[QUOTE=Cain]I honestly think the childhood sports culture is incredibly unhealthy for kids, the way it's pursued and the way it dominates family life.[/QUOTE]

I can tell you that from experience. My little league soccer days were a god d[size=2]a[/size]mn nightmare.

[QUOTE=Cain]Well, what I meant by that was an unhealthy emphasis on winning, competition, from a very early age and not developing other, more creative and useful talents as a result of a childhood where winning was everything not just to my team but also to my parents. I honestly think the childhood sports culture is incredibly unhealthy for kids, the way it's pursued and the way it dominates family life. I would likely never have played guitar, drew, or wrote as much as I did with the time devoted to it that I did if I was one of these soccer stars or basketball stars. I probably would have gotten laid by ninth grade, been more spoiled, had a completely different set of values and would not have the aspirations I'm proud to have today, based on the town cultures I grew up in which celebrated that kind of skill.

I'm not an athlete, simple as that. And I'm eternally grateful to my parents for not insisting that I develop in that direction, instead allowing me to pursue the things that I knew I liked and that I wanted. I love who I am right now and its a direct result of not being involved with what every other kid was involved in. That's just me, not you. :)[/QUOTE]

I dunno, I can't explain why I like playing sports, either...it's just the feeling I would get when I set foot on a court or a field along with a team, the thrill of competing...I'm not sure, it's hard to explain. Either you get that spark or you don't. It was just really exciting for me. I loved the atmosphere and I loved the sport(s). It was all so electric and unpredictable, like anything was possible when I was playing. Meh. It's hard for me to put into words.

But I don't think it crippled my development or anything.

Maybe it was just the environment I grew up in. I think I put more pressure on myself than my mom and stepdad did.

[QUOTE=Steerpike]I can tell you that from experience. My little league soccer days were a god d[size=2]a[/size]mn nightmare.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. I was one of those kids where every single gym class was a fu[size=2]c[/size]king trial-by-fire. I tried my best, but everyone else was just better. I had no real sense of what my body was capable of and wasn't coordinated in using it to perform athletic feats of physical brilliance like other kids.

I consoled myself with the knowledge that everybody I knew that excelled at sports were also elitist, rich assholes.

EDIT: Ray, I was suggesting that given who I am, it would have been bad for me to pursue sports on the obsessive levels my peers did. I'm positive it's good for you, and I'm in no way speaking out against sports in general. I'm sorry if I was lumping you into a category, I didn't mean to. It's just that the environment I grew up in and the way I was raised just didn't fit the athlete mold. I was never a sports hero and I'm glad for it, because I have all other sorts of positive things going for me because I sacrificed a few years of social acceptance, and "coolness." Suddenly, it seemed like people never knew that I was good at drawing, good at writing, good at history, good at guitar, good at a lot of stuff that I mostly cultivated in hermit-like conditions in my room. When I was finally ready to be all social and stuff, I had a lot of self-applied education to fall back on and to stop me from being an arrogant prick. And in my town, sports proficiency = rich, spoiled, elitist prick. So, meh. I just grew up the way I feel I was meant to.

Anyways, I just saw the special edition of "Aliens." It rules so much.

[QUOTE=Illmatic]I dunno, I can't explain why I like playing sports, either...it's just the feeling I would get when I set foot on a court or a field along with a team, the thrill of competing...I'm not sure, it's hard to explain. Either you get that spark or you don't. It was just really exciting for me. I loved the atmosphere and I loved the sport(s). It was all so electric and unpredictable, like anything was possible when I was playing. Meh. It's hard for me to put into words.

But I don't think it crippled my development or anything.[/QUOTE]

What do you like to play?

[QUOTE=Taste_My_Scythe]What do you like to play?[/QUOTE]

Nowadays it's mainly basketball and baseball, but since it's harder to play pickup baseball, mostly just basketball. I actually do enjoy golf, but I have no idea where to play it--my family can't afford to join a country club.

Next summer I'll probably join a Saturday morning softball league or something.

[QUOTE=Illmatic]Nowadays it's mainly basketball and baseball, but since it's harder to play pickup baseball, mostly just basketball. I actually do enjoy golf, but I have no idea where to play it--my family can't afford to join a country club.

