Despicable Dems...

Southern Man said:
What's to understand? Either you take steps to improve or you resign yourself to mediocrity.
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I didn't say I didn't strive to get better. But you are trying to apply competitive standards when I play a noncompetitive game.

My scores have improved. But I am not wasting time or money on lessons when I enjoy the hell out of my game.
 
WinterBorn said:
I didn't say I didn't strive to get better. But you are trying to apply competitive standards when I play a noncompetitive game.

My scores have improved. But I am not wasting time or money on lessons when I enjoy the hell out of my game.
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In other words, you suck at golf but like the scenery and the chance to get away from your nagging wife.
 
Southern Man said:
In other words, you suck at golf but like the scenery and the chance to get away from your nagging wife.
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In your words. But far from reality. I am pretty good. My wife is pretty good too.

I like the way you shifted from discussing competitive behavior to insults.
 
WinterBorn said:
In your words. But far from reality. I am pretty good. My wife is pretty good too.

I like the way you shifted from discussing competitive behavior to insults.
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Oh dear it wasn't meant to be an insult. When I played golf that's just what the other guys in my league used to say.
 
Southern Man said:
Oh dear it wasn't meant to be an insult. When I played golf that's just what the other guys in my league used to say.
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Golf is a game unlike others. You can compare your performance with those of other people but ultimatly you play against yourself.
 
WinterBorn said:
Golf is a game unlike others. You can compare your performance with those of other people but ultimatly you play against yourself.
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you are absolutely correct! There is a great book that deals with that concept... I HIGHLY recommend it.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Golf-Kingdom-Esalen-Michael-Murphy/dp/0140195491"]Amazon.com: Golf in the Kingdom (An Esalen Book): Michael Murphy: Books[/ame]
 
Southern Man said:
So pushing yourself to achieve is competing against yourself, is it not?
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No I don't think it is. Pushing myself to achieve is striving to reach a goal you have set.

In a subcontext you could make a case that my training for football and baseball was competing with myself. But the main competition is with another team. As a defensive player my goal was to stop the other team from scoring. If we gave up 99 yards or 9 yards does not matter if we stopped them from scoring. If we score more than they do we win. Excellence is in winning.

In golf the excellence is in playing a little better each time you go out.
 
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Does your son have feelings of insecurity and does he feel he will never live up to your expectations? Let us hope you expected your children to be better than you in the most loving and meaningful way. Let us hope your didn't try to love though them vicariously!

The goal of a parent is to love your children and to let them become the person they wish to be, not someone you want them to be, or someone you demand to do better than yourself.
 
Why do i get the feeling that this may be familiar to some of you?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkhpnrGBTRc"]YouTube - Competitive Dad[/ame]
 
I knew mother's like that, too! Just out of control. I wonder if SM is like our competitive dad? Wanting his children to be better than himself.
 
froggie said:
Does your son have feelings of insecurity and does he feel he will never live up to your expectations? Let us hope you expected your children to be better than you in the most loving and meaningful way. Let us hope your didn't try to love though them vicariously!

The goal of a parent is to love your children and to let them become the person they wish to be, not someone you want them to be, or someone you demand to do better than yourself.
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This is the difference between a liberal parent and a conservative one. I demand that my children live up to their highest potential, not coast to mediocrity.
 
Southern Man said:
This is the difference between a liberal parent and a conservative one. I demand that my children live up to their highest potential, not coast to mediocrity.
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I taught my kids to focus on the things that matter. Decide where they will excell and where they can just play.
 
froggie said:
I knew mother's like that, too! Just out of control. I wonder if SM is like our competitive dad? Wanting his children to be better than himself.
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Being out of control and competitive are two entirely different traits. Any parent that doesn't desire his children to exceed him is doing them a disservice. Providing competition can be an effective means to that end.
 
Southern Man said:
Being out of control and competitive are two entirely different traits. Any parent that doesn't desire his children to exceed him is doing them a disservice. Providing competition can be an effective means to that end.
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If the chilc is going to follow in your footsteps then that might be right. But if your child has different interests and different goals they should not be pushed to exceed their parent's achievements.
 
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