I have joined a dragon boat team which will be competing in an annual festival held in support of a well known charity. My idea was that I would have a bit of fun and raise money for a worthwhile charity at the same time.
While I am enjoying myself for the most part and am glad to have joined I’m becoming extremely disappointed in the boating company hired to organize the event. Someone needs a paddle up their ass and it isn’t me. This threat was used on our dragon boat team prior to our first practice when going over the rules of participation.
Now at the time I did consider it a little crude in fact I considered his entire speech somewhat crude. Yes fine there are rules and they are expected to be followed certainly but there are ways of communicating those rules to all the participants without being a complete asshole. We are all adults who understand the importance of safety rules and regulations.
It very much seems the person in charge of the boats has gone a little power mad and is looking for every opportunity to assert his authority. He has continually spoken to us as if we are recalcitrant children who need a stern talking too. Having followed all rules and regulations put before us I’m at a loss as to why we are being treated with suspicion or indeed with a total lack of respect.
Our captain happens to be friends with a member of the dragon boat company and she informed us that our team was under suspicion and being watched carefully. The reasoning behind this was not that we had broken any rules but because we are a new team and it is apparently considered standard to treat a new team as if they are untrustworthy amd expected to break the rules.
Our captain happens to be friends with a member of the dragon boat company and she informed us that our team was under suspicion and being watched carefully. The reasoning behind this was not that we had broken any rules but because we are a new team and it is apparently considered standard to treat a new team as if they are untrustworthy amd expected to break the rules.
Being placed under a microscope faced with unwarranted suspicion is blatantly disrespectful while facing people who abuse a minor position of authority is in no way encouraging. This attitude causes the organization to lose existing teams and discourages new people from joining and adding more support. Sadly what truly suffers from this type of attitude is the charity it is meant to benefit.
