3 ms·

This is just more of the every-child-is-special bullcrap that we fill our kids' heads with these days. Come on, people. Some kids are just lousy actors. Why sho

This is just more of the every-child-is-special bullcrap that we fill our kids' heads with these days. Come on, people. Some kids are just lousy actors. Why should they get a chance to be in the main role? The real world doesn't work that way. When these same kids grow up, they will be so badly calibrated that they'll have trouble functioning. What's wrong with telling a kid he's bad at something, and should move on to try other things?

steveplace 18y ago
Wait. Do you really think that people are going to give a crap if they are good actors at age 7? No. They're expected to screw up and it looks better on camera anyways.
- river_styx 18y ago
  Acting was just an example. The point is that if you give every kid in the class a gold star, there's no incentive for any of them to actually work hard. Also they will be shocked when they encounter criticism for the first time.
  - steveplace 18y ago
    There's a difference between doing good and just doing. If your pudgy slow kid wants to pick his nose on the soccer field with chocolate ice cream on his uniform, by God let him. Sure, at some point you help to lead them to excel... but before that point let them engage in whatever they want.
bokonist 18y ago
When I was in middle school, I badly wanted a guitar for my birthday. My mom had delayed for more than a year, and at last gave me a talk about how I was tone deaf, and would have a lot of problems playing guitar. I told her I didn't care, I wanted the guitar anyway. Turns out, I was able to teach myself tones and pitches, and I ended up being quite good at guitar. At a young age, the point is just to give exposure to many experiences, so that they can learn what they love and what they might like to be good at.
- river_styx 18y ago
  Your mother's doubt, and you subsequently proving it wrong... don't you think that prepared you for when you inevitably met those kind of doubts again in real life? My point is that the world we present to children should be more representative of the real world. I think your mom was doing the right thing by giving you that honest evaluation, even though it was obviously wrong.
  - bokonist 18y ago
    My point is that the world we present to children should be more representative of the real world. I agree with that. I just think it's very difficult to tell if a child is innately bad at something and should try something else, or if they are bad it but could greatly improve with practice.
- Alex3917 18y ago
  You sound like Michael Cera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAV0sxwx9rY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAV0sxwx9rY
run4yourlives 18y ago
I get what you're saying, but you're being a little harsh. What you want to avoid is the fools that get up on American Idol and break windows because they've never been told that they suck. If you tell a 7 year old he sucks though, they often just believe you and never really try. Somewhere in between the first experience and being a william hung though, the role of the parent is to ensure that the child can properly evaluate himself against others. This is achieved in a gentle manner over time, simply by not blowing smoke up someone's butt but at the same time being supportive of practice, learning and effort. For every Michael Jordan there are millions of washed up bums that were probably just as skilled at one point. There's no hard and fast formula, and it falls on the parent to draw the line. Everyone can act at age 7. To suggest otherwise is being a little extreme.

steveplace 18y ago

Wait. Do you really think that people are going to give a crap if they are good actors at age 7? No. They're expected to screw up and it looks better on camera anyways.

river_styx 18y ago
Acting was just an example. The point is that if you give every kid in the class a gold star, there's no incentive for any of them to actually work hard. Also they will be shocked when they encounter criticism for the first time.
- steveplace 18y ago
  There's a difference between doing good and just doing. If your pudgy slow kid wants to pick his nose on the soccer field with chocolate ice cream on his uniform, by God let him. Sure, at some point you help to lead them to excel... but before that point let them engage in whatever they want.

bokonist 18y ago

When I was in middle school, I badly wanted a guitar for my birthday. My mom had delayed for more than a year, and at last gave me a talk about how I was tone deaf, and would have a lot of problems playing guitar. I told her I didn't care, I wanted the guitar anyway. Turns out, I was able to teach myself tones and pitches, and I ended up being quite good at guitar. At a young age, the point is just to give exposure to many experiences, so that they can learn what they love and what they might like to be good at.

river_styx 18y ago
Your mother's doubt, and you subsequently proving it wrong... don't you think that prepared you for when you inevitably met those kind of doubts again in real life? My point is that the world we present to children should be more representative of the real world. I think your mom was doing the right thing by giving you that honest evaluation, even though it was obviously wrong.
- bokonist 18y ago
  My point is that the world we present to children should be more representative of the real world. I agree with that. I just think it's very difficult to tell if a child is innately bad at something and should try something else, or if they are bad it but could greatly improve with practice.
Alex3917 18y ago
You sound like Michael Cera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAV0sxwx9rY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAV0sxwx9rY

run4yourlives 18y ago

I get what you're saying, but you're being a little harsh. What you want to avoid is the fools that get up on American Idol and break windows because they've never been told that they suck. If you tell a 7 year old he sucks though, they often just believe you and never really try. Somewhere in between the first experience and being a william hung though, the role of the parent is to ensure that the child can properly evaluate himself against others. This is achieved in a gentle manner over time, simply by not blowing smoke up someone's butt but at the same time being supportive of practice, learning and effort. For every Michael Jordan there are millions of washed up bums that were probably just as skilled at one point. There's no hard and fast formula, and it falls on the parent to draw the line. Everyone can act at age 7. To suggest otherwise is being a little extreme.