I Wonder Why This Number Is Rising So...
Politics0 min ago
Honours To Wrong People?
Plans are afoot to lavish honours on Team GBs medalists in Rio. They did very well of course, but they're blessed with great ability, do what they love most, have a fine life, earn millions and get pampered and revered. I just don't feel their contributions to life is a patch on those of doctors, nurses, soldiers, sailors, airmen, paramedics....and I consider them all way more deserving. What do you think?
Answers
What Team GB have done is amazing, but I don't think people should get a medal for winning a medal. Yes, they've had years of hard work and sacrifice to get where they are, but they did it for themselves, not the country.
19:17 Mon 22nd Aug 2016
// Call me old fashioned but I think sports stars shouldn't get an honour//
not so much old fashioned as forgetful - didnt that man of the people Harold WIlson give those four lovable mop heads ( the beatles ) MBEs ?
more old fashioned ?
when the whole thing was invented
didnt Lloyd George ( ' The Old Goat') ask Maundy Gregory 1915
what can we get for an OBE ?
and Maundy Gregory replied '£500'
( yeah yeah I know I will trigger responses like- Morning Who-gorry ?? by the bucket full
and "Lloyd Huge hooze he when he's at home ?" )
not so much old fashioned as forgetful - didnt that man of the people Harold WIlson give those four lovable mop heads ( the beatles ) MBEs ?
more old fashioned ?
when the whole thing was invented
didnt Lloyd George ( ' The Old Goat') ask Maundy Gregory 1915
what can we get for an OBE ?
and Maundy Gregory replied '£500'
( yeah yeah I know I will trigger responses like- Morning Who-gorry ?? by the bucket full
and "Lloyd Huge hooze he when he's at home ?" )
Honours for taking part in a sport of one's own choosing are clearly absurd, but I am even more concerned about the debasement of the language that seems to accompany being skilful and winning contests because of that skill.
A 'hero' is someone who puts his/her own life in jeopardy for the sake of someone else; Mo Farah, for example, is a very good runner over certain distances...nothing else...he's not a 'hero' and nor is any other Olympic athlete!
A 'hero' is someone who puts his/her own life in jeopardy for the sake of someone else; Mo Farah, for example, is a very good runner over certain distances...nothing else...he's not a 'hero' and nor is any other Olympic athlete!
QM )good afternoon by the way!) - you echoed exactly my position which I posted on the thread about homecoming parades for 'heroes'.
It is debasement of a term through media scatter gunning, and I tend to agree that sport achievement should not attract a civic honour which should be the preserve of those who have served the nation specifically,, over and above their accepted remit.
It is debasement of a term through media scatter gunning, and I tend to agree that sport achievement should not attract a civic honour which should be the preserve of those who have served the nation specifically,, over and above their accepted remit.
Peter Pedant - //// Call me old fashioned but I think sports stars shouldn't get an honour//
not so much old fashioned as forgetful - didnt that man of the people Harold WIlson give those four lovable mop heads ( the beatles ) MBEs ? //
If memory serves, the Mops were awarded for services to British exports - and that seems perfectly valid to me, given the climate of the time.
not so much old fashioned as forgetful - didnt that man of the people Harold WIlson give those four lovable mop heads ( the beatles ) MBEs ? //
If memory serves, the Mops were awarded for services to British exports - and that seems perfectly valid to me, given the climate of the time.
Vulcan - I would not presume to speak for my learned friend, but personally, I think of a hero as someone who has been brave - and that is a matter of perception rather than definition.
As for being a 'role model' - I personally dislike that term because it infers that because someone is successful in their chosen profession or skill, they are obliged to live a certain way in order to influence others. I think that is unreasonable pressure on anyone.
I would also be seriously wary of connecting sportsmen and women with the notion of 'role modelling', given the murky depths to which some of them sink in order to win, and attain the attendant huge financial rewards.
