What do individuals think an elite athlete contributes to other people in society? What value does the elite athlete provide others? This is not a put down of elite athletes, as in my view there is tremendous value elite athletes contribute to others. My curiosity is in the thoughts of the “Let’s Run” individuals that make up this community.
Entertainment. That is all they contribute to people in society. Occasionally you'll have an individual athlete that goes beyond and contributes time, money, or other support to charitable organizations. But that support does not "contribute to other people in society", rather, that contribution is rather limited in scope.
Some people look to elite athletes as role models, but that is not a "contribution" on the part of the athlete, rather that is something people choose to take.
I also feel that elite athletes shoud not be expected to make a contribution other than to provide entertain to us.
Inspiration
Thank You!
And what does "inspiration" do for people in society?
Look back to your question. You ask "What do elite athletes contribute to society?". If you feel inspired by an elite athlete, it is because you take the athletes actions and then feel inspired. The elite athlete has not "contributed" inspiration, you took it.
Well, I suppose they might inspire you to take up a sport. This helps society usually. Look at the influence of people such as Michael Jordan. Also, wherever you have competitive sports you're going to have people at the top, and these people are paid/funded because of (maybe) the revenue they drive in sports products and also to represent their country. If you look at something like the Olympic Games, it does contribute a lot to society but that is mostly confined to the country or area it takes place in.
Indirectly they're also contributing not adding to the burden of sickness and disease, but that's contentious and a very small effect.
They provide us with something to talk about, something to bond over. Imagine if there was no football, track, gymnastics, swimming, rugby, cricket past a local level. Aside from the fact it would just never happen by the very nature of how sports work (the best wanting to compete against the best), the newspapers would be half empty!
They inspire ordinary people to excercise and so help improving health and reducin health costs.
track chick wrote:
the newspapers would be half empty!
than half the amount of paper eould be used. elite athletes therefore waste trees and harm the environment.
You see, fundamental reading skills in America is just revolting.
Inspiration is such an esy answer, but it is wrong. The athlete does not inpire you; you are inspired by the athlete. You might find an athlete inspirational, but that is not an actual contribution. Most elite athletes are doing their chosen activity for purely selfish reasons, be it monetary or for their own self-fulfillment, not to "inspire" you. I challenge you to name me a single elite athlete who does what they do purely to inspire others.
With this question, think in a broader sense. Change "elite athlete" with a different sub-group, such as white people, black people, homosexuals, or immigrants. You will find that you are unable to answer the question with a specific contribution, because for every contribution, you'll find a someone that negates the contribution by taking.
As for your Michael Jordan example; one might feel inspired to play basketball after watching MJ play, but do you think he played with the sole purpose of getting you off the couch and hitting the boards?
advertising. Their role in a Capitalistic society is all about money.
Marion Jones pre-drug positive = lots of advertising dollars.
Marion Jones post-drug positive = no advertising dollars
[quote]Pamela Anderson's Left Nipple wrote:
Inspiration is such an esy answer, but it is wrong. The athlete does not inpire you; you are inspired by the athlete. You might find an athlete inspirational, but that is not an actual contribution. Most elite athletes are doing their chosen activity for purely selfish reasons, be it monetary or for their own self-fulfillment, not to "inspire" you. I challenge you to name me a single elite athlete who does what they do purely to inspire others. [quote]
I disagree. The contribution comes from the athlete willing to place him/herself in a public arena. You can't be inspired by something you do not know, so an elite athlete displays a willingness to open up his/her expericenes for others to learn from, enjoy, and draw inspiration from.
I am inspired by the effort and discipline many elite athletes (runners) display...both attributes can be useful in other areas of life, so they do contribute a tangible example of what hard work and dedication can do to help you reach your potential in a given area. Additionally, elite athletes open the door of "possibilities" to the young person, teaching the value of hard work and delayed gratification...two things sorely lacking in our society today.
trying to inspire wrote:
I disagree. The contribution comes from the athlete willing to place him/herself in a public arena. You can't be inspired by something you do not know, so an elite athlete displays a willingness to open up his/her expericenes for others to learn from, enjoy, and draw inspiration from.
Then you don't disagree, as you state the contribution is the willingness to be in the public eye. From that, you DRAW the inspiration, the athlete hasn't CONTRIBUTED it.
I think that "society" is a pretty strong word. If you replace it with "running community", you may come up with much better answers. I think the Hansons group has a pretty good grasp of this. I live in Pensacola and when the Hansons flew in for a 10k in Mobile they came over to our local running shop to speak. I am now a big Brooks,Hansons fan and I follow the "elite scene" a little closer because of their visit.
Pamela Anderson's Left Nipple wrote:
You see, fundamental reading skills in America is just revolting.
Inspiration is such an esy answer, but it is wrong. The athlete does not inpire you; you are inspired by the athlete. You might find an athlete inspirational, but that is not an actual contribution. Most elite athletes are doing their chosen activity for purely selfish reasons, be it monetary or for their own self-fulfillment, not to "inspire" you. I challenge you to name me a single elite athlete who does what they do purely to inspire others.
With this question, think in a broader sense. Change "elite athlete" with a different sub-group, such as white people, black people, homosexuals, or immigrants. You will find that you are unable to answer the question with a specific contribution, because for every contribution, you'll find a someone that negates the contribution by taking.
As for your Michael Jordan example; one might feel inspired to play basketball after watching MJ play, but do you think he played with the sole purpose of getting you off the couch and hitting the boards?
I'm not in America. Assumptions in America are just revolting (perhaps). Someone might be in another career for selfish reasons, but it does not mean they don't contribute to society purely because of their reasons for choosing the career. The intent of their actions doesn't negate the impact it has. Call it an indirect contribution if you like. They contribute a person to gain inspiration from.
Pamela Anderson's Left Nipple wrote:
Inspiration is such an esy answer, but it is wrong. The athlete does not inpire you; you are inspired by the athlete.
You just took the same phrase and put it in the passive voice. It means the same thing
reporter HS wrote:
And what does "inspiration" do for people in society?
It makes them forget about how crappy their lives are.
Inspiration drawn from a novelist, a singer, a musician a politician, a painter at teacher or a preacher are contributions an individuals “takes”. The provider is a vessel or the form that communicates the essence of inspiration. Observer and that being observed become one. The inspiration of spring bloom contributes great hope for all to appreciate.
An elite athlete may be the flower in spring that when mature will fill the observer with the hope of glory. The observer open to draw in the experience and subsequently wise and replete with good energy will take the good will that has been the process of the grace of goodness and provide that individual with hope, to proceed in a way, that by being inspired gives hope and meaning to his or her own life. Surely, that will be the catalyst of positive change for that individual and the process that may inspire others to do and receive the same.
Since the question is about elite athletes and not specifically runners you can say all the money raised in sports contributes to society. A ball player making millions a year is paying a lot of taxes. Sports is an entire industry all by itself that has created thousands of jobs. I would say the economic impact is rather large. Maybe that is not a 'contribution' in the true sense of the word but it is a positive impact that elites make.
There are a lot of athletes that contribute time and money to the charity of their choice. They may do it for PR purposes but still they are contributing.