Olympics behavior

[Anonymous]

Okay. Refuse to examine your disgust and anger at this young woman who did nothing wrong. She did nothing wrong.

And a common racial micro agression is to insist "I don't see color." We all see color and it motivates behavior, just like we all notice sex and it motivates behavior. And yes, I absolutely think we hold female athletes to different standards than male athletes. She clapped! She didn't stick out her tongue, or call Simone and Aly cowards, or do anything other than not smiling big enough and clap effusively enough for some people's preferences.

Do you think that if Michael Phelps had not made the final of the 100 fly but his team mate Tom Shields did and we put a camera on him...Shields wins...that he would not only clap respectfully but he would jump out of his seat and smile as wide as he could and jump up and down and cry (am I missing anything Gabby should have done?)? Right.

I know people hate to be called out on showing racial and sexual biases toward female athletes. I know people will deny it vociferously. It's depressing. But this is a good example of it and it's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay. Refuse to examine your disgust and anger at this young woman who did nothing wrong. She did nothing wrong.

And a common racial micro agression is to insist "I don't see color." We all see color and it motivates behavior, just like we all notice sex and it motivates behavior. And yes, I absolutely think we hold female athletes to different standards than male athletes. She clapped! She didn't stick out her tongue, or call Simone and Aly cowards, or do anything other than not smiling big enough and clap effusively enough for some people's preferences.

Do you think that if Michael Phelps had not made the final of the 100 fly but his team mate Tom Shields did and we put a camera on him...Shields wins...that he would not only clap respectfully but he would jump out of his seat and smile as wide as he could and jump up and down and cry (am I missing anything Gabby should have done?)? Right.

I know people hate to be called out on showing racial and sexual biases toward female athletes. I know people will deny it vociferously. It's depressing. But this is a good example of it and it's ridiculous.

People are being WAY kinder to her than they were to Makayla.

This is not about race. This is about poor sportsmanship.

One girl sulkingnover another girl's achievement.

[Anonymous]

The first thing I said to DH when people got their panties all in a bunch over Gabby and the National Anthem is, "it's because she's Black." Sorry, but it is. And I'm white. But come on. If Katie Ledecky just stood there without her hand over her heart, who would have skewered her like that?

And I agree with PP that loving Simone Biles has nothing to do with how one unconsciously perceives Gabby's action, inaction, expression, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing I said to DH when people got their panties all in a bunch over Gabby and the National Anthem is, "it's because she's Black." Sorry, but it is. And I'm white. But come on. If Katie Ledecky just stood there without her hand over her heart, who would have skewered her like that?

And I agree with PP that loving Simone Biles has nothing to do with how one unconsciously perceives Gabby's action, inaction, expression, etc.

Ledecky couldve stood there without her hand over her heart and not been criticizedbell not based on race. Gtfo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay. Refuse to examine your disgust and anger at this young woman who did nothing wrong. She did nothing wrong.

And a common racial micro agression is to insist "I don't see color." We all see color and it motivates behavior, just like we all notice sex and it motivates behavior. And yes, I absolutely think we hold female athletes to different standards than male athletes. She clapped! She didn't stick out her tongue, or call Simone and Aly cowards, or do anything other than not smiling big enough and clap effusively enough for some people's preferences.

Do you think that if Michael Phelps had not made the final of the 100 fly but his team mate Tom Shields did and we put a camera on him...Shields wins...that he would not only clap respectfully but he would jump out of his seat and smile as wide as he could and jump up and down and cry (am I missing anything Gabby should have done?)? Right.

I know people hate to be called out on showing racial and sexual biases toward female athletes. I know people will deny it vociferously. It's depressing. But this is a good example of it and it's ridiculous.

People are being WAY kinder to her than they were to Makayla.

This is not about race. This is about poor sportsmanship.

One girl sulkingnover another girl's achievement.

Absolutely. And if another athlete acted the same way whether they were white, black or green I would find it shameful as well.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe all of this talk about Gabby and no one is talking about Phelps' finger wag or King's refusal to look at Efimova during a news conference after her win. Talk about poor sportsmanship. Plus, you guys are acting like you were there with Gabby. At the point when the camera was on her, she wasn't jumping up and down and screaming. You have no idea what went on outside of that.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is inexplicable anger toward Gabby Douglas is pretty obvious. Sorry the black girl didn't act exactly how you wanted her to. I know, I know, forthcoming will be the bitter protest that this has nothing to do with race, but it does, and it's sad. Someone above thread asked what she has done to forfeit our benefit of the doubt...she' black. That's why she has "attitude." Racial microagression at its finest.

