RobW wrote:Dstew wrote:I do apologize for injecting some reality and perspective into this site but I will let you get back to the nice fantasy world where you the little clique of people can tell each other how wonderful they are merely because they run.
A vast majority on here are wonderful people. I also speak of those who I may not have had contact with. I’d rather surround myself with them rather than people whose best comeback is to attack someone and those who cry foul but end up needing the most moderation.
Like when Ian called Tayken "creepy"?
Or Holly told Tayken to take off their judgy glasses?
Or when Chunky took offense to a supportive statement I made and took a few words out of context.
I am sure Tayken does mean well in expressing their opinions and attacking others so you should really cut them some slack. They are clearly very passionate about their defense of running with a certain religious fanaticism that is actually quite admirable.
I do also appreciate your passive aggressive nonsense. Had you ended your thought at surrounding yourself with like minded people, I could easily accept that. "Needing moderation" does not make any sense in this context and is almost an incomplete or unexpressed thought.
I have had modest success running, generally do enjoy running when do on my terms and where I keep performance objectives in it proper perspective but these sort of exchanges remind me I do not care for runners. It finally hit me that I generally find any runner who seriously believes outside of race day that their performance actually matters and they are anything but a hobbyist, I have a mild and quiet contempt for. Those really good at running always tended NOT be good at anything else. I played hockey, baseball, soccer, etc, etc, etc and runners ran. And yet they always seemed to feel a certain superiority just because they had the ability to engage in a mindless pursuit of an activity almost everyone finds to be boring, tedium, drudgery and torture. I always rejected the notion put forth by running philosophers such as Sheehan that this represents some sort of noble and honorable quest. It is a neat thing to do, you get a cool shinny object and get to brag about your accomplishment but there was nothing really deeper or more meaningful in my view. I see the utility of a site such as this where a group of like minded people can have others confirm it is a spiritual journey and not a mindless addiction that has to be justified and rationalized.
So I do thank you for your response for as much as I want to fight the inevitable conclusion that this place I could take refugee when I was too tired and bored to escape by doing anything too taxing no longer serves any of my interests and has a useful function for me, it is yet further confirmation and proof I really do need to leave.
When I was trying to qualify for Boston or win medals or tackle new challenges such as a 50 K race, this site was useful. But that time has now long passed. I am moving away from running or doing much that is beyond what I need to do in order to be healthy. It is sort of scary that because of places such as this that helped me achieve what I did in my running career also now has me think, I "only" rode 29 K today and I was "only" for 49 minutes. Such a workout is extremely healthy and good but compared to 3 hour long runs, may seem inadequate. And the site has changed to a smaller and much more tight knit clique where someone who does not share their unquestioning passion and love of running does not belong any more. Great for those in this circle, not so much for those with only a passing interest.
No need to reply as your reply and a few others that actually made me laugh and had me say, "what a tool" with the irony not lost on me that my posts are likely generating the same reaction, I now formally, officially and without any further doubt, hesitation, reservation or caveats, will permanently and irrevocably banish and exile myself from this and any other running site I had or might ever consider joining.
Goodbye and thanks for the Fish.