Topic: CHINESE FEEDER SYSTEM - Interview

[Koing]

It's brutal but it produces champions.

Koing

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I don't mind it being brutal one bit. The problem is it is not voluntary. As such, it approaches the level of torture in my eyes.

[Koing]

I don't mind it being brutal one bit. The problem is it is not voluntary. As such, it approaches the level of torture in my eyes.

Brutal in the sense that the kids only see their family once a year.

So the kids can't opt out and are just sent to specialist sports schools?  I didn't get that feeling from the article.

The children are selected at young ages to go to sports schools

I would have loved to have gone being such a sports freak show.  I use to do about 8-10hrs of sports in a week period outside of school when I was 11-16.  Then cut down on the other sports to focus on the weightlifting.  Then cut down further post Uni.

Koing

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

It is true that we don't know the exact level of coercion being used on the children, but I think its naive to think there is none.

[Judas]

I'm a fanatic and an ascetic... so this hardly phases me. I'd rather put kids through this system than let them run free in what we have here and now. Obviously, thats going from one extreme to the other, but if i could choose, i'd be MUCH closer to the Chinese way. Kids here grow up soft, stupid, spoiled and utterly irreverent. No respect at all. Not to say there aren't individual kids and parents that dont fit this profile in the western world, but on average, well... its a **** mess here, and getting worse quickly.

And you forget that there is at least some voluntary aspect to this system... these kids can choose to quit. If not quit outright, which may be impossible, i dont know, they can just choose to not do the work and fall through the cracks. They may lose a shot at glory and whatever fame and wealth you can accrue in China, but there is still some kind ov choice. On the other (far) side ov the coin, kids here have so many choices and freedom they cant begin to make decisions. That is actually one ov the key reasons why North America fails at weightlifting... those with the most potential... the kids... are given far too much choice and freedom. As a whole they dont begin to understand sacrifice and dedication, and even worse, those so very rare few who do are ridiculed and attacked for it.

So pick... China - success at any cost. Or America (including Canada) - failure at any cost.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

those with the most potential... the kids... are given far too much choice and freedom. As a whole they dont begin to understand sacrifice and dedication, and even worse, those so very rare few who do are ridiculed and attacked for it.

Well, weightlifting just isn't very important really in the scheme of life. if you view freedom as such a problem, maybe you should consider your glorious leaders might just as easily order you not to ever lift weights again. Authoritarianism is wonderful for people who like giving and taking orders. For the rest of us, it just means its time to fight and make you deal with the unintended consequences. As for the kids quitting, that may be true to an extent and to an extent it may not.

[Koing]

It is true that we don't know the exact level of coercion being used on the children, but I think its naive to think there is none.

It's a toss up between family and education and if it helps them provide a life for themselves is it that bad?

Koing

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

As long as it was fully voluntary on the part of both the child and the family, its fine and dandy. I don't believe that is the situation.