But isn't the hair criticism, this time and last, coming from black women?

Nope. Next you're going to say that it's the Black women who have been criticizing her nose and suggesting she undergo surgery to reshape her nose to something more European looking

So, it's not Black women criticizing her "edges"?

As they did about her ponytail in 2012. Look it up.

I wonder if all the people defending Gabby saw how she reacted to Simone's and Aly's wins in the all around. I think people are overreacting to her behavior on the podium. But the way she could barely clap for her teammates when they took the gold and silver made her look like a sore loser to me. I saw it live -- I don't think it's something that the media has been replaying. But if you had seen her half-hearted applause (at best), you might understand why people are being critical of Gabby.

I'm the pp above who wondered if she was ill. I wondered that because I did see her during the all around. And the first thing I thought was, poor thing, she looks off tonight, I wonder if she's sick?

What does it say about a person who immediately assumes the worst of others? Nothing very good.

As I said above, I can't imagine why she doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. Why assume the worst of her? We lose nothing in this situation from assuming the best, but we gain a lot in human decency.

(I actually didn't see the medal ceremony that has so many knickers in a twist.)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is inexplicable anger toward Gabby Douglas is pretty obvious. Sorry the black girl didn't act exactly how you wanted her to. I know, I know, forthcoming will be the bitter protest that this has nothing to do with race, but it does, and it's sad. Someone above thread asked what she has done to forfeit our benefit of the doubt...she' black. That's why she has "attitude." Racial microagression at its finest.

But isn't the hair criticism, this time and last, coming from black women?

Nope. Next you're going to say that it's the Black women who have been criticizing her nose and suggesting she undergo surgery to reshape her nose to something more European looking

So, it's not Black women criticizing her "edges"?

As they did about her ponytail in 2012. Look it up.

I wonder if all the people defending Gabby saw how she reacted to Simone's and Aly's wins in the all around. I think people are overreacting to her behavior on the podium. But the way she could barely clap for her teammates when they took the gold and silver made her look like a sore loser to me. I saw it live -- I don't think it's something that the media has been replaying. But if you had seen her half-hearted applause (at best), you might understand why people are being critical of Gabby.

I'm the pp above who wondered if she was ill. I wondered that because I did see her during the all around. And the first thing I thought was, poor thing, she looks off tonight, I wonder if she's sick?

What does it say about a person who immediately assumes the worst of others? Nothing very good.

As I said above, I can't imagine why she doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. Why assume the worst of her? We lose nothing in this situation from assuming the best, but we gain a lot in human decency.

(I actually didn't see the medal ceremony that has so many knickers in a twist.)

I don't understand this either. Why everyone is assuming the worse and not giving her the benefit of the doubt? Maybe she doesn't want to be there? But feels like she should want to be there. Maybe she just can't fake it and she is feeling down about something else. This young lady has been so poised and hardworking for many years, and one bad night and folks destroy her. I think it is so sad that she has to be "up" for everyone. Maybe "her half-hearted applause (at best)" was all she could muster at the moment when this is the end of your competitive career. So many people judging her have no idea how it must feel to be her, once in the spotlight and then not. To be considered the best and then realize you are no longer the best. Maybe she hasn't learned the life lesson of dealing with such devastating disappointment. Lots of people on this board need to take a step back and stop judging this young lady. It's really not helping.

[Anonymous]

And another thing why are so many folks assuming that she is "sulking over another girl's achievement"? Seems very presumptive.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is inexplicable anger toward Gabby Douglas is pretty obvious. Sorry the black girl didn't act exactly how you wanted her to. I know, I know, forthcoming will be the bitter protest that this has nothing to do with race, but it does, and it's sad. Someone above thread asked what she has done to forfeit our benefit of the doubt...she' black. That's why she has "attitude." Racial microagression at its finest.

Lol of course. Always the defense, "it's because she's black." It has nothing to do with that. hope Solo was despicable as well for her disgusting post game interview.

