When I started the CNYMRA Website, it was to provide everyone with a place to read about our organization, see our race schedule and our race results, and find contacts for the tracks and people on the board of directors. After a few months, someone suggested that I add a message board. I did.

It was a lot of fun at first, with lots of joking around, posting funny pics, etc. As time went on, I had to add filters for profanity (to please some parents), then I had to add some rules for posting (to please those who couldn’t take the joking), and then I had to add more rules, and now it’s no fun anymore.

I had no idea when it started that I would be required to monitor the message board 24 hours a day, or that I would be held personally responsible for all the posts. During the past year or so, I have been accused of siding with the bashers because I didn’t delete their posts. I have also been accused of protecting the bashees when I did delete a post. I have tried to correct the many incorrect posts as soon as I could, but have been told that the corrections weren’t done quickly enough for all to see.

The whole atmosphere of the CNYMRA message board changed so much during this past year, that sometimes I was actually afraid to click on it. Many of the pleasant and funny posters left and were replaced by unpleasant, negative folks. Jokes were replaced by complaints and threats.

I have decided to follow in the steps of our neighboring MX groups, WNY and MSC, and remove the public message board from our website. It was a hard decision, but I think it was the right one at this time.

Donna Dougherty

CNYMRA Website Admin.