Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
It doesn’t matter that they result in the same outcome. If we want to use bad analogies, it’s why there’s a difference between criminal actions that are intentional and criminal actions that are accidental or unintentional, even if they’re the same action. There’s a big difference when it comes to intent. Telling someone it’s wrong to do something they didn’t intend to do is useless information. Telling someone who did it on purpose? Sure, there’s merit in that.
So at best, “keep your head up” is a completely useless thing to say. It doesn’t add anything if we assume the player knows that and didn’t intend to have his head down at that moment. If you accidentally stubbed your toe on a chair leg and someone said “you should watch where you’re going,” would you see that as good, relevant advice you weren’t aware of? I hope not.
At worst, it does absolve the hitter. They’re the ones with intent, the responsibility not to hurt someone like that is 100% theirs. It absolves them because suggesting even 10% of the responsibility lays with the guy who got hit is nonsense. You see a player with their head down, you do not proceed directly through them, end of story in my opinion.
I get your angle that it’s just generally good advice, but to who? NHL players in their 6th full year of pro hockey? I sincerely doubt that’s an honest angle, let alone a valid one.
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So you complain about bad analogies and then trot out a stub your toe analogy? Not easy to contradict yourself so immediately. Are people coached from a young age how to walk through a room with out stubbing their toe? Is it an elite skill that needs to be learned over years and constantly reinforced?
I also reject the notion that it is about apportioning blame to all parties so that it adds up to 100%. I get there is a desire to find a throat to choke here and I have never suggested that the player being hit is to "blame". The hitter is 100% responsible for their actions in making the hit.
I really don't see it that different from seatbelt or helmet laws. Again your analogy about intentional and unintentional criminal acts misses the mark IMO. YOU wear a seatbelt to protect YOURSELF from both types of acts. It in no way absolves the other party. If you absentmindedly forget your seatbelt, does that change the outcome for you?
I'm not trying to dispense "good advice" to NHLers. But I have no desire to watch a league where players are able to skate freely with the puck, unencumbered by any concerns of body contact. So yeah, keep your head up. In my experience, coaches of elite hockey players still reinforce that message. and don't consider it "at best, a useless thing to say".
If your desire is to reduce injuries to players, I have a hard time understanding your angle here. Throw the book at the players making these hits, I don't disagree one bit.