"Don't Be A Show Off" Dilemma

[3kmichael]

espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/12182194/california-girls-high-school-basketball-coach-suspended-two-games-161-2-win

    This is just a silly little article about a basketball coach being suspended for getting too high of a score. I am sure you heard of something about that a while ago, and only now I thought of it in a little more depth. Basically, the story goes, a girls basketball team wins a game with a score of 161-2. The coach of the team gets suspended, for embarrassing the other team, or something along those lines. While I am not a sports fan, I do know that there are certain morales installed in the world of "being a good sport," but this one had me questioning the morales, this concept of giving up one's power, something so natural, to accommodate societal standards. 
   By logic, if someone is good in this world, maybe too good for others, must that someone be punished? Yes, according to the morales society imposes on us.
A brilliant student, I don't know, named Rheanna or something, is shunned to be a show-off for being too smart in class. A talented dancer, with some random name like Maya is looked down upon by her peers when she exceeds them greatly. It is okay to be talented. It is not okay to be more than simply talented.
Is it truly the fault of those stronger that they are that way? In a society that treasures individuality, there is a double standard almost, the fear of being "too unique..."
Is it truly beneficial that we stay humble and suppress strength? I think that perchance society's suppression of the strong is often the very reason why humans progressed little in their abilities over the years, that is the very reason why today we still have to look up to works of people who lived centuries ago, because we might have stopped trying to be great. That is why geniuses are called insane, why we frown at those greater than us, we are envious and we loathe. Humility is important, kindness and modesty, yes, but to what extend must we allow it to overshadow the virtually limitless human potential?

[6vjeremy]

There is a big difference between showing off one's ability and being cocky about it. Everyone is entitled to display their talents. Every individual is talented in one way or another, yet people still feel put down when they see someone doing something they can't do. This envy creates a negative perception of whoever is showing off. But what would be the point of developing skills and abilities if no one saw them? There is always someone better than you, it's a simple truth that people need to get used to. Alternatively, you're always better than someone else, so it all balances itself out. For this reason, there is no cause to be jealous of others. Everyone should be able to show off a little bit. It only becomes a problem when arrogance is involved. It is important to remember humbleness in times of great pride. That simple difference can be the deciding factor in whether or not a show is crowd pleaser or hater-creator(That rhyme was awesome, wasn't it?).

[3lciara]

There's a difference between playing your best and completely embarrassing another team. As a coach and an adult, he should've known to make his team stop scoring. Even if he pulled out his starters, he still should have told his players to stop scoring because even if the other team won't admit it, it is really embarrassing to lose a game by a big point difference. Obviously it's not his fault that he has really talented players but winning a game by 159 points is cruel, not showing off. If you are good at something I don't see a problem with you showing off your talent, unless you do so to intentionally make another person look bad because that's just not a nice thing to do.

[3ajesse]

Along the same line I feel that many dancers have this problem too. We all want to do our best and I often hear some of us saying that one of our classmates are being a show off but is it truly showing off if we're simply trying our best? I'm sure there's a difference between this scenario and the one with the coach but the basics are the same. If someone is good at what they do and are doing well but receiving a high grade then don't they deserve that grade. We shouldn't put people down because of their strengths. I often feel that people say "oh they're showing off" because the possibility of jealousy. It's more about not being boastful of what we succeed in rather than saying "don't be a show off"

[6WElahe]

This article is interesting in that embodies how people are expected to act nowadays. People who are considered to be “show-offs” are typically not appreciated. Some people really do take things to the extreme and purposely make others look bad by working as hard as they possibly can, whether it is called for or not. However, in some cases, people are criticized for performing to the best of their ability, which in some cases just happens to be too much for others to handle. Children are especially encouraged early to be the best they can be and to work their hardest to achieve great things, but if a child is “too talented” then should they really have to hold back in order to keep everyone happy? While that may seem like the ethical thing to do, it is hurting the child by sending the message that pleasing others is better than fulfilling their full potential. The coach and the team may have embarrassed the other team, and yes, they could have slowed down after it was obvious that they had and would maintain the lead, however, slacking off and letting the other team catch up would not change the fact that they were a skilled set of athletes. They deserved to show their skills; holding back should not have to be an option.