Every time I think I’m done here, someone says I should probably log back in and clarify something.
Yes, I requested the thread be taken down, and I was not the only one. Personally I think it’s a bad forum design to not allow a thread’s OP to delete it, which means a lot of weight falls onto the moderators who are doing the best they can with as light a touch as possible.
However. The devolvement into the nadir of internet arguments bugged me and others a lot, along with the fact that about twice a month someone would message me and ask “dude, what the actual fuck is going on over on the TR forum and how is that not moderated?” re: that thread. It managed to weasel past the TR forum’s guidelines, and my own expectations, for reasonable debate. That it was ostensibly about how “wise” I am in my training philosophy was also annoying to some other folks–who shall remain nameless including in all your replies here–by virtue of a clashing of philosophies and just more shitty debate, and they didn’t look good either. It doesn’t bother me to look like a fool or an asshole, which can be seen all over the internet and in the podcasts, I’m fine owning up to that. But people can refrain from ad hominem attacks and still be the worst kind of troll, and there was a lot of that there. Chad gave me a warning for that too. Mea culpa, and that was me being incredibly restrained. Seems to me when people read that thread they came away with affirmations of the internet being a bad place to spend what little emotional energy we have, rather than learning things, which is what this forum, and that thread, are ostensibly for.
In terms of business, it was actually stupid of me to ask for it to be taken down. I’ve found that any press really is good press, and name awareness (I hate the word “brand”) is a large driver of podcast listens and coaching inquiries regardless. I did get third coach though, so the wait list is mostly gone (there are still a few waiting specifically for me and Alex to get some open spots) and he’s got open roster slots, so send those inquiries in! He’s really fantastic btw, has been coaching longer than me (coaches tri and running a lot better too) and has a lot more degrees and is a really good addition to Empirical Cycling.
I don’t actually think that if someone puts content into the world they have a right and to defend themselves, and I think the same goes for anyone who’s a content creator up to and especially including me. (Of course that doesn’t mean all criticisms are constructive or veracious.) Though I am grateful for those here who have gotten faster with my training philosophy for sticking up for it (and also honesty about when it, or I, have not been so great), and also being very kind and gracious humans. And if I did jump into every debate I’d never have any time to make more podcasts, the doing of which occupies almost the entirety of my free time… which I am just now realizing means I work twice the hours I think I do… but that’s a me problem. Yikes. Anyway.
Please continue to share the podcast, thanks to everyone who knows who they are for the support here, and also thanks to others for always poking holes in my training philosophy. I’ve learned a lot like that, and will learn more. As long as things don’t devolve into bad faith arguments and typical internet trolling, I dgaf what gets said. Post a new thread for each podcast or idea, and let it be focused on that topic and ignore all bad faith arguers, and don’t be dicks. And if anyone does blame me (I probably should take most of it) and wants to be a dick just email me since it’s easier to delete, but I’ll be sure to put it on social media for posterity first since that’s all I think was really contained in that thread.
I expect that any more requests for thread deletions from me will be denied, though I hope it doesn’t get to the point where I, and others, are requesting that again. We only live once and everything is meaningless, so we might as well be nice to people.