Next summer I'll probably join a Saturday morning softball league or something.[/QUOTE]

*nods* I used to play basketball. Didn't like it too much. I liked the sport, but I hated my team. Both the coach's daughters were on it. :evil:

[QUOTE=Cain]Yeah. I was one of those kids where every single gym class was a fu[size=2]c[/size]king trial-by-fire. I tried my best, but everyone else was just better. I had no real sense of what my body was capable of and wasn't coordinated in using it to perform athletic feats of physical brilliance like other kids.

I consoled myself with the knowledge that everybody I knew that excelled at sports were also elitist, rich assholes.[/QUOTE]

My problem with gym class was that to these kids, it wasn't just getting together and having a friendly competition. Their idea of fun was based on how violent they could make the game. And being the small, skinny bookworm meant I was everybody's punching bag. I actually got used as a decoy in football sometimes.

When I started taking martial arts, that just made things worse. I didn't want ot fight anybody, but they all wanted ot prove that their "street fighting" was superior in every way to martial arts and wouldn't stop trying to challenge me to fights.

As for the soccer thing... it was the other parents. They were even more viciously competitive than the kids. They would actually have to be pulled off the field by the coach to stop them from screaming at their kids for screwing up a play.

My uncle was in one of those softball leagues. It was pretty sad when I went to his games when I was on vacation...He lives in this white trash/rich white neighborhood, and he's Korean(adopted) and you could really sense the tension between him and his teammates. I wouldn't call it outright racism, but the guys were dicks to him. I guess it was like that for him all his life though...I like him, he's a cool guy. :D

[QUOTE=Steerpike]My problem with gym class was that to these kids, it wasn't just getting together and having a friendly competition. Their idea of fun was based on how violent they could make the game. And being the small, skinny bookworm meant I was everybody's punching bag. I actually got used as a decoy in football sometimes.

When I started taking martial arts, that just made things worse. I didn't want ot fight anybody, but they all wanted ot prove that their "street fighting" was superior in every way to martial arts and wouldn't stop trying to challenge me to fights.

As for the soccer thing... it was the other parents. They were even more viciously competitive than the kids. They would actually have to be pulled off the field by the coach to stop them from screaming at their kids for screwing up a play.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. The reason I never got into sports was because I never found them fun to play. I took martial arts as well and just got laughed at. I got 'em back though. I kicked this *******'s *** in ninth grade, because I knew how to punch and the only thing fight-starters know how to do is shove. This kid was being an idiot and I got pissed, so I shoved him back (he had started it), and then he pushed me backwards, continuosly. I just reached over his arms and punched him in the side of the head until he quit. I was branded "the ***-kicker" for a day. It was a small victory. :evil:

That poor kid got so unpopular and overweight after I beat him up, though. Apparently the shame of getting whooped by a former social stigmatic like me was too much to bear. :p

I don't know what that had to do with anything, but hey.

I never punched back. I refused to become like those troglodytes.

Though after the Columbine tragedy, their attacks decreased dramatically. They probably all figured that I was going to snap one of these days and they'd be the first to go.

[QUOTE=Steerpike]
When I started taking martial arts, that just made things worse. I didn't want ot fight anybody, but they all wanted ot prove that their "street fighting" was superior in every way to martial arts and wouldn't stop trying to challenge me to fights.
[/QUOTE]

You took martial arts? Cool. What style?
I hate going to competitions here. It's not an art anymore; just a business. The judges all know eachother, and give higher scores to the kids from the school of the dude sitting next to them. Our school does really well considering all this, but sometimes it's really hard on them when they know they've done anything right.
I was watching a continuous fight and there was no control whatsoever. The judges were letting the bigger guy beat the living sh[SIZE=2]i[/SIZE]t out of the smaller guy. They weren't doing anything. :evil: My friends wanted to compete in that; everyone was glad they didn't show up.
:lol: I was standing right on the line of the ring, watching the guys. My mom was freaking out, she thought I was going to get crushed.

[QUOTE=Taste_My_Scythe]You took martial arts? Cool. What style?[/QUOTE]

I started out in Tae Kwan Do, but moved on to Shaolin Kung-Fu.

I'm trying to find a way to study Ninjutsu and San Soo.

