Self Serving

jon · Post by **jon** » 15 Aug 2003 09:20

awww every one maid up

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Aug 2003 13:22

I'm sorry too Jeremy.

As someone pointed out around here, I don't like to let go -- sometimes even when I know I should.

I appreciate your words.

I hope we will meet sometime and laugh about it.

-Allan

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 16 Aug 2003 01:32

yeah, cool!

However, back to the main issue - self serving:

I learnt to play footbag by myself, which meant that:
A) I always had to selfserve but
B) when I first played with other people I didn't believe in selfserving at all, in fact I never self served in my first couple of kicks with other people. However they all did and since we are talking about people who were a lot better than me, I immediatly started to do whatever they did (or tried to in most cases) which of course is where I started self serving.

But thinking about this recently, I worked this theory out - I guess you can tell me if this theory is correct or not, everyone either self serves or doesn't self serve because that's what the people around them do. Now I believe that self serving is ok, but I play in a circle where the rest of them have all been playing together for longer than me and have never had a problem with self serving so obviously my opinion is biased.

I bet Allan currently plays with people who don't believe in self serving (rather than just not selfserving because they'd get in trouble for doing so).
So I guess the question is, is there anybody out there who plays with people who either selfserve, or do not selfserve, but would rather do the opposite.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 16 Aug 2003 06:12

Our footbag club selfserves alot. I don't know how they feel about it though. I would like to stop selfserving just to break my habit, for when I go to some comps. (SOON- I hope).

dizzy · Post by **dizzy** » 16 Aug 2003 23:39

Jeremy wrote: I bet Allan currently plays with people who don't believe in self serving (rather than just not selfserving because they'd get in trouble for doing so).

While I think your theory definately has merit, I do not in fact play with people that come anywhere close to sharing my born-again-christian-zeal for the courtesy toss.

Almost everyone I play with are *horribly* unrepentant self servers. I "grew up" self serving (because the people I played with did) and up until recently I didn't have much of an issue with it. I have used many an argument like the ones posed here to rationalize my habits.

However, the more I thought about it, and the more I read about it the less I could justify it. Until one day I just stopped. Cold turkey. I wish I had marked the date on my calendar -- but it was about a year and a half ago (+). Since then, I've self served (in a circle, obviously) probably about 20 times.

Unlike here on this board, I rarely actually say anything to SS offenders. I "tolerate it". I do so because, unlike on this board, I do not like to be particularily confrontational or dictatorial. I simply don't self serve and hope and pray that people will follow my lead. Unfortunately no one here seems to notice or care if they do. I guess maybe the pent up frustration from doing this is what makes me so zealous about it on here.

Now I consider it a point of pride to be the only one who cares.

Even if every one else does it, I won't. I end up missing a lot of turns, especially to a certain tall, blonde kid who always self serves (multiple times at that) and never gives rebates (even when totally warranted). Jon was trying so hard not to self serve the other day but this guy made it really hard for him

Matt if you ever read this....

When I do say something about it, it's generally to prompt discussion or express my particular dismay at someone who is just going too far with it. I'm definately moody about it.

Anyhow, I'm sick to death of this topic.

jon · Post by **jon** » 17 Aug 2003 00:01

To serve or not to self serve that is the symposium
whether twas nobler in the minds eye to kick and self serve or to never have kick at all, that is the question
If I self serve do I not still bleed, if I self serve do I not still kick for the joy of shredding
Nay I kick for fun, I self serve to survive in this crazy work a day world where morals and values of the past have been throw out the window and broken down much as my hack has broken in
One circle divided into two, and I joined the circle less kicked in, and that has made all the difference

lol

Question: If a guy self serves in the woods and no else is around to see him, can he still make bap ?:)

dizzy · Post by **dizzy** » 17 Aug 2003 02:08

jon wrote:To serve or not to self serve that is the symposium

Let me edit that:

To self serve is The

-A

PS extremely funny Jon

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 17 Aug 2003 16:59

Jeremy wrote:So I guess the question is, is there anybody out there who plays with people who either selfserve, or do not selfserve, but would rather do the opposite.

After reading the POV's in this thread, I'm doing my best not to self serve in a circle. However, the guys I kick with do SS every now and again. I usually let this slide as they're still learning basic stalls, and I'd rather them take an extra go, knowing that they're making an effort to learn, than to just pass it on. However, I won't tollerate more than one SS, and will comment in a friendly way that that kind of behaviour is not realy acceptable.
You can be sure that when these guys start hitting basic tricks (mirages and legovers and such), that I'll start clamping down on the SS. It's the same as calling a move 'The'. It's the duty of others in a circle to call it The, or to just re-affirm the rules of "Ok, guys, you're pretty good, now. No self serves", and to give props.

So, yeah, I'd rather people don't SS, but I'll tolerate it from others in small doses, while leading the way by NEVER Self serving myself.

