If LetsRun is a "dingy locker room" what is better?

I didn't start this to bash the brojos. They have legitimate running and coaching knowledge at a high level, and have created a truly open forum to discuss the sport we all love. There are racist posts and stupid posts, but it's all part of letting the most knowledgable running community on the web discuss this sport. I think the culture of the sport in America has become racist. Most marathons and track meets end up mentioning a few contending Americans and then a bunch of names too hard to pronounce or talk about. Part of this is overexposure to talented Africans kicking American ass, but it's hardly the Brojos fault that people post racist things on this site. Honestly LetsRun hates Rupp more than anyone and he's as American as it gets minus Pre's poor race tactics and facial hair. The real issue is that the running community lacks a legitimate news source. I don't want witty editorials about Shalane Flanagan drinking beers in high school. I want real excitement about the sport and true coverage. LetsRun created a great community, including the trolls, unlike any other, but it's just a start. Flotrack had the potential and chose to overcharge people to watch the oldest and most celebrated meets in the country justifying it with horrible interviews on "Driven" series. I guess I'm just disappointed. Sure maybe LetsRun is the equivalent of locker room gossip, but we have nothing else.

"A Cleaner Locker Room" would seem to start with the biggest mess, no? ... the fact that people are still here, and requesting something be done to clean it up, is a testament to (a) we have nothing else, and (b) this place has value. And thanks to Brojos' for that. But if we thank them for that, and applaud them for making this site what it is, than that includes ALL of what it is .. and lately, the boards have been a mess of racist, bigoted, trollish BS. And yes, that is absolutely the Brojos' fault for allowing, fostering and perpetuating that.

From what I can tell, people are essentially complaining that lrc is not runners world forums.

Want racist posts deleted immediately? Runners world will do it

Want any negative comments deleted? Runners world can do that

At runners world, any thread questioning the legitimacy of the boston marathon or meb's American-ness will be deleted

Criticism of runners or suspected dopers won't be tolerated there either.

Want user registration? Head over to paradise at runners world!!

Basically, people are complaining that this forum is too harsh for them. And these are the same posters who make fun of runners world forums.

Listen there is nothing wrong with runners world. It's for the faint of heart, and there is nothing wrong with that. I'm serious. But everyone knows that unless you are a purebred American and can run sub 13 5k, make 500k a year with a 10/10 wife, you're nothing on lrc.

Over at runners world, you'll fund a much softer environment, and it may suit most of the posters from this thread better.

I do get sick of such criticism of the brojos....they have other things to do beside sit and read every single post on the forum for their entire life...there are other parts to the website you know. The moderating isn't perfect (I don't see why they delete all of Jamin's and hinglemcjingleberry threads about girls, what's the harm?), but overall I think they do a good job.

They've done more for the sport and to promote elite distance running since 2001 than probably anyone else in the US.

Paring down the idiots wrote:

1.) Email verified user names.

2.) One day waiting period for new registrants to be able to post.

3.) User ability to hide posters that are inflammatory/off-base/troll

4.) Staff verified "VIP" posters have flair; i.e. Canova

End of racism. Boon to overall atmosphere and value of the board.

Less ad revenue. So fvck having a productive community, right Brojos?

It's a shame that the other running communities are all hobby-jogger types. I hate this place but visit for the 1 out of 30 threads worth scrolling

The paradise message board you described above already exists.

Go to

No negativity, everyone is so positive! 1:45 half marathon? Great training pal, you'll break 1:40 someday! We could all use some positive reinforcement around here!!

I agree completely. Runner's World is a legitimate forum, but sometimes I think we need to appreciate the real discussions on LetsRun. It is hard to find another site with actual quality of discussion and debate you find here.

VikingDave wrote:

I agree completely. Runner's World is a legitimate forum, but sometimes I think we need to appreciate the real discussions on LetsRun. It is hard to find another site with actual quality of discussion and debate you find here.

So nobody's arguing against that. This site does offer some reasonable conversation, on and off topic. But don't pretend that this is somehow dependent upon racist bs, because it's not.

Get rid of all the crap, and people won't continue to make reference to LRC as a dingy locker room. Just a hunch.

VikingDave wrote:

I agree completely. Runner's World is a legitimate forum, but sometimes I think we need to appreciate the real discussions on LetsRun. It is hard to find another site with actual quality of discussion and debate you find here.

Slowtwitch is fantastic! But I got banned because I contradicted "Slowman" the founder. I was "hotman 637" so if anyone is on Slowtwitch tell them to let me back on.

You guys should look into discourse as a replacement for the horrible discussion board software currently in place.

http://try.discourse.org/

Maintains clean look and feel but adds tons of modern features. I think it would work well here. There is probably an option to keep the wild west feel of anonymous posting too.

Old Poster wrote:

The sarcasm and cynicism has destroyed my faith in humanity. I am leaving this site forever, maybe I'll take up veganism or the triathlon.

Good! Because we are sick of you racists complaining about getting you posts pulled.

AllTimeLowLife wrote:

Also, the format of the website is beyond horrible. It isn't that hard to get a message board platform from this century (literally).

Not just century. This software is not from present millenium.

You be full of it, boy. This site is already heavily moderated. Just asking for a modicum of accountability.

Super Jay Five wrote:

Slowtwitch is fantastic! But I got banned because I contradicted "Slowman" the founder. I was "hotman 637" so if anyone is on Slowtwitch tell them to let me back on.

Slowman is a bit thin-skinned. I think he banned the outers/investigators of the Alison the backwards walking triathlete thread.

rojo wrote:

genuine random a hole wrote:

Can we assume they were legacy admits at Cornell? Or is Cornell (and the Ivy League) not the elite learning institution it claims to be?

Wejo was a legacy admit at Yale. His 4.0 Economics GPA and award for the best econ thesis at Yale clearly shows he didn't deserve it.

That sounds intriguing. What was the topic?

Don't know about wejo, bur rojo allegedly wrote a thesis about a baseball strike.

LRC is totally racist and The Brojos pretty much have blog sex with nick Willis every day

The only reason this site isn't a complete hobbyjog-fest is because of the anonymous, sarcastic attacks on the idiots who would come on here and talk about kale diets and runner's highs and shit

A submariner wrote:

The only reason this site isn't a complete hobbyjog-fest is because of the anonymous, sarcastic attacks on the idiots who would come on here and talk about kale diets and runner's highs and shit

um, I have to go chi running after my chai latte. My fierce little flock of birds is waiting for me. They love me and want to be my friend.

Why don't you try

http://www.tracktalk.net

. It's far more civilised, and a lot of sensible discussion goes on. You have to register to post, but there's still some 'handbags at forty paces' to keep you amused.

They have separate areas to talk about current affairs, your erectile problems, and stuff like that. There's also a 'Legends Lounge' where actual star athletes convey their wisdom.

Guys like Wineturtle and Zatopek are big over there. The epic 'Drugged to the Gills' thread is not to be missed. I believe an alias of Ventolin/Just Sayin/Someone had to do it, called 'Cokakula', started it. He got banned over there too, for raving on about Jim Ryun to the point where he made everyone else homicidal or suicidal (or both).