Cain- Social Stigmatic. Album name! :lol:

Alex- I never punch back either. I just try to avoid fights all together. :shrug: Except for fighting with my friends on trampolines. That's fun.

That was the only fight I've been in. I'm not trying to come off as some mighty champion of the oppressed or anything. :p

[QUOTE=Steerpike]I started out in Tae Kwan Do, but moved on to Shaolin Kung-Fu.

I'm trying to find a way to study Ninjutsu and San Soo.[/QUOTE]

Awesome. My dad originally has his black belt in Muay Thai kickboxing. That stuff is cool. :thumb:

[QUOTE=Dr. Jake Destructo]
Alex- I never punch back either. I just try to avoid fights all together. :shrug: Except for fighting with my friends on trampolines. That's fun.[/QUOTE]

That is fun as hell. I've done it before. We fit eight people in our trampoline and it was really painful. It was like moshing, only not.

[quote=Lots of people]/sports and fighting discussion[/quote]

I've played sports my whole life, and when I can still find them fun while remaining competitive, that just shows sports' longetivity for me personally. Not everyone is into sport, and that's cool. It's just that when you start with soccer and T-ball (:cool:[font=])[/font] at age four, and then continuing to play hardball years later, it's just good. And shut the hell up, baseball is indeed a sport. You try hitting a 90mph fastball the other way if you're so doubtful.

And, usually there's a sport for everyone in one way or another, be it contact or non-contact. A majority of the sports I've played growing up are contact sports: baseball, football, wrestling, and basketball. Was colliding with another person in pads at full speed fun? Sure, unless you were on the receiving end :)

Football for me was simple, because I had a simple job: make initial contact and drive the person across from you off the line of scrimmage and on his as[font=]s, and on defense, free your hands and find the ball.[/font] I didn't have to worry about finding a hole as a back or covering some speedy receiver, I was there to make contact, not pus[font=]syfoot around, heh.[/font]

Wrestling was absolutely the most exhausting sport I've ever done, because it drains you both mentally and physically. In the span of three short rounds, you have to learn your opponent's strengths and weaknesses while trying to stick with your gameplan. It rivals boxing, except you're making a whole bunch more contact and aerial manuvering than just blasting the person across from you with your fists. Your plan changes in the matter of seconds, depending on how fast/slow, strong/weak the opponent is.

In basketball, all I did was box the other big men out, shoot in the paint, take charges, and get rebounds. I didn't shoot threes. Anything behind the arc? Yeah, it's a miracle if I make one. But it was good.

Sometimes, it feels good to pop someone on the playing field. When I fouled in basketball, I made darn sure it was a hard foul, and not a ticky-tack BS call.

I think the reason why I've essentially enjoyed sports my whole life (aside from the losses, injuries, and horrific memories) is also because I know I'm doing something worthwhile. Yeah, you learn some social skills, and yeah, you have the possibility of making friendships along the way. But when all that and having a competitive drive coalesce together, you usually get something fun.

Again, it doesn't pan out with everyone, but that's just my take on it.

As for fighting, well... I really don't go out looking for fistfights. That's not me. But if I have to defend myself, well, I'll make sure the other person doesn't draw blood. Or something. Heh.

I've never gotten in a fight before. I've never even punched anyone. I'm sure if I tried I could kick someone's a[B][I][/B][/I]ss though. On the last day of school last year I should have kicked everyone's a[B][I][/B][/I]ss, because I hated everyone there. The only reason I didn't was because I was exhuasted and just wanted to go home. As[B][I][/B][/I]sholes kept hitting me with necklaces and sh[B][I][/B][/I]it, and I should have just busted those motherfu[B][I][/B][/I]ckers, but they would have had a 20 against 1 on me. I probably could have handled it if I tried, though, maybe. :amaze: I also knew that the backstabbing bastards would probably tell on me for beating them up, even though they do it all the time. :upset:

[QUOTE=Jom] And shut the hell up, baseball is indeed a sport.
[/QUOTE]

My theory on weather a sport is a sport has a few parts.

1. Some natural talent is involved, its not something you can just be taught and me amazing at it.
2. You have to be athletic to play it.
3. It has to be you against something, not you against yourself. What I mean by that is that, the opposition can stop you from reaching your goal, its not just you against yourself.

