children of america, take off your sunglasses.

Way to go, that is funny. Sarcasm, the best medicine...

Dude, I think there was already a thread devoted to this topic. I am not saying I agree with Knower... maybe he's right maybe he's wrong... unless he knows her personally it is very doubtful that he can say with any degree of certainty why she wore the sunglasses. Perhaps it is an issue that a friend will take up with the girl. Regardless, I find sunglasses to be a trite concern. When has this board been relegated to only the non-trite, though.

Anyway, people have clearly been chiming in with their disagreements on THAT thread. What makes your opinion so qualified and extraordinary that you must start your own thread to further mock Knower?

it is very clear to me that someone who goes out of there way to post an 11 yr olds picture on the internet and then proceed to make fun of here, should be ridiculed in not just one additional post but hundreds.

You could also let it go.

I understand your position, and last I checked the original poster was getting ridiculed on MANY posts (doubtfully will make a hundred, though). BUT, if you think that this person should be slammed on hundreds of new threads, then I guess we'll disagree on this one. Frankly, I would just prefer the poster to take his "medicine" on that thread alone and move on to better things (rather than going on ad nauseum about it)... I don't see it as such a big deal. But, I guess if I were a personal friend of the girl's (& maybe you are), then I could see responding as you have (but it would be better if you just came out and said so).

To quote a close friend (debuted with a 2:20 on a tough course about 10 years ago, then never cared to go after another) concerning all the US runners fixation with sunglasses etc., "I guess the Kenyans can squint for 13 minutes."

i have no idea who this girl is, and i dont think it should be let go until knower apologizes.

My Dear Runner,

Please excuse my undisputable wrong action of having and sharing my unfounded opinion on a young girl\'s mimicing of a more proven athlete or my viewpoint of the use of sunglasses in general. I sincerely apologize and hope that you, Runner (a protective gaurdian of all adolescent runners, known and unknown) can find it in your heart to forgive me. There has been no greater transgression on the Letsrun boards than my unthinkable behavior and outlandish statements. I shall try in the future to never let that happen again. I send my genuine hopes and wishes for Briana\'s long and successful career, and if my aforementioned conduct results in longterm damage to a fine youg runner/scholar-athlete, then it will be a condemned conscience that I will forever carry.

- Knower

Well, of course the post with the e-mail address isn't the real me, the real Knower.

Runner, I have nothing to apologize for. Ihave an opinion you don't agree with. For that I will not apologize. I stand by my statements.

runner,

Concerned with me you are hmmm? Power to bother you so much I did not realize I had. That kind of power to me you should not give.

If I were one of those trolls looking to irritate, then you just played into my hands and gave me what I wanted. As it is, I honestly didn't think so many people would respond in this manner to my comment about an 11 year old attempting to be something she isn't, and actually I can't quite believe it. I think she is setting herself up to become another Garritson kid - the sunglasses are just a symptom.

Since I know there is very little chance she would read this message on this board, the main goal really was to start a discussion about how young phenoms (or young above average runners as is her case) should approach their racing and what their attitude should be. I didn't do it to incite. I guess I'm the only one with the right opinion on this matter. That's ok, I can handle it.

Runner, you need to let it go. It will all be ok. Peace to you my man.

Ok.. you got me.. I confess. I broke the rule of assuming another's identity, and that is uncalled for. I am sorry, Knower.

My only excuse is that today is a slow Letsrun day in terms of real running topics. Someone wrote about preparing for Chicago and got like 8 responses, but then this sunglasses on an 11yr old is somehow big stuff (at least the family-coaching dynamics thread is somewhat compelling). I was just going to wait it out, but when Runner started the 2ND thread on the topic, I couldn't refrain. My apologies to everyone for not contributing to conversation.

Letsrun administrators, please ban me for the first 5 days of September.

JEH,

I should have guessed that was you because it was well written and actually kind of funny. It just wasn't me.

Anyway, believe it or not I have tired of this conversation.

Knower, I personally like the plea to take the sunglasses off, it's your reasoning that is a bit weak. My reason, which is in better detail in the thread about "relaxation in racing...", is that everyone is born with sunglasses. Squinting is truly an art, although it's not one I've been able to get people to take seriously. Eyelashes double as sunglasses, so wearing them looks a bit comical/ignorant as they are not needed. It takes no concentration to wear sunglasses either, while making crosshairs (sp?) with the lashes does and because of this helps to cultivate the dormant powers lying within. I find it ironic that these little gems, which give the user the ability to manipulate light while greatly increasing the focus of the mind, are so near the eye yet they are overlooked. It's nearly broken me that nobody else has shared a like view or even wants to.

You really are Gabe Jennings aren't you? Man that last post was whack, but in a good whack sort of way.

JEH,

Well, you should be banned, but I doubt very highly that you will be. Just don't compliment your owns posts.