I have a hard time understanding why this occurs. I can see it coming from the football apes but I am getting harrased but distance guys.
It makes no sense because I have seen most of the other sports such as football, wrestling, basketball, and baseball pick on track guys of all classes. You would think they would look after their own.
because the newbies come in thinking that they know everything - then when they are sophomores they "know" that they know everything. i always like the quote "when i was a freshman" made by a sophomore during xc (uhh that was only 3 months ago).
In the U.S., a sophomore is a second-year student. Folk etymology has it that the word means "wise fool"; consequently "sophomoric" means "pretentious, bombastic, inflated in style or manner; immature, crude, superficial" (according to the Oxford English Dictionary). It appears to be most likely formed from Greek "sophos", meaning "wise", and "moros" meaning "foolish"
this is an interesting phenomenon...it turns out people who abuse/etc were ususually themselves the one's abused/etc. You would think the opposite would be true...someone who was, for example, picked on as a Freshman would be less likely to turn around and do so as a senior because they of all people would know what that is like...but it doesn't usually work that way...they almost feel entitled to do so since it happened to them (if they are even conscious of it at all)
Solution:
1) break the cycle yourself by you not becoming one of those moronic seniors who picks on others
2) realize that those who do this are little people inside with low self-esteem (otherwise why would they feel compelled to do this) I mean what do they get out of it? Pride? accomplishmnent? does it make them feel like men? Do you wonder if they will have to beat up their girl friends/wives when there are no longer freshman around to pick on?
you could ask them why they do it or tell them why (although this probably won't do anything but bring more harassment onto you)....if you have teacher/or other seniors who stand up for what is right, you might inform them of the situation - usually people who are willing to stand up vs. these kind of things will do something about it...but then again we live in an environment of do nothing about problems especially in our schools and related to abuse. So there is no great solution I can give you - except #1 (decide that it ends with you - and don't become one of them and when you are a senior be one of those who stands up for others! that's the best thing i can tell ya.
Insecurity, immaturity mostly. Even upperclassmen are still children. This sort of attitude tends to continue into college. You need only read this board for awhile to see that most high school/college kids are insecure and put others down to make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings.
Okay, this is something I didn't understand until after high school (regrettably). High school guys will pick on skinny or unathletic kids, and distance runners typically fall into the former group. If you're a freshman, unless you're running 16's or better for 5k (maybe 17's), you should be worried about your "coolness" rather than your times. That doesn't mean don't train hard, but seriously hit the gym, drink some protein (don't know about creatine at your age), then hit the f***ing gym again. If you are one of those sunken chest runners you will need to put on at least 20-30 pounds, maybe more. Do this until junior year, then you will have established yourself as a badass and no one will give a shit once you drop the weight and your times will start dropping too.
But seriously, you need to create an image for yourself by the time you get back to school in 4 months. I was a pretty mediocre runner in high school, since I got to college I literally more than doubled my bench press max (I maxed out at 115 in high school so that wasn't so hard). I put on a lot of weight but am not fat, I just look "athletic." I was a total wimp in high school, but if I had the body I do now I know no one would have given me any shit. Especially high schoolers, when I see the guys from my hs football team now, I know I could kick 3/4 of their asses (based on size/strength...maybe they know some jiu jitsu shit). Seriously, you can be the "big guy" on the cross country team for a year or two, not only will your teammates lay off you, but if you are putting up serious weight in the weight room then you'll definitely get respect from the other athletes too. PS, no one cares how many crunches you can do.
Oh, and the girls may actually notice you too. No one cares about the wimpy runner getting bullied about (don't mean to offend anyone, that was me too).
btw, people will probably say that attitude plays a big part, and that's true but for me bulking up definitely helped elicit my "natural confidence" that had been missing in high school. i saw myself as a little wimp, so that's how i acted. don't be a dick to people, just confident.
i pick on freshman all the time, but not in a mean way, all of our freshman are hillarious, i just pick on em to be a dick, but it's all in good fun and they all know it
The same reason people retire; because they can. The atmosphere is changing for the better however.
