I really wonder what the hell is wrong with people some times. Zero empathy… and full on public attack, with zero shame. I’m hating people more and more as I get older.
I personally look forward to more athletes of various backgrounds and identities making decisions like this, if only to have more data to analyze as far as media reactions.
There are very few sports in which if you fail to execute to a high degree you could possibly have a grave injury or die. I put gymnastics in that catagory. Watch what Simone Biles is doing and think to yourself, "what if she is not concentrating 100% on doing that backflip on a balance beam." It is her decision only and I certainly have no right to judge it in any way.
Just to be clear, I'm not knocking her for pulling out (giggity) just knocking everyone calling her a hero. But, I stand by my comment that if a male athlete pulled out, the general reaction would've been different.
I haven’t exactly heard the commentary on her being framed as, “She’s a hero because she’s prioritizing a mental health issue and because she’s black.” I guess I don’t get negative reactions to it. I don’t think it would have been that different if Michael Phelps quit for the same reason. I think a lot of the media is more playing it extra safe in terms of their reaction because they were a large component of the public pressure put on her.
She won me over after I saw that clip of her throwing the first pitch at a baseball game awhile back. She seems super sweet and charming. I know I personally have buckled under much less stress and scrutiny than she is under. If she has made a determination to take a break due to mental health, she should be able to do so without judgment and with a lot of sympathy. Everyone is so quick to slap a label on each other. Hero or quitter? Maybe just human, trying to do the best she can.
I'll throw out there that if anyone thinks they are more disappointed than she is with her decision they are fucking nuts. I cannot imagine her thought process in making the decision. She is the one that has worked her ass off for literally her entire life. I don't care if it was for her first medal or her 10th. It had to be brutal and now the outcry from the public and media...man fuck that and fuck you.
I'm sure that they're also desperate not to repeat the Naomi Osaka fiasco. There is very little that the media fears more than Twitter outrage.
Some chick passed me with a tattoo of Texas around her belly button. I think that’s enough RV park for the day.
Friend of mine posted this: https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/what-are-the-twisties Just reemphasizes what I said. Nobody has any standing to second guess her decision to withdraw or to suggest even the barest hint of weakness because of it.
Well, Clay Travis thinks you’re a pussy for not hating her. He also thinks you’re a pussy for thinking COVID is dangerous, so he can be staked down for the crows eat his eyes out for all I care.
To be clear, I’m not saying that I’ve seen that or that it’s what is being said. And I’m not saying that’s what I believe, or disagree with, or whatever. My opinion is in the GTE camp. I just didn’t wanna come in and be like “I bet if it was (insert athlete with different race/identity/upbringing/etc) people wouldn’t be so quick to call them a hero!” I just meant that, with the focus being on mental health, I’m interested to see the reaction to other situations, when it happens. Because it probably will.
Did anybody else see, I think it was Aly Raisman, that was talking about how they should let one ordinary person in the heats or prelims of the Olympic events, just to show how fucking high level these athletes are? Like, you think Katie Ledecky dominates against other Olympians? You should see me swim. The physical training is only part of it. The mental fortitude it takes for that level is incredible. If she didn't think she had it that day or for these games, she definitely needs to protect herself from harm.
I would totally be into watching some middle-aged, overweight man compete with these insanely athletic olympians.
I volunteer for the pentathlon. I can shoot, ride horses, run and swim just well enough to look stupid. Also I’m pretty sure I can learn how to sword fight.