Yeah I think they’re hurtful to the idea of sport and recreation, school becomes a filter to.find people willing to devote their life to minmaxing a natural talent which is a detriment to the very almost 100% of people who won’t be a top tier competitor.

Whats the point of obsessing over records that no one else can get close to because it requires total dedication to training, diet, medicated living, and endless other stuff that just takes away from normal life? It creates a situation where you’re either only an athlete or you’re not at all an athlete, for most people it’s off-putting.

We should focus on things that normal people can participate in without having to become totally specialized tools of rich corporations or national tools. Instead of instilling in people the idea that participation is only for elites why not reiterate the importance of a community and having fun? Instead of obsessive competition why not working together despite differences?