I think the main issue this conversation has brought up is how much attention footballers get. I mean this guy is presumably only young and is part of our reserves. The media create footballers to be heros and villains, saints and sinners and everyone expects footballers to conduct themselves appropriately all of the time even when under extreme pressure. The reality is many of these players are isolated from a normal upbringing and spoiled rotten (a life where they can have whatever they want) in an environment where they are sheltered from everything else. So it is hardly surprising some of them let it get to their head; perhaps the fault is of our own creation. I remember reading an article about how players often find it hard to adjust to life after football as they do not have even the basic skills to set up bank accounts, buy a car or book a haircut as all of this is done for them by the clubs so they can concentrate on their football.
Yes I'm aware of that, and thank you for being so condescending. He's also been known to refer to the likes of Nietzsche and Orwell which, with respect to footballers, would go over the heads of most. As for egotistical people spouting rubbish, it's good to be opinionated, and it's extremely refreshing that at last there is someone in football who actually speaks his mind instead of using the same old cliches to avoid getting in trouble.
barton is far more interesting than the stock footballer on twitter, with mundane tweets like "going to nandos" plus i thought the arguement he got in with TOWIE cast was quality
He's had a dig at Desperate Scousewives as well. He referred to the cast as "monosyllabic subordinate chimpanzees". He's growing on me quite fast.
Sorry your quote just reminded me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5fGSBsfq8 The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside.
My favourite sketch ever. As for Barton - lifting Nietzsche quotes does not make him intelligent, although at least he makes some sort of an effort.
Sorry Dan, it was selfish. You dont do something like that for your unsuspecting family to wake up to in the morning. I get what you say about forcing him to live an unhappy life, but he also talked about how precious his family were to him and how strong a unit they were together. Shocking - yes Sad - yes Selfish - Yes It's his son's i feel absolubtley terrible for.
Twitter is simply a medium as are TV, "news"papers and where we all are now. The issue is how it's used and how it's reported. Many users in the public eye could do with some guidance on how to use it but those of you who haven't are really missing out. It is not compulsory to follow celebs just as it isn't compulsory to buy OK magazine or Google Brad Pitt every week!
I don't use twitter so don't know, but is it sent direct or do you compose (with the chance of editing) like this forum. If sent direct, the problem may be that 'stream of consciousness' may work for Virginia Wolfe better than for the average footballer. Some of us are better if we edit our initial thoughts.
If you use Facebook Fran, imagine that but with no restrictions on who can see what you post. And no you can't edit!
Yes it is selfish way out but at that point in his life his mind would of been so all over the place that this would of been the only option that made sense. Also depression causes you to only to think about your self and he would of of thought that everyone else would be better off without him, and would of been wrapped up in his own confused mind to contemplate anyone elses feelings Selfish - Yes Cowardness defiently not Ive had depression and still have tendencies of feeling low so i know how it can play with your mind and such trivial things can upset someone so i dont think anyone should judge unless they know the excact problems he was dealing with. The problem with people with depression we tend to keep it and put a brave face on it all infront of everyone untill we cant cope anymore and somecases its got to far for anyone to help
In defence of Harlee, we don't know his personal situation, the calls for him to be sacked are beyond ******ed. As someone who has experienced the damage that suicide leaves behind on a very personal level (my dad killed himself when I was 18) I can understand this perception. I'm 25 now and I have seen the impact that dad's decision has had on my family: mum having a very open trouble with alcohol then having to go through intensive therapy (still ongoing) to resolve her internal battle that it was her fault, my older brother leaving home, never to speak to any of us again and my younger brother having to go through school knowing that while other kids are going to the football with their dads, his decided to leave us in the most severe way possible. Cowardly is more the right word than selfish in this instance, as I've come to terms with the fact that there was most likely some kind of diminished state of mind occurring within my dad, but if things are as bad as killing yourself and you can't face talking to even a friend, a stranger or anyone, that is cowardly. I'm not going to decry Speed as a coward or selfish, as it's not my place, however I feel for his family, as they will no doubt go through the same experience of being furious almost to the point of hating him and his memory. Seven years on, I still hate my dad for what he did to us. On a side note, his opinion was his own and we cannot have this system where anytime a person of note says something out of line with public opinion they must be punished. If he went to Speed's family and told them direct, yeah, that would be bad, but let's put this in perspective, who gives a **** what a Saints youth teamer says, this 'aint David Beckham we're talking about here.
Nicely put Ken, it might be time for the blue line. The kid was stupid, but footballers using tweeter generally fall into that category, but he doesn't need sacking or shooting, just a quiet word in ones in should do. As for Speed, I feel sorry for his family, but after this weekend, I hope it becomes a more private affair rather than constant updates from every sector.
If Harlee Dean has deleted his Twitter account as he knows he'll get abuse for what he's said , then surely he is the coward not Gary Speed.
i dont think the abuse was as much his opinion, just the fact he said noRIP - surely however someone dies, no matter how you should have the decency to say RIP - to put a no in front of it is simply disrepctful and disgusting if you ask me
Completly unprofessional. If I had done that in my workplace i'd be looking at the sack. Everyone has their own views, but you have to have a bit of savy nowadays. You can't just go around bleeting what you want. He will never play for us anyway.
I really don't care. Players, like anyone else, are entitled to their opinions whether they're controversial or universally shared. As with any internet-based social media, it's very easy to say things you wouldn't say face to face. I'd imagine most of us have said something we shouldn't have on social media, whether it's here, facebook, twitter, whatever.
Also he's only a kid and when you are that young you are still learning social skills. The reaction of others may make him think next time. The danger of twitter is that you think you are having a conversation but it's actually broadcasting. It's certainly not bad enough to sack him, but can't see him breaking into our team anyway.
Why are footballers deaths so much more important then anyone elses? That's the disgusting attitude. Suicide is both the bravest and the most cowardly act there is.
