New "The Way I See It" 5-10-11

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Ernest Emerson

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Apr 5, 1999
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I am in the middle of writing an article for Human Events titled: "We Are Training Cowards" when this article came across my desk. It addresses many of the same issues. It was too good to not post here.

My Best Regards,

Ernest R. Emerson
 
I'm not sure I see the point.

Is the author attempting to suggest that one can't be a gentleman yet face a challenge? Is she suggesting that the male populace is too effeminate to handle doing a job? What's the point, exactly? Is it to pound the drums a little louder for Seal Team Six? They really don't need it; everyone knows what they do and can do. So what's the point, really?

The firefighter who steps into a burning building to perform a rescue isn't good enough? The police officer who puts himself in harms way on a daily basis not cutting the grade any more? Can one be a man and do a job that isn't US Navy SEAL, Firefighter, or Cop, and still not be decried as effeminate or not a "manly man?"

What's the point, again?
 
This post brings to mind a man who few people can argue was not only great soldier but was a genetleman. Though the quote was delievered at the end of the war, it contained a universal theme of Lee's life, which so valued character; and did, as it was with so many other great warriors, demonstrate an accute awareness that true strength doesn't exist in all its power unless coupled with humility and restraiint.

"The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled when he cannot help humbling others."
— Robert E. Lee
 
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Dear Sns3Guppy,

Quite simply the point is that we are losing both our manners and our manhood in today's society. In some circles it is called the "wussification" of America. Lt. Col David Grossman has written and spoken eloquently about it as have many other prominent lecturers and writers. I am finishing a piece I was asked to do due to its current relevance about the very same subject as I have lectured and written about it in the past.

I am a very close personal friend of the CMC who ran the entire BUD's program for NSWG. We spoke of this subject along with various BUD's instructors time and time again and how it was affecting the selection process.

I have spoken a number of times with Marine Corps Instructors - D.I.'s at Pendleton, on a number of occasions about what the Corps has had to do to accommodate the "new generation" of recruits in order to graduate enough candidates.

I give a few seminars and lectures to Police Academies at times and I both see and hear about the "problems" the instructors now have to deal with amongst their officer candidates.

As a coach, I see and deal with it first hand with the young boys that are on my team and the boys on other teams in the league. I see at least twice a game sometimes more, young boys break down and cry after being thrown out, striking out or dropping a ball. I've seen boys have to be taken out of soccer games because of crying after missing a goal or failing to stop one.

Our children are being raised in a no compete, no fail, never feel bad environment that only serves to produce a false sense of esteem, not real, true, self esteem born of hard work, discipline, taking failure in stride and still playing to win.

You can read an article I wrote on Human Events titled "The Coach" that is a transcript from speech I gave at an athletic coaches conference about 15 years ago that has more on this subject and self-esteem.

I've got to tell you that I played High School and College Football and I played Professional Baseball so you can surmise that I was involved in sports since I was old enough to walk. In all my years, the only time I ever saw anyone cry was after the final game in a season when people knew it would be perhaps the last game they ever played with their team. Hell, I was raised under the shadow of Vince Lombardi and there never was any crying on any team I ever played on.

As to the manners issue. I have children, they have all their friends. I interact with the schools. I deal first hand with a lot of young people. As a whole their manners are terrible.

My children have had notes sent home by their teachers praising their manners more than once and they know they have good manners.

Go to any restaurant and look around. How many many young men are wearing caps while they are eating? How many pull the chair out for their girlfriends or wives? How many get up and offer their seat or chair to a woman or old person in the waiting area of the restaurant? The list goes on and on.

The point that Ms. Betsy Hart is making is that manliness and manners are not only going out of style but in the case of manliness and masculinity those traits are considered by many to be primitive, crude or in some way wrong.

That is her point and a point of serious consideration by many in the military, police and related services. It is not her opinion or mine alone by any means.

I hope I was able to add some clarity to the jist of her article.

By the way sns3Guppy what is your real name? My name is Ernest Emerson.

