Author Topic: Is this what we needed? (Read 3710 times)

Impending Doom · « **on:** April 15, 2020, 03:26:18 PM »

DISCLAIMER: I, IN NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM WISH ANYONE HARM WITH THIS POST.

That out of the way, let me speak about the current situation.

This is a time which is unprecedented in current history. We, as a planet, are combating an illness that we're not quite sure of.

Our way of life has changed overnight. We are experiencing fear and are being very careful how and where we interact with people. No more running to the store at midnight to pick up something you forgot, everything is locked down.

However, let's take a moment to look at the other end of the spectrum. We are experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Mother Nature is breathing a sigh of relief, as we are not abusing her like we have day in and day out for the last 200+ years. We are seeing that all of the huge buildings where people drive to just to sit and do work that could be done anywhere, but have to commute to it so bosses can see butts in seats and justify how well or poorly they're doing based off of those numbers, are not needed. We have the tools to mostly work from home, which is going to change the way our families are shaped, our carbon footprint, and breaking with the 9-5 paradigm that says "This is the time for this, then after that time, this is where we drive home, then etc etc etc".

If the world at large can be changed like that, why can't bowling?

None of us are bowling until at least June if we're lucky. Hopefully, most centers will make it thru, but let's be honest, bowling as a business and as a sport was going down as it was. So, in the time we aren't in the center, why not think about a grip change? Maybe look up some workouts for bowling on Youtube? Center owners, why not just throw caution into the wind and put out a tougher shot, so people will want to get better when they get back?

This is a chance for bowling to reinvent itself. Are we big enough to take the risk or are we going to default to going back to easy house shots?

This is a time to show ourselves what we're made of.

milorafferty · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2020, 03:34:01 PM »

I think this will result in a lot of people finding they no longer have a job.

If you can do your job at home making $25 an hour, I can pay $5 or less to someone else who can do your job the same way, just in a different country.

Let's face it, most people don't have a skill-set that isn't easy to transfer to someone else who will do it for less.

Good Times Good Times · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2020, 03:35:20 PM »

I've never understood the style of management that wants employees (that do not need to be on site) on site simply for the sake of it. My wife used to be in that position as her job can be done fully at home......however her manager was an older lady so..........you get what you get there. My mentality is that I wouldn't care the how or where you're doing your job as long as you're producing quality and accurate work on time. Otherwise I probably shouldn't hire you if I must reign over you as an employee. But I'm 36 so...........

As for the bowling, the issue (as I see it), isn't one with regard to the equipment or playing parameters. We'll go back to easy shots simply due to the fragile egos. The majority of bowlers will not have a desire to work at improvement, they would rather the conditions adjust to them rather than them adjust to the conditions. Intellectually I get "why"........I just reject it as false, and quite frankly, retarded.

psycaz · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2020, 11:00:00 AM »

Personal opinions here...

I think it comes down to how long everything is shutdown and how long things take to rebound.

Worst cases for both, long shutdown and recovery, bowling probably gets decimated. Bowling seems to suffer when the economy suffers. Just not one of those things that weathers downturns well.

If the shutdown ends by June 1, you may see some centers/leagues try to use the month of June to tidy up things from the current season. Week or two of cheap bowling to get everyone back. Week to finish last half or third with a position round. Then bowl your league finals.

It will all come down to the jobs numbers after that. Folks arenâ€™t going to bowl if they donâ€™t have a job and canâ€™t find one. What, currently 25% of the workforce is unemployed? That doesnâ€™t get under 10% by the start of fall leagues, it doesnâ€™t bode well in my eyes.

Bowl_Freak · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2020, 11:50:06 AM »

Quote from: Good Times Good Times on April 15, 2020, 03:35:20 PM

I've never understood the style of management that wants employees (that do not need to be on site) on site simply for the sake of it. My wife used to be in that position as her job can be done fully at home......however her manager was an older lady so..........you get what you get there. My mentality is that I wouldn't care the how or where you're doing your job as long as you're producing quality and accurate work on time. Otherwise I probably shouldn't hire you if I must reign over you as an employee. But I'm 36 so...........

As for the bowling, the issue (as I see it), isn't one with regard to the equipment or playing parameters. We'll go back to easy shots simply due to the fragile egos. The majority of bowlers will not have a desire to work at improvement, they would rather the conditions adjust to them rather than them adjust to the conditions. Intellectually I get "why"........I just reject it as false, and quite frankly, retarded.

Funny you say fragile egos. Not all of us want to be pro bowlers and egotistical freaks, so spending a night out with friends bowling is all i want to do a couple times a week, not bowl on a super-tough shot. I don't mind averaging 230 on a THS. Don't put out a hard shot, just something that is playable. Even just tell us its a modified House shot. I want to just have fun now. My competitive days are over since i am a single father raising 2 kids by myself. And who knows if I'll go back to bowling after this is all done cause I have other priorities now instead of bowling.

Bowler19525 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2020, 12:25:49 PM »

I think just because the shutdown ends, won't necessarily mean that bowling centers will be allowed to reopen. There were still be mitigation policies in effect that will be impossible for bowling centers to follow (social distancing, group sizes, occupancy restrictions, etc.) It isn't going to be a "flip the switch" type of moment and everything is reopened. Bowling centers will be near the bottom of the list with respect to priority, and I think a lot of bowling center operators are overlooking that.

The Bowling Pariah · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2020, 12:53:55 PM »

NO, this is not what we needed.

Good Times Good Times · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2020, 03:32:24 PM »

Quote from: Bowl_Freak on April 17, 2020, 11:50:06 AM

Not all of us want to be pro bowlers and egotistical freaks, so spending a night out with friends bowling is all i want to do a couple times a week, not bowl on a super-tough shot. I don't mind averaging 230 on a THS. Don't put out a hard shot, just something that is playable. Even just tell us its a modified House shot. I want to just have fun now.

