A radio show about sport is called 'The Herd'. This is a pun on the presenter's name and also on the word, 'heard'. Such a pun is appropriate in this context because the show is about sport and that is at least to some extent about being in the herd.
Competition is an essential element in sport. The entertainment of killing animals has thankfully been relegated to history except in a few backward societies but the sort of gladiatorial contests that are displayed on TV, with contestants carefully protected from any real danger seem to be as much alive as they were in the days of the gladiators.
Wars are universally recognized as harmful and tragic. They inhibit growth, cause destruction and misery and usually achieve little of enduring value. Despite this, warfare is an aspect of human history that can be identified right back to the point where clans of a cave dwellers fought against each other.
It may be that the decline in serious wars has been accompanied by a rise in the popularity of sporting contests. Television services seem to lose the wind in their sails when there is not some international test match or tournament to follow. Sport appears to have become a substitute for the energy formerly consumed by war.
There may be more in sport that the mere expression of energy. In most people there is a deep need to dominate, or express oneself and this is not only true of males even it is expressed more transparently in them than is the case with females. Accompanying the need for dominance is a complementary, or perhaps opposing it is the need to nurtures and protect. Oriental philosophy conceives of theses opposing forces as Yin and Yang. An ideal state is in balance, or harmony between these opposites.
Herds often demonstrate balance, or harmony. Harmony is almost tangible in a herd of cattle, resting in the grass, enjoying the sun and chewing the cud. Each animal knows its place in the hierarchy and when this is not contested there is balance and perfect peace. However, the potential to upset the status quo is always present, and only quiescent when individuals are not contesting or being molested.
Balance is a vitally important feature in a herd. It keeps the group of individuals together as a unit that is far more than the sum of its parts. This is the same in a team of sports men or women. A team is strong when it is well balanced, physically and emotionally. Conversely it is set for relegation when the balance is upset in some way.
Perhaps instinctively, human beings who are part of a global society that has members living in space, has invented the Internet and wrestles with serious religious issues still recognizes something deeply significant about crowd behavior. Though gladiators are no longer employed to entertain by killing they do contest against each other even if safely wrapped in protective clothing. If TV channels are unable to present a contest between nations on a weekly basis it feels as though something is missing. People dress up, paint their faces and arm themselves with flags, banners or plastic weapons which they will wave excitedly in the face of a TV camera. Even though we might know better we all feel happy and excited to be in the herd.
Competition is an essential element in sport. The entertainment of killing animals has thankfully been relegated to history except in a few backward societies but the sort of gladiatorial contests that are displayed on TV, with contestants carefully protected from any real danger seem to be as much alive as they were in the days of the gladiators.
Wars are universally recognized as harmful and tragic. They inhibit growth, cause destruction and misery and usually achieve little of enduring value. Despite this, warfare is an aspect of human history that can be identified right back to the point where clans of a cave dwellers fought against each other.
It may be that the decline in serious wars has been accompanied by a rise in the popularity of sporting contests. Television services seem to lose the wind in their sails when there is not some international test match or tournament to follow. Sport appears to have become a substitute for the energy formerly consumed by war.
There may be more in sport that the mere expression of energy. In most people there is a deep need to dominate, or express oneself and this is not only true of males even it is expressed more transparently in them than is the case with females. Accompanying the need for dominance is a complementary, or perhaps opposing it is the need to nurtures and protect. Oriental philosophy conceives of theses opposing forces as Yin and Yang. An ideal state is in balance, or harmony between these opposites.
Herds often demonstrate balance, or harmony. Harmony is almost tangible in a herd of cattle, resting in the grass, enjoying the sun and chewing the cud. Each animal knows its place in the hierarchy and when this is not contested there is balance and perfect peace. However, the potential to upset the status quo is always present, and only quiescent when individuals are not contesting or being molested.
Balance is a vitally important feature in a herd. It keeps the group of individuals together as a unit that is far more than the sum of its parts. This is the same in a team of sports men or women. A team is strong when it is well balanced, physically and emotionally. Conversely it is set for relegation when the balance is upset in some way.
Perhaps instinctively, human beings who are part of a global society that has members living in space, has invented the Internet and wrestles with serious religious issues still recognizes something deeply significant about crowd behavior. Though gladiators are no longer employed to entertain by killing they do contest against each other even if safely wrapped in protective clothing. If TV channels are unable to present a contest between nations on a weekly basis it feels as though something is missing. People dress up, paint their faces and arm themselves with flags, banners or plastic weapons which they will wave excitedly in the face of a TV camera. Even though we might know better we all feel happy and excited to be in the herd.
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