Ethics
Always make the right, honest ethical choice and encourage others to do the same.
We all know what the "right, honest ethical choice" is in almost every situation. Problem is, there are plenty of people out there who can rationalize making a choice that doesn't necessarily fit the description of "right" or "honest" or "ethical". Primary among these "rationalizations" is the desire to win. Does winning trump the reward for making the right choice? Is winning more important than honesty? What role does ethics play in team dynamics, especially in the sport of flyball?
There is a principle that I live by and that is my "self-respect" is the most important thing I value in life. I am with "myself'" 100% of the time and if I make a choice that does not respect my own sense of what I consider "right" ....does not respect the "whole truth" and therefore represents some portion of "dishonest" ....or compromises in any way my personal ethical standards, then I disrespect myself. And, if I disrespect myself, I cannot expect to receive respect from anybody else. Its that simple.
I've heard any number of arguments that you cannot dictate to others your personal values and beliefs. I believe that to be true. But, that means no one can force me to make a "choice" that is outside of my personal boundaries. I may be pressured and encouraged to abandon those behavioral standards but, it is still a choice that I, alone "own". If I make a "wrong" choice, it still belongs to me.
So, what am I getting at? What do ethics have to do with flyball? Well, flyball is a team sport which means you have to ellicit the cooperation of others in tandem with your own efforts in order to gain any success. For that, it helps to gain the full "trust" of others. When you are a person whose word is trusted, its much easier to gain the full cooperation of others. You are also much more likely to attract the attention of people whose values and standards match your own. In this sense, the cliche holds true: "Birds of a feather, flock together". Like kind seeks out others of "like kind".
Flyball is NOT just about the dogs. It is about people. There is no one closer to you in "flyball" than your teammates and the very first principle that will make or break a team is what kind of ethics are held and practiced by its leadership. So, if you are looking for a team to join, find out what kind of ethical sense is practiced by the team owner or team captain. If you have decided to organize your own team because you cannot find a team that is compatible with your ethics, then I wish you luck! Make sure that as you make it known that you are forming your own team and that you demonstrate and communicate what kind of ethical standards you have and you expect others to have.
People don't like guessing. They want to know where you stand. Consistency will attract people and keep them loyal to you. Very few people actually live their lives over "winning and losing" and if they do, do you need them anyway? Wouldn't you rather build a team that has a reputation for honesty both in their training practices and tournament competition? You can lose as much as you win but, win or lose, there is no substitute for choosing the right, honest and ethical thing.
Good Luck and Good Racing!
............Chris
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