The Eyes of the Young

[SiXmAnMaDnEsS]

My grandson was reading this site (he plays in high school) and one of his good buddies was getting talked about in a not so glorious manner. It bothered him a bit. And at first, I told him people had no right to bad mouth the players. But after some thought, I realized that isn't the advice to give. I told him that in life, people will bad mouth you. We have to learn to let it roll off of our backs, or learn to enjoy cauliflower ear if you choose to defend your "honor" everytime someone says something. I really don't think telling him that other people didn't have the right to run their mouth was good advise. Sure its sound reasoning. But not realistic. It's much better to teach him that people talk, and that will happen your whole life. And you better get thick skin. Was I right, or would y'all have had some other advise for him?

 

[TexianDoc]

I think both things you said were true: it's probably not "fair," when people speak insultingly about others (especially when it's adults talking about kids), but life has not ever been "fair." We should hear the criticism of others, analyze it for what's useful and what's not, then apply the truth and ignore the falsehood. I try to teach my own children to be slow to fight when they're being insulted - but quick to defend their friends, family, and anyone weaker than themselves.

My two cents,
TexianDoc (not really old enough to try to advise any of y'all...but you asked!)

 

[oldfat&bald]

My best advise is to tell the boy to work hard and be the best he can be. If God gave him the talent, he'll be good enough that folks will start bad mouthing him too.

 

[smokeyjoe53]

This is actually a microcosm of the phsyche or psychosis of our society today. We, as a whole, tend to build up or exaggerate success or greatness in anticipation of ripping holes into the very fabric we have woven.
I have a friend who often refers to the carnal nature of man. Finding fault in others while ignoring our own shortcomings seems to be the latest obsession of society.............

 

[SiXmAnMaDnEsS]

My best advise is to tell the boy to work hard and be the best he can be. If God gave him the talent, he'll be good enough that folks will start bad mouthing him too.

That's what I was thinking

 

[TexianDoc]

Finding fault in others while ignoring our own shortcomings seems to be the latest obsession of society.............

It's risen to the level of art form with our mass communication systems, but Christ talked about "removing the beam from our own eye before removing the speck from our neighbor's eye," a while back.

"Plus ca' change c'est la meme chose."

TexianDoc

 

[westexasflats]

Least you walk in my shoes for one lifetime, you shall not be my judge