After the Big Game, perhaps we can watch a few bouts in the Gladiatorial Arena
I am not a football fan, but I enjoy watching the occasional game with friends. Part of it is tribalism, yes, but of a relatively harmless nature (except when crowds get so hopped up on tribalistic ecstasy or anger, plus alcohol, that, post-game, they go out to burn things). What we see of football on TV is the excitement of the game, some in-game injuries, then the big final score and the post-game analysis. Easy-peasy, no lasting harm, no lasting foul.
But George's observations about the affects of football play on the underlying pool of kids who feed into the system — in high school and even earlier — needs to be understood and acknowledged. And we're also beginning to see more of how the game takes its toll on adults — not just a "aw, it's a few broken bones that ended his career, but, hey, he can get a job like anyone else" kind of a thing, but broken bodies and brains that shouldn't just be handwaved away so we can watch our favorites trounce their traditional rivals.
No, nothing is perfectly safe. But we don't send kids into the arenas with swords and spears to fight it out for our pleasure. Where do we draw the line, then? #ddtb
Reshared post from +George Wiman
Super-Bowl Day heresy: http://www.decrepitoldfool.com/2012/01/football-and-light-bulbs/
Embedded Link
» Football and light bulbs Decrepit Old Fool
I heard there's a big football game on today; it's an annual event where advertisers try to be so entertaining that we will actually watch their ads. There are also traditions of viewing parti…
It is one thing for a kid to play a sport because they genuinely want and like too…it is something else when parents and coaches and others live vicariously through these kids. Kids are going to do things that will hurt them…but I would rather them get hurt doing something that THEY genuinely love doing than get hurt doing something because of outside pressure.
Well, there are two things here. One is, yes, absolutely, pushing your kids into something is generally bad, and pushing them into something that will hurt them is … well, in most circumstances it would be called criminal.
But even if they are enthusiastic about the risky sport, as a parent we should at least be aware of the risks and make the appropriate command decision.
They should be aware…I agree…the sad thing is that many people don't care. Cost of doing business. :-/