Column on the impact of social media attacks on players
This column focused on the social media onslaught some players face -- focused on TWill and other members of the men's team -- is important and worth a read. I assume that the worst of it comes from a small minority of users, and hope that the players and their families know that.
Glanville must have an account here because he described the ridiculous behavior we see. Game threads bring out the worst people and the worst in people.
Social media in general brings out the worst in people. It provides a cloak of anonymity behind which people can say the worst things. It's a cancer.
March 22nd, 2023 at 10:45 AM ^
I just think people in general are the worst. Social media has just allowed us to see the thoughts and opinions of millions more people than we previously had access to. Humanity has been a cancer unto itself for all of its existence.
Well, that's a cheerful outlook.
People have good hearts!
It would be a service to humanity for Elon Musk to shut Twitter down. I don't think we need more evidence of how it affects human behavior.
While we’re at it get Zuckerberg to take down Instagram and Facebook as well because they don’t serve much of a purpose either. Social media is a stain on our society and has caused far more problems than it has done good.
We have given larger platforms and voices to toxic individuals who in the past society would normally ignore. Unfortunately it’s not going to change anytime soon for Division 1 athletes with the TV contracts, NIL money, etc. it’s just opening the door for more of this crap.
Unfortunately it’s not going to change anytime soon for Division 1 athletes with the TV contracts, NIL money, etc. it’s just opening the door for more of this crap.
Don't forget the widespread legalization of sports gambling.
WIthout facebook and/or Twitter how the hell would i know what family members of mine are racist or sexist?
Thanksgiving dinner conversation provides an annual update for me.
By the color of their ball cap....just sayin....
I agree with this in principle, but Facebook lets me talk to friends from all over the country on a daily basis. That’s what I use it for and nothing else. I quit Twitter at the end of last year.
I took the opportunity to shut mine down a couple years ago and I don't miss it in the slightest. It was cool at first when it was just a platform for friends and expats to catch up, but now you'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Upvoted for the Star Wars quote.
Upvoted for upvoting the Star Wars quote.
March 22nd, 2023 at 10:31 PM ^
That's right. We must be cautious.
This works the other way too. Social media gives a voice to marginalized people that society would normally ignore. We are going through some growing pains right now, but being more connected with people that are different from one another will eventually lead to a more understanding and accepting world.
At least, that is what I keep hoping.
March 22nd, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
The algorithms and wall street do not agree with your 'hopes'...there is much more money to be made by stoking anger and fear than hope and dreams.
March 22nd, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
tomer, I wish that too. Unfortunately, we are seeing the opposite. With the ability to "curate" online experiences, people silence the voices that they don't agree with; those that make them feel uncomfortable; and those that cause them to question their beliefs.
Who will then stop the next copycat doing the same thing? The problem, which isn't curable, is that human nature is magnetized toward interpersonal feces slinging, rather than self-reflection, empathy, and compromise.
Why just Twitter? Facebook is far worse and studied have shown IG has lead to a rise in teenage suicide. Social is bad for humans, it's not just Twitter. Oh and 24 hour "news" is terrible for human beings also
Why is Facebook worse than Twitter? Not that I necessarily care to defend it, just curious.
Twitter you can mute and block words, hashtags,people and pretty much anything else you want. If you see shit on your Twitter feed, block it. It's by far the most user friendly social media app. It's just the cool thing to do now is bash Twitter cause someone they don't like politically owns it.
People have been bashing Twitter for years, way before Elon bought it. The short form instant reaction format helps drive hot take content that becomes abusive and destructive.
I would imagine the vast majority of users do not curate their content to the extent you're describing. Most just follow a few hundred people and reactively block those who troll.
I liked Twitter but I couldn’t avoid politics no matter how hard I tried. Even on sports accounts, politics would seep in. The less politics in my life, the better. So I quit. And no, it didn’t help that the owner of the platform didn’t try to stay above the fray. He and Twitter deserve each other.
I agree on the avoiding politics- and yet you couldn't resist inserting politics into your thread.
Would be nice just for once to scroll through a thread and not see anything political. There are plenty of other forums for that stuff.
