To find the saying ‘you can do anything’ seriously annoying

[TheletterZ]

I’m reading “Life According to Freddie Flintoff” where he says that ‘anyone can do anything within reason’. Which is very easy to say if you are healthy, physically capable, clever, white male.

I am not saying he hasn’t had to work hard to get where he is, he very clearly has, but this down plays how hard life can be for some and quite clearly no, not anyone can do anything.

Dragongirl10

Well, I think the point is that the confluence of different social privileges tends to make certain things easier, otherwise why would virtually all astronauts in history be white, able-bodied men under the age of 40?

Yes, Stephen Hawking managed to do a heck of a lot in spite of his disease, but it helps to be a genius who outlives your prognosis by 40 years, doesn’t it?

otherwise why would virtually all astronauts in history be white, able-bodied men under the age of 40?

Excise me? Laika😁

TheFridgeRaider

I wasn’t counting dogs.

Tbf you do have to be able bodied to go to space.
But there are plenty of women and quite a few bame too.
Not only as astronauts but as technicians and programmers. We just don't celebrate them enough 🤷

@herculepoirot2 that's dogscrimination 😂

TheFridgeRaider

There are some. But it’s obviously easier for men, and easier for white men, and easier for (outwardly) heterosexual white men. Because everything is.

But it’s obviously easier for men, and easier for white men, and easier for (outwardly) heterosexual white men. Because everything is.

That doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't want to try to achieve our aspirations though.

Or you may as well shrug and not bother since you are unlikely to make it anyway.

But anyway, that’s slightly off the point. Things will be easier for you the more privileges you enjoy, be they innate, social or environmental.

And if motivational crap helps some people focus then there's nothing bad about it.

Or you may as well shrug and not bother since you are unlikely to make it anyway.

Oh I’m not saying that.

It wasn't particularly encouraged in girls, was it though. It's a combination of factors and one of them is lack of encouragement when it comes to STeM and similar. There has been number of threads talking about how their daughters were quite actively discouraged from STEM.
Now, it somewhat is encouraged we can actually see the numbers rising.
And that's good!
Same for bame community

But anyway, that’s slightly off the point. Things will be easier for you the more privileges you enjoy, be they innate, social or environmental.

Again, if we start of from a point of "well it's not true I'll never make it" then you might as well not try.

nokidshere

That isn’t what I’m saying at all. People should try for the things they want, but it’s disingenuous if we pretend everyone is on a level playing field when it comes to getting them.

Chris Rock does a bit on this. Says he tells his kids "you can anything you're good at, if they're hiring. And even then it pays to know someone."

I think YABU because the title isn't actually what he said. The addition of 'within reason' completely changed the statement.

Ywould not have been U if he said as per thread title. I have a Facebook friend who got into NLP and ever since 'you can be anything you want', it's all about mindset apparently

I read he was a flat earther so he has zero credibility in my book (no pun intended)

Like, I am fat and and not very fit. And I’m a mum and I can’t afford a personal trainer. But I’d like to run a marathon one day. Possible? Of course. But it’s not going to be as easy for me as it would be for someone already in great physical shape, no kids, doesn’t have to work, able to hire a PT and unlikely to get pregnant. I’m not moaning, but it’s a bit rich when those people turn round and say “Anyone can do it.” Not really.

Like, I am fat and and not very fit. And I’m a mum and I can’t afford a personal trainer. But I’d like to run a marathon one day. Possible? Of course. But it’s not going to be as easy for me as it would be for someone already in great physical shape, no kids, doesn’t have to work, able to hire a PT and unlikely to get pregnant. I’m not moaning, but it’s a bit rich when those people turn round and say “Anyone can do it.” Not really.

That's why he says anyone can do anything within reason.
For example you can't run marathon a day (i don't think anyone can tbh), but if you are realistic, you can have a goal which you can achieve if you work towards it a bit.

For example you can't run marathon a day (i don't think anyone can tbh), but if you are realistic, you can have a goal which you can achieve if you work towards it a bit.

Maybe. But if my knee or my back gives out, I probably can’t. If I get pregnant again, I probably can’t. There are limitations, and it’s not very gracious to pretend others don’t face them and your success is also a result of mindset when actually, you’ve been very lucky.

Freddie thinks the earth is flat. and his boxing match was an eembarrassment to the sport.

Maybe. But if my knee or my back gives out, I probably can’t. If I get pregnant again, I probably can’t. There are limitations, and it’s not very gracious to pretend others don’t face them and your success is also a result of mindset when actually, you’ve been very lucky.

Well then you change your goal to something you can do.
That's the whole "within reason" part.

I agree op.
I enjoy playing the piano which I’ve done since I was a child. However, even if I’d had the best teachers and practised 16 hours a day, I never could’ve been a concert pianist. I’m simply not musical enough.

‘Within reason’ covers a huge range of obstacles some of which will be insurmountable. So many things come into play (including luck ) in order for someone to ‘achieve their dreams’. It’s not enough to want to do something and have the ability to do it either imo. You have to have the will to work incredibly hard for years on end. I’m musically gifted but completely lazy and wouldn’t practice. My brother was also musically gifted (but reckons I’m the more natural musician ) and would practice for hours for years on end. He got a scholarship to the Royal Northern School of Music. He has a career as a musician and I don’t. I don’t even play at a amateur level any more because I’m too lazy to work at it.

If anyone watched the documentary on BBC2 last night on what it takes to break into the elite, it showed the awful discrimination against highly able working class kids face when applying for jobs in the city/media. A kid who has been to a state school in Dagenham but who got a first at a Russell Group uni, stands far less chance of bagging a top job than a middle class kid with a 2:2 who went to a private school. Then factor in colour and you’ve got a whole new level of discrimination. It was thoroughly depressing. In some careers it’s all about how you present your accent, your name, your confidence. I’m sure there are many people who despite being incredibly able and hardworking will just not get a crack at the whip.

I don't think many people don't realise that goalposts need to change often a bit. Alterations to the goal according to current situation ime help to achieve that goal. If it's realistic in a first place.