by Paul Jordan
I don’t know Mark Hamilton personally, but I feel pretty safe that he is the type of UK fans that other teams point at and use as an example to call UK fans “insane”, “obsessed” or “unreasonable”. From what I have found out about Mark Hamilton, he is from Louisville, 27 years old, and apparently gets a kick out of jumping on Facebook at 2:40AM and bashing an 18 year old kid that he has never met before simply for living out his dream.
Regardless, I get the temptation. It’s late, you’re frustrated about the Wildcat game and hey, Daniel Orton is your Facebook friend so that is almost as good as actually knowing the guy. So that makes it OK to unload, right???
Um no ….
For one, it’s kind of creepy to be 28 and talking smack to someone 10 years younger than you on an internet message board. Much less someone that you don’t know. And to bring his family into the argument brings a whole new area desperation to your argument. Same goes if you are a “fan” of Coach Calipari and you are still fighting mad that he has the audacity to charge for his website. Or you just want to vent about West Virginia’s 1-3-1 zone defense. So you fire off a missive or two on Cal’s facebook page.
Thing is, most of the BBN pretty much “get” the whole rules of social interaction with the players and the coaches. It’s OK to befriend the players on facebook, myspace, and twitter, but do realize the term “friend” is used lightly. I am friends with both Patrick Patterson AND his Mom on facebook, but yet I still know not to expect that invitation for Easter Dinner.
Likewise I know that Jodie Meeks and John Wall are not looking for my input on the NBA decisions they have made or are in the process of making. They have their actual friends and families for these things, but if I was compelled to offer that advice, I would make sure that is was well written, or nothing that would cause embarrassment to me or my friends or family.
Funny thing, these social media interactions. They are not private, so when you go online at 2:40AM and berate a total stranger that is still a teenager and you kind of look like a douchebag, lots of people are going to notice and mock you and embarrass you into behaving sanely.
I think the old adage our parents taught use should apply to our interactions on the social medias. Actually there are two lessons to be learned.
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it.
If you can’t say something to someone’s face, don’t say it.
I think these rules are still pretty much valid in the facebook arena as well …. so please … to the 1% of the BBN’s lunatic fringe that actually leave these messages for the players …. grow up.
Good luck whatever you decide Daniel.
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