Here is how it is supposed to work ...

[szh]

... this kids parents raised him correctly. Kudos to the boy and his parents!

http://www.wimp.com/baseballboy/

Z

[ADDirishboy]

Ha, I was watching that when it happened. That kid is awesome.

[alms24sebring]

Screw that its mine!!

[srellim234]

Nice touch.

Reminds me of a player I have a lot of respect for. In 1994 I received the gift of a couple of tickets to a Dodger game, sitting a couple of rows behind the visitors' dugout. Jose Rijo of the Reds came in off the field after warmups. Ignoring and bypassing all the obnoxious kids and adults hanging over the dugout, blocking our view and screaming for him to give them something, he pointed to my son who was sitting in his seat behaving and flipped him the ball. He went down into the dugout, came out with a bucket of baseballs and proceeded to flip one to every kid close by that was sitting properly and behaving. The obnoxious people yelling for one didn't get squat. He only rewarded good behavior. This was the year after he won the Cy Young award.

That gesture really made an impact. I sent him a thank you note to the club's address.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

NICE!
I always found it funny at how many things baseball games display that aren't the baseball game.

[dre1507]

Good kid right there. Good job, parents!

[orangeNblue]

Its great to see generosity and kindness rewarded. If only more people raised their kids to behave this way!

[szh]

If only more people raised their kids to behave this way!

Exactly right!

Z

[Otto.]

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

What happened to kids being raised like this? His parents did their job well.

[alms24sebring]

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

Eh, its just a theory. I havent seen that. Good things happen, bad things happen...

[krimsonviper]

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

Eh, its just a theory. I havent seen that. Good things happen, bad things happen...

Pretty much this. The good saying goes, "shxt happens."

[Dattebayo]

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

You're supposed to do good because it's good, not because you will get something out of it.

Positive reinforcement at it's worst.

[dre1507]

he surely didn't give the kid the ball just to get something out of it. there was no way for him to know he was gonna be rewarded. The saying is only one half of what is known as karma. Nothing wrong with familiarizing your children with Karma. Just make sure they understand that Karma is not to be manipulated. Don't try to do good things just so good things will happen, because it sorta negates it.

[Dattebayo]

That wasn't what I was getting at, it was just unfortunate that the kid said it that way.

See, reinforcing behavior like this doesn't last because people will do it fully expecting to get good things in return, and when it doesn't pay out every time, they will lose interest and resume the previous behavior. Sorry, I took too many psychology classes, I think.

Edit: I don't really think the kid did it expecting anything in return. He did it because of the reason he's supposed to, because it was the right thing to do. I just think the way he said that last bit was unfortunate. Nothing more.

[PoorManQ45]

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

What happened to kids being raised like this? His parents did their job well.

Life happen and it doesn't typically work that way.

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

You're supposed to do good because it's good, not because you will get something out of it.

Positive reinforcement at it's worst.

I agree with Dave.

That statement indicates that the act of kindness is not selfless, but indeed selfish! Why not chop it down to, "Do good things"?

[Jesda]

Ooh, philosophy.









Do good things for the money.

[szh]

Let's not over-analyze here ...

I don't think for one moment that the kid gave the ball away because he expected something better in return. He did it because it was a Good Thing to do, and his parents taught him that.

Of course, the "do good deeds because you will be rewarded better" is just a statement usually made to kids when they are growing up. To make them feel better about doing good when they have yet to learn "right and wrong" that most adults (not all ) take for granted. Some adults never get it.

I certainly do not expect reality to abide by it, although I suppose some people could feel that way when it happens. Cause and effect get muddied.

In any case, let's not read too much into it ... the kid did a good thing because he was taught well, was noticed for it, and rewarded for his generous action.

Simple!

Z

[szh]

Edit: I don't really think the kid did it expecting anything in return. He did it because of the reason he's supposed to, because it was the right thing to do. I just think the way he said that last bit was unfortunate. Nothing more.

Exactly right.

Z

[alms24sebring]

That kid is ganna be pissed in a few years when he realized what he did. I would be. I mean its not like the kid was in a wheelchair or anything..

And the Diamonbacks sucked after Randy Johnson left, one of my favorite pitchers of all time.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I think that kid has already gotten his "good thing" to return to him. They let him throw the first pitch and they gave him a bat signed by his favorite player.

[Otto.]

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

Eh, its just a theory. I havent seen that. Good things happen, bad things happen...

"Just a theory." Whut. Things tend to be better for everyone if someone does something good. Bad things happen to everyone. I never said you were immune to bad things if you do good.

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you."

You're supposed to do good because it's good, not because you will get something out of it.

Positive reinforcement at it's worst.

Did any of you watch the video? I was quoting the kid. I said that because it's a good attitude to have. He (and I) didn't mean it in a "do good things for profit" way. It was meant in a "everyone can be happier if we all try to be a little better" way.

Let's not over-analyze here ...

I don't think for one moment that the kid gave the ball away because he expected something better in return. He did it because it was a Good Thing to do, and his parents taught him that.

This.

[Dattebayo]

Did any of you watch the video? I was quoting the kid.

Did you read the thread? So was I.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

If more people in this country would raise their kids to be selfless like that, maybe, just maybe, this would be a better place to live.

[szh]

If more people in this country would raise their kids to be selfless like that, maybe, just maybe, this would be a better place to live.

Z

[Looneybomber]

I always found it funny at how many things baseball games display that aren't the baseball game.

Because, like golf, watching wildlife and spectators is more exciting than the game.

If more people in this country would raise their kids to be selfless like that, maybe, just maybe, this would be a better place to live.

Not with our government screwing everything up.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

If more people in this country would raise their kids to be selfless like that, maybe, just maybe, this would be a better place to live.

Not with our government screwing everything up.

True, but the problem with this country is just as much (if not more) the people that live in it as it is the government. It all boils down to a lack of discipline, respect, and a total state of selfishness, everyone is about themselves anymore.

[alms24sebring]

Doesnt a kid giving the ball to another kid cancel it out or something.

I dont care what he did, I would still dive for it and punch the kid in the face if I had to. Every man for himself right?