I lot of what I would've liked to have said has been said already, but I'd just like to add my own opinion. I'm sure you already know what it is. But first:
That's part of being a competitor at the highest level. If you can't deal with the heat, get out of the kitchen. All other high level athletes/competitors deal with it and move on. You think Kobe Bryant can request for no cameras? Lionel Messi? How about every single Olympian? Chess players at the world chess championship? Go players? The little kids at the Spelling bee competition?
Not dealing with something as silly as a camera is more a sign of weakness. And I hope I'm don't sound too harsh. Alex is my favorite cuber. His Roux solves are freakin sexy. But I don't get this no camera nonsense.
You are ridiculous. What a disappointing, immature, unnuanced attitude. You don't know how hard I've had to work for this record.
By the way, I *have* partially stepped out the metaphorical kitchen. I don't practise much anymore. I go to comps for fun. But when I see that I can still solve fast, I grab the opportunity.
Comparing me to world class athletes and stuff, sure. But the media hasn't corrupted the cubing world yet have they? To be honest if the cubing competitions had the atmosphere of a wrestling ring with all those silly lights I'd quit.
I won't address your other rhetorical questions (well they are all one really, extended for dramatic effect) since everyone else seems to have grilled you (which I'm grateful for). On top of my no camera request, I also request you to think about yourself, step out of this "kitchen" of yours as it were.
Before everyone calls Artic a ****, realise at big comps Alex will have no choice in this matter. Of course getting filmed adds pressure, so does competing. But if he doesn't adjust to it now, he'll be screwed at Worlds 2015 if he goes, and similar for Euros.
Oh I'll be fine. I can still be reasonably fast with the pressure of getting filmed and a crowd of kids. Like, low 8s. Good enough for Euros, Worlds. My concentration parts slightly to whatever it is observing. The pressure itself, however, I think I might need to try to explain, though Rowan has already hinted at it. The pressure really comes from people's expectations to do well, because for cubing the way I really work is being extremely relaxed, and when these people, often totally innocent, say stuff like "gogogo alex turn really fast get WR", this "fast" conflicts with my solving style. In the past this has caused me issues.
Hence, in the inanimate object of a camera seems imbued the meaning of all this. By the way, in UKO12 somebody was clicking a camera at me during OH. I was totally furious. That might be it. I've had beeps to clicks to kids whispering "have you pressed recórd?". I'll have you know some did that at this very comp, in the first round. I don't resent it. They have the right to do so.
I think a camera in the distance would be OK tbh. I'd try it perhaps at my next comp, but I will not pressure myself to do so.
