There is something deeply creepy about this. That level of obsession must be very uncomfortable to deal with. I can't imagine standing there in your Speedos trying to be polite and talking to a woman who you know is consumed by thoughts of you, wants your children, probably writes your name all over the margins of her papers, is using your name as her password on her computer, and would hate you if she saw you arm-in-arm with another woman.
Brrrrr......
-LBJ
It's a tough spot to be in. Girls are starting to worship these guys and they go out and kick the rest of the worlds' butts in the water and are built up over and over. Told they have tons of female fans, have websites dedicated to them, and so forth and all this by the time they are what? 20. Then they are told not to have egos or be conceited.
First and foremost I respect all those guys for their swimming ability, the hard work they put in, and the way they race. Do I think they are hott? Yeah, I do. I tend to think the athletes in whatever sport I do are the hottest, mostly because I respect them immensely. When I have seen them in person I've actually left them alone. I'm not quite up to stalker status. (It doesn't help that I am older than all of them)
If these girls want to worship the three studs from Texas power to them. It'll bring more attention to the sport and that is always a good thing. I did google them once and was shocked they had websites. It's good for the sport though.
Ok, that was a lot or rambling ... sorry ...
Having a stalker is NOT fun.
As a sophomore in college, I had a freshman girl who briefly, thank God - about 2 weeks, became totally obsessed with me, despite the fact that I did everything I could to reason with/dissuade her politely. I literally could not use the bathroom in the dorm without worrying if she'd be waiting for me when I exited. It came to a very public head in the cafeteria where I thought I was going to have to take her down to prevent her from attacking my (then) girlfriend. It was very bad. She later self-destructed through incessant indiscriminant sexual activity.
As a senior in college, I had a gay guy who made advances to me. When I politely declined (several times), he became angry with me. His anger escalated over several months to the point where he would "ambush" me in public venues (cafeteria, etc) and loudly abuse me. It got to the point where college administration had to step in and told his parents to get him therapy for his anger or don't come back.
I was never/am not any sort of UT swim guy stud-muffin type, so they must have been math groupies.
Bad memories that I had pretty well repressed until reading this thread.
-LBJ
Swimgal,
I did know that Meesh wasn't quite the 21 year old we all admire her to be. That was just kind of an inside thing, but my apologies that it came across that I was confused, hehe.
Peirsolfan, I do know about the "hotness" quote you talked about, it came from an interview posted on the website from Duel in the Pool, and after listening to it a couple times, I think it was more intended as a self-jabbing joke, not really an egotistical statement of fact. Granted, I'm not Aaron, nor am I making a call on it, but I know myself that I don't consider me to be the hottest thing on the planet, but I've been known to joke about it.
As far as the fan telling him off, a couple things: 1) I would like to see that video, if nothing more than to see his reaction to it. 2) I can imagine it must have stung quite a bit to be told that he has nothing going for him other than his swimming talent. I know that if someone I didn't know at my job overheard me saying something about my hotness, then told me I was arrogant and didn't really have anything going for me except for my phone-answering skills (let's face it, if they complimented my swimming, I'd be over the moon) I'd be off either bawling into my manager's arms or cleaning the blood off the floor.
Lastly, because I have to be at work early in the morning, I don't think what these girls (at least the ones at BHO - not that I'm prejudiced or anything to a website) do could be considered stalking. Especially when they make friends with the family and are invited to sit with them at meets. Now, if they start taking his chewing gum or half-eaten dinner rolls, we'll talk. Boy oh boy we'll talk.
I agree and disagree with some of these comments. I do think that some of the fansites can be a little stalkery, but I don't think any of these people are actually stalkers. Going to a meet and taking photos isn't a stalker move unless you're following them around the globe. Going to a meet or event in your area and going to a meet or event that's completely out of your way are two different things.
I disagree, though, that these boys don't appreciate having fans who aren't swimmers. By that same token, do you think basketball players don't appreciate fans who aren't basketball players? Or should people only be fans of people who do the same thing they do?
I think that they are appreciative of people who come out to see the sport, and if they're the incentive, then so be it. Swimming does get more attention that way, which is a positive thing. I know Aaron Peirsol was thrilled about the crowd at Duel in the Pool, and was glad that swimming was getting attention like that.
