On Encouraging People to Hurt Themselves.
March 27th 2007 22:19
In last weekends newspaper there was a story about Ian Thorpe – a swimmer who has competed at the Olympics for Australia. [The Sydney Morning Herald is Sydney’s main broadsheet paper. There is another that I don’t bother reading anymore since it became a right wing tabloid printed in broadsheet format.]
Ian Thorpe was a remarkably good swimmer. On occasion he swam faster than anyone has before over particular distances. He retired because he found that it was no longer satisfying. All credit to him for this.
He, along with other very good athletes, trained at the Australian Institute of Sport. Here education is free. Why this is so only for sport is curious. Why not for the Fine Arts? Why not for those studying healing modalities that vastly improves the lives of individuals and the community? Why not those seeking to improve our environment? Sport occupies a curious place in Australia!
The story was based on an interview with Ian Thorpe. He described the rigours of the training that he (and others) went through. He spoke of training so hard that he had to get out of the pool and vomit over the side. He spoke of getting to want pain and the incredible euphoria that came once the pain ceased.
Ian, and people like him are seriously held up as worthy of emulation. Others addicted to drugs that make them feel good (not pain) are regarded as problems and sometimes criminals. This seems quite loony.
Perhaps the pain addicts are held up as models so that people are discouraged from complaining about the misery inflicted on them by others? Is it a plot to undermine any demand for individual justice? (No, I’m not serious. I think this is a systemic issue: and the system creates misery and injustice.)
So, this is a plea for the status of hero for those who experience joy (not pain) in what they do. For those who pursue activities that benefit others individually and the community in general. For those who are kind to themselves and others and who experience joy in themselves and joy with others.
Ian Thorpe was a remarkably good swimmer. On occasion he swam faster than anyone has before over particular distances. He retired because he found that it was no longer satisfying. All credit to him for this.
He, along with other very good athletes, trained at the Australian Institute of Sport. Here education is free. Why this is so only for sport is curious. Why not for the Fine Arts? Why not for those studying healing modalities that vastly improves the lives of individuals and the community? Why not those seeking to improve our environment? Sport occupies a curious place in Australia!
The story was based on an interview with Ian Thorpe. He described the rigours of the training that he (and others) went through. He spoke of training so hard that he had to get out of the pool and vomit over the side. He spoke of getting to want pain and the incredible euphoria that came once the pain ceased.
Ian, and people like him are seriously held up as worthy of emulation. Others addicted to drugs that make them feel good (not pain) are regarded as problems and sometimes criminals. This seems quite loony.
Perhaps the pain addicts are held up as models so that people are discouraged from complaining about the misery inflicted on them by others? Is it a plot to undermine any demand for individual justice? (No, I’m not serious. I think this is a systemic issue: and the system creates misery and injustice.)
So, this is a plea for the status of hero for those who experience joy (not pain) in what they do. For those who pursue activities that benefit others individually and the community in general. For those who are kind to themselves and others and who experience joy in themselves and joy with others.
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