ShredPirate · Post by **ShredPirate** » 17 Aug 2003 18:52

i understand how self serving = the

-people used to 'the' moves, but now we practice NOT the'ing them.
-people can self serve, but if you practiced NOT self serving, you'd get a decent run on your first try more often.

Iain · Post by **Iain** » 18 Aug 2003 05:34

thats why you don't start ur runs with big moves.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » 18 Aug 2003 13:44

jon · Post by **jon** » 18 Aug 2003 18:41

me too lol

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 18 Aug 2003 23:06

Johnny wrote: I would like to stop selfserving just to break my habit, for when I go to some comps. (SOON- I hope).

-Johnny->Come shred with us. we live so close and we've never played together.wtf?

we'll have you not self serving in no time.

The Toronto players don't self serve...never have. It's the most important rule of footbag. It goes well with a nice, calm, underhand pass. It is the first thing we tell new players.

I believe much self serving is fueled by peoples shred companions not being able to pass a bag. For some, self serves are necessary...what a shame.

its about as sad as newbs that start shredding before they can kick it 100 times.

I think self serving may be damaging to your game because you could become dependant on self serves. Then, when you play in a circle where people do not self serve you will be out of your groove and it will not be as fulfilling or productive.

If you practice serving well(not to your self of course

) there is no need for self serves. Also if you don't self serve you will gain consistency and better conrol over your body and mind/emotions while freestyling. I've noticed many people that self serve get frustrated if they don't do well each turn...that imo is also a shame. Footbag is the key to inner peace, so don't get mad, just pass.

I like the idea of being given the chance to express myself by someone and then giving someone else that same chance. Self serves ruin the give-and-take/respect for others feeling in a circle and replace it with an everyone for themself/take-take-take feeling that just sucks.

Also I don't like the "someone elses circle" thing. The circle does not belong to anyone, regardless of where it is. Some say when they play in a circle of people that don't self serve they won't either. Thanks, that's a start. Still when those of us who don't self serve at all play with new people who do. we don't have as much fun...well I don't at least. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy playing with new people but self serves always screw with the vibes.

Footbag is about sharing. Sharing a good time, an experience, knowledge, skills and most importantly THE BAG. It's hard to share when your busy giving to yourself.

Obviously,In order to be completely fair either nobody can self serve or everyone must self serve. Just the thought of everyone who shreds self serving scares me. We need to do something while we still can.

Please, stop self serving. For yourself and others.

Paul Toews
peace

jon · Post by **jon** » 19 Aug 2003 00:01

I couldnt hit 100 consecs when i started shredding and I probably cant now. I bet there are others out there like me. The motion of kicking a bag and delaying it are very different and one need not being good at one to also be good at the other. If I wanted to only kick I would be doing blouchi but I wanna shred so why bother with the other stuff. Not that kicking is not imporant but as long as you can keep it up no problem and save it with kicks who cares if you cant hit it 100 times in row. That is imho.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 19 Aug 2003 03:16

jon wrote:The motion of kicking a bag and delaying it are very different and one need not being good at one to also be good at the other.

I'm not sure if this could be less true.

Maybe when you've been to a tournament and know more about the game and the community than what you read on this forum then you'll also know that any shredder worth their salt can easily kick it 100 + times.

If you put more time into skooling kicks, you'd get better at shredding. Guaranteed.

Paul Toews · Post by **Paul Toews** » 19 Aug 2003 09:07

The post above this is not mine but if was not there I would have posted something very similar.

Kicking a bag will make you better for sure. a long time ago this topic was being discussed and my record was like 600 or something. since then I have upped my record to about 1000 and my runs are longer and stronger when I shred.

It is soo easy to practice kicks that I believe wasting potential because you don't feel it is necessary is stupid. shredders that can't kick a bag 100 times are like hockey players that can't stop and don't feel it's important because they can skate really fast and shoot really hard.

If you think kicking is boring. great, so do I. But that does not mean it is not important. if you don't want to get better that's your choice but please don't say that kicking is not important because new players will hear it and believe it.

also I picked 100 as an easy number to reach. you should be able to get way more if you try. like I said before if you shred and you can't kick a bag 100 times, it's sad because your wasting your potential. if you can't kick a bag 100 times you will never have a 100 contact run because you can't even keep the bag off the ground that long.

learn to walk before you run=learn to kick before you shred.

Paul Toews

Panda Licker · Post by **Panda Licker** » 19 Aug 2003 09:30

i can kick the bat 10-15 times. Does that mean i should stop shredding completely until i can reach 100, or can i just gradually work on it while i shred?

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 19 Aug 2003 10:37

the key is moderation

HackyLuvBug · Post by **HackyLuvBug** » 19 Aug 2003 10:38

fuck you

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 19 Aug 2003 10:39

fuck you

modified

Self Serving

Do you self serve in a circle?