Is this child abuse and hypocrisy of the worst sort? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 08-07-2006, 07:10 PM

If you come to cougarguard, say you are a sports fan, say you want to be in CP, etc.

But if you don't encourage any sports for you son, don't teach him any sports, don't sign him up for anything.

I feel bad for kids who dont' have anyone to encourage them in sports. I feel like I would have missed out on one of the best parts of life, if I hadn't gotten into sports.

Robin · 08-07-2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

If you come to cougarguard, say you are a sports fan, say you want to be in CP, etc.

But if you don't encourage any sports for you son, don't teach him any sports, don't sign him up for anything.

I feel bad for kids who dont' have anyone to encourage them in sports. I feel like I would have missed out on one of the best parts of life, if I hadn't gotten into sports.

If this is your idea of being a Godfather to my son you can forget about it. You are officially relieved of that duty, probably much to the relief of Faith, who doubted the wisdom of my asking you that favor in the first place.

MikeWaters · 08-07-2006, 08:49 PM

If you recall, I doubted it myself also. My doubts were not misplaced either.

But I am speaking in general. Parents who don't provide opportunities for their kids (music sports etc) are LAME.

Whether you think you are lame or not is up to you.

Archaea · 08-07-2006, 08:55 PM

Interesting point of debate.

However, I do think the question is interesting.

Can anybody function fairly and in a balanced fashion without an introduction to sport?

Do parents have an inherent duty in civilized society to introduce their children to sport?

Even the geekiest of parents I know, usually introduce their children to sport. In my own family, where the genetic makeup is such that success beyond peewee is anything but guaranteed.

It is odd how a family may go to great lengths to provide culture, but may abrogate introduction to sport. Balance might dictate introduction to both.

Archaea · 08-07-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

If you recall, I doubted it myself also. My doubts were not misplaced either.

But I am speaking in general. Parents who don't provide opportunities for their kids (music sports etc) are LAME.

Whether you think you are lame or not is up to you.

It may serve as a form of cultural child abuse.

MikeWaters · 08-07-2006, 09:08 PM

My dad was good at one sport. Track.

As far as I know, he really didn't play any other sports. And certainly didn't have the ability to teach them to me.

But as soon as he had the money (when I was eight) he signed me up for soccer. Then baseball, basketball, etc.

I think this was a case of a parent seeing the value of something even if he didn't really complete "get it".

I'm guessing a lot of parents (who never played sports) who dont' put their kids in sports do so out of ignorance. It just never really occurs to them. They don't see the value. Then of course there are the selfish types that don't want to be hassled with lost time for practices, driving, going to Saturday games. "I didn't have it, he'll be fine without it."

Archaea · 08-07-2006, 09:16 PM

There may be some who do so out of ignorance.

Some who do so out of lack of money.

Some who do so out of selfishness.

And a few intellectuals who think it is overemphasized.

Advantages of sport are many.

It teaches goals at a very concrete level.

It helps give self-confidence.

It makes a stronger body.

It helps with socialization.

And sometimes it helps with sacrificing for others.

Overall, life without sport would be very drole.

RockyBalboa · 08-07-2006, 09:17 PM

I agree Mike.

I'm very glad my Mom made me start taking piano at 8 years of age. It was a requirement for all 8 kids to start an instrument when they turned 8.

It was also required of us to be involved in extra activities. I loved sports, so though it was hard for my parents to support financially all of us playing they were able to pay for me to play soccer, baseball and basketball.

I often see parents who continually put their kids in harms way un-neccasrily or parents who let their kids be lazy and in my opinion it's gross and lazy negligence.

MikeWaters · 08-07-2006, 09:25 PM

I may check in with the crypt to see if I should add another rule for admission:

"If you are a parent of a child you must encourage sport, as part of healthy development. Thus fulfilling one of the missions of cougarguard which is to encourage sport, as part of the abundant life."

Robin · 08-07-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

I agree Mike.

I'm very glad my Mom made me start taking piano at 8 years of age. It was a requirement for all 8 kids to start an instrument when they turned 8.

It was also required of us to be involved in extra activities. I loved sports, so though it was hard for my parents to support financially all of us playing they were able to pay for me to play soccer, baseball and basketball.

I often see parents who continually put their kids in harms way un-neccasrily or parents who let their kids be lazy and in my opinion it's gross and lazy negligence.

Age EIGHT?? In Mike's book you just confessed to three or four years of child abuse.

08-07-2006, 07:10 PM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Is this child abuse and hypocrisy of the worst sort? If you come to cougarguard, say you are a sports fan, say you want to be in CP, etc. But if you don't encourage any sports for you son, don't teach him any sports, don't sign him up for anything. I feel bad for kids who dont' have anyone to encourage them in sports. I feel like I would have missed out on one of the best parts of life, if I hadn't gotten into sports. Last edited by MikeWaters; 08-07-2006 at 07:55 PM.

08-07-2006, 08:55 PM	#4
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	Interesting point of debate. However, I do think the question is interesting. Can anybody function fairly and in a balanced fashion without an introduction to sport? Do parents have an inherent duty in civilized society to introduce their children to sport? Even the geekiest of parents I know, usually introduce their children to sport. In my own family, where the genetic makeup is such that success beyond peewee is anything but guaranteed. It is odd how a family may go to great lengths to provide culture, but may abrogate introduction to sport. Balance might dictate introduction to both. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

08-07-2006, 09:16 PM	#7
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	There may be some who do so out of ignorance. Some who do so out of lack of money. Some who do so out of selfishness. And a few intellectuals who think it is overemphasized. Advantages of sport are many. It teaches goals at a very concrete level. It helps give self-confidence. It makes a stronger body. It helps with socialization. And sometimes it helps with sacrificing for others. Overall, life without sport would be very drole. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

08-07-2006, 09:17 PM	#8
RockyBalboa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 7,297	I agree Mike. I'm very glad my Mom made me start taking piano at 8 years of age. It was a requirement for all 8 kids to start an instrument when they turned 8. It was also required of us to be involved in extra activities. I loved sports, so though it was hard for my parents to support financially all of us playing they were able to pay for me to play soccer, baseball and basketball. I often see parents who continually put their kids in harms way un-neccasrily or parents who let their kids be lazy and in my opinion it's gross and lazy negligence. __________________ Masquerading as Cougarguards very own genius dumbass since 05'.

08-07-2006, 08:49 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	If you recall, I doubted it myself also. My doubts were not misplaced either. But I am speaking in general. Parents who don't provide opportunities for their kids (music sports etc) are LAME. Whether you think you are lame or not is up to you.

08-07-2006, 09:08 PM	#6
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	My dad was good at one sport. Track. As far as I know, he really didn't play any other sports. And certainly didn't have the ability to teach them to me. But as soon as he had the money (when I was eight) he signed me up for soccer. Then baseball, basketball, etc. I think this was a case of a parent seeing the value of something even if he didn't really complete "get it". I'm guessing a lot of parents (who never played sports) who dont' put their kids in sports do so out of ignorance. It just never really occurs to them. They don't see the value. Then of course there are the selfish types that don't want to be hassled with lost time for practices, driving, going to Saturday games. "I didn't have it, he'll be fine without it."

08-07-2006, 09:25 PM	#9
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I may check in with the crypt to see if I should add another rule for admission: "If you are a parent of a child you must encourage sport, as part of healthy development. Thus fulfilling one of the missions of cougarguard which is to encourage sport, as part of the abundant life."