If it passes all those tests it is a sport.

Sooo...

Baseball = Sport
Football = Sport
Hockey = Sport
Basketball = Sport
Tennis = Sport
Soccer = Sport
Golf = Not a Sport
NECKCAR = Not a sport
Bowling = Not a Sport
Pool = Not a Sport

Etc...

[QUOTE=Jom]And shut the hell up, baseball is indeed a sport. [/QUOTE]

I used to love baseball. I was rooting for the Marlins when the won the World Series in 97. Then the jerkoff sold all the best players and I stopped liking them. Until I watched them play again and they won again.

[QUOTE=Jom]Was colliding with another person in pads at full speed fun? Sure, unless you were on the receiving end :)

Football for me was simple, because I had a simple job: make initial contact and drive the person across from you off the line of scrimmage and on his as[font=]s, and on defense, free your hands and find the ball.[/font] I didn't have to worry about finding a hole as a back or covering some speedy receiver, I was there to make contact, not pus[font=]syfoot around, heh.[/font][/QUOTE]

Football is great. I love playing at the park with my friends. I'm always QB. :thumb: It's the only sport I can really play, I think. I suck at Soccer, though I love watching it; especially Brasil. Baseball I've never tried to play in my life; only catch.

[QUOTE=Taste_My_Scythe]Football is great. I love playing at the park with my friends. I'm always QB. :thumb:[/QUOTE]

All the boys are like "Leahs playing touch football at the park". BLITZ!!!111!!!

[QUOTE=Byzantine]All the boys are like "Leahs playing touch football at the park". BLITZ!!!111!!![/QUOTE]

:lol: I'm the only one that gets "touched", everone else tries to be tough and play tackle.
Yeah right. I'd beat the sh[SIZE=2]i[/SIZE]t out of them and they know I can too. Who [I]are[/I] you? People keep changing their names and it confuses the hell out of me.

He's R. Blythe.

[QUOTE=Taste_My_Scythe]:lol: Yeah right. I'd beat the sh[SIZE=2]i[/SIZE]t out of them and they know I can too. Who [I]are[/I] you? People keep changing their names and it confuses the hell out of me.[/QUOTE]

R.Blythe

Why does this happen when I copy and paste my post count.

Posts: 2,208 Byzantine has a spectacular aura aboutByzantine has a spectacular aura aboutByzantine has a spectacular aura about

Foot bag("Hackey sack" :rolleyes: ) is my sport :cool: Everyone tries to say that it is a "stoner" thing, but no stoner could do the things that me and my friends back in Virginia could do.

I also have a love of playing soccer(especially juggling), but I cant stand how coaches try to run teams in high school, so I only do recreational soccer.

[QUOTE=Byzantine]R.Blythe

Why does this happen when I copy and paste my post count.

Posts: 2,208 Byzantine has a spectacular aura aboutByzantine has a spectacular aura aboutByzantine has a spectacular aura about[/QUOTE]

It's to do with rep points. It's invisible text, centred around that bit of the screen. I'd guess you're using Firefox as a browser?

[QUOTE=Byzantine]R.Blythe
[/QUOTE]

Ah, ok.

Speaking of girls playing football? What the hell is the big deal? Some friends and a couple girls and I were playing football down at a beach, and these guys drove around maybe 5 times honking and wolf whistling and they even opened the car door. :confused: I don't get it about girls and sports.

[QUOTE=Bartender]It's to do with rep points. It's invisible text, centred around that bit of the screen. I'd guess you're using Firefox as a browser?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, whats the point of it though. Did Jeremy do that on purpose or does the server or VBulliten or whatever automatically do it?

Posts: 21,009 Bartender has disabled reputation :confused:

I have -36 rep why would it say I have a "spectacular aura"?

Field hockey players wear really short skirts.

[QUOTE=Blythe]Yeah, whats the point of it though. Did Jeremy do that on purpose or does the server or VBulliten or whatever automatically do it?[/QUOTE]

Before rep points and the star system became popular and instantly recognizable, there were funny little green and grey dots below everybody's username. Green made "'Ripper22 is on his way to greatness" come up, grey came up with what you've got. Those dots were disabled soon after, but apparently a relic of them still exists. The dots were gone by the time stars showed up.

