Morning all It's well known that some clubs ban their players from twitter and other social media - something that causes a debate on whether the direct contact between players and fans is a good thing or a bad thing. I think the idea of having that link between players and fans is great, but as you can't moderate the idiots who are just there to abuse, or account for the downright stupidity of some of the players, the idea is better than the reality. Players should know when the fans are frustrated with them and such, but directly (and often personally) abusing them helps no one. Hunt has been the target of a lot of abuse, and I feel sorry for him for that. No one should be subjected to the direct attacks that he has been, and I suppose it was only a matter of time until he bit back. It started with what is, unfortunately, pretty standard abuse for him: Not pleasant, but Hunt decided to reply with some not particularly harmful "banter" but completely inappropriate for a professional to fan interaction He went on: Theres some quite refreshing honesty in there, but its also mixed in with him putting someone down for being a salesman. Not likely to win him more fans, and neither is suggesting that fans opinions don't count: Yes he's undoubtedly frustrated, yes this is pretty innocuous compared with a lot of the arguments that go on on twitter, but the difference is he is there in a professional capacity. He has a standard to maintain when it comes to his side of the fan/player relationship. I'm not saying its OK for him to be abused, but he certainly shouldn't be reacting in such an immature way. I have no doubt it's probably hard to ignore, and that's why it's becoming more common for clubs to ban their players from social media. So should our players be on social media?
In the case of #wagethief he should spend more time on social media and less time on a football pitch. The point he singularly doesn't get is that if this salesman didn't sell he would get sacked no matter how hard he was trying. If someone is in the spotlight for whatever reason is on social media there will always be trolls, but if there is justified reason for criticism then social media should be avoided. Part of the problem is that the salesman sees people like hunt earning in a week what most ordinary folk earn in a year and a level of justified frustration builds up.
I think this is a very good topic for debate and a difficult one to define the boundaries. My first thoughts are that their twitter account is their own private account albeit it public facing, but only private if there was ever such a word for twitter, because selective on whom they follow. Supporters tend to intrude on that privacy by mostly good views on performance but in bad times, less favourable comments. I suppose the flip side is that although a private account, the players unlike the main general public will have a proforma which make statements towards their career and even some using it as a marketing tool ie Herbalife / BMO just as two examples. So now players are bringing their career into their private bubble, hence why they have so many thousands of followers. I personally never abuse a player via twitter. However, i do get annoyed when i see some supporters sucking up to players with favourable comments, clearly just to be noticed themselves (look at me syndrome), when basically the player was total rubbish during a game - but i also don't like to see outright abuse. So back to the question, should players be on social media...yes, of course they should as long has they recognise the pitfalls, it's a minefield unless they manage it carefully.
I can see the frustration on the fans' part, particularly with wages but just because someone earns more than you and may not be performing to their highest, that doesn't entitle you to abuse them
Great points, maybe rather than a ban on social media clubs should introduce some sort of policy on interaction with fans? It's a difficult one like you say. You're absolutely right with people sucking up though. We had it in the months leading up to McCormack leaving, people just sickeningly taking the "can do no wrong" view and hoping for a scrap of recognition from him. That has to fuel the problem somewhat, it's not like most footballers need their ego's swelling even more!
If they choose to be on twitter or face book I disagree. If they have a profile that includes for instance #lufc they are looking for qudos and a pat on the back is always only 12" from a kick up the arse. Ultimately everyone has a choice of which media to join and whose output to read. @boyhunt is an example of a player who has taken the piss out of LUFC over the last eleven years and basically stolen a large fortune. Use Ross McGreedybastard as another example, a man who used twitter to manipulate the gullible.
They are looking for a pat on the back yes, and there is room for some level of constructive criticism if they aren't performing. That's what comes with a player/fan contact like this. But regardless of performance I'd say there is no room for personal abuse of players, theres a line of common decency. You better believe half of the people abusing players like Hunt would be as quiet as a mouse staring at the floor if they were faced with the players they were abusing.
