We'll just have to disagree then, as neither of us are him, and what is damaging to him.
His tweet about "ugly rumors" indicates to me that he is not having a silent chuckle at all this. In his case it's not just "mean." It goes deeper in monetary issues. Reputation is a real thing in most professions, and, in my opinion (and sure, it's just my opinion), this damages his reputation - and bottom line.
Sure, this happens lots of times here, but not to this extreme. For all I know he's dirty as hell. But that's the thing. I don't know. And neither do you. And neither do these conspiracy ridden blowhards who lob their opinions as facts.
A few posters being mean? Please. The vitreaal on this site has run off the rails. FWIW, I believe letsrun played a big part in the resurgence we've seen in American distance running in the last few years. But if I were an elite runner now, the events of the last month on letsrun wold have me rethinking things. I'm not saying that you can't be critical - and even mean - at times. Hell, I share some of the perceptions of this group going way back. But you've got athletes avoiding this site...how sad it that?