My Best Regards,

Ernest R. Emerson

P.S.

In the middle of writing this post, I had to stop because some members of LAPD "D" squad showed up to check about doing some classes. In the middle of our discussion one of them made the comment about how hard it is to get new candidates to qualify because they can't take the physicality, the stress and the discipline. How timely.
 
Mr Emerson,

I would be very interested in reading your piece on your subject when you are finished with it. Will you be posting it on your website? If not where would I be able to read it?
 
If they (gov) undo the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy I suspect the situation will only worsen. Of course this could be symptomatic of children from broken homes brought up by TV more than two parents too or as the case seems to be in most states children that had less male presence in their lives in the formative years.

I used to substitute teach on occasion in years past and can say I started noticing more rudeness, stubborn behavior, temper tantrums and the like thinking at the time that it sure seemed odd to me that children of this age were so expressive of such weakness for lack of a better term. (high schoolers) On the one hand we see children of a young age that look much older. I see girls in their early teens here all the time and due to make up as well as nature they could pass for 16 or more easy for example but I also see in contrast to this immature behaviors such as described above almost as if emotionally anyway, the children seem stagnated for emotional growth as if they are behind for their ages.

What I do agree with completely is the lack of courtesy I have seen from the kids today and its alarming. This could be due to a certain distrust of baby boomer generation follks due to feeling we are the reason they can't get a job, can't afford school, cars, home or whatever looking for some place to blame I suppose but in a way I understand the animosity for what our generation has done to our economy as well as the world stage for foreign policy. Its not exactly like we have left them a promising looking future when we look at the debt, the wars and what appears to be some radiation in some parts of the world now as well as here I expect.

It could also be that the latest generation of those being trained is a bit more aware of the 'reality' of what goes on in the world due to the fact they are better up on current events due to the internet also. What we have is a situation where perhaps these youngsters see right through the mind games of manipulation that have carried on for generations that we all fell for hook line and sinker and maybe they just don't buy it and don't want to play that 'war' game any longer.

I'm sure arms traders selling war and all that goes with it will still find ample numbers of youth more than willing to fulfill their agenda. I'm bettin' they'll replace what spots can't be filled with drones. Smart automated robot soldiers are just around the corner. After that we'll all have to pray once they become self aware. Fiction is strange like that at times as we've seen from almost prophetic writings at times by guys like H.G. Wells among others. The Terminator comes to mind here and it could be if soldiers are not panning out for government that they'll start looking into that area more. You never know. Lots of speculation there but worth the thoughts. Thanks for the read Ernest.
STR
 
Earnest,

I'll be happy to correspond with you privately with my name, to meet with you, and will be more than honored to train under your tutelage, also with my name. Your name corresponds to your business; it's on quite a few of your knives which I own, and it's a name which I frequently recommend to friends and strangers alike, purely on the strength of my own personal experiences with your products.

My name is not attached to any such things, and as such, is of no consequence. You have a well-earned reputation and business tied to your name. I do not, and am nobody.

I don't disagree about convention and manners. Wearing of hats indoors, lack of common courtesy, the simply act of holding the door for a lady, and other practices that should be considered second nature, are frequently seen abused or without regard.

I don't agree with the notion that kids can't cry. They're kids, after all. On the ball field, I see kids cry when they strike out or miss a throw or pitch, largely because of the pressure put on them by their parents. The fact is that it matters not at all if they win or lose, and this element is often overlooked by parents who seem to have an innate need to live vicariously through their children. Too often parents, coaches, and even the children themselves seem to forget that it's a game, just like marbles, checkers, and tic tac toe. Nothing more.

I can't speak to what the NSWG sees coming into the program for applicants. The BUD's program is notoriously famous for weeding out a large percentage of the applicants, and for retaining a very select few who survive with determination that few seem to be able to muster. I can tell you quite honestly that I don't have the ability physically to make the grade in such a program; if one could do so on determination alone, I'd be happy to run the course until either forced to leave, or dead. Such determination, however, is insufficient, and I can freely admit that I'm incapable of the task, and will tip my hat with full respect to those who do.

