Lately, as I've been perusing the boards here, I've noticed something that has really been bugging me. A lot of people are really bitching about the preps and the jocks here. I'm basically taking a stand here for jocks everywhere, because basically, I am a jock.
To me, being a jock is not about being stupid, or making fun of other people or anything like that. Being a jock is simply being able to completely and totally dedicate yourself to one (or even more) sports. That's it. Jocks may seem exclusive, and very cliquey, and that we stick together, and we do, but probably not for the reasons you think. Most of my friends are jocks, including my roommates over the summer and my roommate this coming fall. The main reason that jocks are really tight knit with other jocks is because we share a similar experience, we know what it's like to sacrifice for the sake of our sport, what we love to do. Similar traits can be found in most jocks, such as perserverence, dedication, determination, and to me, most importantly, the work ethic that is best described as "work hard, play hard". That's what's most important to me. That mentality sums it up, because when I'm not able to go out on a Friday night because I have a swim meet in the morning, I want friends who, even if they are going out, are able to understand and respect what I'm doing, and I know that I can find that in other athletes.
As for the making fun of people, real athletes don't. Mostly, we're too involved in our own lives to even think about people outside of our teammates, close friends (who are often teammates) and family. Why waste time that I don't have going out of my way to make fun of someone I don't even know. I know there are jocks who do make fun of other people, they probably aren't real jocks. They think that being in the sport they are in makes them cool. It doesn't. What makes you cool is the type of person you are. The problem with being a person like that is that you get with a group of people, who regardless of what they think of you, makes you feel cooler, like you have a group of people to back you up, and at the end of the day, they would if push came to shove, if they were real jocks. A real jock would back a teammate he didn't like in a fight for the sake of the team, but a real jock would also try and keep fake jocks from getting out of line in the first place. Regardless of how good someone is at a sport, they can still feel cool because they play a sport, and that can make them a fake jock.
Me, I mostly feel lucky and extremely blessed. I am a water person. That is what I do and what I love. I have been swimming and diving since I was 5, and I love it. I've swam and dove at the expense of friends, a social life, and even girlfriends. Those things have been sacrificed because I love to swim. Simple as that, and I am willing to sacrifice things like that to do what I love. I am now in college, and a part of a great team. Each day I think at least once, "How lucky am I to be involved with such a close knit and great group of guys and girls?" Because honestly, I am lucky. My high school team was full of arrogent ass holes who were the fake jocks I was telling you about. They thought that they were so much cooler because they could swim better than most people. They thought they should be treated better because they were good swimmers. I hated swimming with them. Every single day of high school I had to practice with people I could not stand being around. But I kept swimming, because above all I loved to swim, and I wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of that. Now though, I am at college, and I am on the greatest team in the world (in my opinion). That is why I feel lucky. I am surrounded by a group of humble, motivated, hard working, and nice people that I love to be around. Practice in high school was a burden. Now though, I love going to practice because I get to interact with some of my best friends.
The moral of the story is, next time you want to go on stereotyping jocks, or any type of person, think about what I told you. Perhaps the reason you don't like them is because of the type of person they are, not the group of people that they are identified with, because honestly, I don't know a single one of my friends who would make fun or tease another person, and most of us are athletes.
TJ
Spoken Like A True Jock
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Spoken Like A True Jock
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- beyondyou64
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Re: Spoken Like A True Jock
Yea I have to agree with what your saying. But look at me I'm no where close being a jock. But I have noticed that in my high school it's a lot better. Our jocks are smart and nice or smart and mean. A lot of our preps are the same way. But I'm going to have to say that most of them are nice even tho some of them pik on me back in middle school. As*es. But Other than one of them were all cool now. So I'll help and stand up for the jocks and preps. But only for the good ones. I'm a prep without the attitude. Unless if you know me and yea. Different story.
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Re: Spoken Like A True Jock
I see what you're saying.
Here, we don't even have jocks and preps. I adapt because the majority of members here are american.
Pretty much we have, trendies, moshers, bams, neds, punks. There's no such thing as a jock here ... *shrugs*
I can see why you would be annoyed, but I think a lot of people speak from experience. I don't think you can blame them for that, but, yes they shouldn't stereotype.
Here, we don't even have jocks and preps. I adapt because the majority of members here are american.
Pretty much we have, trendies, moshers, bams, neds, punks. There's no such thing as a jock here ... *shrugs*
I can see why you would be annoyed, but I think a lot of people speak from experience. I don't think you can blame them for that, but, yes they shouldn't stereotype.
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Re: Spoken Like A True Jock
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Re: Spoken Like A True Jock
Being a jock means you play sports
Being in the group of jocks - is that u overexcess on ur manliness.
Being in the group of jocks - is that u overexcess on ur manliness.
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Re: Spoken Like A True Jock
who gives a shit! sry but seriously! jock shmock! prep shmep! why are there even labels! ugh its so dumb!
~God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. psalm 46:1-2
~God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself Genesis 1:27
~Stop judging others, and u will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on u. Luke 6:37
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Love in christ--chelsea
~God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself Genesis 1:27
~Stop judging others, and u will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on u. Luke 6:37
~There are "friends" who destroy eachother but a real freind sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
~A fool is quick tempered but a wise person stays calm when insulted. Proverbs 12:16
~The tounge is a small thing but what enormous damage it can do. James 3:5
~Even if my father and mother abandon me the Lord will hold me close. Psalm 27:10
~Get rid of all bitterness...instead be kind to eachother Ephesians 4:31-32
God bless
Love in christ--chelsea
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Re: Spoken Like A True Jock
So ummm... paul... I know some fairly feminine girls who play sports. What does that mean then? I mean, they play a sport, so according to you they are jocks... and also being in a group of jocks implies that they are all overexcessive on their manliness.Originally posted by Sk8r_4_LiFe@Jul 22 2003, 02:19 PM
Being a jock means you play sports
Being in the group of jocks - is that u overexcess on ur manliness.
TJ
"What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?" --OSB
"Be who you are and be that well" --St Francis de Sales.
Suaviter et fortiter
Bunches of love Xena.
"Be who you are and be that well" --St Francis de Sales.
Suaviter et fortiter
Bunches of love Xena.