I don’t know if you’re talking to me but there are no politics in my comment. I don’t think of Elon as being on any particular side except his own. He’s a narcissistic attention whore.
I agree with your sense of hazard, and yet that's obviously not how vacuums work. One person, or one billion people, stopping one thing in one moment cannot at all protect agaist an effective clone of that thing being started by other people at a later moment.
As much as twitter may not be a need, it's clearly a perceived want, and it would be difficult for our markets to be better at anything than it is at serving knee jerk desire.
March 22nd, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
Agree... the posts here are mostly the pot calling the kettle black. If made of iron that is not an issue, but MGoBlog is made of Teflon, and you need to use the right utensil to comment here. When scratches are made it doesn't work. Carr is my homeboy, but Caris and all Michigan players are my boys. Ferda boys we need a staff member to help work these social attacks, and allow the players to focus on their work.
MGoBlog is hopeless. The divisions in our society are more prevalent here than most other formats. But this is my school, so here I am.
Let's talk openly about CTE.
I'll take my negs and note the avatars. The tally is not pretty.
Thanks for some sanity CIMH, I appreciate you.
Well in the meantime, let's control what we can control, which is how we all act on mgoblog. And we should try to do better.
Speaking of...all the Williams bashers from the weekend are noticeably absent in this thread.
a thousand times this. suggesting that this is a twitter-only phenomenon and doesn’t happen here is idiotic.
There have always been assholes in the world. The only difference is that, in the past, they would boo and talk shit about players from their parents basements. Now they get to share their precious opinions with everyone on twitter.
I'd be happy to see an instaban for anyone that trashes a player in a game thread.
There is a huge difference between bitching about a player on a site created to discuss Michigan sports and messaging a player directly. Why is it wrong to complain about a player not performing well on here? Should you message them and tell them how bad they played no, but expressing frustration on a site where they would have to go seek out comments about themselves is in no way the same.
I'm pretty sure the athletes read here as well.
And why is there a need to bitch about particular players anyway? Can't we all see that someone isn't playing very well? Do you think it's necessary to point out to the rest of us that Player X sucks?
It's one thing to say "Damn, TWill needs to stop turning the ball over" or "Hunter needs to hit that bunny", but completely different to say they suck and shouldn't ever see the court again. Some of the shit in the game threads is just unnecessary.
I guess I just don't see any need to trash players that are busting their asses for our enjoyment.
The way I view this site is as if I am discussing sports with friends. It is not about a personal attack, which I agree crosses the line, but saying someone sucks and isn’t good enough to play for Michigan is not this bad thing in my opinion. Again if you were messaging that to them or going to games and yelling that at them you are an asshole. I would equate this site more to if I am out with a friend discussing a player and I tell my friend they suck and are not good enough for the Big Ten and the player is around the corner and overhears our conversation. I also think if players are on here reading just by the title of the thread they would likely be able to discern on whether they should click on it. If you are going out and seeking negativity there is nothing that can be done to help you. I guess I am just of the opinion when you go to a big time program you open yourself up to some kinds of criticism (I do not agree with messaging players directly or even on personal social media accounts) your performance again I do not agree with personal attacks.
*Takes dentures out and adjusts pamper.
I also view every face I see as being the face of the person it's supposed to belong to! The internet hasn't changed that reality one bit sonny!
*Puts dentures back in and pisses self.
I do think that’s starting to become a lame and tired excuse…people want to behave like assholes and fall back on “well they’re apart of a big time program, what do they expect?” When the real question is “why can’t we expect you to not act like an asshole?”
>I guess I am just of the opinion when you go to a big time program you open yourself up to some kinds of criticism
I believe they call that a necessary evil. Doesn't make it okay.
But yeah, if your friends are fine with it, it's not a deal. Just don't be the dude sitting at the bar telling me how shit the Tigers and the world are lol.
March 22nd, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
'.....and the player is around the corner and overhears our conversation'
Then you see TWill or Hunter and do what? Would you have the balls the tell them they suck and have a laugh with your boys?
Doubt it. Most of that trash talk would become a pat on the back or a request for an autograph.
