You should watch Max Homa talk about how much twitter blows. Maybe not to the extent he describes but I think these are interesting comments.
Mostly because Max Homa rose to prominence on social media for roasting people’s swings. It was a funny bit and really good overall schtick from a PGA pro. But also understandably you’re going to rile some folks up along the way as a snarky son of a bitch. And that absolutely happened.
But is it responsible for all the hate? Is that why people are mean?
I don’t think so.
I think it’s actually much closer to the point about people being miserable.
So many people are miserable. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. Literally 99% of the world has occupied negative mental space and that’s just part of being human. Life is hard and we’re engineered to take things personally.
But uniquely, twitter lets you act on your personal frustrations in a public space anonymously. And that gives people the runway to be shitty because it makes them feel better for a mere moment. Nice little dopamine hit to talk shit and keep it scrolling.
The sad thing is people aren’t like that in real life.
In the 15 years of me being online, I can recall one instance of one person being shitty to me. It was in a crowded bathroom at a Barstool event a couple years ago. Some guy told me Nobody here fucking likes you as he walked past me. He was wasted and with one of his boys. I stopped, turned and stared. It took me half a second to understand this guy was in a moment trying to feel something. Dorky. Chubby. Underdeveloped. A real watcher.
It was easy to turn around and walk away. In hindsight I can’t imagine that guy was in a very good head space but I can only guess. Most people running their mouths are coping with something bigger than whatever transgression their addressing.
For example. My presence in a bathroom. That’s the problem buddy? Or is it being a 26 year old virgin in a Booze Ponies t-shirt two sizes too small?
I don’t know.
I can only speak for myself and I’m someone who actually likes talking shit a lot but under the premise that we’re talking shit. Like boxing. There’s structure. Rules. A way to go about things like men in competition. That’s how I prefer my shit talking in life or online but that’s a different blog.
My point for now is that people are immeasurably better in real life than they are online.
HOWEVER
Being online will change the way you see people in real life. No matter how you think about it. That’s the truth.
And my personal experiences aside, I can’t imagine having to deal with gambling bros that never had a bookie. Guys that should be in the S&P 500 for the long haul are instead sending death threats because their 13-leg parlay didn’t hit for the 967th fucking time in a row.
Those guys aren’t going anywhere. Neither is online hate or any of it. Which from my perspective is understandable, unavoidable and yet still shitty.
Even so.
All this to say good for Max Homa.
Because it’s part of the modern brand packaging to be online and engaged and one of the guys. And I’m sure there’s a lot of good that comes with it but ultimately if you can’t have fun with it, then you don’t need in your life and that applies to just about everything but religion and health.
So just maybe consider that next time you want to tell someone you want them to die in a house fire for 3-putting away your next round of jaeger bombs.
Just something to think about.