david wrote:
Dan, your keen insight into human psychy is pretty amazing. I think one reason these threads catch fire is that we all have a little Julie (or Lance, or Starky, etc) in us. I sure do . . . I call him "bad david!" Further, of the finger pointers who all picks and chooses their rules (like me). Anyone ever get a speeding ticket? Shame, shocked, aghast, oh my! By extension, could it be we are dopers? Worse yet, someone like me who got a speeding ticket and then got it fixed because, well, I know how it works and I can. How bad is that!! We all have sins and we can hate the sins, yet not the sinner. We can all hate the course cutter, doper, loud mouth, speeder, etc and still accept the person.
Thanks for accepting and pointing out our humanity,
I agree with your comments on human psychy and the fleeting thoughts I've had like "hey, I could just stop now...why complete the 3rd lap." Those are fleeting thoughts during the race that are really about the brain trying to find creative ways to make the pain stop. I admit I've had them. But this is where we disagree. There is a huge difference between the thought and the act. This person not only acted on the thought but apparently planned on ways to maximize her chances of successfully cheating. IMHO there is a huge difference between hearing a tiny voice in the moment that observes an opportunity to essentially quit versus a person who actually plans for and creates opportunities to cheat. Further, I don't think your analogy of a speeding ticket (doesn't everyone break the rules a little?) is incorrect. If I choose to drive over the speed limit, I hurt no one other than myself (if caught). A race cheat takes something away from every other competitor.
So, no, I don't "accept the person" who cheats.