Different people like sports for different reasons. Most of the time it's a social event, getting together over a couple of cold ones to forget about life, root for a common cause, and according to some research I've read, get away from women. Whether that last part is true or not, sometimes the practice of watching sports makes fans passionate in one way or another.
Passion is all well and good until it becomes outright stupidity. With the advent of social networking and the gravity that it holds as a 24/7, 365 place of discussion, this marketplace of ideas has become an overpopulated haven for hate and disdain due to simple statements held by just about anyone. Opinion leaders, media members, people of interest and even fellow peers are all easy targets for hate that simply should not exist.
These arguments could be over subjects as simple as word choice, an opinion with plenty of validity (or not), and hot button issues. Social networking has given everyone in the world a pedestal about any issue. Sometimes certain people shouldn't be given this pedestal due to the hatred that they possess for their fellow man, granted a false sense of power over some new social norms that mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Gaining following on Twitter early on is tough. Some newbies put out tremendous ideas as well as make respectful, constructive conversation with others. Then, they hit the point when they find the power. The idea that 1,000 people subscribe to their ideas earned them some sort of distinction. They turn violently from respectful towards their peers to high and mighty. Their ideas become indestructible.
Those who oppose these supposed new "opinion leaders" become the bad guys—the "haters" that seek to win some sort of territorial battle of which there is no territory to win, and no battle to win either. It's pointless chatter that in the grand scheme of things, means absolutely nothing. It's speculation.
Social networking has completely killed our social norms. I had a conversation with someone a month ago about how we are truly glued to our devices. It's true. I'm no different. I do place a lot of value in being connected to the world, to stay on top of things and try and be a respected voice in life. I try my best to be respectful to others. I don't think too much of my follower count, or how much I tweet.
However, we've hit a point where the Internet is a battleground. Sometimes it's hard to stay respectful towards people who aren't respectful towards you. It's hard to stay close to the morals we were taught as kids. We're forced to defend ourselves, to assert our territory that we simply don't have. Why do we have to fight? Why can't we come to an understanding?
I find that last question comes up a lot in the scope of my life, but it's true. Why can't we? Why do we have to fight over something that isn't even close to in our control? Whether or not Shea Weber's deal would be matched by Nashville, whether or not Obamacare is a good idea, whether or not Lebron James is worth all the hype that he receives, whether or not we should vote for one candidate or the other, the controversies in life breed hate because of this pedestal that all of us are granted.
Twitter dangerously asks "What's happening?" Facebook more perilously asks "What's on your mind?" This is simply bait into the hateful discussion. This isn't social networking. It's social annihilation. Friendships are ruined more-so than gained over constant connection. I've found that no one cares about the instagrammed picture of your burger and fries. Nobody cares about your song lyrics. There's no need to know.
I've run through my mind almost endlessly, "what is my purpose on Twitter?" "Who am I broadcasting to? The hockey fan? The person who likes my perspective?" I asked a few professional broadcasters about what they think their role is. They didn't really have a solid answer. I guess it's kind of a personal discovery.
I have a challenge for people. If you don't agree, don't attack. Discuss. If you don't particularly like someone, don't belittle. Try to come to an understanding. There's no territory to be gained or argument to be won here. Followers are arbitrary. We know people buy them to make them look big. They aren't. There is no proof in follower count. Only in character.
At this point, social networking is impossible to avoid. It's here, and will forever be here. We'll always be connected from this point forward. I don't think its creators believed it could be this bad, but it has hit a tipping point. Is there a need for gatekeeping? Is there a need to remove people because of hateful content? Perhaps we give our First Amendment rights here in America too little respect.
I know this sounds pontificating, and honestly, this is simply my perspective. But I see social norms crumbling, I see friendships being destroyed, I see connections being ruined because of a mindless sense of territory. There is no need for this. Truly.
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