rollerman132
73 posts
Feb 19, 2007
10:11 PM
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How do you see this sport-hobby? Has it become Overly Competitive? At the last lawn show I went to, all you could hear was someone bad mouthing someone or his birds. It’s almost like a deep seeded hatred that we keep secret toward each other.what do you think?
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Santandercol
779 posts
Feb 19, 2007
10:19 PM
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I think I wouldn't bother with that lawn show anymore.We all live so far apart in our club up here when we get together all we do is pat each other on the back!
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Kelly
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nicksiders
1422 posts
Feb 19, 2007
10:37 PM
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Competing in competition is one thing and running off at the mouth is another.
Competition will make us better as breeders and keepers of the Birmingham Roller. Critisizing someone elses techniques or birds does nothing for the sport; in fact has a negetive effect. I have been guilty of the latter and I am trying to resolve it.
Nick
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Snicker Rollers
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Santandercol
782 posts
Feb 19, 2007
10:58 PM
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I got faith in ya Nick.
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Kelly
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luis
187 posts
Feb 19, 2007
10:59 PM
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Being competetive brings us to new levels when done with sportsmanship.When we lose our sportsmanship,than we all lose..including the hobby.
Last Edited by on Feb 19, 2007 11:00 PM
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motherlodelofts
1478 posts
Feb 19, 2007
11:09 PM
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That is why they belong in the air and not in a show cage, pretty hard to deny a truely good team of birds over your head.
Scott
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AIREDALE
72 posts
Feb 20, 2007
3:00 AM
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Luis, you are correct.What we need is more sportsmanship.These petty criicisms of others birds has been going on forever.I think all of us become loft blind as to the merits of our birds,but why belittle the guys that win.There are a million excuses for losing,but none for winning.Pick the winners brain you might learn something.If you aim at nothing you'll hit the target every time.Competition helps point out weaknesses,not our excuse making ability. John
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Ballrollers
676 posts
Feb 20, 2007
12:56 PM
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It's more complicated than just "competition" or "sportsmanship". For some reason, this sport has generated a pattern of negativity, disrespect, and criticism among its members in the past couple decades. Many old timers say that it was not always this way. But somewhere along about the 80s, roller clubs started folding up and guys started leaving the hobby rather than deal with such treatment. And that has continued through today's hobby as we know it. It takes a pretty thick skin to be a part of this particular sport, but I don't think we can blame the competions alone for the phenomenon. Certainly the competitive spirit of man is related, but it's more like an attitude of intolerance of others, self-righteosness, negativity, criticism, and disrespecting others that seems to prevail. Fortunately, there are enough men at the other end of the spectrum to keep the scales balanced so the hobby does not implode.
JMHO,
Cliff
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2007 1:07 PM
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MILO
178 posts
Feb 20, 2007
4:49 PM
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I think there is good spirit in the hobby. There always has been. I have never heard or seen the things you mention here recently. In fact, I experienced some of these things as a kid, and also as I joined various clubs and organizations in my first few years. I haven't seen any badmouthing for a very long time. Nevermind the squabbles between the color/performance guys....I am talking about the "his birds are crap," or "he flies junk" type of attitudes. That kind of stuff will leave a jerk in his yard alone, and with no friends. The hobby is in no way in danger of imploding, and to say that it is, is laughable. If anything, technology and our dependence on non-classic user-interface hobbies poses a threat. You know, PS2 babies and the like. If I am judging your birds, you won't get a trophy or even a pat on the back for getting 13th place. Even if you are Gaylork Fauker...LOL You will however get some constructive advice on how you can improve your birds. Competitiveness is not an attribute that everyone should be required to have in order to fun with this breed. The best friends I have made in life, all revolve around the hobby. You just have to find the part of it that you feel most comfortable with. JMO.
c
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2007 4:55 PM
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motherlodelofts
1479 posts
Feb 20, 2007
5:12 PM
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Milo , you are right, I'm just not seeing it myself either.
I'm really not sure what the hell these guys are talking about as I see noting but positive when it come's to the sport or competitions.
Maybe it's just calling bullshit,bullshit on these guys in the shadows that we are talking about here , maybe you can explain what this so called " phenomenon of negetivity" is that you are talking about Cliff.
As for the original poster , it sounds more like a local thing to me, we just had a function last week with a 100 or so people , there was nothing but good times there and i heard nothing negative said about anyone.
The only thing that I can think of as far as recently is NBRC convention was clouded with the Bobby Bradly thing, and Cliff you had yourself right in the middle of it buddy , that is all water under the bridge on done now.
The prior 6-7 conventions were nothing but good time's for everyone and the NBRC has exploded as far as members and the W/C has followed suit itself.
