Re: The Society for the Discontinuation of the Pentathlon
Posted: April 24th, 2009, 5:03 pm
first i would like to point out that Over9000 did not call the people participating in the event stupid, he called the questions stupid.....and this event is not a spot to place kids who "aren't very good " becuz on our team (Over9000's and mine) two of our three captains participate in the event (both having 5 events they actually compete in) becuz they have such a widespread of knowledge. For this event, you just need experience because it is so hard to study for, generally 9th graders or 8th graders have more experience and knowledge since they have been involved in SO and school science for a longer period of time. So, in this case the questions are not as hard as you say they are, unless u are in 7th grade or younger (And i know they aren't hard questions becuz i have set up plenty of practice events for my team, and even i myself can answer them, never one studying for this event. Also, although u dont feel prepared for this event every time u are in competition, i feel that when u enter an event u shud feel as prepared as u can be becuz u shud put the most effort into studying. And, because of this and the physical activities, the event lacks consistency in its winners.sadistic_cottoncandy wrote:ouch. that's kinda harsh, don't you think? i mean the part about kids on pentathlon not having to be smart. that makes it sound like an event that was made just so that coaches would have a place to put the kids that aren't very good- a place to put the kids they feel sorry for. im participating in 4 events at nats this year. dynamic planet, write it do it, experimental design, and pentathlon. i practice for 6 events, (those four, as well as anatomy and disease detectives) and i feel pretty smart. not necessarily Albert Einstein or Willy Wonka (let's face it people- willy wonka is a genius), but not stupid either. anyway, the point is, the questions on pentathlon are every bit as difficult as in dynamic planet or disease detectives. they're just difficult in a different way. pentathlon requires a wide variety of scientific knowledge. if people want to complain about pentathlon being a stupid event because it is so hard to study for, i would almost call it "common knowledge" that they don't like it because they don't know a lot of the questions that are asked. im ok with admitting that pentathlon is a hard event to study for, and that ive never once felt prepared for it when i go into a competition. i get that people don't like it because it involves physical stuff as well as the mental. but that wasn't the part of your argument i had a problem with, Over9000. if you know the answer to the questions, then they're "easy" or they're "good" questions. if you don't know the answers, then they're "stupid" or "hard." but pentathlon itself is not a dumb event. and the people participating in it are not even remotely stupid.Over9000 wrote: Keep the studying in SciO. Save the playing, working out, or whatever you do to stay fit for other activities and time periods. You shouldnt have to waste time dribbling a basketball to try to ensure that your team does well. Besides, it's common knowledge that the kids on Pentathlon dont have to BE smart, because the questions are so stupid.
