May 18, 2013

Criticism vs. Trolling – Lambasting Chris Perez on Twitter is Stupid

April 6, 2012 by 89 Comments

Do you think Chris Perez knows that he had a bad day yesterday? It is a dumb question for most of us, but not all of us. Every year some “fans” just refuse to get it. I really hate to do the “real fans” thing where we pretend like if you don’t bong twelve beers in the Muni lot pre-game you aren’t as good a fan as the guy who watches on his couch in Youngstown. That’s now what I’m talking about. I think it is safe to say that if you berate a player on twitter after a bad game that you are worthy of being called out. I know I wrote about this last year, but as social media gets bigger and bigger, I’ll continue to write it annually.

“Thanks %$&*head @ChrisPerez54″

“Answer me %$#* @ChrisPerez54″

I am paraphrasing the two worst quotes I saw yesterday aimed at Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez (by the same guy, by the way) after Perez started off the season in awful fashion. I checked in on our “friend” this morning and the same guy is was begging Boobie Gibson for an RT for no apparent reason. He claims to be a member of #Teamcleveland, but I might argue that point.

Perez clearly didn’t have it. He blew the save and spoiled Justin Masterson’s great performance. See that? That’s some harsh criticism of Chris Perez. I would never try to tell anyone not to criticize him. I refuse to boo a guy off the field, but I wouldn’t tell anyone else that they shouldn’t. I am guessing Chris Perez wouldn’t tell you not to boo either.

These are big boys and they should be able to handle criticism. Also, they put themselves out there on the Internet and they have to take some of the bad with the good. At the same time, I don’t think I know anyone who would ever say those two quotes above to Chris Perez’ face. Whenever it appears someone has internet muscles you know it is over the line.

Most importantly, I would ask anyone who tweeted at Chris Perez yesterday what purpose they’re looking to serve by putting bile on his timeline. It isn’t our responsibility to coddle Perez and try to coax him into being the best player he can be. That’s something he must accomplish largely by himself between his own ears. But as a fan of the Cleveland Indians, why wouldn’t you want to do everything you can to foster a scenario where the guy can be the best version of himself instead of a guy who was not only battered between the lines but then presumably on his cell phone at home?

That’s where I think we get into the justified argument about whether someone is a “good fan” or not.

I know I’m not going to be able to stop idiocy, but hopefully the counter-movement to these dummies grows as big as the population of trolls. The good people will probably never yell as much as the bad ones, but hopefully their voices ring through louder. If not, we’ll end up with more athletes going the route of Matt LaPorta and quitting altogether.

I’m not sure that’s really where we want this world to go either, but it seems like the eventual path the way we’re headed.

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  • BrownsFanSF

    not my Mo Vaughn hahaha, oh typos…

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    As soon as Perez started to struggle, which wasn’t long, Pestano should have been ready.  Acta blew it.  The Indians simply cannot afford mistakes like this even in game one.  They aren’t good enough to give away victories.

  • http://www.cinpleweb.com/ stin4u

    You are correct, sir.

  • Garry_Owen

    You know you can self-edit with the edit button, right?  Man, that couldn’t have fit any better!

    (Just so you don’t think I’m just “trolling,” I’ve enjoyed the conversation and agree wholeheartedly with your points.)

  • Garry_Owen

    The Four Horseman of the Relationship and Civility Apocalypse:

    Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and User Comments

    Where we can be anybody, say anything, and tear down others in the quiet, often anonymous, comfort of our own cowardice. 

  • Tron

    Wait so you’re in charge of scolding people for using bad language now? I mean I understand you’re not a fan of it, and as part of YOUR website have a right to regulate it. I can respect that, but to say it’s scold worthy and should be done away with entirely? No thanks mein fuhrer, I’ll keep my first amendment thank you very much.

  • BrownsFanSF

    Hahaha, it’s all good man.  I am still technically a guest (despite posting here like daily), so I don’t think it lets me edit my posts

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Very nice…like my Grandpa always said, “The smarter we get, the dumber we get!”

  • Garry_Owen

    You’re no guest.  You’re like family, now.  We expect you to help with cleaning the dishes. 

  • BrownsFanSF

    Awww, after that I had to go and make a profile.  Consider the dishes done hahaha

  • fliegeroh

    The little worm who sent those comments would soil his underpants in front of the real Chris Perez (who is 6’4″ and 230 lbs) and would never dare to make such comments to his face.  It would certainly be “yes sir” and “no sir”.  The anonymity of the net alows for individuals like this to behave like uncilvilized losers (after building up their “courage” with large amounts of alcohol”.)  This is the dark side of professional sports.  It turns people (sometimes fans and sometimes players and coaches) into animals.  And I don’t mean to besmirch the good reputation of animals everywhere by comparing them to these pieces of human excrement.

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    Criticizing a medium of writing by using the very medium of writing you are criticizing is funny.

    It’s akin to Michael Moore owning millions of dollars in Halliburton stock.

