Kids Want to Shave Freshman Heads

changing diapers wrote:

Holy hell high schoolers are stupid. You do not have to shave your head if you do not want to. The coach is also not oblivious to these immature teammates. Just say no, this is real life not a tv show. They are not going to hold you down and forcibly do it.

You know what's even more stupid? High school cross country. If you play a team sport, you have to find a team somewhere. It will inevitably be coached. Distance running does not require anyone else. Races are not free but are everywhere, all the time. Don't come on here and tell me you live in Antarctica. You don't. Your stupid school is offering you nothing. If they pay, go ahead and do it. They don't. You have the option to train and race without the school even knowing about it. You are even allowed to wear non-Nike shoes in this scenario. The fact that you considered joining the school XC team means you are weak-minded. The fact that you actually did so proves you are unable to pull off anything on your own. A shaved head is the least you deserve.

Don’t Shave my Head wrote:

On my team, we have a new coach. Some of the kids are taking advantage of him and have convinced him that we shave freshman before the first meet. This ain’t true. The worst part is they are planning on doing it tomorrow and picture day is a week from Tuesday. I don’t want our freshman to be abused and humiliated like this. Help?

I don't know your status on the team, but this is a good chance for you to step up and be a leader. Tell the guys trying to take advantage of the coach that it isn't cool and that, ultimately, forcing the freshmen to shave their heads will make for a weaker team. If they give you a hard time for this, stand your ground. Sounds like you don't necessarily have a lot of influence already, so this might not be easy, but you are the one with integrity in this situation.

Don't listen to the man-childs on this board who pretend boys will be boys, or hazing is somehow an important part of growing up. Building a cohesive, supportive team will have a much healthier and long-lasting impact on everyone around you.

Did they make you have your p**sy too?

Don’t Shave my Head wrote:

On my team, we have a new coach. Some of the kids are taking advantage of him and have convinced him that we shave freshman before the first meet. This ain’t true. The worst part is they are planning on doing it tomorrow and picture day is a week from Tuesday. I don’t want our freshman to be abused and humiliated like this. Help?

Just know: THIS IS HAZING, WHICH IS ILLEGAL. The school can get sued by their parents.

I’m not trying to be Johnny killjoy here, but it has happened far too many times.

Where I’m from we do that (and some other stuff) when you’re accepted to college. It’s totally voluntary, but almost everyone does it and enjoys it.

Little rituals like this are fun when you do them every year and they become a team tradition.

High school or college team?

I would definitely refuse if I were you. Pull out the hazing card if you have to. We never let the upper class man make us do anything in my day. Tell em to shove it.

RossiCheated wrote:

lease wrote:

This is hazing and most schools and colleges have explicit rules against it. Some places have laws against it.

If the coach won't stop it then go immediately to the school supervisors.

Yep. It fits every definition of hazing which is surely addressed in your school’s policy manual. And even if the freshman “choose to participate” it’s still hazing by definition.

It’s only going to take ONE pissed off parent to screw up your team’s season.

Don’t do it.

^this!! Horrible idea. Got to stop it.

It doesn't count as hazing if the people doing the "hazing" think it's funny.

+1 wrote:

Hounddogharrier wrote:

Ignore this sad sack. It is all in fun. If you want to go EPIC, here is a hint: Home Depot sells blue dye 7. Its the stuff they put in packets of money they give to bank robbers. Pick some up and dose the freshman in it. Viola they are blue berries. It will make the University of Tulsa pics look lame.

+1

This is normal human behavior is to have some kind of ceremony to be apart of the group or get to the next level. At least they aren't making you put your hands into a glove full of bullet ants.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brazilian-tribe-becoming-man-requires-sticking-your-hand-glove-full-angry-ants-180953156/

Don't be a sour wuss.

Every crime in the world can be considered normal human behavior, historically speaking.

Hazing is like the white version of getting jumped into a gang.

Don't be a lowlife.

-1 wrote:

+1 wrote:

+1

This is normal human behavior is to have some kind of ceremony to be apart of the group or get to the next level. At least they aren't making you put your hands into a glove full of bullet ants.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brazilian-tribe-becoming-man-requires-sticking-your-hand-glove-full-angry-ants-180953156/

Don't be a sour wuss.

Every crime in the world can be considered normal human behavior, historically speaking.

Hazing is like the white version of getting jumped into a gang.

Don't be a lowlife.

A lowlife with sheep mentality.

DietBacon wrote:

Where I’m from we do that (and some other stuff) when you’re accepted to college. It’s totally voluntary, but almost everyone does it and enjoys it.

Little rituals like this are fun when you do them every year and they become a team tradition.

You mean most people pretend to enjoy it?

Races are everywhere all the time these days but in most of the US they are road races, not cross country races. Cross country races are somewhat rare. If you're a high school kid wanting to run cross country races frequently your best way to go is generally going to be your school team. Maybe the team aspect doesn't appeal to you. That's your business but to many of us it is or was part of what makes cross country such a great experience. Being on a cross country team may possibly be the thing I miss most from running in my younger years. There's no need to insult a kid who wants to do it.

To the original topic, to me, it looks like something that could be okay but also could lead to some real troubles as described.

-1 wrote:

+1 wrote:

+1

This is normal human behavior is to have some kind of ceremony to be apart of the group or get to the next level. At least they aren't making you put your hands into a glove full of bullet ants.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brazilian-tribe-becoming-man-requires-sticking-your-hand-glove-full-angry-ants-180953156/

Don't be a sour wuss.

Every crime in the world can be considered normal human behavior, historically speaking.

Hazing is like the white version of getting jumped into a gang.

Don't be a lowlife.

Why the West is weak.