Why? This is exactly what this forum is for.
For my part, I completely don't understand the mentality of some people in this forum of "gold star for trying" in adult world. Gracie is not doing well by any stretch of imagination and I don't get why we should be saying she's doing fine. I'm afraid she's setting herself up for a major disappointment because looking at her, a real comeback, as in getting on the GP circuit i, out of the question.
No, this forum is not for rudely picking apart skaters. There is so much negativity here, completely bashing skaters such as Gracie, it's disgusting.
As for your "gold star for trying" that is not my mentality. But after what Gracie has been through, where she is at with her skating is doing well, no one said she was going to be the next Olympic champion at her level right now, but I give her credit for what she is doing. She could have easily said no and went on with her life, but she is doing what she loves and attacking what tore her down in the first place. People wonder why some skaters become headcases, well it's due to the fact that the sport is hard enough, and there's enough stress and pressure from being at the level Gracie was. And many people here who've never stepped on the ice and have no real clue about it want to sit behind their computer and pick at them endlessly. Oh her hair was out of place and her dress is ugly and so on and so forth: They have no acceptance of these skaters being people with families, friends, and feelings and lives beyond the rink. No, instead just criticize because one isn't up to ones silly "standards".
Gracie was at the top of her game a few years ago, and then unfortunately it all fell apart due to reasons we don't need to go into here, and that's a hard thing to come back to and deal with mentally and physically. She may never get back to the level she was in say 2014, but that doesn't mean we can't cheer her on for at least trying to come back to that level. I support her, because it takes alot more strength to do what she's doing knowing she can fail and there are skeptics. Better than those said skeptics who sit at a computer and be rude and negative about her. If you wouldn't walk up to her or any other skater and say it to their face or their parents faces, then don't say it here.
It's hard enough, give Gracie and the rest of the skaters you see a break. No ones asking you to give them a "gold star" or whatever the heck that is beyond rudeness. Maybe give them the benefit of the doubt and clap for them more than criticize, it's more effective.
