cbrave - 2013-04-23 12:18 PM
I choose not to dismiss people just because they may believe or emphasize things that I don't agree with. I would be stunned to meet someone who tracked 100% with Ben. I'd even be more scarred if I met someone who tracked 100% with my opinions. Yet I don't think you need to track 100% with someone to learn from them.
I don't dismiss him because he doesn't agree with me; there are lots of people who don't agree with me that I engage with on a regular basis and this helps me to be a better coach. I dismiss what he says because he chooses to use his position in the sport to sell snake oil.
One of the dirty secrets about Triathlon is there is much more opinion and superstition than any of us care to admit. Yes there is science involved but the number of responses on this forum and ST also show things aren't as simple and cut and dried as we think.
There is a science and an art to coaching but, IMO, that should not lead to a coach selling products that are supported by pseudo science just to turn a buck. IMO selling magic bracelets and water shows that one is selling snake oil and is no longer credible.
As far as whether Ben is ethical, I can't answer that. I don't think it is a ethical problem to be in business to profit.
I have no issue with making money and a business earning a profit is not a problem. The problem is when someone knowingly
(or at least he ought to know
) sells snake oil just because they can and in order to turn a profit.
If pseudo science resulted in immediate dismissal I think we would not have any shoe, bike, helmet, nutritional, or clothing choices left.
I would suggest that this is hyperbole; while there are some products in those categories that have used pseudo science to support crazy claims, by no means does this apply to every shoe, bike, helmet, nutritional aid or clothing items.
Shane