Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Bruce Weary DC wrote:

> Some argue that incapacity or infirmity on behalf of the rider should 
> allow for greater recognition at the shorter distances, since they are 
> unwilling or unable to endure the greater physical hardship of the
> longer distances. I don't know how to solve this one so that others
> don't choose to be offended by the difference in rewards being
> proportional to the effort given, or distance ridden.

You can't mitigate someone else's hurt feelings because YOU didn't
choose them.  The other person did.  I don't think we (AERC) should be
caving in to this type of thinking - that all awards should be equal -
IF the reason for their being equal is fear of hurt feelings or
offending someone.  No one at a YMCA swim meet expects the first place
gold medal to be just like an Olympic gold.  The reward for winning a
lower bracket in Olympic soccer is not the same as the award for winning
the top bracket.  A perfectly executed forward somersault does not
receive the same number of points as an equally well performed reverse
three-and-one-half somersault.  In all these cases the rewards reflect
the degree of difficulty of the chosen task regardless of the
proficiency with which that task is performed.  If we are to reward the
long and short distances equally, then there should be in place a set of
reasoning that justifies over-riding this basic concept of tying rewards
to difficulty.



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