  • porckchopexpress

    There is something about cussing a guy out anonymously, and from a great distance that just seems a kinda little brotherish.  I have seen people say that it isn’t fair for athletes to use twitter or other social media as a one way street to put their message out there.  Well I submit that it is equally unfair for their real names/identies to be out their while their responders are hidden by not so clever psuedonyms or lame pop-culture references*. 
    If you go on twitter and call Perez a C#^!sucker and there is bright shining picture of your face and your real name than I have no issue.  To hide in the shadows, fire off the crap people do, and then hide under some BS premise that you’re just doing it to keep them from using social media as a means to control their issue, is pretty weak.

    * Use of a persons initials in combination with any reference to Big Trouble in Little China is not nor ever will be a lame pop-culture reference.

  • porckchopexpress

    It is also perfectly acceptable for persons using Big Trouble in Little China inspired names to constantly mix up the use of there and their. So their

  • BrownsFanSF

    I don’t entirely agree with that.  I think it’s reasonable to use a medium (that has a lot of good aspects) to criticize the aspects of that medium you find reprehensible.

  • BrownsFanSF

    I always hoped your handle was in reference to Big Trouble in Little China.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    “It’s akin to Michael Moore owning millions of dollars in Halliburton stock,” I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if he does. 

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    I like doh-nuts!

  • Garry_Owen

    You did notice that my language was self-inclusive, right?

  • Garry_Owen

    You did notice that my language was self-inclusive, right?

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi
  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi
  • Garry_Owen

    Almost as ironic as a perpetual crusader who likes to command people how to think criticizing crusaders telling people how to think, no?

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    Hmm…at the barest minimum it was.  Saying the collective “we” but then criticizing that “bunch of slobbering masses” typically means the writer doesn’t see his/herself as part of that group.

    Otherwise, what’s the point, except being self-deprecating, and you don’t mark me as one of those kinds of people.

    TBH, I sort of despise most of the internet and its mask of anonymity as much as the next red-blooded American, but what is the alternative?  There has been graffiti since the Romans were in town (I’ve seen it, preserved, in Pompeii) so I think that comment boards online are just the electronic version of those kinds of comments.  Which were always lewd and silly inasmuch as they were apt and revealing.

    True story:  There is a little preserved graffiti in Pompeii that actually reads “For a great evening, go see Quintis’ daughter” in Latin.  We haven’t changed in 2000+ years, so anyone crusading against humanity is in for a tough, endless fight.

  • Garry_Owen

    Fair enough. I certainly wouldn’t mark you as self-deprecating, but self-deprecation is my middle name. (Made for some rough elementary school years.)

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    Woh woh woh, when did I ever tell anyone how to think?  I tell people to analyze what they see if front of them without the sunglasses of the Gods on and without sipping the Kool Aid. 

  • Garry_Owen

    It was a hypothetical!  Oh, telltale heart. 

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    I bet.  So it goes.  I’m sure you’re doing fine.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Not shocked at all what I’m shocked by is that he hasn’t run for some sort of office.  He’d be the perfect politician talking out both ends.

  • porckchopexpress

    Disaproving of the use of a medium and the medium itself are two different things. 

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    Ok, but what I was disagreeing with was saying “No, you’re not allowed to criticize in THIS manner, only in these APPROVED manners which of course I decide what those are at all times.”  No one should be that commandeering over something as innovative and diverse as the internet.

  • porckchopexpress

    And I’m glad a guy from the movies city would get it. 

    Jack Burton’s advice at the end comes in handy being a Cleveland fan.

    When the lightnings crashing all around you and the rain is coming down in sheets as thick as lead…. Bring it on I can take it.

  • BrownsFanSF

    Hahaha, you know what ol’ Jack Burton says at a time like this

  • http://twitter.com/Dennymayo Denny

    Love it or leave it, brah.

  • Steve

     Untrue. The team had a 97% chance at winning going into the 9th with a league average pitcher going for them. Wheeler/Acensio/Jensen Lewis-types should convert that save without a problem. As long as Perez was deemed healthy enough to pitch, the failure was in execution, not strategy.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Craig Lyndall

    I don’t have the power to shut anyone down, so no worries about your first amendment rights. I also don’t have the power to do away with the platform. I’ll stick to my toothless scolding though. It seems like the right thing to do.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/ Scott @ WFNY

    First amendment? Are we advocating arrest?

  • Ritz

    Ugh another crticism based almost completely on hindsight. I am sure that if Masterson was left in and blew the lead, people would say “He already threw almost 100 pitched and it’s the first game of the season and his arm isn’t completely stretched out.”

    Fact is, without the benefit on hindsight, that Chris Perez is the closer. That’s his job and the manager called on him to do his job, period.

  • DonFelder

    More importantly, Tron, like good ol’ Hank Williams, seems to overlook the whole “state action” part of the First Amendment. You know how it starts with “CONGRESS shall make no law… [abridging freedom of speech etc.]“? Last I checked, WFNY editors don’t wield state or federal legislative powers. 

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