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Not all, hh. Some don’t have any trouble believing that, but I’m sure some do.</p>
<p>HH: Maybe envy is too strong a word. But if we could, most of us wouldn’t mind being tall, gorgeous, brilliant, talented popular athletes who speak six languages and play the violin. I don’t think non-athletes are losing sleep, suffering the anguish of not being coordinated. They’ve moved on, found other interests & strengths on which to focus. But heck, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to CHOOSE whether or not you could shine at a sport? Rather than having that choice made for you by an unfortunate mix of genes?</p>
<p>No inconsistencies, there, curm. We like to be active and do a lot of active stuff, but aren’t particularly great at things that require good reflexes, or endless daily repetition. Son isn’t half bad at tennis, but would never be a star. That wouldn’t have been a problem, since his school is weak at tennis. And I thought that was what this thread was about: should kids get bonus points just because they did team sports instead of other types of activities?</p>
<p>What he does do includes hiking in the mountains of NM, canoeing in the Canadian wilderness, sailing in the Gulf, long bike rides, orienteering (actually teaching orienteering), and more but I won’t bother. He and his brainy friends are not pasty-faced, hunched shouldered nerds. They date, they dance, they listen to–and perform–music. </p>
<p>I’m only wasting my time taking you on because your closed-minded stereotyping is very typical nowadays, and I’m really tired of it.</p>
<p>You like to change the subject when your argument falters. My complaint with you is your stereotyping of serious students who don’t do team sports. Your most recent posts indicate that your stereotyping extends to academic-minded adults, as well.</p>
<p>Just between you and me, curm. Jerry Lewis movies aren’t really intended to be taken seriously.</p>
<p>Oh, and I don’t believe for a moment that you will refrain from comment.</p>
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<p>See, but some of us don’t care, never give it a thought, and therefore do not consider it either fortunate or unfortunate.</p>
<p>I just skimmed this thread , but I too picked up on the stereotyping of non-athletes (better known around here as “couch potatoes”).</p>
<p>Sticker Shock,</p>
<p>Please believe me that I truly could not care less that I stink at sports. I find it amazing that you think everybody cares about athletics.</p>
<p>I’m not unfit, BTW. I work out, I jog, I hike, walk my dogs, canoe. I even play basketball on the driveway. But I’m having trouble coming up with ANYTHING that I care less about than being good at competitive team sports.</p>
<p>Just a brain in a jar, I guess.</p>
<p>HH, I still think most people would like the choice, though. I don’t have an ear for language. I really never give that a thought either. But if you approached me tomorrow & offered to wave a magic wand & improve my language aptitude, I’d say, “sure!” I have structured my life so that lack of foreign language mastery has not impacted me in the least. I still greatly admire those who can easily speak several different languages, but I don’t “envy” them. But I know people who speak two languages who envy those who speak four. It’s just more important to them. </p>
<p>I think that’s the case with many non-athletes. Lack of athletic ability is something one discovers pretty early in life. A kid not getting rewards, or personal gratification, from sports isn’t likely to make them a big part of his life. A million other rewarding things can take that place. But many non-athletes greatly admire the athletically gifted.</p>
<p>midmo, no such luck for you. I meant on that post I would refrain. Personal attacks I will respond to in kind and with relish.;)</p>
<p>midmo, your postions on the Asian admissions thread and the MIT deferral thread tell me everything I need to know about you and your focus in the admissions world. You have left quite a trail. As to whether or not the two quotes I posted show an inconsistancy on your part (or maybe even subterfuge or duplicity?) , well…I’ll let others judge the reason your son decided to forego sports. They seem to have two to pick from. LOL. </p>
<p>I’m sorry my repartee doesn’t meet your high standards. Next I’ll expect you to tell me the same thing you told that poor fellow on the admissions thread
Who said that first, G.B. Shaw? Mmmm. Mmmm. That is some fine arguin’ there. Maybe I can pick up some style points if you hang around. Crap in a can AND kick it. No. wait, crap can can-can. I’m trying. Maybe I’m just not any good at it.</p>
