A Nation of Spectators

We have become a nation of spectators. Rather than participating in a wide variety of activities, Americans seem to prefer to watch others participate in activities. Why is it that we pay billions of dollars every year to watch other people do things that were originally done for the enjoyment of the participants?


Sports: I am in the minority when I say that I would rather play sports than watch them. If you were to give me a choice between playing backyard football or watching the Superbowl (supposedly the most important football game of the year), I would pick backyard football every time. Why are so many people so obsessed with watching sports and so disinterested in playing them? I get invited to multiple Superbowl parties every year, but getting a few friends to go to the park and play touch football, soccer, or basketball is like pulling teeth.


Creative Arts: When Friday night rolls around and everyone is asking each other what they should do, the first suggestion is always: "We could go see a movie." Now, I love a good movie as much as the next person, but why can't we ever find something to do instead of something to watch? We enjoy stories that "professionals" tell in their movies, books, and other art, but we never tell our own stories anymore. We pay billions of dollars to see movies with famous actors (who really aren't that much better looking or more talented...they just got their big break) but we never try acting because we think we aren't good at it. We watch American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance? faithfully, but we don't ever sing or dance because we think we aren't good at it. We read books until our eyesight fails us, but we never write anything because we think we aren't good at it. We flock to art museums and spend billions collecting art, but we never paint anything because we think we aren't good at it. WHO CARES IF WE AREN'T THE BEST AT IT? IT'S STILL FUN!


Relationships: This is sad. Are our own relationships so boring that we have to watch other people's relationships on TV? Why else would we be so obsessed with soap operas and ridiculous dramas like Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl? Why else would we watch people argue and fight and cry and (supposedly) fall in love on reality TV? Do you know why our relationships are so boring? Because all we do is sit around watching TV!


There are many more examples out there, but I think I've made my point. If we would spend more time participating and less time spectating, we would be healthier, smarter, happier, and have a lot more fun.

Raised Stakes

I enjoy competition. Nearly every type of recreation with which I occupy my free time involves competition. Sometimes it's just casual competition--everyone jokes and laughs and has a good time. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and everyone's eye is twinkling. But every once in a while, I enjoy some REAL competition. The kind of competition where everyone is out for blood. Do-or-die, balls-to-the-walls, no-holds-barred competition. The birds stop singing, the sun trembles behind the clouds, and everyone's eyes are saying, "I'm going rip your guts out." Competition like that only happens when the stakes are high--either you've got a lot to gain or you've got a lot to lose. Here are some examples of times I've experienced REAL competition.

Event: 7-on-7 portion of football practice
The cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers wanted nothing more than to break up a pass with a crushing hit. We, the receivers, wanted nothing more that to make a catch and break loose for a big gain. The DB coach must have been on meth, because he was always going crazy. Starting positions were on the line, but it was pride that raised the stakes. And trash-talking. On offense, we didn't get to make big hits very often, but when the play called for a crack block...we made them count.

Event: Axis and Allies
When you have invested five hours per day for a week into a board game, the stakes are high. There is nothing worse than putting that much time into a game only to watch your brother march his army into your capitol. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw a game board across the room.

Event: pick-up basketball
Street basketball is territorial. When you show up at a new court you can tell who the regulars are. They have already established who the best players are and they want to beat you so bad that you'll never come back. And if you outplay the competition, well...they might not be gracious losers. So have a big friend with you.