Additionally, I think the majority of the fansites are not only for their looks but for their swimming abilitly as well. They may not deconstruct every race and every stroke, but these sites have never claimed to be a swimming technique website.
There are scarier sites out there than the ones that have been listed. I've seen "fan-fiction" sites, where people write stories either linking themselves with a swimmer (Aaron Peirsol is a favourite, as is Ian Thorpe) or linking two swimmers together (Ian Thorpe/Michael Phelps is a popular pairing, from what I've seen). I find those to be creepier than fansites with lots of pictures.
Sorry for the length and rambling! I hope this all makes sense, it's slightly early where I am...
Wow. Sensitive issue. I actually know people who have worked with Aaron, and what is posted online is so vastly different from what I hear.
1. Again, nothing wrong with the sites.
2. Following him around the world makes me think a restraining order might be in order. Aaron said it's weird but he doesn't mind.
3. Never seen or heard of fan fiction but that sounds like normal teenage girl behavior.
4. Didn't read the entire posting debate between the fans. I think they knew Aaron was joking but felt it wasn't something you mention if you're humble. I also recall them taking into account his age. The fans seem to know the swimmers fairly well.
5. Look at Phelps. In real life he's okay looking. People joke about his ears and his teeth but you pull out the Speedo catalog and put that on the counter and chicks squeal like crazy. I don't think it's just because of his abs or just because he can swim. Both factor in.
6. Call me when someone creates a tech-only site.
I also wanted to add that these sites aren't really connected to each other. I know that some of them are run by the same people (NatalieCoughlin.us + MPhelps.us, the SwimStars sites, and some others I can't recall right now), but the majority are all run by different people.
If the swimmers decide to get involved with their fansite, as with MissKaitlin.net and BrendanHansenOnline.com, then I think the site turns away from being simply a "fansite" to something else - it's not quite an official, but it's also not a fansite anymore.
Originally posted by thisgirl13
Swimgal,
I did know that Meesh wasn't quite the 21 year old we all admire her to be. That was just kind of an inside thing, but my apologies that it came across that I was confused, hehe.
*snip*
Now if they start taking his chewing gum or half-eaten dinner rolls, we'll talk. Boy oh boy we'll talk.
Indeed, I now realize you know to the first part, I just made the connection! ;-)
And LOL/Amen to the second part. Athough I mostly attend meets near home, I sort of like the idea that I can travel the world and follow a sport I love at the same time. If we were talking about the Grateful Dead or football, nobody would think twice about someone traveling to go to a concert or a game. But traveling to watch swimming is somehow different? Why? Sure, if you start showing up at their hotel room with room service, then we have a problem. Personally, I've never heard of any such story, people seem to approach swimmers mostly at meets and keep a respectable distance outside that arena.
Originally posted by blymey
I find it ironic that you're acting as though the people who are fans of the swimmers are somewhat immature, yet your own screen name is "PeirsolFan". Again, I ask, how is being a fan of a specific swimmer and creating a fansite for them different than someone being a fan of an actor/actress and creating a fansite for them? Or a football fan creating a site for a specific player? None of these sites have anything to do with the technical side of acting/football/whichever, but does that make them "lesser" fans? Doubtful...
It is a fairly sensitive issue because what's being called to question is whether or not people are "allowed" to be fans of the swimmers if they're not swimmers themselves.
Okay. Stop right there. You're out of gas. I never called anyone immature or inferred that anyone was. As for the screen name, I had to call myself something and everything is always taken. On one swimming forum, even my own name was taken. Look back at what I said, "1. Again, nothing wrong with the sites."
Perhaps in your zest to be defensive, you missed it. I said the guys would appreciate it more if the girls were actually into swimming, but a recent visit to a main forum shows the majority are not. Swim clinics, for example, are a way to give back to the fans. They do, however, involve swimming.
I just wanted to add that a technical site about swimming has nothing to do with who creates it or why. For swimmers interested in physics and drag reduction it's invaluable, and there's only one site like that. It would be nice to have more.
