Rance2Mewtwo
Cancelled
- Jul 31, 2016
- 1,554
- 4,909
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Dear good people on this website,
In growing numbers, AFL players are reading our comments. In several cases, this is unintentionally causing legitimate, serious long-term harm and emotional pain to real people.
If we all post with the expectation that AFL players are reading nearly every word we type, as is the reality, I believe it will bring out the more human side of social media. That's all.
People describe social media as "addictive as smoking". And like smoking, it's not enough to say "don't smoke", or on the other side of the coin, "don't be a horrible person online even if you're half-joking".
To the players reading this - while this hardly comes close to justifying the obscene behaviour you're needlessly, constantly exposed to - please know that large social media platforms, by nature, entice all people to post more extreme views than they normally would (I know you already know this, but it's true). Nobody will get a subtle point across in a sea of shouting. Anonymity removes the human element of communication, so you never see the cheeky, playful grin on the person who hits send, like a child pretending it didn't steal the cookie.
To the other posters reading this - I invite you to draw your own little line in the sand. It's quite simple and straightforward too. All we have to do is imagine that an AFL player *is* going to read what you post. His wife *is* going to read your comments. His kids *are* going to click on his thread on here, then show Dad (even if it's 5-10 years from now when they Google his name and read an old thread).
Suicide, anxiety, depression - let's all take responsibility for the small roles we play in the current social media environment... because as we need to remind ourselves: AFL players read what we write online.
In growing numbers, AFL players are reading our comments. In several cases, this is unintentionally causing legitimate, serious long-term harm and emotional pain to real people.
If we all post with the expectation that AFL players are reading nearly every word we type, as is the reality, I believe it will bring out the more human side of social media. That's all.
People describe social media as "addictive as smoking". And like smoking, it's not enough to say "don't smoke", or on the other side of the coin, "don't be a horrible person online even if you're half-joking".
To the players reading this - while this hardly comes close to justifying the obscene behaviour you're needlessly, constantly exposed to - please know that large social media platforms, by nature, entice all people to post more extreme views than they normally would (I know you already know this, but it's true). Nobody will get a subtle point across in a sea of shouting. Anonymity removes the human element of communication, so you never see the cheeky, playful grin on the person who hits send, like a child pretending it didn't steal the cookie.
To the other posters reading this - I invite you to draw your own little line in the sand. It's quite simple and straightforward too. All we have to do is imagine that an AFL player *is* going to read what you post. His wife *is* going to read your comments. His kids *are* going to click on his thread on here, then show Dad (even if it's 5-10 years from now when they Google his name and read an old thread).
Suicide, anxiety, depression - let's all take responsibility for the small roles we play in the current social media environment... because as we need to remind ourselves: AFL players read what we write online.
Come at me Schoey you useless bum?!
