As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...
Former Member
I swim a lot and really enjoy it. It's something I've done all of my life, growing up in Southern California, and it's my main form of exercise. I'm good at it, but I do it primarily for health and enjoyment.
I've noticed from lurking around this board for several years that there seems to be a very self-congratulatory, cliquish tone to many threads and posts. It seems like it's often a small group of people who post relentlessly, as if they are engaged in some sort of private conversation where they're trying to outdo each other.
Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. Maybe that's part and parcel of the world of "hardcore" competitive swimmers. Or maybe it's because there wouldn't be anything else to talk about, unless there weren't a constant focus on who's the "best" at this or that.
A race is something that happens once in a while, whereas a lifetime of swimming lasts, well, a lifetime. Yes, it's great to break a certain time in a certain race, but it's also great to have the self-discpline to keep at a daily swimming program and work on improving one's technique and endurance. Both are valid, and, to my mind, neither is more worthy of praise than the other.
Jim Thornton, if I recall correctly, noted a while ago that there were a lot of people lurking around the board and not really participating. If that is the case, I would propose that may be due to the general off-putting tone of things on here. (I won't give examples at this point, although I could.)
It gave the regulars a chance to yuck it up amongst themselves--once again. Sigh.
And what the f is wrong with that, Mr. HTT? Stop with the whiney "sighing." Ugh. Or don't; it's your perogative.
I have no problem with an "outsider" thread. Splendid idea. By why does it merit a special "sticky" unlike any other thread exactly? Just revive the thread whenever necessary as people do other threads. I may have to go revive my "Women's Locker Room" thread just reading this.
Indeed, I recall that you are such a jolly fellow, that you had the following to say about posters on a completely innocent thread (masters horror flick) lampooning forumites:
".. but before she could see what it was an asteroid the size of the North American slammed into the Earth, immediately destroying all civilizations and life on it and knocking the globe off its orbit, whereupon Earth plummeted into the Sun, which permanently incinerated and vaporized all traces of Earth and anything ever associated with it, including but not limited to all of the people, places, and things referenced in this thread, which people, places, and things could never be reconstructed, resurrected or reconstituted by any power, force, or method, whether known or imaginary."
Seriously, if you harbor such a dim view and have such an avid dislike of the posters here, why bother reading? And, for the second time, no, you will not turn into a "turnip" because you are not competing. But there is no reason to belittle people that are competing or that obsess about it. That is our choice too.
It gave the regulars a chance to yuck it up amongst themselves--once again. Sigh.
And what the f is wrong with that, Mr. HTT? Stop with the whiney "sighing." Ugh. Or don't; it's your perogative.
I have no problem with an "outsider" thread. Splendid idea. By why does it merit a special "sticky" unlike any other thread exactly? Just revive the thread whenever necessary as people do other threads. I may have to go revive my "Women's Locker Room" thread just reading this.
Indeed, I recall that you are such a jolly fellow, that you had the following to say about posters on a completely innocent thread (masters horror flick) lampooning forumites:
".. but before she could see what it was an asteroid the size of the North American slammed into the Earth, immediately destroying all civilizations and life on it and knocking the globe off its orbit, whereupon Earth plummeted into the Sun, which permanently incinerated and vaporized all traces of Earth and anything ever associated with it, including but not limited to all of the people, places, and things referenced in this thread, which people, places, and things could never be reconstructed, resurrected or reconstituted by any power, force, or method, whether known or imaginary."
Seriously, if you harbor such a dim view and have such an avid dislike of the posters here, why bother reading? And, for the second time, no, you will not turn into a "turnip" because you are not competing. But there is no reason to belittle people that are competing or that obsess about it. That is our choice too.
