13 reasons why ‘respect’ and ‘sympathy’ are very slippery words (Opinion)

[webfact]

13 reasons why ‘respect’ and ‘sympathy’ are very slippery words

By Tulsathit Taptim 
The Nation

 

 

The avalanche of USA goals that buried Thailand at the Women’s World Cup was followed quickly by a social media blizzard. It told us much about human nature. 

 

Rather than congratulating USA players, many netizens complained about their excessive goal celebrations. One Thai commenter summed up the general feeling: it is fine to dominate a rival who is on the same level, but there’s something unnatural in gloating over the destruction of a much smaller opponent.

 

In the same way, we might adore dogs that are smarter than other dogs, but we fear or even despise dogs that are “as smart as us”. Dogs that will fetch you a beer from the fridge are “cute”; those that can play complicated tunes on the piano are disturbing.

 

The Thai team shipped 13 goals in the game, creating an unenviable record for both the men’s and women’s categories. While the winners were criticised for celebrating every goal “like they had won the final”, sympathy poured in for the losers. 

 

On the other hand, if a Thai player tweeted about meeting “the Prince of Whales”, netizens would chuckle at the typo or naivety. When Donald Trump tweeted exactly that a few days ago, the whole world had a laughing fit. (In truth, Trump has exhibited enough evidence that this may have been neither a typo nor mere naivety, but that’s exactly what I’m getting at.)

 

“Equality” is a slippery word. People who laughed at Trump may have failed to consider the fact that he is also a human, albeit one with access to nuclear launch codes. Those who lambasted the USA footballers for not showing mercy to the Thais may have failed to consider that showing mercy can be a form of insult.

 

Should the US team have shown “respect” to the fledging Thai players by going easy on them after scoring, say, eight goals? Or does “real respect” for an opponent require that athletes keep their foot on the pedal until the very end?

 

Many of the Thai players cried after the humiliation. Pictures of their tear-streaked faces inflamed criticism against the USA team. 

 

This made me think about the dog analogy. People showed sympathy for the Thais because they consider them inferior, harmless and in need of support. When Leicester City FC won the Premier League trophy a few years ago, it was a fairytale and love flooded in for the “tiny” club from all sides. Today, beating Leicester is a cause for big celebration.

 

Yet the Leicester of today are pretty much the same side that won the Premier League in the 2015-2016 season. Why have feelings towards them changed?

 

Politics is more or less the same. Had Trump tried to bounce back from his latest gaffe by proclaiming a social media “witch hunt” against him, the laughter would have multiplied. Some say such persecution is an infringement on the human rights of the president and those he represents.  

 

Now, let’s look at the opposite end of the political spectrum. Politicians, whether they are democratic or dictatorial, treat people like the beer-fetching dogs. They want them to be “a little bit smart” but not so smart that they cannot be controlled. Otherwise election campaigns would be a lot harder.

 

Human rights activists, meanwhile, should have done something regarding Trump. They should have protected either him or those whose interests he is supposed to protect. The activists’ silence is unsettling. Either they are ignoring his “right” to be wrong, or they don’t care about people governed by someone who can’t tell Whales from Wales.

 

Finding a response to the massive Thai defeat is difficult, but a group of Thai women seem to have found a way. Under the “Power of Women” banner, celebrities who are publicly encouraging the Thai footballers to fight on despite the risk of more embarrassment include BNK 48 heartthrob Cherprang Areekul, badminton star Ratchanok Intanon, football manager and businesswoman Nualphan Lamsam, TV idol Patcharasri Benjamas (Kalamare), and popular actress Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul.

 

Among the messages delivered by this group is that defeats on the field are outweighed by the pride they give the nation, and the strength to bear and recover from humiliation may be the greatest strength of all.

 

Writer’s note: This column was written before the Thailand-Sweden game on Sunday night. I’m adding this not because the scoreline in that match, 4-1 to the Swedes, showed a marked Thai improvement, but because in scoring their solitary goal at the end of the match, the Thai women showed defiance to get up off the floor. Bravo.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30371341

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-19

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[canuckamuck]

The author claims to have had experiences with dogs as smart as him. So, I should consider him cute and harmless and not make fun of his analogy.

