Let me explain what I'm talking about. As of awhile now, at least going back several decades, it's starting to seem like the innovation and ambition that at one time made America a powerful country, is gone and nothing but a candle's flame now. One such problem I think we have, is the "so long as you had fun" mentality.
Say you're in a race for a Triathlon, you don't do so hot, and you don't place highly, but you get a medal and a trophy for "participation." I believe this sort of mentality is making this country weaker, we're telling our kids and they're telling their kids that so long as you try your best and have fun, that everything will be given to you because you tried. Instead of actually going out and working hard and practicing and getting back out there, and getting what you want through determination and effort, you can instead put in less of that and get the same result because we don't want anyone feeling excluded or down and out.
So, do you all think that we and most likely many other countries have an issue with rewarding participation instead of actual hard work and diligence?
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Dunno bout the US, but with sports in NZ you have competitive teams and non competitive teams. For cricket we have, Prems, A's, B's, and reserves. I float around in the A's and B's because I'm competitive - and anything in those grades is a competitive environment where people play to win. Reserves is for people who... well suck, or just wanna play for fun - and you get some really outstanding players in that grade occasionally because they don't feel like playing in such a 'winning is everything' environment. I sometimes play in the low grade because it's easy which makes it fun, but there is no pressure about winning or losing because people don't really care. So I guess it simply depends on what grade you play in. At the end of the day, if you aren't having fun then why are you playing?