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The recent Shockernet implosion reminds me of how torn I am about some of the criticism of university officials, coaching staff, and most importantly players.
I am torn because constructive and/or civil criticism is an excellent thing, but sometimes posters in these threads go way past constructive and/or civil debate. Some posts are downright mean spirited.
When most of us played college ball moons ago we certainly knew if we played bad in a specific game. And we undoubtedly knew if we were "in a slump", playing consecutive bad games. Nearly every player goes through it -- and our coaches were certainly never shy about pointing it out to us. We also heard the grumbles from the sidelines from our crowd when things went wrong.
However, it seemed in those days that most people would try to be a positive influence and help you out of your funk by encouraging you "to practice harder", or "stay focused", or "don't try and force the game to come to you".
I feel like it's a different era now. More people are prone to complain and gripe ad nauseam now instead of trying to focus on the positives. What's hard to swallow is that it has become a witch hunt mentality out there. One person starts complaining about something and it can often snowball into a complete, if ridiculous, meltdown.
I am guilty. I complained recently about the half time shows. Does it really matter what goes on at half time, relative to rooting on my beloved Shocks? No! Do I have a right to complain, because I paid good money for my season tickets? Yes! But that doesn't make it right. I at least tried to keep it constructive by soliciting ideas to improve -- but then fed the stupid-fire by laughing, agreeing, or egging-on about the dance squad. I also complained about a very popular local coach intentionally drawing a technical in an exhibition match, possibly endangering our squad.
We all have opinions and they certainly aren't (even shouldn't) be positive all the time. I definitely get that. Ironically, I'm complaining about over-the-top negative posts right now.
But here is the very worst part about the uncivil criticism, debating, and complaining: It's all in writing now. It's permanent, it's pervasive, and it's public. Gone are the days of just wanting your team to play better and debating about it at the water cooler.
Now the players don't just hear from their coaches, family and friends when they are dogging it. They get to go online and read very public and highly read, over-the-top criticism about themselves, knowing their peers and family members get to read the same comments. And worse is that much of the time the incendiary comments are just nonsense, but you can't defend yourself.
I wouldn't be motivated to play better by that. As a matter of fact if I was a university official, coach, staff, or player; I wouldn't waste my time on it at all. And that's a shame, because there are interesting discussions, civil debates, and would-be feedback that IS worth reading.
I think I'm glad I played in a different era.
I am torn because constructive and/or civil criticism is an excellent thing, but sometimes posters in these threads go way past constructive and/or civil debate. Some posts are downright mean spirited.
When most of us played college ball moons ago we certainly knew if we played bad in a specific game. And we undoubtedly knew if we were "in a slump", playing consecutive bad games. Nearly every player goes through it -- and our coaches were certainly never shy about pointing it out to us. We also heard the grumbles from the sidelines from our crowd when things went wrong.
However, it seemed in those days that most people would try to be a positive influence and help you out of your funk by encouraging you "to practice harder", or "stay focused", or "don't try and force the game to come to you".
I feel like it's a different era now. More people are prone to complain and gripe ad nauseam now instead of trying to focus on the positives. What's hard to swallow is that it has become a witch hunt mentality out there. One person starts complaining about something and it can often snowball into a complete, if ridiculous, meltdown.
I am guilty. I complained recently about the half time shows. Does it really matter what goes on at half time, relative to rooting on my beloved Shocks? No! Do I have a right to complain, because I paid good money for my season tickets? Yes! But that doesn't make it right. I at least tried to keep it constructive by soliciting ideas to improve -- but then fed the stupid-fire by laughing, agreeing, or egging-on about the dance squad. I also complained about a very popular local coach intentionally drawing a technical in an exhibition match, possibly endangering our squad.
We all have opinions and they certainly aren't (even shouldn't) be positive all the time. I definitely get that. Ironically, I'm complaining about over-the-top negative posts right now.
But here is the very worst part about the uncivil criticism, debating, and complaining: It's all in writing now. It's permanent, it's pervasive, and it's public. Gone are the days of just wanting your team to play better and debating about it at the water cooler.
Now the players don't just hear from their coaches, family and friends when they are dogging it. They get to go online and read very public and highly read, over-the-top criticism about themselves, knowing their peers and family members get to read the same comments. And worse is that much of the time the incendiary comments are just nonsense, but you can't defend yourself.
I wouldn't be motivated to play better by that. As a matter of fact if I was a university official, coach, staff, or player; I wouldn't waste my time on it at all. And that's a shame, because there are interesting discussions, civil debates, and would-be feedback that IS worth reading.
I think I'm glad I played in a different era.
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