<p>and midmo, as far as my positions go - see ek4’s post I highlighted above. Just keep referring back to it. You may find it easier to read. I sure don’t want you to get any more confused. But if you want to just keep mistating them , that’s fine, too.</p>
<p>SS, admiring someone for her/his athletic ability is not the same thing as envying them.</p>
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Maybe not everybody, midmo, but most people would have checked off “athletic ability” if they could have chosen their skills and talents from a master list. As middle aged women, it’s not that useful a skill, I’ll grant you that. But I still contend that the VAST majority of h.s. kids would. Do you think your son would have walked away from his sports if he was receiving many awards, recognition, & personal satisfaction from them? It would have been tougher to drop them, at the very least.</p>
<p>Curmudgeon, you are really too much. I apologized for the rude comment to Lake Washington, as I am sure you noticed as you perused all of my previous posts.</p>
<p>My position on college admission practices is quite clear, not at all duplicitous. I think admissions departments make a mistake IF they overlook non-athletic qualities. I couldn’t tell you at this point if the topic affects me and mine. Son has 4 acceptances to top schools, one deferral to regular and three more regular apps out. He does a lot of stuff. I hope it isn’t overlooked. Period.</p>
<p>You are full of spite. I’m sorry for you.</p>
<p>“Do you think your son would have walked away from his sports if he was receiving many awards, recognition, & personal satisfaction from them? It would have been tougher to drop them, at the very least.”</p>
<p>Yes, he would have.</p>
<p>My son is an athlete. He is also smart. He is not big and strong and is in a more “individual” sport- running. He is disciplined in his sport and it will be a life-time activity for him. I am also a competitive runner and I value that about myself as much as I value my professional degree and whatever intellectualism I might possess. I also have a musician kid who is in a top conservatory-level college program and got merit money for her musical talent. I’m proud of BOTH my kids, and just can’t get why this issue is such a beat-a-dead-horse topic.</p>
<p>I get SO tired of the resentment towards the admissions help athletes get. Why can’t people just respect this talent and recognize its value?</p>
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<p>and I’m sorry for your family and neighbors for what you are full of, too. LOL. ;)</p>
<p>“Don’t ya just love the smell of napalm in the morning.”</p>
<p>Fire away with your personal flame crap. I’ll climb into my good suit.</p>
<p>I have a comment that is not particularly relevant to the OP. In the world that comes after college, including graduate school and employment, having been a recruited athlete is worth very little. I’ve interviewed a lot of people and never asked one what position he or she played and no one has ever asked me. No one has ever rushed in and said “We really need to hire this person, they can toss a football 100 yards or run a mile in less than 4 min.” When I interview someone with a degree from an impressive institution I ask them a couple of questions that they should know the answers to and if they don’t the degree doesn’t impress me. I’m not sure what this means except that perhaps none of us on either side of the question should care so much. </p>
<p>Please spare me the speech on the life lessons of competitive sports. I’m sure it is quite valuable in that respect, but so are a lot of other activities and we don’t need special preferences for athletes for athletics to impart those lessons.</p>
<p>curious, I disagree. Many employers seek athletes.</p>
<p>I’m sure athletics are one great way to learn team work, etc. My son has learned it through drama, a cappella group and Scholars Bowl. It’s all good.</p>
<p>O.K. I’m off to a H.S. ballgame (1.5 hours each way). Gee. I bet some of you won’t be there. LOL. Somebody just keep referring them back to ek4’s definitive post on the topic and I’ll pull the arrows out of my rear in the morning. 
Ciao.</p>
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Yup, it is, bethievt.</p>
<p>In my office, having been an athlete (especially at certain schools) will get you a long way, all other things being equal (they never are). First of all, we are virtually sure that an academically qualifed athlete has excellent time management skills. Secondly, a first-class athlete is likely to have a strong work ethic. And thirdly, especially if they come from UWashington or Washington State (or, sometimes, BYU or Boise State), they may add significantly to office camaraderie/mock rivalries. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is certainly accorded higher value than one’s GPA, which we NEVER ask for.</p>