You have the majority on your side. The conditions will be adjusted to suit you. It's all good....

bergman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2020, 05:27:58 PM »

I think life has now changed forever. I believe that we will return to bowling but with a different of social rules in place. Bowlers will be more than eager to break from their cocoons and head out to the lanes. The really big game changer is going to be getting a vaccine up and going . Even then, we will be approaching life much differently from this point on.

I am retired, so the question of what's best, working form home or commuting to the workplace is no longer an issue . However, I did work for a while from my home at one time. Not commuting was a nice feature but overall, I did not
enjoy it.

For one, there are a lot of family-related distractions at home. There's also that TV set as well as that smartphone. Unless you are a very disciplined individual, these can become huge distractions.

Second, working from home, I did not have the ability to walk across the aisle in order to brainstorm ideas with my fellow coworkers-- something I could do at my actual place of work. I am also concerned about a society that increasingly becomes more socially distant from each other, let alone the economic consequences ( both, the good and the bad) of a society that increasingly relegates itself into operating out separate, sealed rooms.

The third and final thing was more psychological in nature but important, at least to me. I never liked the idea of bringing my work "home"in the first place. I always tried to keep a very clear separation between "home" and "work", to the greatest extent possible. In addition, I always dressed in a way that was appropriate when at my actual place at work. At the end of the day, once I got home, I made sure to take my work clothes off, jump into the shower and put my "home clothes" on. When I did this, I clearly felt the separation between work and home.

Each of us is different in what works best for us.

daves123 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2020, 08:00:36 AM »

The new face of bowling., Vurtual bowling . Stay at home download the app, buy your Vurtual ball from storm or big B choose your favorite whatever and kick back and become the next Belmo.
Don't worry it will be great.

TDC57 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2020, 01:08:17 PM »

Life is never go to be the same because too many in this country don't want it to be. If you want to work at home and not be part of life, that is your right, but social interaction is already less than it was 20 years ago and all i see it has gained us is a lot of socially awkward people. Human nature is to be with people to make life more enjoyable. One problem is with this social distancing we are not interacting with others and developing the natural immunities we do by such interaction. We will become more susceptible to other illnesses. If we don't go back to a more normal life until a vaccine is developed, all sports will be over. Businesses will be lost in droves. The economy will be fractured for years. Many places across the country have little or no cases of Covid19, yet they still have factories open jammed Walmarts, etc., and no spread. Should they still be shut down. If you are afraid stay home, if not take precautions and start living your life again.

Also, there was mention of using this as an opportunity to take bowling back and toughen up the sport. Until you can get the majority of bowlers on board with this revolution (and it won't happen) give it a rest and don't be like politicians, trying to take advantage of a pandemic to forward an agenda The sport has always appealed to the majority as a night out to have some fun with friends. Who really aspires to be a pro bowler anyway? You really want that grind and tough life with no real money paid out compared to other sports? Just like football, baseball, etc., only a few are good enough to be a pro. Making conditions tougher won't grow the sport, get over it!!!

leftybowler70 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2020, 01:22:59 PM »

Quote from: TDC57 on April 18, 2020, 01:08:17 PM

Life is never go to be the same because too many in this country don't want it to be. If you want to work at home and not be part of life, that is your right, but social interaction is already less than it was 20 years ago and all i see it has gained us is a lot of socially awkward people. Human nature is to be with people to make life more enjoyable. One problem is with this social distancing we are not interacting with others and developing the natural immunities we do by such interaction. We will become more susceptible to other illnesses. If we don't go back to a more normal life until a vaccine is developed, all sports will be over. Businesses will be lost in droves. The economy will be fractured for years. Many places across the country have little or no cases of Covid19, yet they still have factories open jammed Walmarts, etc., and no spread. Should they still be shut down. If you are afraid stay home, if not take precautions and start living your life again.

Also, there was mention of using this as an opportunity to take bowling back and toughen up the sport. Until you can get the majority of bowlers on board with this revolution (and it won't happen) give it a rest and don't be like politicians, trying to take advantage of a pandemic to forward an agenda The sport has always appealed to the majority as a night out to have some fun with friends. Who really aspires to be a pro bowler anyway? You really want that grind and tough life with no real money paid out compared to other sports? Just like football, baseball, etc., only a few are good enough to be a pro. Making conditions won't grow the sport, get over it!!!

Truer words could not have been spoken here. Thank you speaking the TRUTH here. 🤝

ignitebowling · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2020, 11:36:17 AM »

I love bowling on sport conditions for practice, tournaments, and everywhere in between. I have friends that do as well. It's a very small number of bowlers.

Most leagues are social gatherings for people to have fun and be semi competitive. Competitive scratch style leagues are very few and far between. Same for tournaments. That's ok. Too many go to their mix league thinking its the US Open and it's not.

Bowlers dictate what a center may do. If you have enough to create a sport style league most centers have no issue doing so. Don't expect a national entity to dictate making conditions tougher and killing business for the bowling center. The BPAA wouldn't go for it.

Author Topic: Is this what we needed? (Read 3710 times)

Impending Doom

Is this what we needed?

milorafferty

Re: Is this what we needed?

Good Times Good Times

Re: Is this what we needed?

psycaz

Re: Is this what we needed?

Bowl_Freak

Re: Is this what we needed?

Bowler19525

Re: Is this what we needed?

The Bowling Pariah

Re: Is this what we needed?

Good Times Good Times

Re: Is this what we needed?

bergman

Re: Is this what we needed?

daves123

Re: Is this what we needed?

TDC57

Re: Is this what we needed?

leftybowler70

Re: Is this what we needed?

ignitebowling

Re: Is this what we needed?