I'm not a fan of the notion of "be a man," or "man-up." I see it as a redneck mentality. One person's determination of what a "man" is may be entirely different than another. The testosterone-charged stereotype of a "real man" is horse manure, in my opinion.

Let's face it: Christ wept. He never lead an army, never held an office, never competed, never had any accolades, awards, medals, and was put to death publicly alongside common criminals. Never the less, His life marks the center of our measure of time, a turning point in the ages, and for those who disbelieve, a purveyor of wisdom and a matchless teacher. For those who do believe, he marks the salvation of mankind. Manly, or not? He never turned aside a challenge, and faced the greatest of challenges with dignity and honor. No argument can be made with any credibility that His was anything but the most exemplary of manhood, yet He did nothing of what we consider to be manly things today.

When I hear people speak of "manly men," I envision a Monty Python skit. The very suggestion seems comical. Perhaps the "manly man" feels diminished now that women serve alongside the formerly male-only role, or perhaps the fact that men don't settle everything with fists any more is perceived to be a weakening in society.

I don't compete. I don't play sports. I hate them, in fact. I have no idea who Vince Lombardi is, but surmise that given your association and mention along side sports, he's a player, owner, or coach. I've been a life-long martial artist, which I don't view as a sport. I work extensively abroad, largely among many of those remaining "manly men" of which the article might refer. I spend much of my time in southwest asia and the middle east, downrange. I am not a "manly man," just a man who works for a living, still believes in common courtesy, and who may be becoming in danger of being outdated. It's not for me to say.

I do not see the point of the article. I don't disagree with your comments in principle, though I see nothing wrong with kids crying at a ballgame. This isn't "wussification," but I do have a real problem with parents, coaches, authors, or others who would look down on kids for crying at a ballgame, or anywhere else. Crying isn't weakness. "Man up," or "Be a man" in response to a crying child is the voice of ignorance, and it's foolishness. A responsible voice would be one encouraging the child to get up, go do it again, and to get past the mistake. It's the encouragement that counts, not the condemnation of the crying as "wussification."

The toughest man I ever knew, one whom I looked up to and respected, one with whom I trained hard and who earned my trust, was killed in a gunfight some years ago. When the shooting began, he moved toward the gunfire, as I expect is expected of many of us. I don't know if he was afraid to cry, but I can guarantee he would never, ever tell a child to "man up" if he saw them cry. He'd encourage them to push themselves a little harder, he'd help them get past the trial, he'd stand with them and stay with them and set an example, but he would never dream of calling them a "wuss" or demeaning them for a natural reaction, or for displaying a perfectly acceptable emotion.

Quitting may be a weakness, but crying is not. Let's not foster stereotypes and pander to the redneck community by keeping alive a mentality which should have died long ago. "Be a man" is bull shit. Let's stick with simply "Be," and leave it at that.
 
I'm sick of the "everyone is a winner" crap our kids are subjected to. Just as bad as a dojo that awards a child under 10 his first dan. False sense of confidence instilled in children does much more harm than good. Not everybody gets to be a winner. The sooner that lesson is learned, the better.
 
sns3guppy said:
Earnest,

I'll be happy to correspond with you privately with my name, to meet with you, and will be more than honored to train under your tutelage, also with my name. Your name corresponds to your business; it's on quite a few of your knives which I own, and it's a name which I frequently recommend to friends and strangers alike, purely on the strength of my own personal experiences with your products.

My name is not attached to any such things, and as such, is of no consequence. You have a well-earned reputation and business tied to your name. I do not, and am nobody.

I don't disagree about convention and manners. Wearing of hats indoors, lack of common courtesy, the simply act of holding the door for a lady, and other practices that should be considered second nature, are frequently seen abused or without regard.
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As far as I'm concerned woman asked for equality and now they got it. They want to hold the door for men, be the main bread winner and so forth I say more power to them. Don't complain when you get what you ask for is my feelings on that. Still though common courtesy like holding a door for someone with a cane, holding a door for someone with their hands full, helping someone in small ways by being alert to what goes on around you all applies.

