Actually, I just remembered that I DID use this
technique once. A rider complained to me, during the awards
presentation, that someone pushed her out of first place in a LD ride and
that I "cheated her out of first place." I reacted instantly and
told her that there was no way I would believe the rider she mentioned would
have been rude enough to push her out of the way. I knew the accused rider
too well to believe that story. Later I wrote the accuser a note and told
her that since she was unhappy with our ride, she might prefer to select a
different ride next year, rather than ours. The accuser has been very nice
to me ever since.
I have thought of a way to deal with this, although
I've never had to implement it. If someone were complaining loudly,
screaming at ride management, etc., I think I would say sweetly that since
they were unhappy with our ride, I would be happy to refund their entry fee
and they could go home immediately with no
completion. And next year they might prefer to select a
different ride to attend.
"This is an on-going problem with these 2 riders.
They've established a pattern of behavior across this region and we've all
been putting up with them. They CAN be nice. I sincerely wish
they'll make a habit of it!"
Susan,
I am sure this has already
been done... Has someone TOLD these two riders that they are being
obnoxious to the point that rider managers are threatening to quit?
Have the ride managers who HAVE quit contacted these two riders and told
them that they are part of the problem? Maybe these two are just
oblivious, and don't know that they are trouble makers? Perhaps if
someone who has been directly affected to the point of not managing a ride
tells them that, they might get their heads out of the sand?
Or,
perhaps, this course of action has already been taken and they just don't
care?
Wonder if some peer pressure (all riders in camp actually
letting them know when they are being obnoxious and - especially
important - when they are being nice) might work? A sort of "endurance
intervention."
