Has Social Media ruined some aspects of running for you?

terague wrote:

Runnerchx44 wrote:

Some people aren’t that bad, but some are straight up... annoying. I feel bad saying that, but seeing constant photos of someone’s workouts is bizarre. It’s an interesting phenomenon for sure. I almost want to list the most annoying one, but I probably shouldnt draw any more attention to her. Not sure what all this self promotion is going to do to us in the long run.

JH?

The posting of women in the "Flock" , alway promoting personal strength and independence , yet they need to huddle in groups

and wear the same outfits. This is weird.

Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock wrote:

2) Decent amateur women athletes who think they are elite that take every opportunity to flex or pose awkwardly in front of a camera to look more fit and post 'inspirational' quotes or captions about hard work or religion to explain their fitness.

The worst are the runners on Instagram that use FitSnap to brag about their workout with 50 hashtags in the description

Social media ruins everything wrote:

Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock wrote:

2) Decent amateur women athletes who think they are elite that take every opportunity to flex or pose awkwardly in front of a camera to look more fit and post 'inspirational' quotes or captions about hard work or religion to explain their fitness.

The worst are the runners on Instagram that use FitSnap to brag about their workout with 50 hashtags in the description

Actually you're only allowed 30 hashtags.

I understand it's been increasingly relevant, but has it ruined some parts of running for you?

I have an pretty non-existent social media presence. I don't have enough time to spend on it, plus I'd rather be running, working, or doing other outside sports. I had kept one social media account because it was required of me to make postings for a shoe company who was giving me shoes, gear, etc.

A while ago I burned out of the competitive side of the sport pretty hard. But before this happened, I was beginning to get tired of parts of the sport depicted on social media. Especially in two areas:

1) Athlete's (men and women) slower than maybe the top 15ish at a USATF (any road, xc, track, otherwise) in their chosen event who were aging, not improving, but doing what they could to seem relevant from a Social Media point of view.

2) Decent amateur women athletes who think they are elite that take every opportunity to flex or pose awkwardly in front of a camera to look more fit and post 'inspirational' quotes or captions about hard work or religion to explain their fitness.

It just seems so fake and superficial to me. I know that this sentiment transcend running + social media and is talked about in all facets of it, but it had gotten to the point where I was began to think how ridiculous some of these people look and if its a reflection of the sport in general.

Even Strava to me at times feels this way too. I remember keeping my training relatively quiet in HS, College, Post collegiately aside from teammates good friends, and coaches. It just feels like a giant game of one-upping each other for trivial things.

Running for me used to be the least superficial thing in my life. I could go to practice, run early, run late, train in shitty weather, beautiful weather, wherever and not tell a soul. Then go and win races, awards, prize money, see positive results for myself and be happy within myself. It all just seems to be heading toward being for show now for others.

Am I alone in this or just becoming a cranky old man (though I'm not even old yet)?

I have no more social media accounts. It's pretty freeing. Gobble gobble mother fawker

It seems like social media only bothered you when you got slower. Maybe you are just bothered by becoming slower. It happens.

People who frequently post on social media are deep down screaming for some kind of validation. In addition, I know many athletes who got into sports that are very insecure people so posting some minuscule accomplishment about a run or workout and having other people saying "you're great" or the like is more like a therapeutic practice for them. I suppose you can't be too cynical about the whole deal, it's just the way some, people are wired.

I do miss the old days when you had to actually win a race before anyone knew about you. All this “brand ambassador” crap is super annoying. Remember when you actually had to perform to be “sponsored?”

Yeah, me and my followers encourage each other and share training insights and progress.

But then we are mostly 40+ and not young narcissistic tools.

Glory Days wrote:

I do miss the old days when you had to actually win a race before anyone knew about you. All this “brand ambassador” crap is super annoying. Remember when you actually had to perform to be “sponsored?”

Is it annoying? Or super annoying?

Go back to school with your god awful language.

Runnerchx44 wrote:

terague wrote:

JH?

Who is JH?

Um, you've never heard of her?

fgf wrote:

Runnerchx44 wrote:

Who is JH?

Um, you've never heard of her?

I’m guessing you are referring to Jordan Hasay? I didn’t want to assume. If that’s the case, then no, she absolutely is not annoying compared to the others mentioned in this thread.

If you don't have a social media presence or spend any time on it, how are you even seeing any of this stuff?

Deliverer of FACTS wrote:

Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock wrote:

2) Decent amateur women athletes who think they are elite that take every opportunity to flex or pose awkwardly in front of a camera to look more fit and post 'inspirational' quotes or captions about hard work or religion to explain their fitness.

Women are abundantly more fake than men. That's why they excel at social media, this is their jam. If it wasn't social media, it would be some other stupid fake trend that women would flock to because it's in their genetic make up to be fake.

And they keep calling each other "Rock Star" for "running" a 4:50 Marathon or 2:15 half.

The subject line should read "Has social media ruined the world?"

The answer to that question would be yes.

Social media, another great reason to hate millennials.

MillennialsAreRetarded wrote:

The subject line should read "Has social media ruined the world?"

The answer to that question would be yes.

Social media, another great reason to hate millennials.

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly! Although it is not just millennials that are me-me about themselves. The 40, 50, 60 and up brackets have very self serving posts as well. Hey, look at me and how great I am!

All I know is when I see Zuckerberg and his ilk I want to punch them in the balls. Billions and billions of dollars garnered from nothing but pure snark and narcissism. A race to the bottom of the worst of human nature.

Thanks Silicon Valley, you phucks.

fgf wrote:

Runnerchx44 wrote:

Who is JH?

Um, you've never heard of her?

You deserve an appreciation post for that line.

MillennialsAreRetarded wrote:

All I know is when I see Zuckerberg and his ilk I want to punch them in the balls. Billions and billions of dollars garnered from nothing but pure snark and narcissism. A race to the bottom of the worst of human nature.

Thanks Silicon Valley, you phucks.

Luckily much of their 'wealth' is tied up in stock options - not that they aren't well off - but I'd venture to guess they aren't as money rich as many are led to believe.