As for the tears. I agree with you but I can see Ernie's point. There is a time and a place for tears. Some seem to cut lose where they stand without hesitation whether it be a ball field, a movie theater or the back seat of their family car and my thoughts are, "show some control for crying loud!" I was taught that emotional times are a private thing. Have your break downs in your bed room behind closed doors. I don't want to see it in the Wal-Mart parking lot! This says as much and reflects on the parents and how they raised their children as it does the children IMO.
STR
 
As for the whole crying thing, it is especially prevalent today for parents to put ridiculous amounts of pressure on their children - in addition to propogating this ridiculous "Everyone's a winner" atmosphere.

In high schools now, (especially in my area) there is a crazy competition for colleges. High schoolers starting clubs solely to put it on their transcripts - taking four college level classes their junior year (something I did) to make themselves look better - doing crazy amounts of community service (Eagle Scouts especially) - solely for the purpose of looking good to college application readers. And this isn't entirely their doing.

Student's parents are a HUGE part of this. Again, at least in my area. Not sure about you all, but here, parent's give their children the stink-eye in public when someone asks what their child wants to study and the kid doesn't know. Then at home, the parent will give the child a talk that's nice on the surface, but is really saying "Figure out what to do with your life! Were you a failed abortion?!?!?!"

Despite all the pressure being placed on kids, there is also a ridiculously accepting and sugarcoated environment in their schools and (many times) homes. High schools are now telling students "College isn't a prize to be won, it's a match to be made," to which I say "Wake up you f******* idiot! Better schools do look better, believe it or not." This is in addition to the contrarians who say that undergraduate stuff doesn't really matter. So, either way they listen, the message is a limpwristed attempt at pre-emptive consolation. This in schools where bullying is defined as "Anything that makes a student uncomfortable or threatened," which was explained by counselors to extend to things outside of school, because evidently things outside of school can make students uncomfortable in school - meaning their full attention won't be devoted to academics - making their grades suffer. Which is obviously the most important effect of "bullying." [/sarcasm]

This attitude is not only present at schools. My mother told me many, many times "I really don't care where you go to college," although she had told me since age 5 "I can really see you at William and Mary." Yep. Integrity right there.
 
I do agree that manners and "doing the right thing" have fallen by the wayside.

My Dad said "Why do we do this? Because COMMON COURTECY DEMANDS IT!" so many time that I still hear it in my sleep. I get comments all the time because I open the car door for my girlfriend. I just took a very good job with HUGE potential away from someone of my own generation because he couldn't harden up and take simple direction like an adult. I don't think that our boys should be devoid of emotion. A TRUE man should be able to prepare a decent meal, dance, cry, recite a poem from memory and #1, TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN RESPONSABILITIES.
 
I thought the article was pretty well written and I was able to understand the point. I can see what the author was describing when I speak with folks older than I and younger than I. It's an interesting bit of sociopsychology there. I was raised the same was as ROssi Knives pointed out in his reply, "Common Courtesy and Decency Demand It". Thanks for sharing. :)
 
Despite all the pressure being placed on kids, there is also a ridiculously accepting and sugarcoated environment in their schools and (many times) homes. High schools are now telling students "College isn't a prize to be won, it's a match to be made," to which I say "Wake up you f******* idiot! Better schools do look better, believe it or not."
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Not. Forget how you look.

Schooling is about education, not about image.
This is in addition to the contrarians who say that undergraduate stuff doesn't really matter. So, either way they listen, the message is a limpwristed attempt at pre-emptive consolation.
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It's not consolation. Nor pre-emptive.

Colleges exist to sell expensive training which does little, and expensive textbooks that support an industry unto itself.

Undergraduate training matters little. So does post-graduate training. So does graduate training.

You sound very much like either a college student who hasn't yet tasted the real world or worked for a living, or a parent who is so deep in his child's college education that he can't afford to look up or see the light of day.

