As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:30:48 GMT

I work in a university sports center. When 2 persons get together to play tennis, they usually count points. Same with badminton. When a small group of persons rent a volleyball space, they count points, apply minimal set of rules. Even casual runners will sometimes register to a 5k or a 10k, or even a marathon event. These hardcore master swimmers that do 'compete' are in fact not that different from these tennis/badminton lovers. They just feel that swimming is a bit more fun when you count points. Gives a different meaning to what they do, and insure an optimal level of motivation.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:39:19 GMT

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. Welcome to the internet.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

orca1946 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:47:36 GMT

Swimmers are WAAAYY nicer than people on the Corvette forum!!If you can't name every part on- under & in your car and can run off your VIN number , then you are a junk collector to them !

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:07:53 GMT

Jim, I think Hunter Thompson would have found you disturbing...

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:50:31 GMT

Yeah, Mrs Stud pulled that face at me this morning! So Stud, who actually wears the "pants" in your relationship then?

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:23:34 GMT

elise's new avatar is awesome. Yeah, Mrs Stud pulled that face at me this morning!

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

jim thornton — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:39:28 GMT

I think the question John is so delicately hemming and hawing over is this: Whose rolling pin is bigger, yours or Mrs. Swimstud's?

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

pwolf66 — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:46:04 GMT

Jim, I think Hunter Thompson would have found you disturbing... Now, THAT is a statement :bliss:

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

aquageek — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:20:16 GMT

elise's new avatar is awesome.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:31:30 GMT

'Drinks, for all my friends' (stolen from Mickey Rourke in 'Barfly') love the quote (but i think it should include: Eddie,) love the movie love the screenwriter btw... great documentary 'bout him www.imdb.com/.../ the jury is still out on mickey (i haven't seen the wrestler yet)

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:57:18 GMT

I like cars, technology, Texas A&M, and swimming. Nothing is as brutal as a Texas A&M football message board right now - since they are terrible. And cars message boards can be ridiculous - especially when the under 25 nitrous oxide crowd writes with an apparent 8th grade writing level - and show how small their world is. So this thread has been interesting to follow. On one hand I think the original poster is whining a bit. Because there are many threads on this board where a non-hardcore swimmer gets lots of support. High school swimmers come here looking for advice. As a parent of high school age kids I find that remarkable. There IS a good sized group of regulars here - and some seem to revel in their status here. That's OK too most of the time. So all things considered this board has room for everyone - including sftom. Dolphin 2 keeps coming back and I don't know why. I do think this board needs to break up "General" a bit more. Maybe a "General Masters swimming" and a "General non-Masters swimming" for starters so the NCAA discussions (for example) can move to another section. The board could also loosen up the moderation a bit so the Off Topic section would get more life. It might be fun to hear Elise' view of California Prop 8 for example.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

jim thornton — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:34:45 GMT

By now it's possible to map the progress of this thread: provocative introductory statement & question; pushback with mocking jollity; provocative restatement drawing on mockery as evidence; accelerating meta-mockery culminating in a cloud of haze(ing). Perhaps this thread has run its course. As brilliant as Mr. Red60's analysis of this thread has been to date, I think he is missing the big picture. The 150+ posts so far, rather than together representing a fine narrative arc whose time has come and passed, in reality reflect merely the Preamble to the Prelude to the Introduction. We are not even close to the first chapter, which students of history will perceive at a glance begins to sketch out the nature of the conflict between Authoritarian Killjoys and Beatific Bon Vivants. This is followed by the 100 Years War, the recruiting of Frost Giants, Ragnarok, descent into Anti-Matter where the Bon Vivants become Authoritarian and the Killjoys Beatific, pressing the envelope of the Mythical First Cause, etc. This thread will end only when human history itself ends. Our adversaries may be hard to take, but they are worthy!

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Mookie — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:21:31 GMT

'Drinks, for all my friends' (stolen from Mickey Rourke in 'Barfly')

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

poolraat — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:02:44 GMT

In the last few weeks I've seen two new members on this forum and noticed the difference in how the others interact with them. One comes here with an attitude, whining about the cliques and inside jokes and so on and basically created his own "outsider" situation. The other just jumped right in, " Hi guys, I'm new to swimming and could use some advice. Can you help?" He is rapidly becoming an accepted part of this forum. We were all outsiders at one time, for me, first it was swimming since I began as a fitness swimmer in my late forties. Then as an outsider on this forum when I joined a little more than 2 years ago. This forum has helped me to become a better swimmer, I've made connections with other forum members here that led to us actually meeting at swim meets and becoming friends. This forum and swimming is what you make of it. You come with a chip on your shoulder and a "nobody loves me" attitude and guess what? You reap what you sow.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

