Here we are at the end of a somewhat hectic week, in which I got only 3 hours of sleep on Thursday night. I was marking papers and wanted to have them finished to hand back on Friday. Mission completion! Felt good to have them finished.
I have applied and worn make-up to a social outing 3 times this week. How is this possible? It's a good thing, since all three outings were nice gatherings.
For any and all that may be wondering, I have located the male, competitive ego. It hadn't gone far, I just hadn't encountered it in a social event recently. I have of course spotted it lurking around the classroom at work, but that is to be expected since I teach a physical education course.
Where I didn't expect to find it was at a gathering of Barry's recreational baseball teammates. Two of them actually began arguing over thier respective sons' baseball teams. I thought it was going to come to blows at one point, which is just ridiculous to me. There was a serious discussion going on in the corner of the room and I thought I would go over to say hi in order to basically give the one man a out of the conversation. There are certain people one just needs to only be in conversation with for just so long before they can't take it any more.
When I got over there I realized by the tones of voice and pace of discussion that it was not just serious, but a heated debate that was teetering on argument and fisticuffs. I had not yet said hello, but it was too late I was trapped in testosterone corner. I had been seen and was in a position that I would have to cross the path of the argument in order to get out. Not good. I decided to blend into the corner the best that I could and attempt not to draw any attention.
The argument boiled down to one guy, whose child is capable and interested in playing at a higher level, wants to get a release (which I think is an idea and regulation that is antiquated in this day and age) from the local community to do so. The other guy, says that he is on the side of the smaller community, but what he is really upset about is his own ego that he has extended to his son's ability to play ball. Guy # 2 or "jealous man", uses every round about and slippery slope argument that he can think of, but in the end says that the conversation is "rubbing him the wrong way" and goes to make a pool shot. Guy #1 or "supportive father", then looks at his brother (who has come over to see what is going on) and gives a shrug, an I don't know face and a hand motion I think to let his brother know that it would be OK. Jealous man then drops the pool cue onto the tabel and tells them, "Not while I'm shooting, and uses it to escalate the situation to a near fist fight. Everyone tells them to stop and that they are fighting over 12 year old baseball. In the mean time the argument deteriorates into "Why shouldn't my son be exposed to better caliber ball if he's capable, he could get looked at." and the real conclusion that Jealous guy has come to and the actual reason he is upset "You think you're better than us." Having known both of them for 8 years, I can state with pretty good certainty that Supportive Father never once said or intended anything of the like, it is but the fragile, extremely competitive ego of Jealous Man that allows him to take the smallest little thing and twist it into something meant to disrespect and put him down.
This situation sheds light, not just on the male ego, but the state of children's sports today (especially any sport that could lead to a professional career). The fact that communities have instituted rules requiring a release form to be signed in order to play in a different community for baseball, as well as hockey, is about the organization's need to win , even if to the detriment of the children, and the parents' desire and hope that they are raising the next superstar. What are we teaching our children? Are they commodities to be bought, sold and traded without their own input in the matter? Are children to be giving up genuine opportunity so that their community can win? If a child is capable to play at a higher level, do they not deserve the opportunity to do so, or should they learn to squelch their talents and dreams at an early age? This is the exact type of situation that is part of the reason that baseball has lost participants in droves over the last 15 years. When it is more about parents playing politics than it is about fun, children sense this and stop playing. Wondering why the sport you love is languishing? Look to the behaviour of yourself and other parents for the answer first.
Other than the end of the evening, it was a pretty good night. I got to talk to a number of people that I haven't seen in a while and that was good.
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