I want to find the answer to why table tennis is the only sport where people love to talk to themselves when they make mistakes or even after scoring a point. I don't know of any other sport that people do this in. Not even people in tennis on the ground do it. People insult themselves and humiliate themselves when not playing well in table tennis. When I was new in a table tennis club, I thought they were talking to me, but then I found it ridiculous that they talk to themselves. I told myself, "I will never talk to myself at all; these people are strange," and after playing for months, I did develop some of this talking to myself, and I regret it.
I've already seen in WTT videos too that all sorts of players talk to themselves too.
I mean, isn't it funny that, let's say, somebody's name is "Ted," and he makes a mistake and tells himself loudly, "Ted, how many times have I told you not to do this?" and "I will cut this finger—each time the ball hits it." There is even a guy I've seen; he continuously says, "You're the best, very good, nice," even when he makes mistakes! Or he is just used to saying this. I used to laugh at him for this kind of behavior, but now that I play with him and he is still like that, I tell him inside myself, "Bro, shut your mouth," because if I am indifferent about this, then I'll become like him.
I wish there was a rule that people could just stop talking and behaving like clowns. Them behaving like that makes me uncomfortable, and it feels like I have to leave and not play with them anymore; it reduces my seriousness to play.
What is the reason that people are being like this? Since China has the most top-level players, is it them who promoted this kind of behavior worldwide?
The coach in the club tells himself that he should get back to his village when he can't play nicely, and it insinuates that people that live in that village are low level. It feels like these people in real life can't speak up, and they come to the club to let it go. There is a very fat dude; he tells himself, "Slave! Do it correctly."
I've already seen in WTT videos too that all sorts of players talk to themselves too.
I mean, isn't it funny that, let's say, somebody's name is "Ted," and he makes a mistake and tells himself loudly, "Ted, how many times have I told you not to do this?" and "I will cut this finger—each time the ball hits it." There is even a guy I've seen; he continuously says, "You're the best, very good, nice," even when he makes mistakes! Or he is just used to saying this. I used to laugh at him for this kind of behavior, but now that I play with him and he is still like that, I tell him inside myself, "Bro, shut your mouth," because if I am indifferent about this, then I'll become like him.
I wish there was a rule that people could just stop talking and behaving like clowns. Them behaving like that makes me uncomfortable, and it feels like I have to leave and not play with them anymore; it reduces my seriousness to play.
What is the reason that people are being like this? Since China has the most top-level players, is it them who promoted this kind of behavior worldwide?
The coach in the club tells himself that he should get back to his village when he can't play nicely, and it insinuates that people that live in that village are low level. It feels like these people in real life can't speak up, and they come to the club to let it go. There is a very fat dude; he tells himself, "Slave! Do it correctly."
