Bragging about athletic ability vs academics

[Mykester]

Why is it okay to brag about athletic ability, but shunned when you talk about academic abilities? Is it because more people are better at playing sports than schoolwork and therefore majority rules? Shouldn't academics be more encouraged since they have a greater effect on your life and future?

[Phoenix3434]

I think so.

The reason for the disparity is likely due to the same reason why it's more socially acceptable to say that certain ethnicities are better at sports than to say that certain ethnicities are "smarter" (or not smarter). For some reason, "thinking capability" is more taboo and sacred than physical prowess. People get insulted more if you called a certain class of people "stupid" vs "physically weaker". Not sure why..

Anyway, I am not making a statement about a particular ethnic group being smarter or physical weaker - just making a statement about peoples' reactions to such statements.

[stuntman]

Because being less athletic than someone else hurts less than being made to feel less intelligent.

intelligence is not as easy to measure and people like to think they are smarter than the braggart

people that brag are often not as intelligent as they think they are.

sometimes the accomplishments are I was the best in my class at university but the person being bragged too did not have a chance to go to university and could probably kick the other ones but in chess or scrabble.

[AudiDude]

What HS is this at? If athletic ability is all you have, once you break a leg or get old, you'll be dumped immediately. it would be great if you could get your next job by bench-pressing 225 or sprinting 100m, but I have yet to find that interview.

Same goes for getting a job on your looks instead of skills and knowledge.

[jaxx lite]

In high school

It's cool to be good in sports

It's not considered cool to be smart
= nerds, geeks, brainiacs

=

[kieum90]

[QUOTE=Mykester;14420078]Why is it okay to brag about athletic ability, but shunned when you talk about academic abilities? Is it because more people are better at playing sports than schoolwork and therefore majority rules? Shouldn't academics be more encouraged since they have a greater effect on your life and future?[/QUOTE]

Men's competition on who is stronger. Who has the bigger muscles, able to attract females, etcc... It all comes down to trophies and popularity as bragging rights.

Which is why world competitions exists.

[Syne]

[QUOTE=Mykester;14420078]Why is it okay to brag about athletic ability, but shunned when you talk about academic abilities? Is it because more people are better at playing sports than schoolwork and therefore majority rules? Shouldn't academics be more encouraged since they have a greater effect on your life and future?[/QUOTE]

Not to brag but I brag about both.

[Mykester]

[QUOTE=Syne;14420301]Not to brag but I brag about both.[/QUOTE]

3.1 GPA isn't much to brag about.

[Syne]

3.0 gets you honours. I kick in a little extra just to be safe.

[gretzky99]

[QUOTE=Syne;14420301]Not to brag but I brag about both.[/QUOTE]

Pfffftttt...i brag about owning a Canada Goose. ;)

[Yu_Qing]

I think Western people will brag about athletic ability more.

I have never encountered Asian or Indian families bragging about athletic ability when their kid is a dumbass.

Ideally, you want to be good at both.

[SoBored]

[QUOTE=Mykester;14420078]Why is it okay to brag about athletic ability, but shunned when you talk about academic abilities? Is it because more people are better at playing sports than schoolwork and therefore majority rules? Shouldn't academics be more encouraged since they have a greater effect on your life and future?[/QUOTE]

because athletic ability, on a professional level, is a lot more rare then academic ability. and people who posess that extraordinary athletic ability have the potential to make HUNDREDS of times the income of someone who graduated cum laude.

Contrary to what you said, there are a lot more people who do better at 'schoolwork' then successful athletes.

A kid who shows surreal talent on a highschool football/basketball/whatever team has the potential to go to ANY ivy league school in the USA/Canada and they will throw money at him - not the same for someone who does well academically.

Almost anybody can be academically successful - it takes hard work.

Very few people have the traits to be athletically successful on a professional level (major leagues)

edit - this actually reminds me of a kid I knew in junior high. a really tall, athletic kid who was awesome at basketball but did pretty bad in classes.

Well fast forward a few years later i see that he plays on the UCLA basketball team (which had to be a scholarship) and has the potential to be drafted to the NBA and make millions
had he focused on his academics instead he would never have been as successful.

not everyone has to follow the same path of school->university->corporate job

people willing to take the most risks end up making the most money, usually.


and all this is coming from someone who was somewhat academically successful and not athletic at all

[stealth]

Nobody likes to be told by someone else that they're smarter than them.

Booksmarts just arent as sexy as athletics.

[virgilaug]

I blame America culture. In the states it's cool to say that because of the gigantic amounts of money involved in college sports leagues. The players dont get paid but they get free education and a chance to up their talent.

[Coz4k]

Mon père yé riche en tabarnak