Two of projects I thought were most interesting were the project on sports and enhancement and the project on plastic surgery. Both deal with the pressure people put on themselves or feel from other people to make themselves look or feel better, whether they need it or not. I was able to see my own double standard in the sports and enhancements because the group mentioned a cellist taking beta blockers before an audition, which I find perfectly acceptable. I've been there, and it's nerve-wracking. I've never been a big participant in sports, so I've never understood the pressure there is to win.
Both projects dealt with the legitimization of using performance enhancing sports and getting plastic surgery. They're both enhancing natural talents or looks or improving them. The problem with using these alternatives is that they cost money. A lot of it usually, so if you're not wealthy or an established player already, getting steroids might be a problem. So once again, money gives people the advantage (no surprise there). The way it stands now, the laws cannot keep up with all of the new drugs that are appearing on the market. So the answer would be to legalize them. Whether or not it's would bring down the quality of the game would be left up to the fans to decide.
Personal beauty cannot be measured, but women get breast augmentation done to be more aesthetically pleasing and possibly to gain an advantage in getting jobs or ahead in life. Both aren't exactly accepted in mainstream culture, and if you hide either of those things, you are ostracized and looked down upon. A funny thing I just noticed is that performance enhancement is the male equivalent of women getting plastic surgery. People feel insecure with their body, and see those options as making themselves legitimate in the eyes of society
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I also thought that the enhancement project was interesting because I know people that have used beta blockers for performances or adderall for finals. I've never really thought about whether or not I consider these to be cheating. If so, then what about caffeine? I regularly use coffee to enhance my ability to pay attention in class and study for exams.
ReplyDelete"A funny thing I just noticed is that performance enhancement is the male equivalent of women getting plastic surgery."
I don't really agree with this. First of all, not only men use performance enhancement and not only women get plastic surgery. Second, I don't really think plastic surgery is a way that women gain an advantage. In my mind, the typical women that are getting plastic surgery already have an advantage (lots of money, fame, etc). I assume you're mainly referring to the US, but in some cultures it's common practice for the many women to get nose jobs.