The Commonwealth Games
Games. Idle amusements we usually reserve for those times after all our necessary work is done.
Commonwealth. A suggestion that all the goodies get shared among all the people.
Both seem to be particularly out of place in describing this expensive circus which has invaded my chosen city for the next ten days.
In all honesty, I have to declare my personal distaste of the idolatry directed toward athletes in this country. Yes, people are born with differing abilities, some of them with particular body shapes and muscle arrangements which make them suitable for particular sporting events. Some of those people may even be born into situations where those particular traits are recognised, and nurtured. Of this lucky group, some may become better at their individual pursuits than those against whom they compete. A few of this ever diminishing group may have the contacts and good fortune to be able to devote a great deal of their time toward being the fastest, strongest, or most able to whack a little ball with a stick into a net.
I am still surprised that people can become so excited by people being good at something they spend their entire life practising for. They are born with the right body, they are given the best training, they spend hours of their day, days of their week, and most weeks of their year honing their ability. And then they compete. Sometimes they win. Sometimes they don't. When they do, should we be surprised? When they don't, should we be surprised? There is always someone with a slightly better build, a slightly more effective metabolism, a slightly more constructive training schedule, or style.
I have no problem with people enjoying sport, "healthy competition". But I don't idolise those people who become so obsessed with what should be a hobby that it consumes their entire lives at the expense of balance.
There is a name for disorders of this nature. We usually refer to it as addiction.
Commonwealth. A suggestion that all the goodies get shared among all the people.
Both seem to be particularly out of place in describing this expensive circus which has invaded my chosen city for the next ten days.
In all honesty, I have to declare my personal distaste of the idolatry directed toward athletes in this country. Yes, people are born with differing abilities, some of them with particular body shapes and muscle arrangements which make them suitable for particular sporting events. Some of those people may even be born into situations where those particular traits are recognised, and nurtured. Of this lucky group, some may become better at their individual pursuits than those against whom they compete. A few of this ever diminishing group may have the contacts and good fortune to be able to devote a great deal of their time toward being the fastest, strongest, or most able to whack a little ball with a stick into a net.
I am still surprised that people can become so excited by people being good at something they spend their entire life practising for. They are born with the right body, they are given the best training, they spend hours of their day, days of their week, and most weeks of their year honing their ability. And then they compete. Sometimes they win. Sometimes they don't. When they do, should we be surprised? When they don't, should we be surprised? There is always someone with a slightly better build, a slightly more effective metabolism, a slightly more constructive training schedule, or style.
I have no problem with people enjoying sport, "healthy competition". But I don't idolise those people who become so obsessed with what should be a hobby that it consumes their entire lives at the expense of balance.
There is a name for disorders of this nature. We usually refer to it as addiction.
posted by The Last Scientician at 10:37 PM
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