Yes. Our poor boys are stuck with all that energy and no where but sports is it acceptable to employ it.
Did I detect a slight case of tongue in cheek there Sel?
I do feel that we are dealing with fundamental forces here, instincts and drives, that are environmentally ancient and that will be with us for millennia to come probably. It is not a small thing because, in terms of the larger society, it causes a degree of trouble and costs a lot of public money.
There may be a kind of "tribal" element there as well. Listening today to a BBC Radio 4 prog (Saturday Live), sort of family magazine effort with memories, experiences, poetry and all kinds of things. There was an item there with a mum and son talking about skate boarding. I always thought of such as sad people, never really grew up in some ways, bit like train brains and games nerds. Seems that the lad was in the habit of just saving for a ticket and flying out to . . . anywhere he could afford.
One trip he landed in New York. Within an short period he was involved in some local skate boarders, rites of passage almost certainly involved to be accepted in the group. Seems that led to new friends and somewhere to stay. The lad obviously had some initiative.
A nephew of mine was no great shakes in school work terms but spent a lot of spare time as a kid taking Day Rovers on London buses and visiting museums etc. I used to slip him the odd couple of quid to help. He, accidentally, got involved with gardening about 30 years ago. He was recently appointed head curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden. His independence, sense of adventure etc paid of.
Another nephew was illiterate at 12. His best mate's dad was also illiterate but owned a building company and had a small fortune - why bother? But he was fascinated by magic tricks. We challenged him to learn them from books if we bought all the kit he needed. He did. He then went to catering college and passed all the exams with flying colours and landed a plum job at a posh London restaurant - moved on since.
A bit of well considered external influence and motivation applied at the right time can work wonders. But how many of today's parents have the time or inclination to devote the amount of time and effort required? I watched my friend Carol's son Giles grow from a 9yo whose dad did a runner to a, now, 26 year old with buckets of self confidence and ability in several fields, even if he is a train brain - but that "tribal" alliance is a large part of the picture. He is only a temp for the Post Office parcel service (in the depot) but saved them £5000 in his first three months there. Now his job is on the line - but he will be getting a glowing personal reference from his line manager if the senior managers decide he must go in the cuts!
I did notice that, during adolescence, a very interesting relationship with his mother developed. She did her best to push him away, though she did the usual washing and cooking for him etc. I was a little worried but then got a whiff of him one day. He was at the point of sexual maturity and smelt like it - was mum "driving" him from the nest to prevent any chance of his developing an, er, "inappropriate" relationship. Was it time for him to start thinking about leaving home and looking for a mate of his own? And if he did not leave he the "pushing" would get stronger? (He has now shacked up with Rachel for 4 years and they get on great, sharing some things but having independent interests and spending time apart on these as well.)
Ancient drives surfacing once more?
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015