Do you agree with Jonathan Martin that private schools produce "soft" kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He talks about "white, private school conditioning...turn the other cheek." Funny, I thought turning the other cheek was a Jesus thing, not a private school thing. I have nothing but sympathy for him, but the problem is homophobia, machismo, and bullying in general and in football in particular. The problem is not that he didn't want to deal with it. I hope he is able to come to terms with that, and keep turning the other cheek.

Also known as 'thug behavior' regardless of your color.

[Anonymous]

I find it shocking that anyone who set foot on an NFL field would refer to himself as "soft," and think this is sufficiently unrealistic that it verges on the delusional. He needs therapy, not a tougher school. lol

[Anonymous]

Um, no. Instead of blaming himself or his upbringing, Martin should be blaming the culture of the Miami Dolphins, and of so much of professional sports in general, that equates being a tough athlete with being a misogynistic, bullying "alpha male." As the mother of a son, I hope I can teach him that being a "man" means something much more than the rigid view of manhood that is still glorified by much of popular culture. I for one find many of these "men" to be repulsive losers.

[Anonymous]

It's a problem that there was not a sufficient amount of bullying at the schools he attended? So what is the level of bullying I should look for in a school for my child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are who they are from toddlerhood onward and external cues sort of shape the margins.

So a soft, timid, quiet, introspective, non-competitive introvert like, oh, my son is not going to be a Master of the Universe / finance / big-swinging dick if I decide to send him to Wilson. Thusly, we searched for a school that played to his strengths and BUILDS on them. He's a stronger young adult IMO because of inputs from his sweet little school.

He'd still be the same core set of innate traits though regardless.

So true! Best message I've seen in a long time in this forum. Thanks!