So I ended up in AWA Bronze in 2016. My wife was really proud of the accomplishment and ordered me an AWA Gold t-shirt. I explained to her that I didn’t earn Gold Level, but we both like the gold shirts more. I’m torn about exchanging it for a standard AWA shirt because I did not earn Gold even though the Gold shirts are much nicer IMO. Would it be in poor taste to keep the shirt or should I exchange it based on the color meaning? Part of me feels it’s a misrepresentation even though virtually nobody really knows different or gives a damn.
I am old school, if you didn’t earn it you don’t wear it.
So I ended up in AWA Bronze in 2016. My wife was really proud of the accomplishment and ordered me an AWA Gold t-shirt. I explained to her that I didn’t earn Gold Level, but we both like the gold shirts more. I’m torn about exchanging it for a standard AWA shirt because I did not earn Gold even though the Gold shirts are much nicer IMO. Would it be in poor taste to keep the shirt or should I exchange it based on the color meaning? Part of me feels it’s a misrepresentation even though virtually nobody really knows different or gives a damn.
So you want to be the guy wearing a shirt proclaiming an award you didn’t earn?
It’s a gift, I’d keep it.
My wife went on a cruise to Hawaii without me and when she came home she brought me an IM T-shirt from when they were on the big Island. So it says Kona on it, and it says Iron Man, although I’ve never qualified for Kona and never done the race.
On the rare occasion I wear it out of the house, were somebody to actually recognize it for what it is and ask me about it I’d just explained that it was a gift.
It’s a shirt. Who cares what anyone else thinks about you wearing it?
I was AWA gold in 2015…didn’t race in 2016 and still getting e-mails.
Basically there are guys who are over an hour faster (AG champions/ Kona Q) who are bronze because they only raced 1 or 2 races.
It is a frequency/loyalty program not a performance metric.
2C enjoy the shirt 
It’s a shirt. Who cares what anyone else thinks about you wearing it?
This
Plus, it’s just a marketing gimmick, not some indicator of your worthiness as a human being. If you like it, and she likes it, wear it.
If coca-cola did a campaign that required you to collect 100 bottle caps to be classed as “coke-master”, would you resent anyone walking around in a coke-master T-shirt who hadn’t collected the caps? Nah. Same thing.
I wouldn’t judge someone for wearing a T-shirt they didn’t “earn”. I might judge someone for thinking it mattered.
It’s a shirt. Who cares what anyone else thinks about you wearing it?
This
Plus, it’s just a marketing gimmick, not some indicator of your worthiness as a human being. If you like it, and she likes it, wear it.
If coca-cola did a campaign that required you to collect 100 bottle caps to be classed as “coke-master”, would you resent anyone walking around in a coke-master T-shirt who hadn’t collected the caps? Nah. Same thing.
I wouldn’t judge someone for wearing a T-shirt they didn’t “earn”. I might judge someone for thinking it mattered.
Where can I get that ‘Coke Master’ t-shirt?!! 
Have you earned it … ? lol
Have you earned it … ? lol
Oh yeah! But on sheer consumption of diet coke rather than collecting bottlecaps. I would wear it proudly … and more often than an AWA T-shirt which I will never buy.
Have you earned it … ? lol
Oh yeah! But on sheer consumption of diet coke rather than collecting bottlecaps. I would wear it proudly … and more often than an AWA T-shirt which I will never buy.
You may not buy one but someone may buy one for you. If so, just own it like I plan to do.
I am AWA Gold this year and was Bronze last year. No matter who gave me the shirt, I would use it for bike cleaning and nothing else. The whole program is a joke in my opinion.
I’m a OWA (One World Athlete) as I’ve never been to ALL the other worlds yet…
I am AWA Gold this year and was Bronze last year. No matter who gave me the shirt, I would use it for bike cleaning and nothing else. The whole program is a joke in my opinion.
Yet you found it necessary to post your “accomplishment”. Congratulations.
Would you wear the Medal Of Honor?
/pink
Yet you found it necessary to post your “accomplishment”. Congratulations.
Post about the accomplishment, and give everyone he knows a reason to never buy him a gift.
I’d wear it… it’s a shirt, a gift and you like it.
I’d wear it… it’s a shirt, a gift and you like it.
Good, simple advice. I plan to keep it. Thanks.
Just to clarify I don’t post out of envy. And being AWA whatever is not an achievement. I am not proud of my air miles or credit card points either.