Thursday, September 6, 2007

Revenge of the Nerds

I don't think there's a single one of us who at some point during our childhoods didn't feel bullied or ostracized or inadequate. It's the way of the world and while at times unfortunate, a necessary element I believe in our journey towards adulthood.

For those experiences are not supposed to teach us to lay down and die. They're supposed to teach us stick up for ourselves, figuratively as much as literally, so that we grow up to become people of strength and integrity and compassion. Okay, so some of us grow up to become whiny grump asses, serial killers, and presidents of the United States, but you get my general point.

Like diamonds and steel, those things forged under pressure and fire can become our strongest, most brilliant elements.

Remove the fire and what do you get?

You get Colorado. With my sincerest apologies to Stepherz (who I know had no hand in this), how in the holy heck can this former bastion of the untamed west be on the one hand so breathtakingly wild and on the other so downright lame?

What's next? Banning grades? Outlawing extracurricular sports?

Used to be, you were a nerd, you got revenge by growing up to do something spectacular with your life. Now, you grow up demanding lawyers, guns, and money to get you outta this.

6 comments:

Jenny said...

Nowadays, in this "eveyone's a winner" world, I wonder how children are able to learn the difference between good and bad, loss or reward?

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

All I can say is, are you f*cking kidding me?

I thought maybe you'd connected to an article in the Onion - I'm stunned.

OK, so I'm all about protecting my own little ones - but gosh darnit, they need to know that the world is a place rife with conflict, and I want them to learn it sooner rather than later SO THEY CAN LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT on their own terms.

Thanks, Falcon school district, for assuming all children are stupid and incapable.

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

in a related note, did you read all the comments?

I'm serious when I say, there is a lot of judgement out there and a lot of stupid people.

Perhaps Colorado needs a nanny.

Wicked Thistle said...

Yes, tag was banned at my school this year, too. But not dodgeball, interestingly. Mostly this new rule confuses me, although I have to say that I can understand the spirit of the law--to provide a safe and kind playground where children can experience that crazy concept of just getting along. And now teachers on playground duty can finally get some rest from that endless tattling:

"Teacher, teacher, Marcus is chasing me!"
"Teacher, teacher, Marcus knocked me down!"
"Teacher, teacher, Marcus just made me smell his underpants!"

Truth is, when I'm on playground duty, I let 'em do whatever they want as long as there's minimal blood shed and no vomiting. And if they complain about what someone else is doing to them, I tell them, "Wow, that sounds like a problem." Then I turn my back to the wind and light another cigarette.

Thank goodness there's still a staff shortage in the school system.

moi said...

AB: More like, "everyone's a wiener."

Pirate: We got some serious floaters in the gene pool, that's for sure.

Wicked: What would Moi's reply be to all that endless tattling? "TFB, ya little snitch. Life's tough. Get over it."

Glad we've got you at the helm, making life safe for the concept of benign neglect :o)

Meghan said...

Running games are still allowed as long as students don't chase each other...

That is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen in print.