Alopecia World
Where acceptance is all there is!
Understanding each other on AW
I read this online today in preparing Olympic watchers for travel in England (Google this headline if the link doesn't pop up here):
The nation explained for visitors to the Olympic Games
Each 212-word section covered things like accents, trains, pub rounds, etc. But the parts about bad puns, even in serious newspapers, or self-deprecating humor as part of the national culture brought to mind some exchanges on AW that often are misunderstood when communicating with Brits. I wonder how our attempts and miscues on each others' languages/use of English vocabulary/humor on AW becomes cause for angst, impatience, apathy, or rejection? And what about broken English by those from non-English-speaking countries? (This works both ways. Surely, some of you have had a few chuckles at my Spanish!)
I have taken to Wikipedia definitions at times, or highlighted, copied and pasted whole paragraphs in order to translate them on Google Translations (to English) for myself. I have no idea how correctly my own sentences are offered to others when I try to change them to Russian or French for AW readers. Wouldn't it be nice if AW had not only a translation feature for type, but also a link to communication etiquette and cultural no-nos?
Anyway, the Olympics officially open Friday. Shall we all play a game of spotting bald heads in the crowds? I hear women can walk about more freely without wigs in England. Wonder if that applies to televised events, too?
Comment
-
Comment by Tallgirl on August 12, 2012 at 9:36am
-
Today is the last day. I have been following the BBC Live Blogs, and it is nice to see that joy of accomplishment and pride in country are universal emotions that we can all understand.
-
-
There's more! People sent these in to add to Rule(s) Britannia:
Readers sum up British quirks in 212 words
-
-
The Best of British - British Slang
www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml
Tweet Ace - If something is ace it is awesome. I used to hear it a lot in Liverpool. Kids thought all cool stuff was ace, or brill. Aggro - Short for aggravation, it's the ...
-
-
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
-
-
Staciana Stitts, Olympic Gold Swimmer | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
www.flickr.com/photos/baldrus/4712621939/
Staciana Stitts Winfield (born September 12, 1981 in Columbus, Ohio) is a breaststroke ... [4] She's been a motivational speaker at the National Alopecia Areata ...
-
-
Gail Porter on what it's like to be bald | The Sun |Woman|Health|Health
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/.../Gail-Porter-on-what-its-like-to-be-bald.html
Nov 5, 2009 – Helped career ... Duncan Goodhew. OLYMPIC swim champ Duncan lost all his hair through alopecia universalis aged just 11. The Brit hero ...
-
Comment by mabaker on July 29, 2012 at 9:05pm
-
Duncan Goodhew a British swimmer won a gold and bronze medal in 1980 at the Moscow Olympics - he has AU - I think he fell out of a tree as a child and all his hair fell out. I loved the story Danny Boyle told on Friday night too.
-
-
Don't let the clouds in life keep you from communicating and playing well with others!
.
.
-
Comment by alamogirl/ aka Judy on July 28, 2012 at 7:55pm
-
Yeah, sorry, Norm. Got a little carried away, didn't I? But really, I just LOVE the UK. Sometimes wonder what I would have done in 1776....rats! there I go again. I am a blessed and proud Yank, but really, who does ceremony better than the Brits. That. is. all. J.
-
-
Following the win, the Japanese team filed a formal complaint and upon immediate review, the international volleyball federation jury voted unanimously to reverse the game’s result, giving the game to Japan. Team USA was outraged, yet used the disappointment to their advantage. To show their support for their teammate [Bob] Samuelson and avoid any further discouragement, Timmons gathered the team together and proposed a radical idea: Let’s shave our heads.
So on July 28, when the team emerged on to the court for the second game of the Olympics against Canada, Samuelson was no longer the lone bald eagle, but was instead one of twelve men with a shiny head off of which the stadium’s lights reflected. The gesture not only made everyone do a double-take, but was inspiration to Olympic and volleyball fans worldwide.
(Photo from a July 1992 issue of USA Today shows Samuelson, who has AU, and shaved players.)
Certainly, if the behavior of Samuelson during the game violated the rules of conduct, then he should have been issued his second yellow card. Whether or not the jury’s post-match decision to reverse the score was a correct one is quite debatable, however. There is a fine line which judges, officials, and governing bodies must walk when making decisions which affect scores and most importantly, final standings. This decision was not catastrophic in that it hindered USA’s chance at gold. The team still came away with a bronze; and perhaps this third place finish was a signal of the oncoming drought in the sport which lasted for USA until 2008 when it finally won another gold medal.
Was Samuelson’s behavior (reminiscent of players such as John McEnroe and Bill Laimbeer) appropriate—especially for that of an Olympian? I’ll leave that up to each individual. What was ideal and appropriate for behavior by Olympians was the true sign of team unity exhibited by those young men. Their actions, giving up the locks of hair many of them probably adored, was a truly selfless act and acknowledgment of the “all for one and one for all” attitude that many teams these days fail to possess. Now, when so many players are focused on their own individual aspirations and accomplishments, The Bald Eagles of Barcelona serve as a reminder to what team spirit is all about, fully embodying the ‘stronger’ in the Olympic motto.
(Article lifted from the internet. -- TG)
Disclaimer
Any mention of products and services on Alopecia World is for informational purposes only; it does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by Alopecia World. Nor should any statement or representation on this site be construed as professional, medical or expert advice, or as pre-screened or endorsed by Alopecia World. Alopecia World is not responsible or liable for any of the views, opinions or conduct, online or offline, of any user or member of Alopecia World.
© 2025 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Alopecia World to add comments!
Join Alopecia World