- Dec 14, 2009
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Likely they did not. Sadly this industry is one in which you are black balled if you speak out. Our kids are taught to stay quiet or be replaced... As parents we learn that should we dare to say anything our kids will take the brunt, so we are kowtowed into silence. Gym owners who might want to speak up are held in check by their bank accounts and the cash cow that is Varsity.
How can this happen? I used North Korea as an analogy earlier but I think WWII/Europe/Hitler is a good historical example here. How many of us say "how could they let that happen?" when reading about those years. "How could everyone look the other way and stay silent?"
As you have said, those that speak out or are blackballed. Many of the people that I know that have spoken out the most publicly have been put on that list. I have seen those who were as anti Varsity/USASF as could be now happily working for them and pushing whatever product they have them pushing. As one friend told me "if they gave me what I needed to sustain my lifestyle and take care of my children, I would sell out in a second." The others who won't sell out, or join their team they minimize and marginalize saying they are just jealous they aren't winning, who are they really, etc. The sad truth is IMO most gym owners have bought into the dream of Worlds and Summit that has been sold to them and now understand that they can't financially sustain that push without major help. Who comes to bail them out? The same ones who sold them the dream of course. And that comes with a price.
The one thing we have had over the years are these social media platforms to get the word out. If we keep talking not in an attacking way, but putting information out as it comes to light, it is the best way to keep it from being a complete annihilation.
Major props to you for using "kowtowed!"
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