A female perspective

I’m gonna have a bit of a rant now.

I come from one of the most bitchest professions in the world - the performing arts. I have been a dancer practically all my life and the competition is high - and so are the comments. To be a dancer you have to be dedicated, know your “equipment”, have the proper training, get a variety of styles under your belt to be an all rounder. I can equate this to pool.

As I sit back and watch those who are best at this sport, I see those who are dedicated; they have the right equipment, are obviously practiced at their skill, know, can and will play a variety of their sport to improve their ability, they have the attributes to win. This also includes a certain amount of confidence. Like being a dancer; if you can’t perform in the “lime light”, then there is no point you doing it. In pool, and many other sports I have found that this confidence often tends to lean towards an arrogance, which is fine, because often we have to be very sure of ourselves.

However, what I can’t understand, and I know I am not the only one, is why there is so much bitchiness in the pool industry. I can understand in the performing arts business, where, and this is going to be a huge generalisation, a large majority of its participants are self-absorbed and want the part / performance that everyone else has got, but in a sport such as pool, why on earth is there so much petty blame and malice. One can be competitive without “dissing” others.

I am also a full-time teacher at a secondary school. As a school teacher, I try to instill in my students a sense of sensitivity, goodwill and understanding for others. Instead of blaming others for their actions and opinions, or judging others purely on what they say, who they are or the people they associate with, try to find reasons and understand from their perspective.

Surely as an industry that is growing enormously across the world, we should be trying to build a professional face for pool - not be squabbling between us, just because they have one set of rules, and they play with a different sized table. Surely that’s the same as saying “Oh, I can’t sit next to her because she’s got brown hair and I have blonde”. Why can’t there be one goal? I understand that there needs to be different organisations, but why can’t they work together - get over it!!!! Holding on to past conflict does nobody any good. I guide the students in my tutor group through their differences practically everyday, because I need them to get along to aid their concentration on learning. It seems that the pool industry spends more time worrying about who they are in conflict with, rather than trying to come together and look professional.

I’m sorry if this post may have offended anyone, because obviously the opinion of some woman doesn’t count (ha, te, ha, ha!) but I know that I am not the only one who feels like this.

Please can we stop the bitchiness and get along so that this industry can stop being made a joke of and make some head way!