The Society for The Discontinuation of the Pentathalon [2]

[danger will robinson]

I agree. Being a good science nerd has nothing to do with fitness. And, I can't walk, so it's kinda depressing to see people running around. (Not in a wheelchair, just in crutches for the rest of the foreseeable future...knee issues)

[fmtiger124]

fmtiger124 thinks this is an insane arguemnt and no matter what you people say nothing is going to happen

[gyourkoshaven]

I'm not like ichaelm though, so I don't think anything is actually going to happen. I just disapprove of the event.

[danger will robinson]

fmtiger124 thinks this is an insane arguemnt and no matter what you people say nothing is going to happen

I know nobody's going to change it, but it just feels good to vent your anger on an event that you don't like.

[doctor]

i personally dont like it
and end up doing it at every event
the bad thing about is that if i do pentathlon, it means i lost a time slot when i could be doing a event i like and win medals doing it

[MBombardier]

i personally dont like it
and end up doing it at every event
the bad thing about is that if i do pentathlon, it means i lost a time slot when i could be doing a event i like and win medals doing it

You should encourage your coach(es) to take schedules from all the competitions (regional, state, and prospective national) and make sure that each member of your team can participate in all their strongest events. What's the point of studying all year for an event and discovering at the last minute that there is a conflict? Why not find that out in the beginning so you can chose now which events you will concentrate on?

Pentathlon is for students who are well-rounded in their science knowledge, not just an expert in a single subject. Anyone who can jump rope or throw a paper wad at the wastebasket with a reasonable expectation of hitting it is capable of handling the physical challenge. Pentathlon on our team is done by our most knowledgeable team members. Timing is key, and if you are standing there, trying to drag information out of the far reaches of your brain, you will lose. And if you don't want to be on the team in the first place, especially if you wish you were in another event taking place at the same time, you will not do as well as you should, either.

[AlphaTauri]

Yeah, knowledge is more important than athletic ability. However, if you're a complete spaz or just really uncoordinated (like me), maybe you shouldn't be on the Pentathlon team.

Now that's assuming you're trying to win. If you're like my team and just show up cause it's an event and if you don't show up, it affects your score- that's a different story.

[EastStroudsburg13]

I know I am bring back the dead here, but when I looked through this topic it made me laugh. Here are "nerds" stereotyping themselves, by saying that "nerds" cannot be athletic. I know for a fact that in small teams this is an awesome event, for we have these "sporty nerds."
Also pentathlon has us think on our feet, literary, and so what if you cannot study for it, that is what makes it fun, it's a big surprise

In response to the new thread that this user made, most of us never said that we aren't athletic. However, athletic ability generally is not what is tested in a science competition, and that was our objection. Since the majority of the score is the science questions, I think that the adversity to the event has worn off.

[soobsession]

oh my goodness gracious. not this thread again

though i have to agree that pentathalon is a joke. i mean, what were they thinking? we were athletic???

[amerikestrel]

I think it might be neat for there to be an event where you're tested just on general science topics. However, I do think that the athletic part of the pentathlon is not necessary or appropriate to be in a science competition. It takes up time slots, and will bring your overall team ranking down if you do poorly.

I am also of the opinion that complaining about it on a student forum will not make any difference. If you really want the event to be removed, then you would do better if you write an email to the National Science Olympiad Committee, or do something along those lines. It still probably won't work, but it would be better to try to contact them directly.

Better yet, maybe a lot of people should try to write them emails. If anyone wants to try and organize something like that...

On a different note, why is it called the pentathlon? It doesn't make sense to me.