Oh, here we go, like my job isn't difficult enough...and with no pay.
I've been down this road so many times. Do you think I haven't struggled with this numerous times, asking myself over and over again how I want or need to deal with this? I will repeat what I have always said and find myself coming back to.
It seems most of the decent minshoe companies out there have some sort of slogan that describes their product as being superior to barefoot. They aren't going to change that, no matter how many temper tantrums I throw. I would rather have people running in decent, healthy minshoes than turning to boat anchors that will damage their feet and rob them of their being able to enjoy running.
Do we choose to become a purist club, where we only allow those who truly run barefoot here, or do we embrace the minimalist runner as well in hopes to help them safely transition away from the big, bulky running shoes that most of the time do them more harm than good? Do I tell everyone here who runs in minshoes, even just part of the time, that we are locking the doors, get out? Do we represent ourselves as exclusive and closed-minded to the world, or do we show the world that we are inclusive and understanding.
I happen to believe that not everyone can run barefoot all of the time, on every occasion, through all seasons, through all terrain...through all medical conditions. Take me for example. Me! Of all people! At this moment in my life, I CANNOT run barefoot, although I long too, and pray to once again. I guess since I can't be a purist, you think I should step down.
Don't get me wrong, I understand and totally appreciate your point of view. I get it. If I didn't get it, I wouldn't struggle with it.
Dear TJ,
First of all, I appreciate all you do, and all without pay, and the last thing I want to do is give you grief or add to your stress. I wouldn’t be bringing this up if I didn’t think it was important. I’m very much a live-and-let-live kinda guy.
However, BRS is a public institution, not a personal blog, and with that I believe comes a certain amount of responsibility. The fact that you wrestle with it is good.
And just to clarify, I am not a barefoot purist--never was, never will be. And I don’t care what other people do. If they want to wear sandals, minimalist shoes, reduced shoes, foot coffins, Hokas, high heels—that’s their business. So purism isn’t at issue here, at least not for me. I only ask that people make informed choices, and that institutions and companies make honest statements. (I realize that could be taken as a call for revolution, but let’s keep it small for the moment.)
And of course, I understand that the function of footwear is to provide protection--from thorns, cold, glass, slugs, whatever. So it’s hardly a selling point that can distinguish one footwear company from other footwear companies, unless they’re saying they offer more protection (perhaps Kevlar soles?), or are warmer, and so on, than other footwear of the same kind and in the same price range.
And even if all minimalist footwear companies badmouth BFR in order to increase sales, the fact that Invisible Shoes is using your (our?) site to increase their sales makes it different than other companies, so I don’t think you can dismiss my criticism by saying they all do it. These giveaways imply that you, or BRS, endorse their message, whether you agree with it or not. That’s the crux of the problem I think.
I actually have no problem with Invisible Shoes’ product. It seems like a good value, and I support small companies in general. Plus, sandals are my preferred footwear by far. I think their marketing should focus on the positive attributes of their product, principally its quality and price, i.e., its value. The fact that their sandals offer protection doesn’t distinguish them in the least from other footwear. They don’t even seem interested in competing with other footwear. They seem to think their competition is bare feet, and that their product is “better-than-barefoot.” Without qualification. Not "better-than-barefoot" sometimes, for some people, or on gnarly trails, or in nasty glass-strewn urban areas. No, all the time, for everyone, everywhere, they’re better-than-barefoot. That’s their slogan. And then a few paragraphs down they engage in fear-mongering.
Footwear’s primary function is to protect us from the elements. Everyone knows that, even toddlers. So the main trick in recruiting people to the pleasures and benefits of barefooting is overcoming a widespread and exaggerated notion of what this protection means. They need to know that stepping on an acorn is not going to kill them, that feet can adapt well to a wide range of surfaces and temperatures, and so on. Endorsing a company that preys on these fears, doubts, or ignorance is really counterproductive to your/our cause, and your/our community.
Presumably the owner or webmaster or pr guy at Invisible Shoes is sympathetic to our cause/community, and therefore there’s a good chance for persuasion, compared to, for example, Nike or anyone else using the barefoot running trend to gain market share. So I think it’s a bit of a cop out to say everyone does it, and there’s nothing we can do. At the very least, I think you should tell them that you are no longer interested in hosting these giveaways until they stop slamming BFR.
Your loyal friend, Bare Lee