"Why the quickness of Brazilian surf fans to go nuclear? 'Cause they can! It feels so good!"

Got a message on Twitter last night.

“Julio, want to write a story for BeachGrit explaining why Brazilian surf fans are so, mmmmm, passionate I guess you could call it. (derisory pay rates.)”

Why do Brasileiros curse and threaten?

Born and raised in sunny Rio de Janeiro, I’ve been cursing since I could talk and being a Flamengo supporter, you learn to say many wonderful profanities to the referee’s mother at any given chance.

Like Italians, we used our hands a lot too when cursing, it makes our threats even more effective.

Not sure about it, but my guess is the first words you learn in any language are those bad words.

We believe you can’t really trust someone who don’t curse, nor the ones who don’t drink.

So, why do we go nuts on social?

Maybe because we like to mimic all the little things y’ all do in the message boards.

You have such a way with words, and they sound great when translated – both ways!

Yeah, of course, those scary, hateful threats are unacceptable. But how many of those ultimatums were delivered?

None.

Most likely, one of those keyboard warriors would buy you a beer not glass you.

And we do the same thing with our own, just ask Caio Ibelli. Kid gets swamped in hate.

If you ever get a chance to attend a football game in a stadium or to watch it a bar in one of our cities, you’ll see just how fired up we get.

And, shock, we’re a reflection of the polarisation not surfing.

BeachGrit versus Jonah Hill, ISA vs WSL, Brazil vs the Judges and so on.

Love is out, hate is what it’s about.

Not as much as in the US, Charlton Heston gun blazing in schools hate, but there’s a lot of repressed anger.

Don’t call us passionate, however, it’s an energy.

Why the quickness of Brazilian surf fans to go nuclear? ‘Cause they can!

Fire up! Death threats! Mutilate! Castration!

Just one click away, and, god, it’s so easy and feels so good…

Famous Waikiki board racks maybe gone forever following work of serial arsonist.

This place, you know, is anti-depressive.

We look for cups half full, for lining’ silver, rainbows over every horizon.

Here, love wins and so it is disturbing to report that, outside, it doesn’t always.

Take the recent burning of surf racks in Waikiki, for example. A nasty arsonist, intentions unclear, torched them a year plus ago, sending many elderly folks’ cherished boards up in literal smoke.

The racks were burned a second time, months ago, more boards gone.

And now?

The city has decided to remove them altogether.

Per Hawaii’s local CBS affiliate:

An entire rack that used to be filled with custom, personal surf boards was taken down after being set on fire twice. The surf lockers near the Moana Surfrider, taken down by the city, had many people concerned.

“A lot of the apartment buildings don’t have a like lanais outside, so they don’t really has a safe place for them other than over there,” said surfer Mika Baker.

Officials were asked if the surf racks would be built a third time and, if so, will they be built differently to prevent fires.

They said the city is exploring options regarding the future of the surfboard lockers.

Hate, it appears, has won.

"The violent rhetoric over a surf event is mind blowingly stupid… and no one is doing anything to address the seriousness of the situation."

Ain’t it a crazy ol’ world when a man’s is threatened with extinction for winning a surfing contest?

Yeah, yeah, I know, sportsmen, and gals, have been getting hit with death threats for years, some of  it even getting played out on soccer players, boxers and so on, but our pretty little sport? The dance of kings and queens?

A little recap.

Brazilian surf fans have gone nuts following Griffin Colapinto’s win over Filipe Toledo at the Surf City El Salvador Pro claiming the fix was in for the gringo, a white conspiracy and so on, the hashtag, #worldshameleague a viral hit.

Even Filipe Toledo’s daddy is in the mix, “We really hope that something will be done, and that this will change, as it is becoming unbearable to see and hear the things we are hearing. during the events, I am embarrassed for the others.”

And, yesterday, after watching the pile-on, Griff’s mama, Camille, pleaded with Latin surf fans to find a little perspective.

“It’s a surf contest. It’s meant to entertain. But the threats to the judges’ well being, to you, to other members of @wsl that shou2bld not be tolerated. And for others in top positions to post and add fuel to the fire, well that’s just irresponsible. Can we remember how blessed these surfers are please? Look around. There is a war, homelessness, people:children starving, and your win is motivating people to take to the streets? Are we living in the same universe? Wow! Unbelievable.”

Now, in the under-the-line comments, Camille Colapinto has put a little meat on the bone, so to speak, detailing just how wild the threats are getting.

“Something tells me that I shouldn’t come here and comment and add to the mess I probably made worse. But, my comment was not meant to defend Griffin’s win. I don’t care if people think he wasn’t deserving; but not in a “let them eat cake” kind of way. What I meant to convey was that the violent rhetoric over a surf event is mind blowingly stupid.

“What I meant to convey is that the win doesn’t matter, it shouldn’t matter, at least not matter so much people want to turn violent. BTW Griffin is receiving violent, gruesome threats to his life and no one is doing anything to address the seriousness of the situation.

“Am I hysterical? Am I unhinged? Yeah, probably, but I am not going to apologize for raising hell. If I embarrass Griffin it certainly isn’t the first time, I assumed he got used to it. As most will now know, he got none of his chill from my DNA. I am not chill, have never been chill and don’t mind letting people know if I not happy with something.

“If people still think the comment to his post was motivated by ego, take a look at his stuff…did anyone even know Griffin and Crosby had a mom? I am busy with my own work/life. My comment was motivated by a mix of intense fear and anger.

“Unfortunately, I wish I was as afraid yesterday as I am today because I would have never commented. I hope you will never have to know what it is like to fear for your child’s safety so much you have to throw up.”

The Oi Rio Pro starts in two days.

Y’think security gonna be tight?