The Lance Rules
by Chris Fontecchio on Nov 14, 2008 6:08 PM EST
in Housekeeping
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I am putting up this note because it's a recurring theme. Discussion of Lance Armstrong seems to frequently devolve into misunderstanding and brushes with the Golden Rule of the Podium Cafe: our 100% ban on all attacks on each other. I don't think it has gotten very nasty, but I do sense enough frustration to make me want to respond proactively.
First, to reiterate: we do not tolerate attacks on each other. Ridiculing other people's opinions is clearly over the line. Disagreeing with those opinions clearly is not over the line, provided you can do so with even a modicum of respect. It's not that hard and it rarely comes up around here.
That said, discussing Lance Armstrong almost always sets people off these days. Fans seem to fall into two camps on Lance: seeing him as the greatest American cyclist and therefore welcoming his return; or resenting him and his return for whatever reason (doping suspicion; turned off by his personality; reacting against his outsized influence; etc.). A couple things to remember:
- You can't force people from one camp into the other! If someone doesn't like Lance, nothing you say to them will ever cause them to change. Same goes in reverse. Please, find a way to accept the existence of two camps, if only because they ain't going away. And in the spirit of consideration and respect for each others' strong feelings, resist the urge to bring up your love/dislike unless the conversation calls for it.
- When we discuss Lance, please try not to find conflict where it doesn't really exist. Today's example: his effect (or not) on the Tour de Georgia's cancellation shows how easy misunderstandings can arise. Lance is a single human, and doesn't deliberately try to have a hand in everyone's business, but the phenomenon of Armstrong is far larger and tends to affect the sport in odd ways. Such matters are beyond Lance's control, and when someone talks about the phenomenon, chances are they are NOT blaming Lance for anything.
- A general comment about blogging: read carefully before taking umbrage! A lot of the subtle niceties of communication are lost in this medium. And some people don't always say things exactly as they meant them. Given how nicely people almost always play with each other here, if you are uncertain whether or not someone is being a jerk, they probably aren't.
That's it. OK, everyone back into the sandbox.
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Just checking to be sure the cats didn't poop in here before jumping in.
Cats do that you know. Poop in sand.
Yeah
As the person in charge of two kids, two cats and one sandbox, believe me. I know.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Nov 14, 2008 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
I apologize, Chris...
for the “Ahh Ahh Ahh Ah-pologist” sneeze comment a few months back.
:)
No, in all seriousness, it’s weird for me, because I started out as a mountain biker (Schaffer Farms rules!) and moved over to the Road in no small part, because of watching HWMNBN and the Blue Train kick serious Euro ass! To say that the TdF was his biatch for seven years is an understatement and it was also inspiring and motivating.
And true, he has NEVER been busted for doping.
But there lies the problem.
It’s the gut feeling.
And the problem with this gut feeling is that there is ,in theory, no way to prove it and if it was (i.e.: the retesting of the ‘99 TdF samples), the PR machine comes out and while not proving that they weren’t, they put DOUBT into the equation and then all of a sudden you are innocent, because you cannot be proven guilty beyond doubt.
Kind of like O.J. Simpson.
Then 85% of racers who shared podiums with him or dueled mano-a-mano with him have turned up positive or are under serious suspicion clouds (Valv-Piti). Again, that is just an assupmtion.
But there is this stank that won’t go away.
The original comments concerning Simeoni just further the belief that he was a part of the supposed omerta in cycling. Saying how the other riders had given him the thumbs up for berating Simeoni (let’s remember, this was pre-Operacion Puerto), would lead you to think that they were doing so because he was really defending their right to dope.
Remember, you’re not a doper, unless your busted for doping.
The new comments are just revisionist history.
And then he dated an Olsen twin. Eeeeeew.
Just my two cents.
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
And "BOOM!!!" goes the dynamite!
http://velonews.com/article/85122/armstrong-simeoni-give-peace-a-chance
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
All we are saying . . .
. . . is give lance a chance!
Ev’rybody’s talkin’ ’bout
Bruyneelism, Selleism, Damsgaardism, McQuaidism, Rasmussenism, Tylerism
This-ism, that-ism, ism, ism, ism.
All we are saying, is give Lance a chance.
All we are saying, is give Lance a chance!
that's what happens when
you host a firefighter convention and weenie roast, then go surfing…. ;)
by Christopher See on Nov 14, 2008 10:44 PM EST up reply actions
You can’t force people from one camp into the other!
But still you try your pesky mind games with subliminable messages in your thread titles. The Lance Rules? Lance Rules! Lance Rules! Lance Rules! Aaaarrrggghhh!!!! Get it our of my head!!!
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
"Rules"
Not The Lance Rules (i.e., verb meaning to dominate), but The Lance Rules (i.e., noun meaning the code of conduct).
Classic Action Man hair. Like a little bit of velcro taped over the top of his skull. Levi should try it.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Nah.
Give Levi hair, and he’d just be a short guy with hair. Now, when he takes off his helmet, that shiny bald dome dominates the room.
one of the best things in podiumcafe
is because don’t exist personal attacks and people are friendly and funny to each others, unlike in many other foruns, so, don’t let Lance ruin it :P
Frankly, I'm a little disappointed in all of you
I mean, a Carbon v. something else thread didn’t even degenerate into proclamations of ignorance of the other side. What kind of cyclists are you? Eesh.
Campy v. Shimano
That type of flame-fest is reserved solely for Campy versus Shimano debates.
SRAM interlopers are to be ignored.
+1
I need people to warn me of spontaneous frame failure at 50MPH, and wax philosophic on the plight of the Waterford, IN steel framebuilder. Otherwise, carbon fiber is just an expensive splurge.
Can someone please call me an idiot?
ok.... You're an _____ !
I love you anyway, man, like a brother. I mean that really I do. I really do. ;^)
by Christopher See on Nov 15, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions
even Simeoni
plays nice
"Hi Lance, I am looking forward to us cycling together side by side in solidarity. You stand testimony in the fight against cancer as I do for the donation of blood. They are two projects of human solidarity that can be joined together. We are adversaries during the race but we can be friends in the fight against suffering. I hope to cycle with you soon and look forward to sport uniting men! See you soon. Have a nice winter, from Filippo".
http://www.ciclonews.it/news_scheda.php?id=14232
No personal attacks !?
That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. What kind of website is this?
What makes all you people so funny, knowledgeable and polite?
Are you all vegetarians?
No…seriously…what a refreshing idea; discourse without the dissing.
well given that it's the boss's boss's stash - lol the big poobah
I won’t complain too loudly in the current economic conditions but that won’t stop me from mumbling under my breath of course
I thought it was our love for Jens!
Bummer.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
you are all dumb, all of you
everyone knows that lance saved not only american cycling, but all of cycling.
i love lance.
you are all dumb, all of you (part II)
everyone knows lance was on the juice and ruined cycling.
i hate lance.
+/- 1
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Nov 20, 2008 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
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