What we can learn from sports

It is Wimbledon at the time of writing this, and thanks to my Second Brain, which I talked about last time. My thoughts have begun cross-pollinating.

Recently I watched the previously titled Terrible Woke Argument Debunked and this led me to think about why young people, especially, feel the need to draw themselves to people who hold the same point of view as themselves and “cancel” those who disagree.
We see many sports people competing against each other and then socialising on other occasions. As an opponent, they are literally on the other side but the sporting match is the part they “disagree about” in other words, they both believe they should win. This “disagreement” doesn’t affect what either opponent thinks about many other topics that affect daily life.
The Problem with Cancel Culture is that people can disagree with somebody over their opinion on one subject and believe that person should have no further participation in any future discussion about anything. Is this the X-Factor generation? They select one individual to be the “winner” who they will follow and agree with everything they say. What happens when this person says something that would lead them to be cancelled?
Deciding whether people are good or bad based upon one viewpoint about one topic alone is a slippery slide for heroes.

When I watched Iron Man I had the following thoughts:

The biggest takeaway from this film is from Bridges’ Character Obadiah Stane the clear message is too much motivation to make money can in fact create a monster. Tony Stark was basically provided everything he would ever need in a privileged life. He was to all intents and purposes an overgrown child, although he was a bright one given the high university score he achieved.
It was only when his life was in danger and he came face to face with the realities of danger that he came into his own and had an enlightened moment of what his true life’s purpose was. This was in every way the making of him and his realisation that weapons made for the “good guys” can easily get into the hands of the “bad guys”.

Of course, some people who don’t know me may naturally draw conclusions about my beliefs based on my having a negative opinion of cancel culture.  For which I would say, my opinion is purely based upon the fact, that in the first world countries where cancel culture is most rife we have comprehensive legal systems. There is a huge difference between holding an opinion you don’t agree with and being guilty of a hate crime.

I would be in the queue to call out, and if needed make a legal report if I witnessed a said hate crime. Here in the UK, this covers Race, Religion, Disability, Sexual Orientation and Transgender Identity. (I myself come under the Disability umbrella)
But I am so fed up with reading about people being cancelled for holding an opinion that other people don’t like. Ironically, I’m sure there may be a few people who see this who believe because of this opinion I should be cancelled.

But, I love healthy debate, I am quite happy to disapprove of people’s bad behaviour and dislike some of the things they say or do. A lesson I learnt whilst teaching, is you can very much like a person but not all of their behaviour. If their bad behaviour carries on for long enough they will “cancel” themselves because no one will be interested in what they have to say and will switch off. If their behaviour is bad enough the legal system will kick in there.

Until then why can’t we enjoy our lives having conversations with people who have other opinions and possibility learning things about each other and ourselves along the way. Opposing opinions often come from different life experiences that may not be imaginable.

Back to the sport though and I need to draw this to an end. I am feeling quite emotional as Heather Watson has just won the third-round match. She cancelled her opponent on the court and gave her a hug after doing so. Beautiful sportsmanship.