That was an oddly specific wrong guess.
That was an oddly specific wrong guess.
A great thread that shows the whole reason we don't have registration.
I mean on this thread, even most of those who are asking for registration, aren't doing so under their name.
WE don't require registration because as someone said, we want people to be honest but the elite running world is a very small world.
At the office, you can't really say to the VP, "Hey I think the President of the company is unethical and possibly stealing" but you can say at the local bar as it's not going to come back and cost you.
People don't like criticism. Let's say a industry person wants to say, "Hey I really think the ****** marathon field is weak this year." THey won't post even a factual statement as the industry insider will take offense to that post even if it's true.
Everyone thinks, we don't require registration to allow false-hoods to be spoken. It's really the opposite. We want people to speak honestly. Yes, people can abuse the system and post false-hoods. Just like the real society, 1% of the people cause all the problems.
VF Runner wrote:
I still say the best compromise would be that you have to register to post, but you can attach whatever handle you want to the post. You could still be free with your comments but at the same time it would be easier to track and eliminate chronic a-holes and keep them at bay.
Exactly!
Now, I very rarely take a look at the boards, perhaps once a week. In the past, I would read or post several times per day and received some very nice compliments regarding my contributions. Eventually, the shouting from the trolls easily outweighed the contributors and I decided that it was time to fade away. I have thoroughly enjoyed contributing my time & effort towards helping people within the running community, and I have exchanged several e-mail messages with Weldon suggesting precisely what VF Runner proposed (above). Apparently, from their perspective that simply isn't a viable "solution." It's really a shame, because I know many prominent athletes and coaches who have sworn to never return unless/until that happens.
rojo wrote:
Just like the real society, 1% of the people cause all the problems.
I'm sorry Robert, but if you truly believe that only 1% of the people posting on the LetsRun boards are trolling, you are acting rather naive. Please take a look at the quote I emphasized within my previous post. Wouldn't that really be the best of both worlds?
Because if this site required registration less people would use it. Ergo the BrosJo would make less money because their ad revenue would drop precipitously.
I post anonymously because I support free-market economies. And I love the Jos.
Why do people vote and take surveys anonymously? Because it makes good sense not to force people to publically proclaim their opinions. You get more honest feedback/responses that way.
it's just jogging
We post anonymously because it’s the best, and maybe only, weapon we have against the thought police. Anonymous posting is vital to our liberty! “Spin” and “fear” have increasingly become the norms. What political contest is not based on either fear or discrediting the other guy? The thought police is not “big brother.” It’s the Internet. Express your views now and face repercussions for the next 40 years. And not necessarily for what you said, but for what someone can spin it into. It’s the (mis)judgments we impose on each other.
I love the scene from “Thank You for Not Smoking”: [Nick Naylor and his son arguing about ice cream]
Nick: Okay, let's say that you're defending chocolate and I'm defending vanilla. Now, if I were to say to you, "Vanilla's the best flavor ice cream", you'd say …?
Joey: "No, chocolate is."
Nick: Exactly. But you can't win that argument. So, I'll ask you: So you think chocolate is the end-all and be-all of ice cream, do you?
Joey: It's the best ice cream; I wouldn't order any other.
Nick: Oh. So it's all chocolate for you, is it?
Joey: Yes, chocolate is all I need.
Nick: Well, I need more than chocolate. And for that matter, I need more than vanilla. I believe that we need freedom and choice when it comes to our ice cream, and that, Joey Naylor, that is the definition of liberty.
Joey: But that's not what we're talking about.
Nick: Ah, but that's what I'm talking about.
Joey: But … you didn't prove that vanilla's the best.
Nick: I didn't have to. I proved that you're wrong, and if you're wrong, I'm right.
Joey: But you still didn't convince me.
Nick: Because I'm not after you. I'm after them.
It’s all about fear and spin!
I always post using the same name and on some threads I draw a ton of crap. I think the idea that you can register but then post with whatever handle you want is useless. Pick a persona, handle, avatar, image for this site and stick with it. You are what you post here and that's as far as it goes.
It's arguable that we don't even post anonymously even when we do. For example, if someone posted in different threads things like "I'm in high school" and "My PRs are 4:42 and 17:13", and their handle revealed what state they were in, some crazy person could (in theory) find out who they are.
Here's another example. I was introduced to LetsRun by a former teammate of mine who I still keep in contact with now and again. I'm pretty sure he still posts. If he posts about anything, running-related or not, that I know happened in his life, the odds are good that I just blew his cover.
