OK, so what should Bill Bennett's karma be? (Page 2)

dontracy - 2005-10-05 9:05 AM

run4yrlif -

It's pretty good here, though...

Thankfully, it is.

What is it about triathletes?

Could it be a number of variables?

• This is a beginner tri site; most people come here seeking information. They don't assume they have all the answers. To some degree, they are predisposed to seeking answers and being open-minded.
• Tri'ing takes mental discipline. Mental discipline serves us well when our ideas are being deconstructed, challenged or torn apart.
• Tri'ing is an expensive sport and requires disposable income to support the habit. Higher income suggests that folks on here are college educated and are above average in intelligence (my anecdotal observation). With the above average education and intelligence we also find well-mannered folks capable of expressing their opinions sans verbal clubbing. (I'm not speaking in absolutes, just generalities.)
• There is a good deal of comraderie and moral support on the board. I think those good vibes spill into threads where we have fundamental differences. It's tough to write "You're a big poopy-headed liberal crazy!" when you've just finished inspiring them in the blog with words like "You're doing awesome!" 
• Some people vehemently disagree with opinions but simply refrain from contributing to the discussion.

FWIW, my $0.02.

I listen to Bennett a lot because here in Nashville we have a great talk radio station and Bennett show will fill in for when Steve Gill is off the air; We also have Phil Valentine, then G Gorden Liddy in the afternoon, Michael Savage in the night. I listen to just about all of it and I have to say there are times when all of them have made a cemment to a caller that if taken out of context could be considered racist or what ever; especially Savage (I think he has mad cow sometimes).

I understand what he was trying to say and I agree it was stupid but that is what happens on talk radio. I mean remember Art Bell that guy was a freak and his callers were all crazy.

I think if you read to whole transcript you can get a little more idea of what he was trying to convey to the caller.

To Renee's excellent observations I would also add that we in triathlon in general and on BT specifically have an awareness of and respect for each others good intentions.

Training for and participating in triathlon is a constant declaration and affirmation of one's belief in and willingness to improve that which is best in us. By and large, we recognize this in each other which makes the disrespectul, ill-tempered and sometimes hateful discourse common in most other public forums and media all but impossible for us to engage in.

I encounter many opinions here that I don't agree with, but the vast majority of people who hold those opinions constantly show themselves, through their actions, to be worthy of my respect.

Ok, you lost me right there.