jim thornton — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:31:41 GMT

"That is the wonderful thing about masters swimming. Unless you are a real slacker during workouts, your biological age will remain under 30 until you die from unnatural causes. "Or, to put it another way, any swimmer who is conservative at any point in his or her life is lazy." --Sir Winston Churchill Note: there is no dispute about whether he said THAT.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

elise526 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:02:47 GMT

I thought that was one of Sir Winston's quotes. I know he said that he'd rather have sexual relations with a horde of Huns than a woman with a rolling pin. But he put this much more delicately. His exact quote: Nancy Astor: “Sir, if you were my husband, I would give you my rolling pin.” Churchill: “If I were your husband I would feed a crocodile in the hopes it will eat me first." Whereupon he quickly added, "History will be kind to me for I intend to right it." Ah, but you are right. The poor fellow's quote has gotten bastardized over the years. I will correct my signature to give credit where it is due and to put the proper quote in which is as follows: "Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains." Swimstud will be so proud that I quoted one of his own. I should note that there is a dispute among scholars as to whether Churchill actually made the above statement.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

jim thornton — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:56:12 GMT

"If you're not liberal when you're young, then you don't have a heart. If you're not conservative when you're old, then you don't have a head." - Unknown I thought that was one of Sir Winston's quotes. I know he said that he'd rather have sexual relations with a horde of Huns than a woman with a rolling pin. But he put this much more delicately. His exact quote: Nancy Astor: “Sir, if you were my husband, I would give you my rolling pin.” Churchill: “If I were your husband I would feed a crocodile in the hopes it will eat me first." Whereupon he quickly added, "History will be kind to me for I intend to right it."

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

elise526 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:37:18 GMT

Much much longer than the simple HWMNBN.* He who must not be named. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Oh, dear! Don't relegate me to that status!

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:21:22 GMT

Jim, I'll have what you're having. Make it a double.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

The Fortress — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:23:54 GMT

Elise, we simply refer to such people as a SWHLHWBWTTOTSLCBS.* *She Who Has Lost Her Way But With The Tutelage Of The Spiritual Leader Can Be Saved. Much much longer than the simple HWMNBN.* He who must not be named. (Sorry, couldn't resist. Insider joke.)

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

jim thornton — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:23:51 GMT

Gull, for what it's worth, I'm drinking a double of NyQuil Cold and Flu, Cherry-Flavored, straight up. To have a double of my double, simply purchase the 6 oz. size bottle and drain the whole thing. I recommend a Sonata chaser. Since I became a teetotaler several years ago, this is as close as my sober conscience will allow me to relive the glories of a Depth Charge. It does, alas, leave something of a headbanger of a hangover, which is why I can't wait till bedtime to indulge in some hair of the dog. Unless.... I think I feel a sniffle coming on. Yes! That is a definite sniffle! To the medicine chest!

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

jim thornton — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:17:36 GMT

Elise, we simply refer to such people as a SWHLHWBWTTOTSLCBS.* *She Who Has Lost Her Way But With The Tutelage Of The Spiritual Leader Can Be Saved.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

elise526 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:11:15 GMT

I guess it is official that I cannot escape my designation as the Traditional Lifestyle Patrol. Well, I'll admit that I'm flattered that Hofffam thought about me. I suppose that I have no choice but to revel in my role as TLP. Jim T., you must have a name for an individual who interned for Ted Kennedy and has now become the USMS version of Dr. Laura.

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:06:04 GMT

Allen, This very thread shows just how wrong you are about being rude. Some of the posters have been blatant and unapologetic with their rudeness. Challenging a new member of the DF to post something meaningful hardly creates a welcoming atmosphere. Mocking his observations or questions with snide remarks and insinuations is not really what the reasonable person would perceive as friendly. Referring to someone who is lurking as something less than equal is far less than fair. Gee folks, how about a little introspection? Does anyone read their posts before they punch the send button? It is hard to believe the acid that is posted sometimes. The DF is not a place for alienating behavior, but the perpetrators do not believe that is the result of their actions. I am a lightning rod for some posters' wrath and they see my posts a a wet blanket, or worse, a parent's admonition. I am frankly shocked that I didn't get the "Holier than thou" handle hung on me long ago. Or maybe I did. These forums are intended to help educate those looking for swimming knowledge by putting new members with questions together with a large pool (pun not intended, but accepted) of coaches and swimmers who want to share their experience for the good of the sport. It's that simple. Can't we all just get along? Sounds like BS to me...

RE: As an "outsider" to the world of "hardcore" swimming ...

Former Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:59:28 GMT

Sorry, Dad. It Takes a Village To Raise a Child.