Also, to answer OP, if I had made a post like this under my real name, everyone on here would probably think I'm stalkerish and creepy. 99.999% of the people on here have no idea who I am, so they have no incentive not to spam me and otherwise besmirch my offline reputation. (And, knowing what kind of people are on the internet, some of them probably would.) But by using what's essentially a throwaway name, not my real name or even my usual forum name, I can preserve my dignity both here and elsewhere.
not using their real names allows some posters to vent and rage and unload their anger.
they curse others from behind internet masks -- in ways they never would dare in a face-to-face situation.
being nameless removes civility -
the anger displayed in this forum belies the friendliness displayed at races and on the road.
I work with an elite US team and I do have a registered username that I post under when I want to, but because some people know who I am, it makes it difficult to make critical comments without fear of retribution. That said I post very rarely
Years ago I criticized an organization and got a letter in the mail from that org and it made me mad the "newspaper" site must have given my personal info so now I always go "anon!" Even my child (former athlete now in sports journalism) commented people used my online opinions against my child in college and high school. Sadly people are VERY petty!!! Someone pretended to be me on another site (see desperation for atten) yes they used "anon" with my writing details! LOL I only noticed the post because someone responded who followed my style! I don't use social media for this reason as well. Has nothing to do with being a coward I promise......
Anon wrote: Even my child (former athlete now in sports journalism) commented people used my online opinions against my child in college and high school. Sadly people are VERY petty!!! Someone pretended to be me on another site (see desperation for atten) yes they used "anon" with my writing details! LOL I only noticed the post because someone responded who followed my style! I don't use social media for this reason as well. Has nothing to do with being a coward I promise......
This is one of the more compelling responses I've read thus far. Fair enough; carry on.
But other excuses I've read crack me up. Responses that basically say, "I'm no coward but I post anonymously because I'm AFRAID of being called out for saying what I really think, etc." Classic...
Gutless Turd wrote:
This is one of the more compelling responses I've read thus far. Fair enough; carry on.
But other excuses I've read crack me up. Responses that basically say, "I'm no coward but I post anonymously because I'm AFRAID of being called out for saying what I really think, etc." Classic...
It has nothing to do with fear. Since 99.9% of us are basically nobodies, our identities don't add anything to our posts. Thus, there are ONLY negatives to using our real names -- no positives. Hard to see why you'd do that. Why would you ever give a bunch of strangers, some of whom are clearly mentally deranged, any of your personal information? That's not brave, it's dumb.
Ho Hum wrote:
Thus, there are ONLY negatives to using our real names -- no positives.
Why are people so fixated upon this aspect of the discussion? I don't see any person within this thread proposing a policy that mandates using our real names. On the other hand, the suggested changes from VF Runner are excellent and it is rather convenient how everyone else has ignored his proposal, including RoJo. If someone offers a compelling, logical counter-point, apparently it is better to simply ignore it, right?
VF Runner wrote:
I still say the best compromise would be that you have to register to post, but you can attach whatever handle you want to the post. You could still be free with your comments but at the same time it would be easier to track and eliminate chronic a-holes and keep them at bay.
It is always interesting to see how a discussion like this one rather conveniently fades away once compelling counter-points are posted.
Its quite simple. When I started coaching I would come on here and try to add something meaningful to the discussion, providing advice to young coaches, or providing information. Where did it get me - a ripping by dozens of posters. Then I started noticing that any college coach that would dare post under their real name would be slammed. The saddest part is that the loser distance geeks that did this will never coach collegiately, and can only dream about actually doing the job. So they resort to ripping down anyone who does have a coaching job. In the last 5-7 years any time a college coach is mentioned they get ripped. So instead of legitimate college coaches coming on here and making the site better, more informed, and helping the younger members who are trying to get into the profession, they don't dare. Honestly, my biggest fear was anyone mentioning my name on this site. Most of the time I got ripped because so and so wasn't running well. Unfortunately every coach at every level has athletes that don't do well, or progress nicely. Just a fact of life.
My two cents.
An anonymous college coach
I don't want anyone to know either. And I don't want any div 1 coaches or the team to be hurt.
I share the same first and last name with a well-known runner. I am not him, but if I posted with my real name, people might think I was. It could damage his reputation, as he is the expert, and I merely share the same name.
Imagine if the average troll was actually named Arthur Lydiard or Jack Daniels, and you would get the point.