Well, I'm coming back to swim at Master's meets after a 5 year hiatus (surgeries, etc) and find that I cannot wear my "Farmer John" suit bought in 2000 and worn in 4 previous national meets (except this spring). Not a "tech" suit by any means but a hell of a beer-gut bra! Not sure I would get on the blocks without it so the hiatus may continue. Is it worth alienating us "plus-sized" guys over this silly rule? I suppose it will give me yet another reason to dump some weight. Looks like those other 50+ breaststrokers won't get beat by this fat guy any time soon.
Anyone else out there feel the same? I know most of you out there don't have this problem but to have a rule that reduces participation seems counterproductive.
Lee Rider
Fort Bragg, CA
Parents
Former Member
It is only "cheating" because someone wrote a rule that outlawed a $575 suit that I only got to wear once and was not consulted with in the matter. Of course consulting with each of the 50,000 members would be impossible which is why I therefore conclude that really, in the end, what is cheating is left to the individual. Put another way I am the one who get determines the utility of the purchases I make.
Besides, there is a difference between breaking a rule, which leads to disqualification, and cheating. It is comforting to those who see the world in black and white to call "rule breaking" cheating because behavior has to fit neatly into collumns for it to make sense.
PS: I didn't really to the IM / fly thing. I was just trying to fan the flame! But reviewing the matter more carefully those aren't really the same thing (the suit versus the IM/fly switch)!
It is only "cheating" because someone wrote a rule that outlawed a $575 suit that I only got to wear once and was not consulted with in the matter. Of course consulting with each of the 50,000 members would be impossible which is why I therefore conclude that really, in the end, what is cheating is left to the individual. Put another way I am the one who get determines the utility of the purchases I make.
Besides, there is a difference between breaking a rule, which leads to disqualification, and cheating. It is comforting to those who see the world in black and white to call "rule breaking" cheating because behavior has to fit neatly into collumns for it to make sense.
PS: I didn't really to the IM / fly thing. I was just trying to fan the flame! But reviewing the matter more carefully those aren't really the same thing (the suit versus the IM/fly switch)!
