Thursday, February 07, 2008
Politics - Why?
I once had a pastor who referred to politics as just the way that any group or body made decisions. I think it would take a pastor to see politics in a pure and simple light like that. For the rest of us, we see politics as the use of intrigue or strategy to gain power or control.
I'm not sure that I take issue with using strategy, as long as it is an ethical one. It's usually the intrigue part that arouses our ire. There are several definitions for intrigue, but when it comes to politics, with its shadier connotations, this one seems to suit best: "to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations."*
Unfortunately, we do see politics in rabbits. Luckily, it's not as extensive as in other hobbies, I'm told. But it is still to our disgrace that politics enter into any of our contests and power structure at all.
Arguments should stand on their own merits. Rabbits should win and be placed on their own characteristics. Candidates should be elected or appointed on their value, willingness and ability to work for the hobby, and so forth.
There's a saying that goes something like this: It is the sign of a poor society when leaders are selected based on their wealth rather than their abilities. For us, a paraphrase may be that it is a poor situation when rabbits are selected based on relationships, fame, reputations, association, influence, and fear of ridicule or repercussion rather than the qualities of the rabbits themselves.
Of course, things are never straightforward. Sometimes we misinterpret people's intentions. One person who hangs over their rabbit is trying to identify it. Another person is just so excited to be showing a rabbit that they hang over it without realizing it could be a problem. One person who brings their rabbit up to the table last and loudly asks where it should be placed is making sure that the judge knows where their rabbit should be found. Another person doing that is just trying to get their rabbit to the table before the class is closed. One person who refers to their rabbit by name is trying to let the judge know that their Convention winner is on the table. Another person just loves Fluffy so much that they call him by name as a matter of habit.
I think the biggest irony of these types of politics is that the rabbits that are identified to the judge would probably win anyway. And the kinds of people who might employ these tactics show enough to collect up enough wins over the long run anyway without tarnishing their reputations and ruining the show experience for everyone around them.
There are also judges out there who hate the attempts to be influenced so much that, if anything, it's a strike against the exhibitor and not one in their favor. There's some irony I can appreciate!
I'm not sure what we as individuals can do about politics, besides avoiding the temptation to just do the same. On the other hand, maybe when we see someone doing something like asking the judge where the rabbit should go (when it is a perpetual problem), we should all grab ours and say the same thing. Do you think the exhibitor would get the message? I don't know, but it would be funny to watch.
Too bad we don't have referees running around like they have at football games. They could jerk out one of those flags from their pockets, stop the whole show, call out the foul, and administer the penalty right then and there before everyone. That's something I like to see, too!
I think our best choice is to work to create a culture of honesty, straightforward competition, and reliance on virtues and qualities rather than coersion, intrigue, or influence. Clubs can reiterate their expectations at the beginning of every show. Judges can issue verbal warnings. Although having a straightforward heart-to-heart talk is not everyone's forte, some people can pull it off. If you are one of them, do what you can to express to those more politically minded folks what group perceptions are of their practices.
Our rabbit hobby is wonderful without the added component of politics. Straightforward competition is the best kind. Winning without politics beats winning due to influence any day. Let's all work together to steer our hobby's culture away from politics and toward friendship, fellowship, fun, and fair play.
Laurie
*dictionary.com ¶ 1:07 PM
I'm not sure that I take issue with using strategy, as long as it is an ethical one. It's usually the intrigue part that arouses our ire. There are several definitions for intrigue, but when it comes to politics, with its shadier connotations, this one seems to suit best: "to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations."*
Unfortunately, we do see politics in rabbits. Luckily, it's not as extensive as in other hobbies, I'm told. But it is still to our disgrace that politics enter into any of our contests and power structure at all.
Arguments should stand on their own merits. Rabbits should win and be placed on their own characteristics. Candidates should be elected or appointed on their value, willingness and ability to work for the hobby, and so forth.
There's a saying that goes something like this: It is the sign of a poor society when leaders are selected based on their wealth rather than their abilities. For us, a paraphrase may be that it is a poor situation when rabbits are selected based on relationships, fame, reputations, association, influence, and fear of ridicule or repercussion rather than the qualities of the rabbits themselves.
Of course, things are never straightforward. Sometimes we misinterpret people's intentions. One person who hangs over their rabbit is trying to identify it. Another person is just so excited to be showing a rabbit that they hang over it without realizing it could be a problem. One person who brings their rabbit up to the table last and loudly asks where it should be placed is making sure that the judge knows where their rabbit should be found. Another person doing that is just trying to get their rabbit to the table before the class is closed. One person who refers to their rabbit by name is trying to let the judge know that their Convention winner is on the table. Another person just loves Fluffy so much that they call him by name as a matter of habit.
I think the biggest irony of these types of politics is that the rabbits that are identified to the judge would probably win anyway. And the kinds of people who might employ these tactics show enough to collect up enough wins over the long run anyway without tarnishing their reputations and ruining the show experience for everyone around them.
There are also judges out there who hate the attempts to be influenced so much that, if anything, it's a strike against the exhibitor and not one in their favor. There's some irony I can appreciate!
I'm not sure what we as individuals can do about politics, besides avoiding the temptation to just do the same. On the other hand, maybe when we see someone doing something like asking the judge where the rabbit should go (when it is a perpetual problem), we should all grab ours and say the same thing. Do you think the exhibitor would get the message? I don't know, but it would be funny to watch.
Too bad we don't have referees running around like they have at football games. They could jerk out one of those flags from their pockets, stop the whole show, call out the foul, and administer the penalty right then and there before everyone. That's something I like to see, too!
I think our best choice is to work to create a culture of honesty, straightforward competition, and reliance on virtues and qualities rather than coersion, intrigue, or influence. Clubs can reiterate their expectations at the beginning of every show. Judges can issue verbal warnings. Although having a straightforward heart-to-heart talk is not everyone's forte, some people can pull it off. If you are one of them, do what you can to express to those more politically minded folks what group perceptions are of their practices.
Our rabbit hobby is wonderful without the added component of politics. Straightforward competition is the best kind. Winning without politics beats winning due to influence any day. Let's all work together to steer our hobby's culture away from politics and toward friendship, fellowship, fun, and fair play.
Laurie
*dictionary.com ¶ 1:07 PM
