quote:<HR>Originally posted by littlewaywelt:
Originally posted by maryt:
Arbitrary? How do you figure? You want the merits of the rule? The problems caused by oblivious headphone wearers are the reason people want them out of races; there's nothing arbitrary about it. I've seen them disrupt the race for other runners, be oblivious to situations that happen out on the course like an ambulance trying to come through, and generally make life more difficult for the officials and volunteers both out on the course and in the finishing chutes. They cause many times more problems and more serious problems than I have ever seen caused by the headphone-free. Nothing arbitrary whatsoever about wanting them out of races. Frankly, I don't care one iota about the problems they may cause themselves; it's the problems they cause for others (and the numerous bad experiences I have had personally both as a runner and an official) that make me cringe when I see them.<HR>
That's your opinion, not fact. I've never once seen anything even remotely factual or statistical at all on this subject. Just because you and other runners believe that to be the case doesn't make it reality. It might be, it might not, but you can't say in a blanket fashion that they cause many times more problems. To do so only makes you look as biased as you are.
Personally, I've seen just as many problems with headphoneless runners as those with them on.
[/QUOTE]
Yes, it's my opinion, but it's based on fact! You've seen as many problems with the headphone free, have you? In just how many races? I have SEEN headphone wearers disrupt other runner's races and have had it happen to me - that's FACT, not speculation in
over 1000+ races that I have been involved with. That's a pretty good sample, wouldn't you say? In fact if you want statistics, that's way more observations statistically speaking than would ever be needed for most studies. In those over 1000 races I have NEVER had a major problem with the headphone-free, but have had many problems with those wearing headphones from minor to major. Again - FACT, not speculation. I have spoken with USATF officals and other race directors who have also experienced problems with headphone wearers way more than any problems they have had with the headphone -free.
Headphone wearers may not want to believe it but it's not speculation; it is true - headphone wearers do cause problems and do disrupt races for both runners and officials - way more than those who do not wear headphones. They/you (if you are one of the headphone -wearers) may be too oblivious to realize what problems they cause, but that doesn't mean they/you don't cause problems.
Come on... Just think about it. Those people who say they
must wear headpones because they
need the distraction. Don't you think that very distraction makes them less able to be aware of what's going on around them, too? Some "headphones don't cause any more problems than headphone-free" proponents remind me so much of those folks who refused to believe smoking could cause cancer. Stick your head in the sand if you want, but if you thought about and were honest, you would know headphones prevent runners from being anywhere near as aware of their surroundings as the headphone-free and that
does cause problems.
http://This message has been edited by maryt (edited Nov-14-2007).
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