THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY OF SOCIAL MEDIA

By Graham Potter | Monday, November 11, 2019

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

Social media is a magnificent platform for information, interaction and communication. At best, it is a huge plus for society but when it is used by cowards to hurl abuse or to just downright bully individuals its shine quickly fades and it becomes no better than a cesspool inhabited by murky, faceless figures.

There are countless examples of the damage … read suicides as the extreme … done by these merciless trolls and the fact that they continue to be allowed to act in such a manner without facing any consequences is inexcusable.

Two jockeys bore the full brunt of social media mayhem following the running of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. I not suggesting for a minute that their cases are anywhere near as bad as, for example, a defenceless twelve-year-old girl being bullied on-line … but they nevertheless do represent another version of what can only be called on-line thuggery.

Michael Walker, who rode the eventual second placed runner Prince Of Arran, fell foul of racing’s whip rule in his efforts to get his horse home. He was punished under the rules, receiving a $10 000 fine and a suspension for excessive use of the whip … and then came the social media storm with a torrent of abuse being directed at Walker which included inappropriate (I’m being kind using that word) references to his partner and family as well as some communication which could be viewed as threatening.

Frankie Dettori, who lost second spot on Master Of Reality after causing interference close to the line, also received a suspension, this time on a careless riding charge. Then, once again, both barrels were unloaded on social media in another barrage of abuse which became far more personal than is ever necessary.

Walker and Dettori are grown men working in a profession with a public profile and performance rating that can attract both praise and criticism at any given time. They know that comes with the territory and they are used to handling themselves in that situation, but when the abuse directed at them crosses the line … they become just ordinary people who are profoundly affected by their bad experience.

As Walker said, ‘it takes its toll.’

Anybody can take a cheap shot and then back off and hide in the shadows.

Those type of comments in reality reflect more on the insecurities and pathetic practises of those making them rather than on those being attacked.

The shame is on them.