Media, and social media, equally to blame in Urban Meyer mess
Brian: It is true that Urban Meyer should never have gotten himself into the mess he is now apologizing for. As he said, he should have just walked away.
However, what is it with these idiots who get their kicks out of taking videos of people in compromising situations and then posting the video on social media? Come on, man!
Apparently these idiots have no compassion or feelings about what effect their actions will have on the individual’s well-being, respect and reputation, as well the anguish inflicted on the individual’s family.
What purpose does it serve to expose an individual’s weaknesses for everyone see?
Mike Welsh Westerville
Mike: This is the life of celebrity today. There are all kinds of people out there with phones who can’t wait to take people down. Like it or not, it’s reality. The best advice I can think of is pretty simple: Stay clear of situations you will soon be apologizing for. Especially in public, crowded places. Even if you own the restaurant.
Brian: OMG. Urban Meyer is human. The media spending so much effort making him look like an idiot is a sad commentary on humanity.
The media gains audience by reporting on “shocking events” of famous people, who were portrayed earlier as “walking on water.” But they never were saints, just humans who were good at their jobs.
Meyer simply acted on human impulse to a situation he is probably faced with countless times every day. Every famous person is faced with similar situations. I dislike almost every thing about Donald Trump, but the one thing I understood about him was his desire to flirt or have sex with beautiful women. I am not saying it was the right thing to do, but human nature will encourage this type of behavior in most men.
So, while his family might not, I forgive Trump for “crude” behavior. The same with Meyer. He was a wonderful coach for Ohio State. He did his job well. To criticize him for being human is a waste of time and should be left to the privacy of his loved ones.
Ted Sinks, Delaware
Ted: One of Meyer’s biggest messages to his teams is to be focused on the task at hand and to not introduce distractions that could sidetrack things. Thus, him being cavalier in such a public setting sends a strong message that he doesn’t practice what he preaches. I’m sure his players would rather he be figuring a way to finally win a game.
Hello Mr. White: I was pleased to read the issue of loud music remains a “hot topic.” I can assure you, that sentiment comes from many others not named Dave.
In my 40 years as a Dispatch subscriber, I have been moved to write to a columnist only on one other occasion. What affect could my lonely opinion have? But if a pool of complaints exists regarding this irksome practice, then I want my voice added to the swell. Would it be too much to hope the university would listen to us?
Going to an Ohio State basketball or football game is a special event, very often shared by friends and family. I made a habit of treating old acquaintances or distant family to the experience, and enjoyed time “catching up” while cheering on the Buckeyes.
It would be nice to be able to hear the band. I would like to converse with the person next to me without having to shout. It wears you down to the point you just give up.
An OSU basketball game at the Schott is an overwhelming assault. It’s not just the volume, either. It’s a game-long cacophony of competing ads, PA system, shouting cheerleaders, band playing, video broadcast, loud music, dueling hot dogs etc . ... In your face, all at the same time, at full volume. Why?
I love loud music and attend many concerts. But this is OSU football/basketball! Great traditions. The camaraderie of the faithful is the “experience” we enjoy. Cheap gimmicks and thrills add nothing. This isn’t some some arena football team or minor league franchise. Let us enjoy listening to the band and debating the previous play in between snaps or during timeouts.
Soaring ticket prices and subpar competition aren’t the only reasons attendance is waning. Basketball games became such a cheap, difficult circus experience that I stopped my season tickets. Football games are not much better.
Wake up, OSU. This is the consensus of your fans. Please listen.
Kevin
Kevin: Welcome to the Dave/david discussion! (We’ve gotten several emails on the subject, but, oddly, all were from people named Dave or David.) And thanks for your viewpoints. This topic remains hot among our readers. Who knows? Maybe OSU is listening.
Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com.