As for being a 'role model' - I personally dislike that term because it infers that because someone is successful in their chosen profession or skill, they are obliged to live a certain way in order to influence others. I think that is unreasonable pressure on anyone.
I would also be seriously wary of connecting sportsmen and women with the notion of 'role modelling', given the murky depths to which some of them sink in order to win, and attain the attendant huge financial rewards.
Every dictionary I've checked has a similar definition Vulcan, so you'd think we could lay this 'why are they incorrectly called heroes?' thing
to rest, as an olympic medal winner would certainly match those definitions.
Anyone who disagrees should probably take it up directly with the people who write the dictionaries, rather than argue it out on Ab.
to rest, as an olympic medal winner would certainly match those definitions.
Anyone who disagrees should probably take it up directly with the people who write the dictionaries, rather than argue it out on Ab.
Ludwig - //Anyone who disagrees should probably take it up directly with the people who write the dictionaries, rather than argue it out on Ab. //
My disagreement is purely a matter of personal perception - I am not saying that everyone should not use the term 'hero' for sportspeople, only that it doesn't sit well with me, but hey, I can live with it!
My disagreement is purely a matter of personal perception - I am not saying that everyone should not use the term 'hero' for sportspeople, only that it doesn't sit well with me, but hey, I can live with it!
The point is, Vulcan and Ludwig, that dictionaries print "debased" meanings of words as well as the original meanings. In Greek, for example, a hero was a man renowned for superhuman strength, courage or ability, effectively a demi-god. (That's according to the Oxford English Dictionary.) Clearly, no human athlete ever did anything 'superhuman'.
I totally agree with Andy about the stupidity of assigning role-model status to any supreme sportsman, simply because
a) far too may of them have "feet of clay" and
b) why should anyone accept such a role thrust upon them willy-nilly by others?
I totally agree with Andy about the stupidity of assigning role-model status to any supreme sportsman, simply because
a) far too may of them have "feet of clay" and
b) why should anyone accept such a role thrust upon them willy-nilly by others?
Quizmonster - //I totally agree with Andy about the stupidity of assigning role-model status to any supreme sportsman, simply because
a) far too may of them have "feet of clay" and
b) why should anyone accept such a role thrust upon them willy-nilly by others? //
The same applies with pop stars.
I remember Paul McCartney being questioned by a national newspaper journalist about smoking cannabis, and the journalist telling Mr McCartney that he had a 'responsibility' to his fans. Mr McCartney was quick enough to retort that it was the journalist who had the responsibility, not him and that he, Mr McCartney, would not tell anyone, and the journalist should agree to do the same!
Ironically, when the press do get a genuine 'role model' - they denigrate them from here to wazzoo and back!
Look at Amy Winehouse, pilloried through life, and scoffed at in death, when in fact, she was a twenty-four carat gold 'role model' for young people. Simply show a picture of her a month before she died, with the caption 'This is what heroin and alcohol do to you kids ...' - job done!
But no - they only want to moan at 'role models who are living their lives, and deviating from the media 'role'. nonsense!
a) far too may of them have "feet of clay" and
b) why should anyone accept such a role thrust upon them willy-nilly by others? //
The same applies with pop stars.
I remember Paul McCartney being questioned by a national newspaper journalist about smoking cannabis, and the journalist telling Mr McCartney that he had a 'responsibility' to his fans. Mr McCartney was quick enough to retort that it was the journalist who had the responsibility, not him and that he, Mr McCartney, would not tell anyone, and the journalist should agree to do the same!
Ironically, when the press do get a genuine 'role model' - they denigrate them from here to wazzoo and back!
Look at Amy Winehouse, pilloried through life, and scoffed at in death, when in fact, she was a twenty-four carat gold 'role model' for young people. Simply show a picture of her a month before she died, with the caption 'This is what heroin and alcohol do to you kids ...' - job done!
But no - they only want to moan at 'role models who are living their lives, and deviating from the media 'role'. nonsense!
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