Has New Zealand gone soft?

[McJim]

Interesting thread....
My take is that life is a competition, with winners and losers. On many levels.
Sports, where one person/team is pitted against another, is just civilised war. You don't 'participate' in war. You win (live) or lose (die). Did our boys (and girls) call out to Hitler that it wasn't about winning, but taking part?
The defence rests....

So essentially if we don't win gold at the olympics they're gonna gas us? Interesting analogy but not entirely appropriate. The price of top level sports success is not, in my opinion worth it. The destruction of self worth for those that who do not excel at sports is quite horrific when balanced against the true lack of value of sporting achievement. Kids weilding guns in US high schools, teenage suicides etc. Of course many of these can be attributed to other social factors however I believe the whole success on the sports field (and lack of therein) can contribute to a lack of self worth.

A lot of this opinion derives from the culture of where I grew up. This is probably why Scotland never figures greatly in the sports history books but rather excels in the world of invention.

In brief - by all means reward winners but don't punish losers.

[Maha]

I always come last...........
Oh hang on......sometimes thats a good thing yes?.....

[McJim]

I always come last...........
Oh hang on......sometimes thats a good thing yes?.....

It would certainly go some way toward explaining Mom's cheery disposition ...yes

[awayatc]

As long as you come home..........

[awayatc]

Problem is not aiming high and missing.....


Problem is aiming low and hitting your target.....

[yungatart]

Not all of us are going to win in the sports arena..and I feel it is important that those who want to participate, are encouraged and allowed to. Heaven help us if only our elite could play primary/secondary school sport....

But, we need to look after our elite/up-and-coming sports people better.

The tall poppy system is alive and well and rears its ugly head too often in NZ. Kids are scorned for being achievers and put down for having lofty goals.

That is what we need to change!

[MSTRS:Me]

.....
In brief - by all means reward winners but don't punish losers.

Of course. Goes without saying. 'We' have moved on from the practice of executing the losers on the battlefield. Mostly.

[MSTRS:Me]

Mankind is not equiped as a solo gather/hunter. His success has been developed with the principles of co-operation within the family unit, tribe, clan and nation. The slow progress of technical development has been acheived with co-operation. Competition may improve an idea after development but competition does not invent. Co-operation does. That may be in the way of finance, technical support, etc.

Skyryder

Nope - necessity does.
You are looking at too narrow a picture with your co-operation analogy. At that level, you are right...but this family, tribe, village, nation IS vying against that one

[Big Dave]

Day 8: You're still equal with Canada.

[Big Dave]

Another option:
New Zealand first sent athletes to the Olympics in 1908. New Zealand and Australia combined their athletes into a team called Australasia for the 1908 and 1912 Games.

[DMNTD:Me]

Problem is not aiming high and missing.....

Problem is aiming low and hitting your target.....

100% agreed

[Big Dave]

It would certainly go some way toward explaining Mom's cheery disposition ...yes

Day 8: NZ and Scotland neck and neck.

[MSTRS:Me]

Day 8: NZ and Scotland neck and neck.

Och noooo - ye've kilt the thread....

[portokiwi]

Tonights the night We are going to win GOLD

[Ixion]

Interesting thread....
My take is that life is a competition, with winners and losers. On many levels.
Sports, where one person/team is pitted against another, is just civilised war. You don't 'participate' in war. You win (live) or lose (die). Did our boys (and girls) call out to Hitler that it wasn't about winning, but taking part?
The defence rests....

The prosecution responds by pointing out that Dunkirk is one of our more respected battle honours. We lost. And Culloden one of the more despised. Cumberland won.

Oh, yes. And remember the Alamo. Some may also remember HMS Jervis Bay. The VC citation read "Valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty to protect". Not the first time our highest award has gone to a loser.