What kind of fry chef does a college graduate make? He knows that the salt he puts on the fries is really sodium chloride. Yippee.

Perhaps he might even make manager a little sooner than the fry cook who doesn't have that fancy degree.

So everybody isn't a winner? By which standard? Two teams of little league play ball. One achieves a higher score. Are they the winners? Not necessarily. I watched a boy from the winning team try to take a bat to a member of his same team, last night. The other member was the coaches son, taunting the player who just struck out. Winners, simply because they got the highest score? I asked one boy afterward how his team did. "We lost," he said. "But did you have fun?" I asked. He thought, then said "Yes." Sounds like a winner to me.

I watched several boys swing hard at the ball and miss. Three times, three strikes, and they were out. Their coach bit his lip, balled up his fist, pounded it on a rail on the fence by the dugout. He was pissed. He showed it, the kids saw it; and they hung their heads in shame. Another coach slapped them on the back as they entered the dugout, and said "good job." He was right. The former coach would have made them losers; they struck out. The second coach didn't see it that way, and neither did I. They went down swinging. That's good enough.

The notion that most will be losers and must accept that is a stupid, defeatist, fatalistic mentality.

When Chesty Puller stood with his men at Chosin Resorvoir, he observed that his men were low on ammunition. It was winter, and they were low on supplies. They were low in number, and the enemy strong. They were surrounded. He noted that being surrounded "simplifies our problem." He made an oft-repeated statement at the time, "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front, and they're behind. They can't get away this time."

When one is faced with adversity, be it overwhelming odds that place one in mortal danger, or a pitcher that strikes one out, the realization that there's nothing ahead but improvement and opportunity is what makes one a winner. Being in a position of loss is not losing, and everyone can win. How a win is defined is subjective at best, and keeping score doesn't begin to truly assess success.

When training in the dojo, in a simple engagement of ippon or sambon kumite, I often found myself hurt. Broken bones, broken nose. Sometimes hard enough to blur vision, sometimes painfully so. In every case I was grateful, because while some might suggest that this was evidence of losing the engagement, I saw it as a lesson in finding my openings, my weaknesses. It was by having these experiences that I hoped to see progress.

The boy who struck out last night didn't lose, and he didn't fail. He swung hard, he tried his best, and he learned something. He may have learned to step a little closer to the plate, or to focus more on the ball, or perhaps came to a realization about shifting his weight from his back leg to his front. He learned something, and if he could say after the game that he had fun doing it, then I really don't see anyone being able to tell him that he lost, no matter what the score.

I watched a boy pitching, and I saw him tire. His pitches began to go wild; high, left, and he stopped charging forward toward the catcher. He was proud to be pitching, and he had been giving it all he could, clearly determined to be the best pitcher that he could be. Soon the coach ordered him to third base, and brought the third baseman up to pitch. While another boy in the same position had previously thrown down the ball and grudgingly marched off to cover the base, this boy ran to the base and prepared to be the best baseman he could. Shortly after that he was a shortstop, and determined to be the best shortstop he could be.

He wasn't an expert at any of those things. He simply decided to do his best. His team lost the game by score, but he, like many of his teammates, finished the game a winner.

If you don't want to give each child a chance to be the winner, or to recognize his or her potential (and right) to be just that, then step aside. You're little more than waste and dross in the way. You're part of the problem, whether you realize it or not, and your lousy attitude is the embodiment of failure. Perhaps you don't believe in encouraging people to find success and to learn to recognize their own success and wins because you feel you've already lost. Don't let your own self-perception of failure stand in the way of others. Perhaps you were never taught to understand a win when you see one, and perhaps you're too simple to perceive anything but the final score as a mark of success. More's the pity.

If you think that being a "manly man" is to follow your poor example, perhaps it's time to quietly step down and spend some shallow time reflecting in a mirror. The kids out there whom you might deceive deserve better. In the meantime, let them choose their own college. Yes, kids, the school you choose doesn't really matter that much. It's what you decide to take from there, and what you decide to do with it, that does.
 
