Does fame really give you responsibility?

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

As for the Olympic athlete well the whole they are ambassadors stuff I heard that all the time in the military. So I will take that concept from my own experience while I was in. I was stationed in Japan and so often the upper chain of command would drone on and on about being good ambassadors. Well I signed up to do my job as a Sonar Tech. I didn't sign up to do foreign relations. So if I am human and mess up that should not be held to any higher standard then any one anywhere else in the world. I feel the same with Olympians they are paid to put on a show and to do the best they possibly can in their chosen sport. Why should they be expected to be saints? If that is the case I believe we owe these people a LOT more money for the burdens we are putting on them

Olympians don't reguraly get paid a dime, that is unless they earn a medal. They are also being watched by the world, many countries view bad behavior on the part of the athletes not only poorly represents the rest of the team participating, but their native countries as well...

I should have been more clear. By paid I meant endorsement deals and sponsors etc. Thanks for pointing out how muddled what I wanted to say was.

As far as how people view their conduct well just because many people view it that way does not make it right. Simply because many people think that something is not ok or is a bad representation does not make it objectively true.

Perhaps you should do a census Hatter, I am pretty sure if you did and asked every possible individual competing in the olympics, the vast majority would agree that they are representing their individual countries, and do so with pride.

I'm not disagreeing that we dont place tremendous pressure on people in the spotlight, but honestly, for two weeks, even in your own homeland much less in another foreign country, how hard is it to behave and hold oneself to a higher standard?

However, it's not just two weeks. If Michael Phelps tomorrow got drunk in a bar and acted foolishly for any reason or in any way it would be all over the news and he would be raked over the coals. All for an action that many if not most people commit at some point in their lives. If it was only for a week or two in the public eye due to an event sure I could agree. I even agree that while AT the event they are a representative. But it's never just during those times. Heck, sometimes it's for the rest of your life that you will get headlines of former olympian did such and such. That is my gripe.

MadHatter wrote:

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

As for the Olympic athlete well the whole they are ambassadors stuff I heard that all the time in the military. So I will take that concept from my own experience while I was in. I was stationed in Japan and so often the upper chain of command would drone on and on about being good ambassadors. Well I signed up to do my job as a Sonar Tech. I didn't sign up to do foreign relations. So if I am human and mess up that should not be held to any higher standard then any one anywhere else in the world. I feel the same with Olympians they are paid to put on a show and to do the best they possibly can in their chosen sport. Why should they be expected to be saints? If that is the case I believe we owe these people a LOT more money for the burdens we are putting on them

Olympians don't reguraly get paid a dime, that is unless they earn a medal. They are also being watched by the world, many countries view bad behavior on the part of the athletes not only poorly represents the rest of the team participating, but their native countries as well...

I should have been more clear. By paid I meant endorsement deals and sponsors etc. Thanks for pointing out how muddled what I wanted to say was.

As far as how people view their conduct well just because many people view it that way does not make it right. Simply because many people think that something is not ok or is a bad representation does not make it objectively true.

Perhaps you should do a census Hatter, I am pretty sure if you did and asked every possible individual competing in the olympics, the vast majority would agree that they are representing their individual countries, and do so with pride.

I'm not disagreeing that we dont place tremendous pressure on people in the spotlight, but honestly, for two weeks, even in your own homeland much less in another foreign country, how hard is it to behave and hold oneself to a higher standard?

However, it's not just two weeks. If Michael Phelps tomorrow got drunk in a bar and acted foolishly for any reason or in any way it would be all over the news and he would be raked over the coals. All for an action that many if not most people commit at some point in their lives. If it was only for a week or two in the public eye due to an event sure I could agree. I even agree that while AT the event they are a representative. But it's never just during those times. Heck, sometimes it's for the rest of your life that you will get headlines of former olympian did such and such. That is my gripe.

And what can you do about it? These individuals know from watching previous athletes what their getting themselves into, if their coaches aren't alerting them as to the possible scrutiny they will endure for the rest of their lives, then that is definitely a failure on their part. Does it make it right, of course not...

The vast majority of the population living on this planet don't care, but eat it up as soon as someone screws up and is quick to point fingers. Not because they "care." They feed on it Hatter, the world is a vampire. So what can you do as a result?

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

Zenchi wrote:

MadHatter wrote:

As for the Olympic athlete well the whole they are ambassadors stuff I heard that all the time in the military. So I will take that concept from my own experience while I was in. I was stationed in Japan and so often the upper chain of command would drone on and on about being good ambassadors. Well I signed up to do my job as a Sonar Tech. I didn't sign up to do foreign relations. So if I am human and mess up that should not be held to any higher standard then any one anywhere else in the world. I feel the same with Olympians they are paid to put on a show and to do the best they possibly can in their chosen sport. Why should they be expected to be saints? If that is the case I believe we owe these people a LOT more money for the burdens we are putting on them

Olympians don't reguraly get paid a dime, that is unless they earn a medal. They are also being watched by the world, many countries view bad behavior on the part of the athletes not only poorly represents the rest of the team participating, but their native countries as well...

I should have been more clear. By paid I meant endorsement deals and sponsors etc. Thanks for pointing out how muddled what I wanted to say was.

As far as how people view their conduct well just because many people view it that way does not make it right. Simply because many people think that something is not ok or is a bad representation does not make it objectively true.

Perhaps you should do a census Hatter, I am pretty sure if you did and asked every possible individual competing in the olympics, the vast majority would agree that they are representing their individual countries, and do so with pride.

I'm not disagreeing that we dont place tremendous pressure on people in the spotlight, but honestly, for two weeks, even in your own homeland much less in another foreign country, how hard is it to behave and hold oneself to a higher standard?

However, it's not just two weeks. If Michael Phelps tomorrow got drunk in a bar and acted foolishly for any reason or in any way it would be all over the news and he would be raked over the coals. All for an action that many if not most people commit at some point in their lives. If it was only for a week or two in the public eye due to an event sure I could agree. I even agree that while AT the event they are a representative. But it's never just during those times. Heck, sometimes it's for the rest of your life that you will get headlines of former olympian did such and such. That is my gripe.

And what can you do about it? These individuals know from watching previous athletes what their getting themselves into, if their coaches aren't alerting them as to the possible scrutiny they will endure for the rest of their lives, then that is definitely a failure on their part. Does it make it right, of course not...

The vast majority of the population living on this planet don't care, but eat it up as soon as someone screws up and is quick to point fingers. Not because they "care." They feed on it Hatter, the world is a vampire. So what can you do as a result?

Point it out. Try to get people to consider their actions. That is about all you can do. If by pointing it out or bringing it up I reach even one person then its a tad more peace in the world and that is enough for me.