Hidden in the midst of the latest Foster "tempest in a teacup" was a rather
unfortunate lumping-together of Paul Foster with Roger (Ohio) Johnson,
ostensibly as "Enemies of SM"
Mr Johnson does not deserve such treatment; niether the association with
Mr. Foster nor the label "Enemy of SM"
The position held by Mr Johnson is that there are too many classes in SCCA
Solo, and that any new classes are thus intrinsically evil not by virtue of
the intended audience of the class, but by virtue of adding to the sum of
classes without subtracting one at the same time; Roger feels that class
creation should be a zero sum game.
Roger also feels that the past history of "created classes" is more a
document of good intentions that of science. He notes that previous
"created classes" (the infamous Street Truck for one, F125 for another) did
not produce the surge of new recruits they were promised would bring. He
thus extrapolates that all such "created classes" are doomed to failure,
and that their only measurable effect is to spread the total number of
available competitors across a growing number of classes. He calls this
phenomenon "diluition" and it assumes at its heart that the total number of
competitors is also a zero sum game.
He's also wrong. On both counts :)
HOWEVER, unlike certain corgi-analogues, Roger Johnson has a great deal of
experience competing at the highest level of this sport. What's more, his
positions, while flawed at the base, are logically consistant and well
thought out. When Roger "attacks" SM, SM *listens*. And accordingly, SM
gets stronger as a direct result. In fact, a large part of SM's success to
date is due to Roger Q Johnson.
For example, his latest challenge can be summerized as "OK, so you claim SM
is bringing in new people. Prove it." And my response is "Ahhhh, hrmm.
Lemme get back to you on that. In the meantime, go re-read Tally's post on
retention" :)
Roger is an example of why we have Her Magisty's Loyal Opposition, and the
power of contructive critique.
Now I snipe at Roger constantly. I do so, because although we may differ on
some of our opinions and interpretations, I consider him a friend. If you
can't tease your friends, who can you tease? Besides, I think I'm winning
this fight, and I always get cocky when I win. ;)
But to dismiss Roger as being of a type with Mr. Foster is to do him a
grave disservice.
DG
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