Or... fuck college altogether. I dropped out after 3 semesters as a criminology LE major when I realized that my going to college was only to make my mom happy. I dropped out and joined the Army... Infantry.
 
I think you both make valid points in an issue that should have common ground and common goals. Polarization on an issue like the "wussification of America," which I believe as many do is in fact occuring (my Father was teased if he did not have his .22 rifle in his truck for hunting after school--speaking of rednecks:)), is just as damaging as the wussification itself.

There's got to be some middle ground, and perhaps your discussion can find it. Just my .01.

Professor.
 
Dear Members,

I'm afraid the point has been skewed somewhat here. But luckily there are those here who did see it.

I have not seen a single coach in my entire career ever grab a young boy who was crying and tell him to "man up". In fact to infer that that is what I am referring to shows a disconnection from what I was describing and a projection of something that was not mentioned or even alluded to.

And, I now understand how the point was missed in Ms. Betsy Hart's article and in the clarification that I tried to offer.

What I will offer is this and only this in regard to the issue of manhood and manliness;

1. We are becoming a nation of softies.

2. The standards for excellence, making the grade and qualifications are constantly being adjusted down (easier) because the standards that were met once in the past are now too tough, too difficult, too demanding or too harsh for many of those who now aspire to such positions. This is a fact not an opinion.

3. In reference to the young boys who were crying because of their "failures", the point being made is this and this only. As a participant and a coach and in discussions with many others regarding sports and young men specifically, there is a lot more crying over minor mistakes and normal errors than there was in the past. Many of these young athletes are not able to cope with almost insignificant failures because they never get the chance, the opportunity to fail. The life lesson being missed is learning that life is filled with failures and you better take them in stride, pick yourself up and get going again.

To quote Vince Lombardi in describing the measure of a man, "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

"You've tried hard. That was good enough," is not the way to build character and it is because of this ideal, that the acceptance of mediocre performance in school (grades) athletics, and life is essentially lowering the standards for a country whose greatness was built in large part due to a commitment to excellence and high standards of achievement in all fields.

4. The coaches that I've worked with do not "look down" upon any of their athletes. Again, that is not what's being described or inferred. The point is that young men do not cope as well as they once did with adversity.

5. Life is a competition. Whether it is for the young lady, the job, the raise, the status, the bigger house, the better income, the better life for my family.

I compete. I compete every day of my life. Everyone around me is also competing, sometimes for exactly the same thing I am striving for. Competition is one of the only true ways of knowing your real level of skill and true measure of proficiency in any endeavor.

How can I know how good I am at anything if I cannot compare myself against others who are also in the same endeavor. By looking in a mirror? As to fighting, I would say very precisely; I have been competing and am competing every time I square off against another individual, in training, in the ring or in the street. The times when I got the sh*t knocked out of me just made me train harder longer, stronger so that next time I might do the sh*t kicking.

Sports and athletics are places where men and women can give their all in the pursuit of personal excellence and teamwork, by testing themselves against their peers or another human being on the field of competition These lessons, these traits, these ideals carry over into life and can be tremendous assets and tools for successful lives and relationships with others. There are no I's in team.

Benjamin Franklin has been quoted as saying, "Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords."

And finally, Jesus Christ was not as much a pacifist as some would believe.

My Best Regards,

Ernest R. Emerson

P.S. Sounds like someone who hates sports is spending some time at the games.
 
P.S. Sounds like someone who hates sports is spending some time at the games.
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I'm not big on conflict either, but I spend a lot of time in Afghanistan.

I have kids who play sports. I don't like sports, have no love for sports, and would just as soon see them do something else. However, to impose my view on them would be inappropriate. What counts is that they enjoy the sports, and frankly, yes, that's good enough.

