Discussion: A thread that should be shared...

Across the Atlantic, orienteering also has a serious image problem:

http://forum.nopesport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=109...

That's painful.

It's dreadful isn't it? His response, after Sean tries very reasonably to correct him, is one of the worst things I have ever read!

Wow, that's really sad - but at least the guy has heard of orienteering...

I can just imagine a roomful of soccer and rugby jocks making fun of dorky compass users.

I was appalled at the photos I found when I checked out the link provided in the nopesport thread (after I calmed down from wanting to just slap the journalist!). I contacted them about submitting photos of actual orienteers in action. They do not take submissions, but said they get their photos from sites such as http://www.canstockphoto.com/images-photos/oriente.... The photos on that site are also a poor representation of orienteering. Anyone can submit photos, so I'm hoping that you shutterbugs out there may consider submitting photos that show what orienteering really is.

Sounds like a job for Bendover! I know he has some excellent ones in the past - even one of me that I don't want to die every time I see it! So he must be good...

Is there any irony in that it was posted to a site called "Nopesport?"

Nopesport is the premier UK orienteering forum and news site! The origins of the name are shrouded in mystery though...

Actually if there's one thing worse than mis-perceptions of orienteering, it's all the hand-wringing about cases like this. There are increasing instances of media success and recognition. The professional marketing approach is to try and understand the other person's point of view, and to work with that. Just get on with what works - maybe ignoring this newspaper for now.

Set up an online repository of cool orienteering photos, f'rinstance. (Well they have to be judged by other people's reaction, not ours...)

I think this was a potential opportunity. The journalist has made a bold statement. I can see it as the beginning of a story of revelation as a feature in the newspaper. You can work it out... they run flat out, reading a map and navigating all at once. I had no idea. The challenge is to help the journalist see it as an opportunity for him or herself to write something that will catch readers attention.

Positive thinking! But a complete waste of time and effort. This attitude among sports journalists is a very common one. Just find somebody else to work on.