RE: And now to the sports:
Well, from what I have seen - in documentaries btw., they dont show such contest as such on TV here, and there are non held in Germany - it does come close to child abuse. The kids, mainly girls, are very young, some 4 or 5 only. Of course they do whatever their mother tells them. Then they get a load of makeup in their face, and heels and so on. Just looking at them, and seeing how the mothers behave, can make you cringe. Its clear they try to achive via the child what they failed to do themself: getting celebrated on a stage, make money and so on.
In addition - who do you think goes to watch such events? Pre school girls dressed up as hookers.... thats pretty obvious, I'd say.
With sports its something different, at least for the big majority, I think. Of course it can get excessive there, too. But to be good in a sport you have to practice a lot, and that is more difficult to do over time if the kid doesn't relly want it as well. Sure, some parents (and a lot of kids too) may have the illusion of becoming a pro footballer, or basketballer or tennis player or whatever, making big money and being famous. But the competion in that is really huge, compared with beauty contests.
Becoming a pro pillow fighter could be seen as a window of opportunity - but a price money of $ 5,000 for the champion is not exactly breath taking. :)
Yeah--I don't have a theoretical problem with pageants, but no way should they be allowed to dress their kids up as grownups. Kids should be allowed to be kids.
Well, perhaps some people should not be permitted to have kids. For a lot of things you need to do courses and tests - but for the most difficult and important thing - raising children - you don't.
And some people are definately not fit to raise kids.
I've thought that for a long time. The problem is, who would make the decision? It's never worked out well when the government decides to take that job.
Yes, there is that. And also, its too easy to make a child. It doesn't even require money. Not even the Chinese did really manage to enforce the 1 child law - and they certainly know how to force people to obey.
Yeah, and now China has a billion more men than women, and those guys would be the perfect cannon fodder for some future human wave attacks.
Their problems with getting married and that, are partly caused by the population policy. But mainly because they are weirdos.
There is that!