It will never stop. Doctors, lawyers... everyone tortures the newbies.
It's an initiation type thing- you'll do it too when you're a senior. As long as it's not genuinely mean or hurtful, it's all in good fun. Actually, you'll probably find yourself all the stronger for it because as several others have pointed out this type of behavior occurs all the time in the real world. Learning how to deal with it now, in an isolated environment, will prepare you for this later on.
pecked at practice wrote:
I have a hard time understanding why this occurs. I can see it coming from the football apes but I am getting harrased but distance guys.
It makes no sense because I have seen most of the other sports such as football, wrestling, basketball, and baseball pick on track guys of all classes. You would think they would look after their own.
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as said in Fiddler on the Roof " TRADITION!!!"
pecked at practice wrote:
I have a hard time understanding why this occurs. I can see it coming from the football apes but I am getting harrased but distance guys.
It makes no sense because I have seen most of the other sports such as football, wrestling, basketball, and baseball pick on track guys of all classes. You would think they would look after their own.
Did you ever consider that you are a toolbag worthy of their criticism? You should be honored they acknowledge you (even if it is in this manner)!
The chance to pick on or initiate the newbies is across the board. It is part of the group allowing you into their inner circle.
Hazing etc.. it goes on in police departments, fire departments, law offices, etc...
Because the upperclassmen have small penises.
Make me a sandwich, freshman!
You have a choice. Take it like a man. Cry like a baby. Or grab a bb bat and start bashing heads. Your choice. All have consequences.
I can handle the name calling, weggies, wet willies, and red bellies but yesterday it got down right mean.
One of the shot putters/football players held me down and a senior distance guy rubbed a handful of skin lube (use for taping ankles and stuff) through my hair. I later asked him why he would not look out for me and he just said that they did that to him when he was a freshman. I think he is just pissed cuz I beat him in the 1600m last week.
I washed my hair a bunch of times last night and it would not come out. My Dad did not want the junk getting on the furniture and stuff and my Mom thought it would get on the pillows and car cuz my hair is long. so my Dad got out the clippers he uses on my little brother and buzzed off all my hair
My parents are pisse and are thinking about going to the school and talkin with the principle and the track coach. I asked them not to cuz it will just get worse. Then my Dad said some freshman kid in Ohio got a straw put in his butt by some football dudes so he dos not want this to go any farther. The bus ride to school today is gonna suck and I want to skip practice, but it will just get worse if I do.
just wear what the lunch lady wears
Oh my- Now Im picking on the greaseball- HAH!!!
pecked at practice wrote:
I can handle the name calling, weggies, wet willies, and red bellies but yesterday it got down right mean.
One of the shot putters/football players held me down and a senior distance guy rubbed a handful of skin lube (use for taping ankles and stuff) through my hair. I later asked him why he would not look out for me and he just said that they did that to him when he was a freshman. I think he is just pissed cuz I beat him in the 1600m last week.
I washed my hair a bunch of times last night and it would not come out. My Dad did not want the junk getting on the furniture and stuff and my Mom thought it would get on the pillows and car cuz my hair is long. so my Dad got out the clippers he uses on my little brother and buzzed off all my hair
My parents are pisse and are thinking about going to the school and talkin with the principle and the track coach. I asked them not to cuz it will just get worse. Then my Dad said some freshman kid in Ohio got a straw put in his butt by some football dudes so he dos not want this to go any farther. The bus ride to school today is gonna suck and I want to skip practice, but it will just get worse if I do.
TROLL!!!! It took us a couple of posts...good job until this post!
Well, it actually builds a sense of camaraderie on the team. The freshmen pay their dues and pay a few more dues as a Sophomore (was-freshman) then really become entrenched in tradition. We really are bringing up a generation of pussies and maybe by picking on freshmen they will be a little more prepared when they enter the real world.
If you are so sad about this challenge one of them to a fight even if you lose they will have more respect for you because you made the decision to stick up for yourself.