I am one of those who abuses Hunt, not with swear words but by pointing out how he is stealing a living. I am of course quiet as a Mouse and wouldn't say anything to him face to face (not). He is taking the piss everytime he pulls on the shirt or goes to the cash point. Perhaps he isn't the best example. Matt Smith appears on twitter to be just like he is in person or on the pitch. No gloating and eager to please. As a result he gets a very fair press.
I have no doubt you would say something to his face glory, you never struck me as the keyboard warrior type You're right about Smith - an example of the system working. But then again, his performances don't really warrant the same level of criticism as Hunts. I guess the difficult thing is the distinction between criticising a players woeful performance (by stealing a living) vs abusing them as a person. That's a line that is never likely to be drawn on social media though.
There's the old adage that if you play with fire, you're likely to get burned. And it holds true for Twitter. unt should be disciplined for his outburst. You cannot do that to fans, no matter how justified it seems. The price for maintaining his presence on Twitter is abuse when persistently failing to produce the goods. He can either desist from 'biting', or get off Twitter altogether. There is no middle ground, and retaliation is just not on. Ask a referee!
Haven't bothered to read other comments but I think that its best if footballers stay off social media. Think its a professionalism thing more than anything, and it stops a lot of issues
Its not Hunts fault he his earning too much money and he will not give it up easily but if the fans can forcr him out that's a different matter I blame BM for bringing him and for paying exhorbitantly for him
I'm not on twatter or facefuck because I'm more private and see all the problems that many people get with social media. As has been said before it's a minefield and needs handling better by many. As far as the players are concerned I believe they should do an organised one via the club. Individual players giving their verdicts on how the team performed, how they thought they performed and some craic from inside the club. This would keep the fans happy and have the desired contact many fans and players like. Players to take it in turns with daily reports/contact with the fans .... all part of the new connection with fans. Nothing stopping the players then having a more private # that only goes too friends and family etc.
The danger of that is that it would cause divisions in the camp or be so watered down it would be meaningless. Can just see what would occur when Pearce says we lost today and it was all Tom Lees fault.
Great points. If they don't want any forms of abuse they're better away from it altogether. Wouldn't be any different if players wanted to sign up to this forum or any other such as waccoe etc, they'd get battered when they didn't perform. Most fans are reasonable and can see when players are pulling the wool over their eyes like hunt and when like Smith they are doing their best
Players shouldn't be on social media full stop. The only benefit is they get reasonable feedback when they put in a reasonable performance. The coach should be giving them that anyway. If they perform well they get people inflating their ego, if they perform badly they get abuse. Unlike every other job, they are providing a service to people who are captive customers. Once you support a club, you don't change clubs because you don't like how they are doing (Man U fans excepted). So, while you wouldn't expect customers for other service related jobs to heap abuse on a person because they didn't perform well, sports players are a completely separate category. They are massively overpaid for what they do, the customer has to pay far more than the service is actually worth to participate, the customer can't change entertainment provider, and if there is a direct conduit to that player where the customer can express their dissatisfaction, they will, and they have every right to as well. Basically, keep players off social media in my book.
Aside from the points i made earlier and that i think players should be allowed to use social media and that i don't believe in abusing players, you make some fair points that tie with my way of thinking. Firstly, yes a lot of footballers, not all, are massively overpaid. Secondly it really does hack me off, when i see players accepting praise but they can't accept FAIR criticism. Thirdly and the worst kind is the one's we have already mentioned, supporters that suck up to players. They will suggest that they are just supporting the team positively and that would be fine if the truth, but we all know damn well some only do it for their own egoism. It's a bit like this site, if i post something positive about my club, there is never any recognition of the week in, week out contribution in time, money and effort that is put in on our season's travels, and i don't expect any, but damn sure as soon has you start saying words to the contrary, then people want to start threatening with lawyers. They can't have it both ways and only appear in voice when they get stick. Yes, it's their freedom to voice how and when they feel, but so is it ours if you venture at looking into the abyss, especially when its costing us and arm and a leg.
