All-Star Sassy Vs Conservative

[Jennie]

I had an interesting discussion with some friends the other day and wanted to know the Fierceboarders opinion...
Is it better for our sport to :
a) have someone who will stand up for the sport, try the change the minds of others towards our sport and be sassy
OR
b) have someone who stays quiet, lets others continue to think that the cheer isn't a sport to avoid an argument and won't get involved in a discussion over whether cheer is or is not a sport/difficult/a girls only activity to avoid an argument?
It was hard for us to come to a decision over which would be better because both have pros and cons!
Discuss! :fro:

 

[tntdynomite]

I think there's a time and place for both strategies. I have a professor who basically told me he hated cheerleaders when he found out I coached. I don't care what he thinks as long as he gives me the grade I deserve. So in that instance I didn't really say anything. When I talk to the coaches of other sports, my athletic director, or other friends who still remain unconvinced, then I am vocal about our sport and setting records straight.

 

[Emily Jane]

I think the approach that should be taken depends on who you are arguing with. There are some people who will never be convinced that cheer is a sport and nothing anyone could ever say will change that, so personally I wouldn't even bother trying to argue with them because they will never change their opinion.

 

[WorkToWin]

It's definitely good to stand up for our sport if someone makes a completely uneducated comment... but if they say "cheer isn't a sport" nothing you say will change their mind and you are wasting your breath.

 

[glitterdiva]

I Think its good to stand up for it and keep our sport sassy. I still believe that the new guidelines and rules is taking away from the sport that I grew to love. We need to fight in our own industry as well as outside our industry. Why do we have to change to make other people happy when what we are doing isn't wrong?

 

[mommadonna]

I'm thinking it would be good to have some of both. We can stand up for our sport while still being conservative, and back up our stance on why it is a sport with hard data and real examples.

 

[CheerCoach84]

As someone who has been apart of the Cheer Industry since 1984, I will fight to the death with someone over the Cheer is a Sport topic!!! As cheerleading has Evolved twenty fold since those days, How can it not be??? The studies, reports, documentaries have been done to prove that case! These kids work hard!! Growing up where I did in Southeastern Ohio, and the surrounding communities where cheerleading was Strong! and held way higher than the football or basketball team for that matter!! But I won't beat my head arguing with someone who is uneducated on what goes on with a Cheer team-esp. Allstars:banghead: !!!!!! To each his or her own is all that I have to say!!!:fro:

 

[dmouth11]

It's definitely good to stand up for our sport if someone makes a completely uneducated comment... but if they say "cheer isn't a sport" nothing you say will change their mind and you are wasting your breath.

I'm sorry, but no...

Do you know how many rights/liberties most of us wouldn't have if we actually believed we were wasting our breath in fighting for them?


I also don't think the question is sassy vs. conservative so much as it is passivity vs. activism. You don't have to be sassy to get your point across and change someone else's mind, you just gotta know what you're talking about and be ready with the support/evidence to back your words up.

 

[WorkToWin]

I'm sorry, but no...

Do you know how many rights/liberties most of us wouldn't have if we actually believed we were wasting our breath in fighting for them?


I also don't think the question is sassy vs. conservative so much as it is passivity vs. activism. You don't have to be sassy to get your point across and change someone else's mind, you just gotta know what you're talking about and be ready with the support/evidence to back your words up.

Trust me I have the facts to back up my arguments. The point is they don't WANT to think it is. They have their stereotypes in their heads and no matter how many Worlds videos I show them they still say it can't be a sport. I have argued with more people than I can count, very intelligently too. I have not changed a single mind.

Also, unlike politics it's just an opinion. There is no voting of the general public that is going to take place, or electing candidates. Getting in an argument that won't change anyone's mind has literally no benefit. Just causes drama. This isn't politics, this is cheerleading.

 

[mommadonna]

What would be cool is if there were more shows like "Cheer" on mainstream media that really show what cheer is all about. Face it...most of the media out there right now doesn't help our cause much. I would love it if they showed more cheer comps on ESPN during more peak times, too. Then there would be more exposure to back up the sport.

 

[FierceandFearless]

I had an interesting discussion with some friends the other day and wanted to know the Fierceboarders opinion...
Is it better for our sport to :
a) have someone who will stand up for the sport, try the change the minds of others towards our sport and be sassy
OR
b) have someone who stays quiet, lets others continue to think that the cheer isn't a sport to avoid an argument and won't get involved in a discussion over whether cheer is or is not a sport/difficult/a girls only activity to avoid an argument?
It was hard for us to come to a decision over which would be better because both have pros and cons!
Discuss! :fro:

I don't think we should try to change the minds of others by any means... I feel like that's forcing others to think things based on the influence of others. Yes, by all means stick up for the sport, help people see and understand why we view this as a sport, but never force your opinions or beliefs on another person. Experience plays a big part in opinions, so if you can get a person interested enough to actually try to go to a tumbling class or something, by all means go for it! I am really opinionated on this subject, so I don't want to get too into it unless I have to, but I've come to learn that people will believe what they want to believe and the more you try to force people to feel the same way about something as you do, the more it just makes you look desperate to be right... IMHO :)