Why are there so many bad natured comments on here?

vaIjean wrote:

This is just how online communities are. Without the consequences and limitations of real-life social interactions, individuals become more antisocial versions themselves in the same way that human stem cells are more likely to mutate and become cancerous when cultured separately from the immune cells that keep them in check. Letsrun's particular flavor of toxicity comes from the typical profile of a runner (middle/upper class, 20-40yo, white, male) but the same phenomenon happens in every online community.

Just treat it like entertainment. It's not real. Most of us aren't like this in real life because we'd have no friends if we were.

This is mostly accurate; I used to go on the Yahoo news articles in the early 2000s and there'd be a comment section. The trolls were far worse than they are here.

slick5800` wrote:

lll91l wrote:

Old hobby-joggers who never made the cut?

THIS!!!! Man there are some real BITTER MITCHES on this board. I guess they didn't make a D1 college team and are bitter as hell about it or they didn't have the talent to go pro. Anyone who isn't 20 and under, they crap on and it doesn't matter if they are Olympics medalist or not. They are the absolute authority on training and what is the best event for ALL pro runners. Logical discussions are not welcome here. I can only take this place in small doses as the ignorance gets too frustrating at times.

You can get some good info on this board sometimes and there are a few intelligent and rational people here but they are a small bunch.

I also think it's a safe space for conservatives. Sometimes you can't post anything conservative (even if well-thought out and not trolly) on FB without getting tons of angry comments and/or FB warnings for "violating Community Standards."

Anonymity does not stop the nonsense and insults in a lot of cases. People get brave when hiding behind a computer screen with zero accountability even if they do identify themselves. It is similar to the constant gossip and indirect trash talk behind peoples backs that many people engage in. Talk is cheap. The people who run their mouths the most generally have no real power and they try to compensate. The weakest people bark the most.

STEVE THE ADDICT^^^^^^""""""""'"'" wrote:

Anonymity does not stop the nonsense and insults in a lot of cases. People get brave when hiding behind a computer screen with zero accountability even if they do identify themselves. It is similar to the constant gossip and indirect trash talk behind peoples backs that many people engage in. Talk is cheap. The people who run their mouths the most generally have no real power and they try to compensate. The weakest people bark the most.

that makes a lot of sense to me.

Every now and then, a thread emerges that is mostly positive, encouraging, supportive, wholesome, truthful and dare I say delightful.... Curmudgeons get the behind me!

Most people here are 50 year old conservatives, overly confident since also overly ignorant and protected by the anonymity of the board. Absolute minority here has ever cracked 2:00 in 800m and has very minimal understanding of running.

That is the source of the toxicity.

lll91l wrote:

Old hobby-joggers who never made the cut?

TAny forum moderation is responsible for a having a good forum. Point and end of thread.

Trolls, hates, liers and idiots are everywere. It is really that simple.

lll91l wrote:

Old hobby-joggers who never made the cut?

Anonymity, combined with skeptical jealousy.

vaIjean wrote:

This is just how online communities are. Without the consequences and limitations of real-life social interactions, individuals become more antisocial versions themselves in the same way that human stem cells are more likely to mutate and become cancerous when cultured separately from the immune cells that keep them in check. Letsrun's particular flavor of toxicity comes from the typical profile of a runner (middle/upper class, 20-40yo, white, male) but the same phenomenon happens in every online community.

Just treat it like entertainment. It's not real. Most of us aren't like this in real life because we'd have no friends if we were.

Not true. I visit and post at several others forums, non-running, and you can't do on any of them what posters get to do here. You'd be banned on all of them and they will block you. Anyone who tries to post again and again doing the same thing with a different IP will be blocked again so they are just wasting their time posting vulgar garbage.

Old hobby jogger here, not bitter about missing D1, didn’t run in college.

Been off an on this site for a long time, and it’s always had disagreements but has deteriorated. Noticeable increase after Obama and then Trump both being so polarizing and the media feeding on it. Add social media, COVID, and racial tensions and this place has boiled over.

It’s certainly not limited to this site, but I also frequent a BMW forum where most of the members a cordial. You get the Porsche vs BMW arguments, new tech adopters vs old school analog BMW debates, but it rarely ends in the name calling here.

I just laugh and chalk it up to grouchy old men and cocky teens that don’t have a clue other than what TikTok tells them. CNN and Fox News are equally biased these days.

I may not agree with the US Women’s soccer team’s politics, but just enjoyed watching their 6-1 win against NZ.

Heading out for a hot, slow 12 miler now.