I’ve noticed a weird trend in sports culture where athletes are praised for pushing through injuries like it’s some kind of virtue. Torn ligaments, concussions, broken bones you name it, and someone’s probably played through it. But isn’t that just normalizing unnecessary risk?
I get the dedication angle, but at what point does it cross into reckless behavior? And why do we celebrate it instead of questioning whether it’s healthy? I’m all for commitment, but glorifying pain feels like outdated machismo. Would love to hear others’ thoughts especially from folks who’ve been in that position. Is it really worth it, or are we just stuck in a toxic mindset?
(Also, as a board game nerd, I can’t help but wonder: would we applaud someone for playing Catan with a dislocated shoulder? Probably not. So why’s the bar different for sports?)