Tin Man said:
I agree that this gets irritating and really minimizes the accomplishments of those that play well. I suppose you could answer, "I know that you could be as good as them. Anyone COULD be. What's impressive is that THEY DID IT! That's why I am so proud of them and so dissappointed and ashamed of you!"
Instead, I try to be a little sympathetic. What they are really saying is "Just because I lack the discipline to set and achieve goals doesn't mean that I am not worthy of admiration from my fellow man. Please accept me." Of course it's true that pool prowess is a pretty poor way to determine your self-worth. The fact that they have to make the comment shows that they really could use a pat on the back. Why not give it to them (i.e., "I know you could be a champion if you wanted, _____, everyone that has seen you play knows that. That's ok, you've got other things going on in you're life that are more important right now."). It's probably true, and they need to hear it, why not give it to them?
There is one last way that I have seen this handled. Player A inquired whether or not player B would like to play a little for 1-200 hundred a set. Player B remarked that he hadn't been playing much lately (taken a couple of months off), and that if he had been playing he would play for thousands. Player A calmly replied that they could pick a date 3 months down the road to play and post up a couple of thousand now with a third party. He invited him to make the wager and practice as much as he wanted for three months, then they would play the match.
I try not to woof, but I enjoyed watching player B scramble for another excuse to not post the money...
Cool post, I have seen this exact thing take place, and love it myself.
I often say "IF is the biggest little word I know"
It does bother me when I hear people trying to take something away from someone else beacause they are jealous. We all know why exceptional talant is respected. It is precisely BECAUSE it not only takes talent, but it also takes time, discipline and putting other things lower on the list of priorties. They made sacrifices to achieve what they have. Sacrifices that the person making the statement was unable or unwilling to make. A single person cannot reach the top level on too many things, because there isn't enough time or energy to do so. It takes quite a bit to reach and maintain this level, and there is always many others waiting to jump if you slip just a bit. Many, many people can get VERY GOOD at this game. Very few have what it takes to be at the top. I really believe that the last 3% of talent/ ability that separates the top pros from the rest is the HARDEST part to achieve. Just about anybody with enough desire and dedication can get very good at this game ( some will have to put in more than others). Some people just do not have what it takes.
When I do something paticulary stupid or poorly executed ( more than usual), I love to say " I play just like a pro , except for a few little things like talent, dedication, and dicsipline" . These are not little things, people!
I have started many people off with learning pool. I have also taught guitar lessons. Many people has asked me " do you think music, or pool CAN be taught, or do you just have to have it?"
Many people think that you either have ability/ talent or you don't. I disagree. People come to the table their first time with a large difference in natural ability and what happens next is up to them. Two students may start with the same teacher on the same day. One may be naturally suited for this game, and the other just average. They can both reach a very high level of competence, though one may need to put in a lot more work to do it. Neither of them may reach top level. I honestly do not think EVERYONE has what it takes to be the best at any given activity, but EVERYINE can get to a level where they can take pride in their ability and get much enjoyment and satisfaction from it. Some people play for forty years and can't run two racks. Others pick up a cue for the first time, and turn pro in five years. Although it is the amount of hours, not years that makes a difference. I always love the fact that the older guys think that because they have been at it for 30 or 40 years they AUTOMATICALLY know more. Some of these guys play once a week, and took 15 years off, but they count it all. Then you have a guy who is 25 years old, but plays 14 hours a day for five years. Hours, not years.
Anyway, while this game CAN BE TAUGHT, and ANYBODY can learn. Not everybody can reach the highest level of play. Everybody who has tried, respect those that have acoomplished it, or have reached a very high level. BECAUSE we know what it takes to get there. We know what it has taken to get to where we are, and when we see someone else who has achieved the same level , or has far surpasssed it, we have to respect it.
I would be the best in the world if i didn't miss as much as I do!
) and then measure how much skill has decreased.
