It is very much real. Many Bbers are used to being able to physically rule every room they are in. Their magazine interviews are softball at best, their images carefully cultivated in the very controlled world of fitness publications.
Then, they decide to leave this safety for the lucrative, yet very chaotic and unregulated world of message boards. They believe the fact they own a pro card will allow them to impose their views of the sport or other issues upon others, without adequate evidence to support such claims. When they are opposed, they feel angry, and attempt to have the moderator strike down this dissension. This might work elsewhere, but not on getbig.
Here, an individual who tries to insult the intelligence of others will be called on it. Then, the masses will judge the validity of the statement - and the credibility of the person in question - based upon the response of others. Obviously, anonymous or new members' opinions carry little worth. But when a longtime industry figure agrees, it means something.
Message boards have caused change, both good and bad, in the sport. Some ways we'll never know. Some, we will. Some men have obviously been affected, others hide it. Some have lied about their weight to impress strangers. Some men have taken gear levels beyond what they should - because patience is something they don't have, thanks to the boards. Some people have gone so far as to threaten to hurt or sue people whose opinions differ from theirs. imagine being so full of oneself that you think you have the right to sue someone for voicing an opinion which you don't agree with. i suppose an IFBB pro card has more worth than the constitution to some.
So yes, the guys get owned, and they let it get into their heads. For some, it takes a special type of insecurity to juice at the high levels which take 10-40 years off of ones life. They live for 9 months for a show, stand nearly naked for thousands to judge, then are mocked on boards, and they cannot take it. post-traumatic owning disorder, while still in its infancy stage, will continue to grow, unfortunately. We'll see more examples of guys who will go too far in real life based upon what is nothing more than an exchange of ideas and thoughts on a computer server.
it's just a message board. You don't weigh 230, Tom. You are not unbiased, Bob. You have palumboism, King. HTH.
