tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4491040877840120845.post2009747939695773602..comments2024-03-16T17:47:07.792-04:00Comments on Stationary Waves: Pacers Are Unethical: Why "Participation" Ruins The SportRP Longhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15028013805248797978noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4491040877840120845.post-38680980369379877182019-04-23T09:00:09.664-04:002019-04-23T09:00:09.664-04:00Some electronic pacing devices *are* against the r...Some electronic pacing devices *are* against the rules, although I don't know which ones specifically because they were invented "after my time."<br /><br />I don't think the difference between a human pacer and a wristwatch is arbitrary. There are enough differences between these two things to make them fairly obviously non-arbitrary. One thing that I mentioned in the post was the physical space a human being occupies, which is non-trivial. During track races, official timers call out times as you complete each lap, and there is often an electric sign displaying the race time positioned so that the racers can see it. A wristwatch is a natural extension of something already present on the field. Not so with human pacers. Also, watches don't cheer you on in any kind of gratifying way or discuss your strategy with you in real time. Watches don't run ahead of you and get your Gatorade for you. <br /><br />So, IMO, there are many differences here, none of them arbitrary.RP Longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15028013805248797978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4491040877840120845.post-13199704426081428932019-04-23T08:29:30.929-04:002019-04-23T08:29:30.929-04:00I agree that what these people are doing is nonsen...I agree that what these people are doing is nonsensical, but isn't it somewhat arbitrary to decide which assistive devices (watches, GPS) are allowed? Why not argue that part of the challenge of running a race is sticking to a pace without the aid of electronics?Mitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11784007044122782283noreply@blogger.com