I am wondering (after already sending an email to *** Deal, Phil Whitten, and Brent Rutemiller) as to the logic of excluding over 40,000 masters swimmers from the "Premium Area" of their website. A posting on the site today says that they are thanking "loyal print subscribers" to Swimming World and Swimming Technique by giving them access. Unless something has changed, isn't SWIM Magazine part of their family of magazines (Deal's, Whitten's, and Rutemiller's names appear in both SWIM and on the website)? It smacks of a profit motive and a BIG slap in the face to all of us. I am also guessing that more masters athletes check that site than age groupers, so they offering the "benefit" to the wrong group! Seems oddly similar to the Italians decision to make everyone PAY for the World Championships results!!!
BTW, the way you get the premium access is if you PAY for the subscription, so it really is a PAID premium and not the "value added" one that they assert.
Aquageek, you are more cynical than I, what do you think?
Just stirring the pot a bit.
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Good points Sam, but why single out the SWIM subscribers as the ones who don't benefit? I personally haven't cared too much about the articles that I have been excluded from (Mike Collins reporting from World Tri Champs, or PH Mullins hospital visit - I DO hope he is doing well) but I am simply confused by the separation of who benefits and who pays. BTW, meet results, coaching announcements, meet invites, etc ARE available to everyone. "Interviews" and first hand accounts of events tend to be the items that are excluded.
Oh, and Aquageek, you can still BUY the results to check out your buddies. Apparently that is an okay option for you.
Good points Sam, but why single out the SWIM subscribers as the ones who don't benefit? I personally haven't cared too much about the articles that I have been excluded from (Mike Collins reporting from World Tri Champs, or PH Mullins hospital visit - I DO hope he is doing well) but I am simply confused by the separation of who benefits and who pays. BTW, meet results, coaching announcements, meet invites, etc ARE available to everyone. "Interviews" and first hand accounts of events tend to be the items that are excluded.
Oh, and Aquageek, you can still BUY the results to check out your buddies. Apparently that is an okay option for you.
