Major 1650 sandbagging by a forum member

Obviously you view this as a victimless crime but I wish you could respect that not everyone feels so dismissive about it...a point that seems rather obvious given the heat the topic often generates on the forums. To the contrary, I am not advocating it and I do understand others POV. I can see how it can be annoying and impede racing, especially in the distance events where pacing is important. (Of course, lots of things can be potentially annoying at meets -- swimming 50 fly next to big guys, getting stuck in an end lane, racing in a four foot deep pool, etc.) I can certainly see how it could annoy meet directors, like Kevin above, if the timeline goes wildly awry. I don't view it, however, as a "victimless crime" because not only is it not a "crime," it is legal. In fact, when I read extreme characterizations like "crime," "immoral," "egocentric," or "unethical," I feel like your "side" is the one being dismissive and downright histrionic about a legal act. My own view is that it is not the end of the world or a huge deal if, occasionally, someone needs more rest at a meet or wants to cram events into one day instead of two or puts in a split request. We can't always attend every meet or every day of every meet, and sometimes people want to get times. This is hardly a "dismissive" view. I'm just not inclined to get on people's cases about it. This is not because I think "it's only masters." It's because sometimes there are valid, acceptable or understandable reasons for masters with busy lives to deviate from perfect racing conditions, which seem to be elusive anyway. Btw, I haven't sandbagged a time since March 2012 (100 back, set the NR) to stay out of the fast boy heat at a mixed gender taper meet that was important to me. I got absolutely raked over the coals on this forum for that. I'm trying to avoid forum bans now. :) Though I certainly reserve the right to do it again! I'm not sure what to make of the "camaraderie" defense.

Obviously you view this as a victimless crime but I wish you could respect that not everyone feels so dismissive about it...a point that seems rather obvious given the heat the topic often generates on the forums. To the contrary, I am not advocating it and I do understand others POV. I can see how it can be annoying and impede racing, especially in the distance events where pacing is important. (Of course, lots of things can be potentially annoying at meets -- swimming 50 fly next to big guys, getting stuck in an end lane, racing in a four foot deep pool, etc.) I can certainly see how it could annoy meet directors, like Kevin above, if the timeline goes wildly awry. I don't view it, however, as a "victimless crime" because not only is it not a "crime," it is legal. In fact, when I read extreme characterizations like "crime," "immoral," "egocentric," or "unethical," I feel like your "side" is the one being dismissive and downright histrionic about a legal act. My own view is that it is not the end of the world or a huge deal if, occasionally, someone needs more rest at a meet or wants to cram events into one day instead of two or puts in a split request. We can't always attend every meet or every day of every meet, and sometimes people want to get times. This is hardly a "dismissive" view. I'm just not inclined to get on people's cases about it. This is not because I think "it's only masters." It's because sometimes there are valid, acceptable or understandable reasons for masters with busy lives to deviate from perfect racing conditions, which seem to be elusive anyway. Btw, I haven't sandbagged a time since March 2012 (100 back, set the NR) to stay out of the fast boy heat at a mixed gender taper meet that was important to me. I got absolutely raked over the coals on this forum for that. I'm trying to avoid forum bans now. :) Though I certainly reserve the right to do it again! I'm not sure what to make of the "camaraderie" defense.