Scott
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2007 6:06 PM
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knaylor
454 posts
Feb 20, 2007
6:15 PM
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Im not sure ?? maybe there has been problems in other parts of the us or world. I do know that in all the areas that I have attended and judged comps there has been nothing but great times.
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3757
103 posts
Feb 20, 2007
6:38 PM
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Competition has help our sport but, there is still a lot of backbitting and comments that are far from true. Why do fanciers do this? If you want to know about someones birds see them for yourself or ask him or her the question that you would like to have answered.
Last Edited by on Feb 23, 2008 5:49 AM
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luis
188 posts
Feb 20, 2007
7:22 PM
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As with anything in life this sport has its bad apples and truly good guys.Simply put i keep crap out of my yard and could care less what someone thinks if he doesn't have the cojones to tell me to my face!
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3757
104 posts
Feb 20, 2007
7:27 PM
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Luis - I like your attitude!!
Last Edited by on Feb 23, 2008 5:50 AM
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Ballrollers
678 posts
Feb 20, 2007
8:04 PM
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Oh come on, guys. Get your heads outta the sand! Pretending it does not exist won't help to improve the situation. Sure, at the local flies and national conventions,for most of us, things are great. That's what keeps us going; the comraderie, and relationships. I am talking about the number of men who have left the sport because of "pigeon politics"...and the articles written and comments made by guys that have been around awhile...or are no longer here...I agree, the sport is NOT in danger of imploding....it is growing. Back to the original point, it is not competition, but the criticism of the efforts of men who step up to hold office, the criticisms of the family of birds a man flys by one who has never seen them, of a man for holding a different opinon, criticsms of a judge, and it appears on nearly every roller internet site. Fortunately, it does NOT dominate the sport, as I said, but it is all too common. As I have said before, it hurts people, and it hurts the hobby. I hear men say on a regular basis..."I just want to fly my birds and stay out of pigeon politics." I'm just saying we can do better.
YITS,
Cliff
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2007 8:23 PM
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motherlodelofts
1480 posts
Feb 20, 2007
8:25 PM
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Cliff , name any sport ,club, church ect. ect. that doesn't have politics , is there a problem within the sport, hell no , it is no different than any other.
Scott
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Santandercol
793 posts
Feb 20, 2007
8:31 PM
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Milo,
Very well said.
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Kelly
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rollerman132
74 posts
Feb 20, 2007
8:59 PM
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Cliff is right about the thick skin, if you don’t have it, they can drive you out of the sport. You guys never read the story in one of the old NBRC bulletins, of some guy who went out to check on his A team, only to find them all dead the day before his fly date. These people that I heard at this lawn show were well known flyers (WC kind), not back yard guys. Its there it just hasn’t popped out at you guys yet.
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MILO
180 posts
Feb 20, 2007
11:24 PM
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Wow.
Interesting conspiracy theories guys.
c
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bman
226 posts
Feb 21, 2007
6:36 AM
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My two cents!
Although I have yet to compete with my birds I see no difference between this hobby and any other hobby/sport.
You will always have your detractors usually the are a very small minority.They bad mouth others and there efforts because they are unable to succeed themselves.
Dogs,horses or pigeons,show or competition they are the ones unable or unwilling to put forth the effort to succeed so they try to elevate there position by degrading someone else.If ignored they will disappear back to where they came from.
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Ron
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rollerman132
75 posts
Feb 21, 2007
12:52 PM
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Milo
Not a conspiracy just a bunch of bad apples. When I think of those who have left the hobby because of the actions of others, two names come to mind, Kevin McCray and Robert Parker. Remember those guys? I’m not trying to start some thing, just trying to keep it real.
Last Edited by on Feb 21, 2007 12:55 PM
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MILO
182 posts
Feb 21, 2007
2:18 PM
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McCray?
They kept stealing his pigeons...lol Or am I wrong? I would have quit too. As I can recall, he was a phenominal roller man. Everyone would surely have to agree. Backbiting is what I have a hard time finding. You guys can call it whatever you want, as for me, I'll have coffee and donuts ready for you, and I won't pick on you. Why do so many guys have to focus on the few shit-starters instead of all the positives of the hobby? Seriously. The benefits and friendships in this hobby FAR outweigh any negatives...and if you can't see that, then pick something else to do or worry about, like fighting global warming or something...LOL The sky is falling! LOL lets enjoy our birds guys.
c
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rollerman132
76 posts
Feb 21, 2007
8:17 PM
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MILO
The bad thing was, he knew them, which makes it worse. But that’s another story. Maybe it’s just the person and not a competitive thing after all. The world will never know.Ahhhhhhhhh Donuts,lol.
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