Message boards are disgusting

I hope it's just a few idiots posting under different names.

All it takes is a few college boys. They know what pushes people buttons here, so they go with it.

I am extremely happy Meb won. However, you don't have to be a racist to feel a little sad that someone American born didn't win. I don't think people really ever criticize Meb. I haven't and won't. I wish Americans could figure it out though...a way to train the kind of elite distance runners the east African nations produce, that is all. Its not racist because I would be just as happy for an American born black person. I think that is the frustration with anyone saying Meb isn't American.

I agree there is a ton of hate on these boards. I think some people feel threatened by the idea of African runners taking up American citizenship and becoming dominant within the ranks of U.S. running.

Yeah, they are already upset over the east africans taking over collegiate distance running.

Randy Oldman wrote:

I hope it's just a few idiots posting under different names.

Maybe so.

Great day though for Boston.

I can take the usual amount of bullsh*t that any message board gets, but Letsrun goes over the top. There must be about 5 paranoid schizophrenics who post crap that has nothing to do with running.

Even on 4chan, one of the most politically incorrect websites on the Internet, the respective boards usually stay on topic even if it's just useless bickering. Most threads pertain to the category they're under and if something is off topic it's usually deleted.

I "get" that Letsrun has very "flexible" message boards, but this unclear line leaves a lot of racist, xenophobic bigotry untamed. There aren't any rules and trolls will toe this unclear line all the time.

Something's got to change.

-1/10

Reverse trolls always earned negative scores.

I agree. The moderation here is abysmal. It wouldn't surprise me if this thread is deleted (as many unoffensive threads are) while the blatantly racist trolling continues unabated. It's hard to imagine this garbage doesn't scare away good people.

Me too. Today was just over the top. The saddest of days for these message boards - and that says something. Reading the "official BM thread" as the race unfolded was just disgusting.Posters just drooling at the thought of Meb and Shalane crashing. The filthy tearing down of Meb before he even crossed the finish line and thrashing of a gutsy race by Shalane. And people wonder why this is a dying sport ? The worst thing about this ? The mods keep all the disgusting filth up - while deleting threads complaining about the trolls and teh disgusting behavior here. Seriously - what value does the "official Boston Marathon was fixed" thread have ? Yep- time to take a break and celebrate a good fro American running and reclaiming the Boston Marathon. Hell, chances are this thread will be gone soon too - while the filth remains.

lenny wrote:

I agree. The moderation here is abysmal. It wouldn't surprise me if this thread is deleted (as many unoffensive threads are) while the blatantly racist trolling continues unabated. It's hard to imagine this garbage doesn't scare away good people.

It's the same handful of idiots that post 99% of the crap. If the brojos would require registration most of it could be eliminated.

The racist posts are not representative of the running community as a whole. Neither is graffiti or car keying.

Moderation isn't as easy as you think. It's like playing whack-a-mole.

Agree on all counts. it'd be nice to see the site owners step up to the plate and at least attempt to look like they care.

I'm convinced (virtually) all the racism stuff is just trolling, by high school and college idiots who think they're funny. I'm just as convinced it'd be easily contained with a few simple steps in the website management … for whatever reason, the owners don't seem to be willing to act responsibly. And, fwiw, they ARE ultimately responsible for all the bs that they allow (and foster) on this site.

Well, the mods sure seem to do a great job of deleting threads that are critical of the trolls. ANY thread critical of trolls, trolling, racism, xenophobia or sexism seem to get deleted pretty quick. Registration isn't necessary, if its just a handful of idiots (or more as I suspect), just BLOCK THEIR IP ADDRESSES. Problem solved. But apparently they are fine with the way things are.

Think for a minute. The people spewing this stuff are just trying to ruin what a great event it was today. It's probably the same people that defended the bombers last year. They wanted this event to fail today. They wanted the people to be afraid and not turn out. They wanted something bad to happen.

But none of that happened. Runners turned out huge. Spectators turned out huge. Hell, even the weather turned out huge. And that was only the beginning. We got the first American male winner in what 31 years? We got an American female course record. Very proud day for America, all runners worldwide and all those who love and appreciate the Boston Marathon. A great day!

I couldn't be happier Meb won. The guys a stud and a class act. And yes, he's a proud American.

Luv2run, Hope you change your mind, your a good posted. Stick around. If you leave the bad guys win. That's what they're trying to do to us, divide and conquer. Today is our day. Dont let them take it away.

USA! USA! USA!

Well said.

This should be a great day for American running, and it's nauseating to see the crap being posted.

Where are rojo and wejo? Take control of this mess. Do something.

Of course, they gave a black screen honoring Suzy Favor Hamilton for prostitution, and yet no black screen for Meb.

It's about the cash flow. Brojos get paid on these hits. Mods probably get a cut too. Ever think of that?

It's threads like this that keep trolls trolling. Stop feeding them.

Yes, I have thought of that. I even confronted the brojos about it when they left the Centro thread up. They emphatically denied it of course and claimed they don't leave threads up just because they get hits. I don't know if they do or not - but if they do its pretty despicable that they continue to let our best athletes be slandered so they can make a few extra bucks on page clicks.

Let's meet in Kona.

Do wish there was place where the decent posters could meet. Lifetime ban for the trolls.

But just watch, this thread will be deleted while the hater threads will be allowed to flourish. It's really sad, but that's how they operate. Maybe someone ought start alerting the sponsors of this site, to let them know what a cesspool it is. Of course the almight dollar rules, not decency, the brojos know that and almost seem to revel in it.