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Complete Running.com's Dennis Fisher has posted an interesting article today on Ethical Running. He ponders the question: Are you responsible for keeping the other guy on course?

As they approached the intersection, the leader went straight instead of turning left toward the finish. Kit was a few strides behind, and had a very clear choice in front of him: Say nothing and win the race or shout out a warning and finish second again.

Fisher frames the debate in terms of ethics. Should you let the runner ahead of you know he's about to go off course? Are you obligated to say something?

I think about sports differently. If I were trading leads with a guy, and spotted that he was about to miss a turn, I would absolutely try to keep him on track. Not becase I owe it to him, but because I don't want to win by dumb luck.

Of course, "dumb luck" is itself a judgement call. If the guy ahead of me is absolutely at his limit, to the point where he can't really keep his mind on the whole race, then missing the turn isn't dumb luck, especially if I have the presence of mind to see the turn coming and judge that he's about to miss it.

Some people have a need to win, and go looking for a game where they can fulfill that need. I just love playing games. I find a game I like, and learn to play as well as I can. I rarely care whether I win or lose, if the game is exciting. And if the game is boring, it's always more fun to help someone else win than to win yourself.

It is, after all, just a game, right?