Idiot Commenters Tend to Ruin Things
The internet is full of idiots. Hell, you may believe that this blog is filled with idiots, and that's your opinion. It seems only logical that some of these idiots would find their way on to articles and wreck them for everyone else.
This isn't exactly "new" news, but Keith Olbermann has recently launched a blog on the MLBlogs network.
Well he's now part of the MLB Advanced Media "roster" and gets a salary from Major League Baseball, which Olbermann has already said he will donate to three charities: the Baseball Assistance Team, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and the Jayden Braden/Ariana Marzano College Fund.
This was the first time I had heard of this, and I think it is great when people who already make an assload of money acknowledge that. I mean, even if you don't really like the guy, you have to at least realize it was very kind gesture.
In the interest of putting my following rage in perspective I feel I should at least give my opinion of Olbermann. I am not here to start a political debate, but merely point out how idiotic these comments seemed to me. I am what you would call a center-left independent.
I'm in the middle, I don't align myself with a party, but I lean more so to the left than to the right when it comes to issues. I study Political Science along with two other subjects at a private college. Also for the record, I think George W. Bush would be a fantastic commissioner of the MLB.
As for Olbermann, I watched his show when he started because I thought it would be interesting to watch a liberal talking head as opposed to the usual conservative one you see on cable news, and because from when I was a little kid, I loved Olbermann. I mean what sports fan in my generation didn't?
Olbermann, Patrick, and Mayne as anchors of SportsCenter is one of my favorite sports-related memories from my childhood. Yet, despite my love for the man, I really tire of his show.
It's the liberal version of The O'Reilly Factor. He seriously spends half the show talking about how stupid Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly are, which if I wanted to hear gossip like that, I'd call my niece in middle school because at least the story would be more interesting.
That's not to say he doesn't have his moments, because he has let off some epic rants that make me wonder why he doesn't speak so brutally honest all the time.
But that's enough for background. I've given you my bias on this enough to let you understand where I sit politically and in my opinion of Keith, so that readers aren't left assuming that I am a stone cold democrat or that the "idiots" are ones who disagree with my opinion.
So I return to the subject of idiots. Some idiots like to comment on stories and insert things that aren't there. Also, based upon where you go you can easily tell if you're dealing with people who actually know what they're talking about or if the idiots are taking over.
For example, youtube commenters. That's really all I need to say. In case, you're not "in the know" I'll sum up the comments left to a youtube video: The first comment has something to do with the video, and then every comment following that will be people calling others "gay."
Two other great examples of idiotic commenters would be those on the Indianapolis Star (newspaper) website and those on NBA.com especially in the Pacers section.
Well tonight as I was on MLB.com I saw the link to the story mentioned above and I decided to click on it to see if there was any new information to learn. Well after reading the article I saw the most recently posted comment which was:
"If MLB is trying to get attention by stirring up controversy, this will do it. I think Olbermann is arrogant and have no interest in his opinion, but I hope he will give his salary to the charities named and not MoveOn.org."
Seriously? Please tell me we're all playing the internets game where we say silly shit that we're being extremely over the top about. Also, I'm aware that this isn't a completely horrible comment, but it's stupid. I mean the man is a lifelong baseball fan, who WAS AN ANCHOR ON SPORTSCENTER!
Well without further to do, here are some of my favorites:
"what a horrible person!"
Well thanks for your opinion?
"What are you thinking? Olbermann? I hope this is just poor judgement and not some political statement from MLB. I will never come back to this site as long as he is on your staff. Goodbye mlb.com."
I'm posting this one because it isn't uncommon. There are a lot of people claiming they're boycotting the site until he's gone and are getting rid of their MLB.tv and MLB extra innings packages, well have fun people, we'll see you next week.
"has keith come out of the closet yet??"
I feel like it's an impossible situation, but I'm going to try to follow the logic here...if you're liberal...you're gay?
"oh for for the two neophytes in love with Olberman...when no one reads or lsitens to the dribble of Keith Olberman...MLB will realize what a financial disaster this is...what the heck could they be paying this moron??"
Neophytes? Did he look that word up before or after he didn't read the article?
"Olbermann? This is my last visit to this site. KO is a commie and I love this country. wmd1919"
I know I posted one similar to this above, but really...this one HAS to be a joke. Please? Just to reassure my faith in Americans ability to understand simple political concepts. I don't care, lie to me.
"Judging by the caliber of people complaining about this, MLB appears to have made a great decision. I'm counting on each and every one of you Philistines on here vowing to boycott MLB over this hire to keep your word.
"If you do, the average IQ at baseball games should skyrocket and attending games would be that much more enjoyable for those of us with a clue."
This comment is made of pure win.
"I can see his next blog now: "How the neo-cons on the right are covertly planning to destroy our national pasttime..." Why, MLB? Why are you doing this to the fans? Why?"
I feel like this is sarcasm, and it's hysterical.
"Bill O'Reilly likes baseball, why didn't he get the job?"
I'm not even going to touch this.
"Why would you allow this idiot to spew his hatred. He is a disgusting human being who has the IQ of a tree. You just lessoned your product, I am very displeased with MLB, You should be ashamed of yourselfs. Let him stay with his fellow communists over at MSNBC. We sure dont want him ruining our National pasttime.
"I hope you reconsider allowing him in this realm, I know I will get my baseball news from someplace else until you do."
I'm going to let the next commenter speak for me: ""Yourselfs?" Your education and intelligence says it all..."
And just like a fireworks display I'm letting it all loose, GRAND FINALE!
"The people smoking the barakcrack are the ones who are scary. I bet most of them never even played baseball. Go play with your Ken and Brett Malibu beach houses and leave mlb.com for folks who love America, enjoy baseball, pay their taxes and their mortgages on time and aren't asking for government bailout."
"This sickening fella is pathetic, biased, selfserving and has NO PLACE on MLB. I will either go to ESPN Sports now or USA-Today. Who was the moron that hired this piece of garbage? I know of NOBODY that respects the guy...he is a shameful excuse for a man. Looks like pansys are in charge of MLB because no real MEN would listen to this liberal maggot."
"Miss CA is a bimbo. Are U now advocating we elect certain "beauty queens" with no brains to government office in this country? Oops, I forgot! U folks tried that with Palin! Note the ratio of the misinformed extreme right to the rest of us. Why? Because they have absolutely nothing better to than stay glued to Faux, Rush, and their PC.
"I'm outta here for now. Life's too short to be debating someone who brings a toothpick to a gunfight. BTW 32X, I'm in WI...just in case U want to find out whether your theory of "liberals can't fight" or "thin skinned" is true or not?"
"Maybe he can have MLB applogize to Cuba,Dominacan Republic or any other country if AMERICAN umpire happens to make a bad call and offend their country"
"The left wingers will mostly die of disease. Most liberals have Barney's Frank or somebody else's frank up their rear end. The left aren't hygenic enough to survive the future. lmao"
So there you have it. The internet. I'm all for freedom of speech, but generally I'm more willing to listen if what people say is intelligent. I have read Olbermann's blog and after reading it I didn't see any "liberal bias" or anything like that. I just don't understand the insanity going on.
Honestly, I'd be completely ok with Bill O'Reilly having a blog on the site, like Olbermann. I'm just more inclined to read Olbermann's because he's a former, well I guess current, sports commentator and is a SABR member.
Yet, I'm completely fine with political commentators becoming sports commentators, especially baseball, but that's because I believe there's a link between interest in politics and interest in baseball. Well...I'm for it as long as you don't do something stupid.
.png?w=256)
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