Simone, a gorgeous and talented black girl, was a phenomenal competitor and made me very proud. She had a great attitude the whole time, as did Aly, and seems extremely supportive of Gabby.

If gabby was white and acted the same was as she did, I'd say the same thing.

Seems extremely supportive of her teammates * I meant to say

Keep telling yourself that. You are inventing reasons to resent her basically out of whole cloth. Just because you didn't criticize the other black girl doesn't mean the criticism of Gabby's "attitude" isn't racially motivated. I understand you refuse to see that. A white girl can be contemplative, overwhelmed, serious, stoic (as I heard the commentators describe the Russian's pissed off expression), or even just tired. Gabby is just "bitter" and "giving attitude." Google "black women" and "common stereotypes" and learn to recognize your latent racial bias.

I'm not inventing anything. Thousands of people watching the Olympics noticed it as well...

Get over yourself.

So you deny that the stereotype of the "angry black woman" has nothing to do with it? She did nothing wrong at all! I watched the whole thing and thought I'd missed something so I went back to watch. She doesn't look angry at all to me! Who knows how a person in her situation...travelling far from home, under the incredible pressure of the Olympics, taking everything in will react in any given moment. She didn't say or do anything wrong! Why is everyone being so hard on her for her facial expressions?! They looked tired and neutral at worst to me and happy and exctited most of the time. She didn't say bratty stuff. She didn't do anything. This is why I think it's part of the "angry black woman" bullshit. She is a young woman who has done absolutely nothing wrong, a great athlete, who didn't smile big enough at the right moments for people. Think of just how ridiculous that sounds! Under that kind of pressure, judgement, fatigue, excitement, bewilderment, etc...are you sure you would react exactly as America wants you to when it wants you to? She did nothing wrong!

You are over the top. Gabby absolutely had a sour expression on her face. She is receiving the same does of criticism that McKayla received during the last Olympics for her grumpy expression.

I'm sorry that your so blinded by making things about race that you can't see that. Jesus take a breath lady.

[phone] agreed. She's barely even received the same criticism that McKayla did!! McKayla became a huge meme/went viral for that pouty face! If anything, people AREN'T commenting because Gabby's black.

I loved McKayla and that face! Totally natural for a teenaged girl who was angry and disappointed. She owned it and made fun of herself as well. Let's keep in mind that these are young girls in a high pressure situation on a world stage. So, Gabby Douglas acted a bit like a "Poor Sport"? So what. Give the kid a break. Being patriotic is not necessarily about outward displays of putting your hand on your heart, etc. It is about being a good citizen and contributing to your community and country. I would imagine that Gabby Douglas would get an "A" if she was graded on that standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe all of this talk about Gabby and no one is talking about Phelps' finger wag or King's refusal to look at Efimova during a news conference after her win. Talk about poor sportsmanship. Plus, you guys are acting like you were there with Gabby. At the point when the camera was on her, she wasn't jumping up and down and screaming. You have no idea what went on outside of that.

+1. I think the American athletes in general show pretty poor sportsmanship, particularly when they win, which should be the easiest time to be gracious. King was pretty quick to jump to self-righteous judgment without perhaps knowing all of the facts.

[Anonymous]

I think the Gabby Douglas thing is really about gender not race. Women athletes are supposed to gracious, always smiling, never show their competitive streak. This behavior is not expected or even admired in men.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Wow - I was not even thinking about the gymnasts, I was wondering if the athletes are prepared in any way during training or competition to accept a gold for their country, which is actually the point of it all. It was lovely to see how patriotic the Puerto Rican
winner was over the weekend.

[Anonymous]

^why do you assume it is the same posted? I imagine there is more than one person defending GD in this thread. I am a NP and I'm on the side that everybody is reading way too much into her bahvior. For whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe all of this talk about Gabby and no one is talking about Phelps' finger wag or King's refusal to look at Efimova during a news conference after her win. Talk about poor sportsmanship. Plus, you guys are acting like you were there with Gabby. At the point when the camera was on her, she wasn't jumping up and down and screaming. You have no idea what went on outside of that.

+1. I think the American athletes in general show pretty poor sportsmanship, particularly when they win, which should be the easiest time to be gracious. King was pretty quick to jump to self-righteous judgment without perhaps knowing all of the facts.

Ugh, that Lilly King just grated on me. Young, dumb, and graceless.