[QUOTE=Cain]Field hockey players wear really short skirts.[/QUOTE]

Volleyball players wear no underwear, and spandex. :naughty:

[QUOTE=Cain]Field hockey players wear really short skirts.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Byzantine] Volleyball players wear no underwear, and spandex. :naughty: [/QUOTE]


:lol: I give up.

[QUOTE=Byzantine]Volleyball players wear no underwear, and spandex. :naughty:[/QUOTE]

Why don't they wear underwear? Not even thongs? That's incredible/awesome.

Quick change of topic to the blatantly sexual: if a hint of a thong or some other skimpy underwear is present, is that a turn-on or a turn-off for you guys? Because I don't like it if it's clear the girl is being a slut, but if one of these girls is using it for their subtle sexual attractiveness in addition to practical use, and they genuinely don't seem to see that it's showing a little...man, thongs come right after boobs on the superficial attractiveness scale. IMO of course.

I grew up playing soccer. I even played basketball when I moved to Norway. They were AWFUL at it, so I was able to do pretty well even though I suck.

[QUOTE=Cain]Why don't they wear underwear? Not even thongs? That's incredible/awesome.

Quick change of topic to the blatantly sexual: if a hint of a thong or some other skimpy underwear is present, is that a turn-on or a turn-off for you guys? Because I don't like it if it's clear the girl is being a slut, but if one of these girls is using it for their subtle sexual attractiveness in addition to practical use, and they genuinely don't seem to see that it's showing a little...man, thongs come right after boobs on the superficial attractiveness scale. IMO of course.[/QUOTE]

I guess they dont feel the need to wear underwear with spandex, plus it would be way obvious.

I love love it when a little thong is showing, but when they are just begging for attention it turns me way off. And when they are fat.

I also have a wierd thing for boyshorts, they are a huge turn on.

[QUOTE=Cain]Why don't they wear underwear? Not even thongs? That's incredible/awesome..

Quick change of topic to the blatantly sexual: if a hint of a thong or some other skimpy underwear is present, is that a turn-on or a turn-off for you guys? Because I don't like it if it's clear the girl is being a slut, but if one of these girls is using it for their subtle sexual attractiveness in addition to practical use, and they genuinely don't seem to see that it's showing a little...man, thongs come right after boobs on the superficial attractiveness scale. IMO of course.[/QUOTE]

I find it to be a big turn on. Unless the girl is a plus-sizer, then it's not so nice.

[QUOTE=Byzantine]Yeah, whats the point of it though. Did Jeremy do that on purpose or does the server or VBulliten or whatever automatically do it?

Posts: 21,009 Bartender has disabled reputation :confused:
[/QUOTE]

I've not done anything to disable reputation, that I'm aware of. Possibly because I'm a mod. I think it 's automatic, but I'm not sure.

[QUOTE=Byzantine]I have -36 rep why would it say I have a "spectacular aura"?[/QUOTE]

I have no idea.

Ehhh, yeah. That last bit's not so good.

My girlfriend won't wear thongs. :mad: She says she gets wedgies in the wrong places. I told her to suck it up and get used to it because that was the only way I'd continue to be happy dating her.

Not the best tactic, as you can imagine. :upset:

[QUOTE=Cain]Why don't they wear underwear? Not even thongs? That's incredible/awesome.

Quick change of topic to the blatantly sexual: if a hint of a thong or some other skimpy underwear is present, is that a turn-on or a turn-off for you guys? Because I don't like it if it's clear the girl is being a slut, but if one of these girls is using it for their subtle sexual attractiveness in addition to practical use, and they genuinely don't seem to see that it's showing a little...man, thongs come right after boobs on the superficial attractiveness scale. IMO of course.[/QUOTE]

The only sporting events I attend at my school are girls volleyball.

:)

My girlfriend wears them when I am coming over, just because she knows that I love them. :)

I got my Ibanez back from the shop \:D/

I'm a happy man once again.

[QUOTE=Byzantine]
I also have a wierd thing for boyshorts, they are a huge turn on.[/QUOTE]

those are comfortable.

[QUOTE=Mister Blue Sky]I got my Ibanez back from the shop \:D/

I'm a happy man once again.[/QUOTE]

Sweet! How long were you without it?