From: tomas@leland.Stanford.EDU (Thomas J. Monica)
Subject: Re: Open Letter to Tom Monica
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 01:02:13 GMT

In article <69790004@hpcc01.corp.hp.com> fog@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Larry Fogelquist) writes:
>>
>>You haven't got a clue - learn to swim fast before you start to
>>prosteltize.
>>
>>tom monica
>>
>>stanford masters coach
>>usms all american 1990,1991
>>
>>`:w
>>
>
>***********************************************************************
>To set the context of this open letter...
>
>The above was sent to me in response to my response
>to the posting "Paddles, Pull-bouys, Fins and Gloves" posted 8/22/92.
>
>This is my response to him.
>
>                               -lef
>***********************************************************************
>
>
>
>Dear Mr. stanford masters coach -- usms all american 1990,1991
>
>
>Is this an example of your coaching style?  Do you run from lane to
>lane and rudely inform swimmers that they don't have a clue?
>
>I find that people that have to display their credentials to develop
>credibility "don't have a clue".
>
>What is wrong with my approach?  If you're such a good coach, correct
>me.  I've never really liked coaches that stand there on the pool deck
>and insult me.  I've never really learned anything from them.
>
>Incidently, the word is proselytize.  And you have used the word
>incorrectly.  I was merely stating my opinion (as I said in the first
>two words of my response).  No one else has responded to this gentleman's
>inquiry.  Not even you, the all knowing usms all american 1990,1991 -
>stanford master's coach.
>
>Do you send this kind of rude mail to all the respondants that you feel
>are misguided?  Are you this notes group's defender of technical
>accuracy?  If so why don't you publish your remarks where the whole
>world can see and maybe learn a little.  I would have been open to 
>hearing what you had to say.  I've always liked the swim toys. 
>They make you go faster and build strength.  But one by one, they
>have all hurt me to where now I'm not even in the water anymore.  
>I would have loved for someone with your credentials to tell me why
>it's worth it to use these toys.  They're so much fun.
>
>Well, inadvertently, you have taught me something.  This notes group
>isn't what I thought.  I was excited when I found it too.  I had all
>but given up hope that there would ever be a notes group where a swimmer
>like me could read what other swimmers had to say about various
>subjects.  And maybe skilled swimmers like you would teach me something. 
>But instead, after my first contribution to a discussion, I get rubbish
>like the above through the mail.  Clearly this notes group is not a 
>good natured forum for a free exchange of ideas as I had thought.
>
>At some point, all the "wanna be's" like me are gonna get the same
>idea and this notes group will wither.  And it will not be because of 
>the contributors.  It will be because of people like you that don't
>contribute but take pot shots at those who do through the mail.
>
>Please don't bother me with anymore of your mailings.  I won't be 
>making anymore contributions to this notes group for quite some time.
>Because the one thing that the stanford masters coach, usms all 
>american 1990,1991 taught me was that I'm gonna have "to swim faster
>before you start to prosteltize (sic)".  I have a lot of work to do.
>
>Thank you for your help,
>
>Larry Fogelquist
>
>

 

Well Larry,  a few points;

(1)personal abuse like yours should be kept that way - email me. I emailed you
   in an attempt to be polite and not abuse you over the net.
(2)you came out with the position that using aids was a crutch. You show absou-
lutely no understanding of the use of training aids, yet you made some very 
strong statements about them.  I would be glad to critique your original post
point by point in this group, now that you seem to be requesting such. But it
will take some time.
(3) And lastly, I wasn't trying to impress you, simply to indicate BRIEFLY that
I might know a little on the subject.      

Tom	

I should add that I found your original post extremely rude to those of us who
use and have swimmers use training aids every day.                     


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