I don't think people should talk shit about players if they wouldn't do the same in a direct conversation with the player (or anyone else for that matter).
Would I “have the balls” yes I absolutely would, I am not afraid to tell a player they are not good. Would doing so make you an asshole? Yes. Discussing sports is in no way the same as making fun of someone. Let’s say my neighbor cuts their grass uneven and as we drive by I tell my wife wow that doesn’t look great is that bad? I would have no problem telling my neighbor their lawn looks bad but that would make me an asshole.
Would I “have the balls” yes I absolutely would, I am not afraid to tell a player they are not good. Would doing so make you an asshole? Yes. Discussing sports is in no way the same as making fun of someone. Let’s say my neighbor cuts their grass uneven and as we drive by I tell my wife wow that doesn’t look great is that bad? I would have no problem telling my neighbor their lawn looks bad but that would make me an asshole.
I know there's people who will say that if kids don't want to see that stuff they should stay off social media entirely. But that's ignoring how this generation was brought upin an environment built on social media. However, if players are actively reading the game threads here, that's on them. It's one thing to see BS on your twitter feed, but coming here and seeking out comments on an MgoBlog game thread is really dumb.
Fans yelling a derogatory comment to a player at a game where everyone can hear?
Fans posting a derogatory comment about a player on Twitter where everyone can read?
Fans posting a derogatory comment on a blog about a player where everyone can read?
What's the difference? It's the same basic action with the same potential result.
There's a difference between analyzing a player's performance or effort and questioning why something happened the way it did vs. trashing a person. The mediums shouldn't make a difference and. it shouldn't be that hard to treat people with basic respect.
There is absolutely a huge difference in the medium. What do you define as a derogatory comment? Saying someone sucks? Would you be comfortable saying anything that involves a third party in a discussion with some to the third parties face? If you truly think someone posting on here that a player sucks or something similar is the same as going to a game and yelling it at them, then I guess there is no common ground or discussion I can have.
I think your posts in this thread suck and I think you suck for writing them.
Was I supposed to just share that with my friends or post it on Twitter or make a separate thread on this blog? If I do make a new board post saying I think Kentucky.maize sucks will you please not click on it so I can discuss it with all of my MGoBlog friends without you knowing? I'm old and I can't keep track of the various rules for all these forms of social engagement.
I don't actually think you suck. I appreciate respectful dialogue. Showing an example associated with your counterpoints.
Not that you should be directly attacking players (directly messaging or yelling insults at players crosses a line of common human decency), but I also find it a little disingenuous that people keep bringing up the "student athlete" angle as a reason they shouldn't be criticized. Most of these players are barely "student athletes" anymore, if at all. Despite what this Jack Glanville says, these players are pretty much professionals at this point. Many of them are earning, as "student athletes," a higher annual salary than most of us will ever see, some stretching into the seven figures. They want to be paid ridiculously high amounts to play a sport (where the only value comes from playing that sport publicly), and yet they don't want to be criticized. Kind of a "you can't have your cake and eat it too" situation...
How does the amount of money someone has mitigate the feelings and emotions they have?
Does divorce suck less for rich kids vs poor kids?
Does losing a child suck less for rich parents vs poor parents?
Being a public figure, does open you up for more ridicule. That has always been true. But it doesn't mean that ridicule isn't hurtful. People can still choose to be respectful about pointing out a public figures faults.
why? because putting it in writing is antisocial behavior. players and their families absolutely read this site.
At a game the players and their families or anyone else can not control what they hear. I would argue the same is true for twitter etc, things can just pop up. It becomes your own responsibility if you go to a site and you do not like the criticism and you continue to go back. Players and their families could also read the site avoiding any negativity. I think it is pretty clear when there is going to be players critiqued in a thread. Posting something on here is in no way the same as messaging or even posting something on Twitter to or about a player.
March 22nd, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
Meh, that just sounds like you’re not willing to take responsibility for yourself. It’s easy to depersonalize athletes and to see them as merely there to entertain us. So when they disappoint us, we can easily criticize them and think we’re somehow entitled to do so.