Challenge

[binman]

As you'll see from my puny profile, I'm not a frequent poster and I don't suppose I ever will be - I never seem to have the time or energy to spend on this (too busy working (for money) during the day and in the evening (not for money) on orienteering). In fact, I've barely been able to bring myself to have a look since I read a series of posts a month or two back that were frankly abusive towards the efforts of someone who puts in prodigious efforts into the sport, laregly behind the scenes and certainly not for glory or recognition.

My immediate response to these posts was to 'fight back' on their behalf - get stuck in with the debate but then I thought, 'how would I deal with this in real-life'? What would be served by getting into a tit-for-tat exchange based on emotional responses? That's not what I do in a face-toface situation, so why should it be OK in written communication on a topic that is dear to my heart?

In a closed community like orienteering, the licence given by the blogosphere to 'say it like it is' (in the poster's opinion) can be more often than not be divisive. This is a trend happening in many areas of communication - how many times you've sent or received emails that read completely different to the intention of the sender or been bounced into that intemperate reply just becasue you can hit send immediately? New means of communication are fantastic but I'm not sure we've learned to use them for good, in fact almost the opposite it seems. While the freedom new media give us may not have any consequences in worldwide fora like newspaper message boards, when directed at a small group of people like (laregly) UK orienteers, throw away comments can have negative impacts on a sport that often feels like it's in a pretty precarious state (well, judging by many of the posts I read here anyway).

My answer? I'd like to see nopesport have a 'positivity-filter' fitted. Only posts that use language for beneficial purposes (and that includes constructive criticism) would get through. More jokes and friendly debate rather than sterile blame games and bureacratic wrangling, please!

What sits at the bottom of the sea and shivers? A nervous wreck

Now, I've not set the bar very high there, so come on, do your worst...

[andypat]

Nopesport used to be a great windup..... now it's too serious

Someone pointed out Gross to me at an event - cant remember where - might have been the 6 days. I must say he wasnt what I expected - is there such a thing as a "good face for the internet"?

[180 minute man]

Nopesport used to be a great windup..... now it's too serious

Someone pointed out Gross to me at an event - cant remember where - might have been the 6 days. I must say he wasnt what I expected - is there such a thing as a "good face for the internet"?

Probably the 11 person relay.

[Mrs H]

Someone pointed out Gross to me at an event - cant remember where - might have been the 6 days. I must say he wasnt what I expected - is there such a thing as a "good face for the internet"?

Ha ha ha ha - well to use your own words AP - Harsh but fair

Have to say Binman I'm not a huge fan of this Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind approach to posting I've seen it suggested elsewhere that only praise should be delivered in public and criticism in private. Do we actually learn anything from it? And how do we know whether it's just us who feel aggrieved? Some people are not confident enough to speak up in isolation - does that mean they should be denied a voice?

[Gross]

I must say he wasnt what I expected

My third head was in the back of the car

[AndyO]

I'm not a huge fan of this Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind approach to posting

I'm with you on that, Mrs H. I read a thread on Attackpoint (occasional visitor) when someone noting that a runner had picked up a map from the wrong box was greeted with "FOGHORN" which I took to mean criticism of the post as some kind of unnecessary noise? I actually found most of the posts on that thread quite banal, but when you get positivity backed up with considered reflection you have a more readable thread.

I don't mind criticism on Nopesport either, if it helps to make future races better. Some criticism is of course a matter of opinion and that can generate pages of great posts. Personal abuse is of course to be avoided at all costs. I was shocked at the gratuitous reference to Gross and thought "John 8:7"

[binman]

Well, it was worth a try

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

[mappingmum]

binman - I concur with your long post!