At its best, social media is a great tool for giving a voice to the average person, who may not ordinarily have a say. At its worst it can bring out the ugly in all of us. This week has been the latter.
Every media outlet these days wants you to join ‘the conversation’ and have your say via its social media channels. It’s the way of the world.
Unfortunately, more often than not the real issue gets lost in the noise.
When you open the door for comment you can’t expect the lowest common denominator not to emerge. This is ugly Australia at its worst. The punter who thinks he’s entitled to have his say because he’s been given a voice and can shout the loudest.
Sometimes I wish we could push the mute button, because topics like the booing of Adam Goodes become overwhelming.
The booing has been happening all season but the subject has really gathered momentum since Sunday night. Given Goodes’ decision to take the weekend off playing it doesn’t look like abating anytime soon.
I don’t know about you, but I’m over it. Imagine having the same conversation with someone for an entire week? I’d rather dig my toenails out with a spoon.
The only people happy about the widespread coverage are the Fifita brothers, but that’s a story for another day.
It’s a divisive issue which has been argued up hill and down dale all week – whether booing Goodes is purely, partially or not racially motivated, whether he brought it upon himself when he called out the 13-year-old girl last year, whether he used his role as Australian of the Year properly, or whether fans who boo him should be hung, drawn and quartered in the town square.
Politicians, former athletes, social commentators have all lined up for a say on the issue.
Radio commentator Alan Jones blamed Goodes for always playing the victim. Newspaper columnist Rebecca Wilson and former AFL star Dermott Brereton went toe-to-toe on Melbourne radio in a ‘he said, she said’ exchange, and Channel Nine’s finance reporter Ross Greenwood thinks Goodes gets booed because he’s a stager.
Ross Greenwood? He gets a say? That’s it for me. Stick a fork in me Jerry, I’m done. From all reports Ross is a lovely chap, but when we have the finance guy entering the fray on an issue such as this, the conversation has officially reached hyperbole.
Please make it stop. The noise. Please stop the noise.
It’s not that I want to ignore the issue in the hope it goes away. If this gets us all talking about Indigenous welfare and racism in a more constructive manner then I’m all for it. But I can’t see that happening while we continue to talk over the top of one another.
Sometimes silence is golden.
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
Real eggs http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/sydney-fans-vow-to-pelt-supporters-booing-adam-goodes-with-eggs/story-fni0fit3-1227463995262
Nick D
Guest
+1
Penster
Guest
Real eggs or imaginary eggs?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If I were a citizen of a European nation, the social issues relating to living in that European nation would be very important to me, and I would not give a stuff what people do in Australia. If this reasoning is too complex for you, ask an adult to explain.
pat malone
Guest
it hasnt been overdone? lets talk about it in reference to football in Europe? what are your thoughts on it in Russia, etc
SVB
Guest
The people who are getting labelled as r*cists, are reacting just as badly (if not worse) than what Adam Goodes is. Remember as we keep getting told, it's just a word..
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I think NSW Premier Mike Baird said it well when he said: "There is a place for good-natured heckling in Australian sport. I've booed a few Queensland League players in my time (Wally Lewis comes to mind). And some may argue that the line between good-natured and malicious can be fuzzy. But there is nothing fuzzy about this. The line has been crossed. "There are many things that we pride ourselves in as Australians... and good sportsmanship is right at the top of that list. The relentless booing of Adam Goodes breaks this spirit of good sportsmanship. It must stop."
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I don't think that was the message in the article Fuss, though I did think that at first from the title. No, I think this piece is drawing attention to the fact that social media perpetuates the myth that "everybody is entitled to their opinion" when, in fact, you are only entitled to whatever opinion you can reasonably support with evidence and, even then, it is still likely to be challenged. This article is trying to argue, IMO, that we are wasting too much media space arguing with people who are ill informed or lack understanding on the issue, rather than focusing that attention on how to make positive change. I can understand that sentiment. Every time a grainy iPhone video of someone being racist on a bus goes on YouTube, we end up having this big public debate about whether Australia is a racist country or not. That argument is both unhelpful and pointless and wastes time and energy we could be spending on discussing how to change the elements of racism that do exist in Australia for the better.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Its not just the loony "left wingers" gene. In fact, it's all those who play in the outside backs. This is one of those typical arguments "How come we can boo white people, but not Adam Goodes?" People aren't saying you can't boo him. People are saying that the motivation for booing him is reprehensible. Imagine Goodes has never made a stand against racism. Does he still get booed every time he touches the ball? I would bet the company payroll on 'no.'
Richo
Guest
There is talk that some Swans fans are going to smuggle in eggs and throw them at opposition fans that boo Goodes the next time he plays. That will end well....
Reesy
Guest
The conversation reaches hyperbole when politicians such as the Victorian Premier start grand standing on the issue and hacks with low credibility and self appointed moral platforms like Rebecca Wilson try to score cheap points. Ross Greenwood probably felt like having his say as he's been unfairly labelled. Induviduals in a sporting crowd will boo athletes for a variety of reasons. As Ross points out his reasons for booing are not racially motivated (I believe him). Did anyone stop to think that in all likelihood some people are booing simply because Goodes has admitted he doesn't like it? That's not racism. Sure there are bound to be some racist biggots in the crowd. Hopefully they get educated one day (we won't hold our breathes though). There's an old saying however that the boos usually come from the cheapest seats. They are best ignored.
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
What can you say? It has been a slow news month. The media has got to fill the 24-hour void somehow. They are probably hoping for another shark attack to be caught camera to fill it next week.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
So you, as a white man, are fed up with conversation about racism? Imagine what it's like to live with racism every minute, of every day, of your life in the country where your ancestors lived for tens of thousands of years before white folk arrived. Yes. It's always uncomfortable to have discussion of issues people prefer to sweep under the carpet.
Richard
Guest
Are there really only two sides to this "conversation"? I don't think so, I suspect that the loudest faction isn't pro or the anti Goodes. I think it's the nothing-to-see-here, let's-put-this-all-behind-us, normal-transmission-to-resume, sweep-it-under-the-rug team. The problem with sweeping stuff under the rug is that the problem is still there and will reemerge again and again.
WhereIsGene
Guest
The loony left wingers riding the anti-booing propaganda train won't be satisfied until booing Adam Goodes is a hangable offense. As far as most of them are concerned booing players like Mitchell or Selwood or Ballantyne is kosher, only Adam Goodes is off limits - although I haven't checked to ask them if we should be "allowed" to boo other Aboriginal players, presumably the answer is no. Yet supposedly *we* are the racists. Ironic isn't it?
peeeko
Guest
Well said Ralph, but are you contributing to the over saturation?