jellybean
07-09-2006, 11:29 AM
Below is a somewhat amusing and thought-provoking piece that appeared in The West Australian and was reprinted in the LA Times. To me, it’s more a reflection of some of society’s current values and trends rather than what’s right. Some people will always seek the “quick fix” in an effort to meet "required" standards (whether they be their own or someone else’s) in both everyday life and sport. While I appreciate the pressures and incentives to succeed through whatever means, to me “playing by the rules” (doing it clean) is a sign of respect – respect for self, respect for others (competitors, fans, administrators, support staff), and respect for the sport.
The dope in all of us
By Meghan Daum. (The West Australian – 6 September 2006. Reprinted in the LA Times).
With eminent sports stars such as Floyd Landis, Justin Gatlin and Marion Jones caught up in doping scandals, it makes you wonder whether the race has become as much about science as about talent.
On the other hand, what isn't a triumph of science over nature these days? Whether we're talking about lifespan, beauty, sexual vitality or athletics, there's no ignoring the fact the bar is constantly being raised and we need help to meet it.
So what is an athlete - or anyone in a competitive situation - to do? In a world where so many people appear to
be using artificial means to get ahead, does playing by the rules constitute an act of self sabotage?
As cynical as that sounds, that may be the case. That's because average isn't as average as it used to be. Take the Miss America pageant. Various studies have found Miss America's weight has fallen but her bra size is up.
Forty years ago, the average Miss America was estimated to be around a size 10 - between 12 and 14 in Australian sizes. Today, she's a size 2 - Australian size 6. Yet, other studies show the average contestant in the 1920s had a 32-inch (81cm) bust. Today, the norm is 36 inches (92cm). So we could be talking about C and D cups on size 2 bodies - an occurrence in nature somewhat akin to a four-leaf clover.
But these days, we seem to be under some kind of cultural mandate to make ourselves into four-leaf clovers.
Even if we're not competing for Miss America or trying to win the Tour de France, most of us view our raw material as tragically sub-par. And because the technology to fix ourselves is readily available (and increasingly affordable), many feel entitled, even obliged, to do just that.
What's striking is that most of us aren't taking these measures to look spectacular; we're just trying to get in the range of acceptability.
As we crack down on athletes for using performance-enhancing drugs, we'd do well to consider where many of us would be without our own artificial enhancements. Given the amount of effort it takes these days to be ordinary, how can we expect the extraordinary from mere unmedicated mortals?
The dope in all of us
By Meghan Daum. (The West Australian – 6 September 2006. Reprinted in the LA Times).
With eminent sports stars such as Floyd Landis, Justin Gatlin and Marion Jones caught up in doping scandals, it makes you wonder whether the race has become as much about science as about talent.
On the other hand, what isn't a triumph of science over nature these days? Whether we're talking about lifespan, beauty, sexual vitality or athletics, there's no ignoring the fact the bar is constantly being raised and we need help to meet it.
So what is an athlete - or anyone in a competitive situation - to do? In a world where so many people appear to
be using artificial means to get ahead, does playing by the rules constitute an act of self sabotage?
As cynical as that sounds, that may be the case. That's because average isn't as average as it used to be. Take the Miss America pageant. Various studies have found Miss America's weight has fallen but her bra size is up.
Forty years ago, the average Miss America was estimated to be around a size 10 - between 12 and 14 in Australian sizes. Today, she's a size 2 - Australian size 6. Yet, other studies show the average contestant in the 1920s had a 32-inch (81cm) bust. Today, the norm is 36 inches (92cm). So we could be talking about C and D cups on size 2 bodies - an occurrence in nature somewhat akin to a four-leaf clover.
But these days, we seem to be under some kind of cultural mandate to make ourselves into four-leaf clovers.
Even if we're not competing for Miss America or trying to win the Tour de France, most of us view our raw material as tragically sub-par. And because the technology to fix ourselves is readily available (and increasingly affordable), many feel entitled, even obliged, to do just that.
What's striking is that most of us aren't taking these measures to look spectacular; we're just trying to get in the range of acceptability.
As we crack down on athletes for using performance-enhancing drugs, we'd do well to consider where many of us would be without our own artificial enhancements. Given the amount of effort it takes these days to be ordinary, how can we expect the extraordinary from mere unmedicated mortals?