tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post4738238333081445004..comments2024-03-28T18:32:05.933-04:00Comments on bensozia: Coaches are BulliesJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01037215533094998996noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-12334028598056956522019-11-15T22:02:04.532-05:002019-11-15T22:02:04.532-05:00Humm.
I... think there are other components in th...Humm.<br /><br />I... think there are other components in the mix.<br /><br />I say this at a particular moment in time. Miriam Baer (she's on the internet if you are interested) was a *very* tough coach. She just died. She coached all three of my children, and certainly her reputation is for "telling it like it is."<br /><br />Miriam cared a lot about winning. <br /><br />But that was not the only thing she cared about. She cared about people. She was a truly wild person who cared about independence. She had no desire to control or own anybody. But for people who aren't born to a lot of resources, the kind of work Miriam inspired could have a very real, and very positive impact.<br /><br />When I had Achilles Tendon surgery at the beginning of the year and could not walk fot several weeks, *only* Miriam showed up at my house with food.<br /><br />She had many faults and foibles, and she was not a patient person. But if she was putting kids through boot-camp style training... it wasn't to break them down. It was to build them up.<br /><br />She gave great smiles when she was pleased. <br /><br />I wouldn't want a *controlling* coach. But a tough coach who loved and cared about my progress? That... I would love.Katyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-81978566858447957192019-11-15T11:05:23.239-05:002019-11-15T11:05:23.239-05:00I used to think that a nicer world would be in eve...<i>I used to think that a nicer world would be in every way a better world. I am still a fan of niceness but I now realize that not everyone feels the same way, and the many people believe harshness and cruelty are necessary to create some of the wonders that make our world an exciting place to live.</i><br /><br />Oh no! So if we don't brutalize people, then we won't have "wonders" like people who are real good at running very quickly? The horror!<br /><br />And if we don't send millions of young men to die senselessly and horribly in the mud and trenches, then we won't have "glory" and "honor" like you can only get from war!<br /><br />There's always <i>some</i> excuse for cruel and horrible people being cruel and horrible. There's always something or another they hold aloft as a desireable outcome that supposedly justifies their hideousness - and it's almost always framed as being "natural" or "necessary" or "to maintain order" or "for your own good" or "for the good of society" or even just "the will of God".<br /><br />Don't you see? We <i>have to</i> keep the vote out of the hands of women! We <i>have to</i> sends gays to conversion camps! We <i>have to</i> practice slavery! We have to maintain apartheid! We <i>have to</i> occupy the West Bank! We <i>have to</i> send dissidents to the camps! We <i>have to</i> put children in cages because their parents legally applied for asylum! It's the natural way / necessary / to maintain order / for their own good / for the good of society / the will of God!<br /><br />Don't you get it? We have to abuse young atheletes, because sports is too important! I mean, could you imagine if we didn't abuse people, and then they maybe didn't do the sports as good as they maybe might have otherwise? It's <i>vitally</i> important that people engage in recreational activities at the height of human potential! If human dignity and fundamental wellbeing are the price of making sports numbers get bigger, then it's clear we have a moral obligation to the numbers!G. Verlorennoreply@blogger.com