[mikebell]

The average Thai dog is as smart as its owner.

[30la]

Talk about respect and sympathy in Thailand? A little too much, the Thais don't really know what respect is, they seem to have respect for the authorities (religious and governmental), but it's just fear! Compared to Farang then, many feel only jealousy and hatred.

[rkidlad]

Respect can't just be demanded - it's earned. At least in other parts of the world, anyway. 

 

The USA were well within their rights to score as many goals as they could. To have taken their foot of the gas would have been disrespectful and arrogant. This is a group stage where goal difference can make the difference between finishing 1st, or still qualifying by finishing 3rd in your group. Let's say USA decided to park the bus at 6-0. Then Sweden play Thailand and have to completely go for it. They win 7-0. Then Sweden manage to draw against USA. Guess who finishes 2nd and makes their own lives harder? 

 

As for the celebrations, every team and player is entitled to celebrate their goals. It's a world cup, for heaven's sake. Try and tell me I can't celebrate if I score for my country in a world cup. I'll tell you where you can go. As for the manner of how they celebrated some of the goals, that wouldn't be my style. I found one or two of their celebrations to be crass. I would never advocate for that style of celebration, but I'd certainly advocate for their right to do it. 

 

 

[Khun Paul]

Respect is always EARNED unless your a Thai , where it is expected because of your position  or social status ( Teachers, , Medical professionals  even Politicians ) , where often RESPECT is not warranted.

Sympathy in my book is what you offer those that have lost aomething be that a death in the family or even a game .

 

Thais sadly fail normally to understand the difference as respect is DEMANDED by many who do not nor ever will deserve it . 

 

I feel sympathetic to towards the Thai female football team ., but in reality they were outplayed and outclassed by a far superior team and the failure is down to the Thai coaching team who failed to prepares the national Team correctly, including  preperation for the possibility of losing 

[overherebc]

If Twitter or Tweet use pre-emptive spelling systems then maybe Trump typed Wales and the system changed it to Whales.

Don't use either myself so Just sayin'

[inactiveposter]

Overherebc, I think the word you wanted was “predictive” text, although pre-emptive has a connotation that may also fit. ????

 

[overherebc]

2 hours ago, inactiveposter said:

Overherebc, I think the word you wanted was “predictive” text, although pre-emptive has a connotation that may also fit. ????

 

It leans more to the warmonger side of things.

????

[xtrnuno41]

Not any word means a thing, if the person behind the words dont stand for it.

All words are slippery.

You can easily say, you have respect for someone and thinking: what a jackass, show off  

You say, you have sympathy for a loosing team and thinking: hey suckers, what are you crying, get out.  

I saw Trump, having no respect or sympathy, when a guy had to cough while HE was talking.

He probably isnt aware it can happen as we are all human. He thinks , he is above human.

If he had sympathy, he should have offered a glass of water and if he was respectful, he wouldnt have burned him down. But ok Trump probably doesnt have those words in his vocabulary and sure not acting.

There are lots of those people, they are also "leaders". They speak with double tongue.

 

WIth the USA winning with 13-0, ok why would you hold back? Its just a game, win some , loose some. Be joyful scoring, part of the game. Less joyfull scoring for 13th time, no why? 

It is sport, seeing who is best. Get a grip if you loose, and do next time better. That is what it is with competition in sports. Didnt Thailand once lost from USA with 9-0? You know what is coming.

Be prepared or go down, that is sport. 

[lamyai3]

On 6/19/2019 at 4:21 AM, webfact said:

In the same way, we might adore dogs that are smarter than other dogs, but we fear or even despise dogs that are “as smart as us”. Dogs that will fetch you a beer from the fridge are “cute”; those that can play complicated tunes on the piano are disturbing.

Absolutely no idea where he was going with this article. But if I ever encountered a dog who could knock out the first few bars of "Chopsticks", I'd be the one fetching him a beer from the fridge.