Enjoyed the articles about us ordinary people

Ion: Thanks for your reply. While much of it rambled off target, I truly appreciate that you finally tried to respond to the issues, and stopped your personal crusade to identify me and compare times. Believe me, neither one of us want to go there. You must take care not to generalize. I agree there are many people who are lazy and ignore fitness to their own detriment. That was your point, and a very good one. I appreciate gull80's comments, which are better than my own. On the other hand, Ion, there are many overweight people who try very hard day after day to improve. They want to look like you, do the right things, but don't get there. They were born with a condition they cannot totally remove. Perhaps you have an accent? You would not appreciate anyone railing on you for that. I don't think that SWIM Magazine has been "cajoling fat and unhealty people." Rather, it tries to be inclusive to the new faces out there discovering the benefits of swimming. Do you really think it's better to ignore or even offend them? Come on, Ion. Many of those new faces are not as thin and fit as you. We all have to start somewhere if we choose to take up the sport. Some start later and some start heavier than others. As a late-bloomer, you of all people should understand this concept. You've reminded us so many times how much you have improved since joining. Hopefully noone slammed you as you started your climb. I think it's great that SWIM features newcomers who aspire to improve, even when they aren't as fit as the great Ion Beza (or your average Olympian). Yet, Ion, you slam them for existing and you slam SWIM for acknowledging their efforts. Isn't that counterproductive to our sport? You've been told by others that there are at least one or two other publications that focus on fitness, technical and elite topics. That's great. I've been a fan of those publications for 25 years. However, there is definately a place for SWIM Magazine. It serves a different purpose. Masters swimming thrives on an influx of new members. Many of the new faces are adults who seek to better themselves after years of neglect. That's a healthy and inclusive goal, and USMS is a healthy and inclusive group. Ion, if you still don't get it, then don't read it. And go away. It's that simple. Certainly don't criticize the articles about beginners or average swimmers. Those are good people you do not know. At the next Nationals, try to rub elbows with a few of them (at least as much as you try to rub elbows with the names you dropped in your latest reply). They were like you at age 28 . . . excited to be starting a new passion. Your life will be richer. Thousands of us enjoy the "fluff" (as you call it) next to the stories about the technical and/or elite. Those of us who have competed and placed on the national level in USMS and USS don't try to exclude you because you do a 2:30 200 meter free. Rather, we applaud and envy your ability to get faster as an adult (while most of us with the solid background get slower). That's what masters swimming is about, or at least part of it!

Ion: Thanks for your reply. While much of it rambled off target, I truly appreciate that you finally tried to respond to the issues, and stopped your personal crusade to identify me and compare times. Believe me, neither one of us want to go there. You must take care not to generalize. I agree there are many people who are lazy and ignore fitness to their own detriment. That was your point, and a very good one. I appreciate gull80's comments, which are better than my own. On the other hand, Ion, there are many overweight people who try very hard day after day to improve. They want to look like you, do the right things, but don't get there. They were born with a condition they cannot totally remove. Perhaps you have an accent? You would not appreciate anyone railing on you for that. I don't think that SWIM Magazine has been "cajoling fat and unhealty people." Rather, it tries to be inclusive to the new faces out there discovering the benefits of swimming. Do you really think it's better to ignore or even offend them? Come on, Ion. Many of those new faces are not as thin and fit as you. We all have to start somewhere if we choose to take up the sport. Some start later and some start heavier than others. As a late-bloomer, you of all people should understand this concept. You've reminded us so many times how much you have improved since joining. Hopefully noone slammed you as you started your climb. I think it's great that SWIM features newcomers who aspire to improve, even when they aren't as fit as the great Ion Beza (or your average Olympian). Yet, Ion, you slam them for existing and you slam SWIM for acknowledging their efforts. Isn't that counterproductive to our sport? You've been told by others that there are at least one or two other publications that focus on fitness, technical and elite topics. That's great. I've been a fan of those publications for 25 years. However, there is definately a place for SWIM Magazine. It serves a different purpose. Masters swimming thrives on an influx of new members. Many of the new faces are adults who seek to better themselves after years of neglect. That's a healthy and inclusive goal, and USMS is a healthy and inclusive group. Ion, if you still don't get it, then don't read it. And go away. It's that simple. Certainly don't criticize the articles about beginners or average swimmers. Those are good people you do not know. At the next Nationals, try to rub elbows with a few of them (at least as much as you try to rub elbows with the names you dropped in your latest reply). They were like you at age 28 . . . excited to be starting a new passion. Your life will be richer. Thousands of us enjoy the "fluff" (as you call it) next to the stories about the technical and/or elite. Those of us who have competed and placed on the national level in USMS and USS don't try to exclude you because you do a 2:30 200 meter free. Rather, we applaud and envy your ability to get faster as an adult (while most of us with the solid background get slower). That's what masters swimming is about, or at least part of it!