring winners down to the level of mediocrity to avoid hurting anyones feelings

[Bikernereid]

Yes. Over here teachers are teaching kids that everyone is equal. That is complete and utter BS. No everyone isn't equal and that kind of attitude will not help our kids when they get into the adult world and have to compete against others for jobs etc. I think the sooner we stop wrapping kids up in cotton woll and help then to understand that life isn't always nice, that everyone is unique and different and that no everyone is not equal then the better chance they will have in life. In my humble opinion.

[blacksheep]

When that one Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He'll ask, not whether you won or lost,But how you played the game

should be more of this attitude imho

[FROSTY:Me]

I know what you're saying Frosty, but to be world class there is the small issue of `learning' (= training)
Given good genes do something to which you are genetically suited for 10 years / 10,000 hours and all else being equal you will be able to compete at a world level.

No arguments here re training. But Im seeing kids giving up because its become "too hard"

[avgas]

could be worse - we could be like China where 99.9% are failures and the rest achieved victory......needless to say its very depressing

[Dave Lobster]

This is true. Having winners means having losers. This is bad for the losers self esteem.

We must bring winners down to the level of mediocrity to avoid hurting anyones feelings

If we don't have any losers, who'd join gangs?

[MVnut]

I think you have a good point there Frosty, at least some youngsters have the right attitude. My 12 year old daughter says "I will probably be an archaeologist, if I have enough time....being world champ and all" ....she certainly has the desire.

[FROSTY:Me]

If we don't have any losers, who'd join gangs?

Lets not even go there dude.I've seen these teen gangs at work and it aint pretty.

[FROSTY:Me]

I think you have a good point there Frosty, at least some youngsters have the right attitude. My 12 year old daughter says "I will probably be an archaeologist, if I have enough time....being world champ and all" ....she certainly has the desire.

well the archeology can be her fall back career once shes acheived greatness

[Flatcap]

If we don't have any losers, who'd join gangs?

They're not losers - we have failed they as a community.....


......nah you're right, they're losers

[Winston001]

I told him no The most important thing was the desire,the need to win was most important.
He really struggled with that concept.

You are right - but I don't think it is something which can be taught, because the drive, the desire comes from within. Its a matter of personality coupled with good coaching. Passion.

Let me tell you a story. My daughter, 14 now, has/had the potential to be an international gymnast. At age 6 she was bloody good, and from age 8 - 12 nationally ranked. On her day over those years she was in the top 5 in the country and retired winning third at the National Gymn Champs - at age 12.

I had dreams of Commonwealth Games, trips to Australia, Europe.....

But. But. Love her as I do, I knew she did not have the killer edge to be the best. Blisters, sore ankles, wrists, etc etc, there was always something and she knew all the phyisios really well. She would not push through the pain barrier to fight for peak condition - and we didn't push her. Rather have a happy daughter than a miserable top athlete. No regrets.

So I don't think we are soft, its just a special talent which only a few people have that allows them to achieve.


Incidentally, womens gymnastics on TV right now.