And finally, Jesus Christ was not as much a pacifist as some would believe.
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I believe pacifism is really irrelevant, both to the topic of manly behavior and to the example used previously of Christ himself. Pacifism has no connection with being "soft," any more than a lust for conflict or violence makes a "man." Christ displayed righteous anger in clearing the temple portico of money changers and trade tables, where sacrificial animals were being sold for profit. He did it with whip in hand, and violently. It wasn't the violence that made him a man, but standing up for his beliefs.
One may be a pacifist and do the same, but pacifism is a choice or a path, and is irrelevant. Anyone may stand up for their beliefs, and in so doing, is clearly a winner.

"You've tried hard. That was good enough," is not the way to build character and it is because of this ideal, that the acceptance of mediocre performance in school (grades) athletics, and life is essentially lowering the standards for a country whose greatness was built in large part due to a commitment to excellence and high standards of achievement in all fields.
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"You've tried hard, that was good enough," is precisely what needs to be said, followed by "next time, let's try harder," or more exactly, "Let's try again."

Once someone has tried, the event is sealed in time; it's over and in the past. One need not beat up one's self or another for the effort. It's encapsulated as a learning experience, but nothing more. After all, few in this life achieve perfection every time they take the field, be it a playing field or a battlefield. Accordingly, whatever one did was good enough, because it can't be changed. That doesn't mean the next time can't be better, can't push a little harder, or that one can't come back and try one more time.

Frankly I'd much rather see someone go down swinging than wait for that perfect ball. They can always come back and swing again.

To quote Vince Lombardi in describing the measure of a man, "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."
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That Lombardi character was quite right, whomever he was.

I have not seen a single coach in my entire career ever grab a young boy who was crying and tell him to "man up".
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I certainly have, more than once. The coach in question last night has a history of using profanity and putdowns and well as physically correcting his players. That was my purpose at the game last night; to adjust the coach's behavior should he try it one more time. Fortunately for him, that didn't happen.

The standards for excellence, making the grade and qualifications are constantly being adjusted down (easier) because the standards that were met once in the past are now too tough, too difficult, too demanding or too harsh for many of those who now aspire to such positions. This is a fact not an opinion.
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It's a subjective opinion, factual in context, but only in certain circumstance. Perhaps in some areas a lessening of standards has taken place, but not in others. The standards by which I am gauged professionally have only increased, as I expect will continue. Is yours any different?

When you make a knife today, do people expect less than they once did? If anything, I suspect people complain more today than they once did, because perhaps they expect more. Your knives haven't changed appreciably in fit, function, or finish over the past decade or so. I've used them for a long time, and I see some changes in liner thickness, blade finish, etc, but largely they're the same knives. No lessening of quality there. If anything there may be an increase. Frankly I like some of the more recent offerings, slightly different grinds, the stonewash finish, etc, and see them as improvements. I have a lot of appreciation for some of your older work too; I use and carry it regularly and probably will until it wears out. You can't, however, say that a lessening of expectation and standard is found across the board. It just isn't so.

All things in context.
 
I like this discussion! First off, sns3guppy, I think your posts are well written. +1!

I AM a student. You're correct. I say the thing about consolation in reference to the majority of the student body at my high school that was not able to get into one of the "good" schools. Most of the students had professed that they did not try as hard as they could, because it would be "too much of a hassle," and those are the exact words many of them used. These were the students who were worried about getting into a school that would make them look like attractive candidates for anything and everything. These students, as well as more accomplished students, were told ad nauseum (usually when discussing their top choices for colleges amongst themselves) by teachers that they shouldn't wory about getting into the top school, but that they should worry about finding the school that fits them - preempting the rejection (due to the even lower standards than before) of which Mr. Emerson speaks.

Undergraduate training fits right into the fast food example you shared - the people with more education, despite being in a field unrelated to their degree, make more money. And that's why I'm going to college - the money. My father did not go to college, and subsequently ended up being a phoneman, and never liking his job. I'd like to like my job, and I'd like to like the pay.

That said, two things. I appreciate the intelligent discourse, and I value the fact that Mr. Emerson will chime in with the rest of the members. Thanks.
 
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