We need to stand up to the so-called keyboard warriors
HINDSIGHT is a wonderful thing. It is easy for people to dissect a situation and comment on how they would have “done it better” when it’s all over. Social media plays its part to perfection here and is used as a tool to replay moments, many of which those involved would rather forget.
If we look at the past two All-Ireland Hurling Finals, plenty of examples stand out. John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer was still out of breath from the battle with the Cats when he was whisked off for an interview; a microphone was shoved in front of him and a camera planted in his face.
He was emotionally charged; adrenalin was still pumping through his veins. He was just coming to terms with the reality of being an All-Ireland Champion. He, for one, may have felt he had a point to prove that day, after being left out of the starting 15 for the All-Ireland Semi-Final.
His reaction was immediate and unrehearsed. He was clearly delirious with excitement and when he cursed, you could hear the gasp of the crowd that heard his interview. “Did he just say the F word?”, “Oh God, he’ll pay for that later.”, “Another Johnny Glynn on our hands lads”.
These were the comments of the supporters swarming me. Another person piped up, murmuring how Bubbles was a disgrace. The same person would have been better served to practice what they preached.
Having sat beside him for the game, I learned a few new four letter word sequences, especially when frustration kicked in for that Kilkenny supporter.
Bubbles O’Dwyer could be heard on national radio the following day publicly apologising for cursing. We have politicians and bankers in this country that have yet to apologise for the chaos they caused over the past decade, but because of a moment of madness, that All-Ireland Champion felt the pressure to ask for forgiveness.
I am not condoning cursing, not for a second. Thousands of young people were watching the match and, yes, Bubbles is seen as a hero to so many of them. It was an unforced error, rather than an act of malice. There was no intent. Yet how many keyboard warriors took to social media to post the video of Bubbles’ ‘slip of the tongue’.
How many took to their Twitter pages to write about the crudeness and disgrace of it all. How many of those have never cursed before. Young people nowadays hear a lot more in the stands at matches than we care to admit.
Turn on the TV and you see comedians using derogatory terms and curse words as part of their acts. GAA players are not media professionals. While you can be advised about the ‘do’s and don’ts’ when it comes to answering media questions, it’s a different story when you are standing in Croke Park in front of 82,000 screaming fans having just won an All-Ireland Final in scintillating fashion.
Let’s look at the Senior Camogie All-Ireland Final last Sunday. The Kilkenny women were chasing success for the first time in 22 years. Cork were looking for that elusive threein-a-row.
There was a lot at stake; it’s all about finding small margins and gains to help in any way. The formality involving both teams shaking hands before the game is a ritual I don’t necessarily support. If the reason behind it is sportsmanship, then do it after the game, when players aren’t in the zone. Let it happen when the victors have to be gracious and the others have to show respect.
I always shake the hand of my own marker before the game, but there is no true sentiment in shaking the hands of the entire group you plan to go to war with in the following hour or so.
When tension is palpable between two teams, that’s when altercations can occur. RTÉ were in prime position to catch the minor clash between Cork’s Hannah Looney and Kilkenny’s Colette Dormer. Hannah was doing her utmost to get into the heads of the Kilkenny defence; looking for some competitive edge, as all players do. Perhaps she was trying to have a staring contest with them and stared a little too hard at Colette Dormer, who took action and pushed Hannah back as a statement of intent.
She was merely showing that she would not be effected by such a tactic. What happened next was not ‘edge of your seat stuff ’. Hannah moved on and shook the hands of the remaining Kilkenny players’ and Colette proceeded to shake the other Cork women’s hands.
If you looked to social media, you’d swear a brawl had ensued. There was video footage, slowed down and repeated. More people commented on Twitter about the brief confrontation than about the match itself. Jesus, we love drama! It was a rush of the blood to the head that was blown out of proportion and it was just down to a combination of inexperience, adrenalin and passion.
Remember these women have been training and waiting all year for this final, for their chance to play on the biggest day of the Camogie calendar. They were minutes away from that dream becoming a reality, but yet in the dying moments prior to commencement, people are shocked when something happens while both teams stand inches away from each other.
Social media can be a catalyst for sparking debate which is a good thing, but when discussion turns to criticism and condescending comments then it’s time for us to stand up and not take that anymore.
Tolerating that behaviour is a far worse example to be setting for younger people. Condoning it or being a part of it will have a more dangerous impact on children than hearing curses or seeing mild physical exchanges.
That’s a fact! Oh how we do love a bit of drama though…
I ALWAYS SHAKE THE HAND OF MY MARKER BEFORE THE GAME BUT THERE IS NO TRUE SENTIMENT IN SHAKING THE HANDS OF THE ENTIRE GROUP YOU PLAN TO GO TO WAR WITH