Comments Taken Too Far Call Us All To The Carpet
In a podcast that has since be taken down, a member of the B&B’s Round Table in the Columbus Blue Jacket world made mention of a "Remington Retirement" as a reference to suicide. Members of the podcast have apologized publicly and have removed themselves from their respective interactions with the Blue Jackets. While this is the right thing to do, a situation such as this calls all of us involved in "fun"ditry to the carpet.
While commenting on Patrik Laine's entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, a member of B&B’s Round Table made the comment “Laine’s out because he was contemplating a Remington retirement" which is a reference to suicide. The episode has since be removed, the podcast team has publicly made statements of apology and made measures of atonement.
Below is their statements in full. Their language is not anything we here at Cardiac Cane promote, but I am posting it in full.
Official Statement from B&Bhttps://t.co/dofr3Utmzp
— B&B Round Table (@BnB_RoundTable) February 13, 2024
While I do have questions about wearing a "10 Cent Beer Night" shirt on screen for a public apology about a classless statement, I have to at least meet these guys a face value. They put themselves in this spot, and they have reprimanding themselves when they could just as easily let it ride.
Even though this took place in a different team's fandom, I think everyone in the "fun"ditry world needs to take notice. Times like these are cause to take a minute and remember that this is all just a game. The players are playing a game, and we play along with that game, adding a layer to the game with our comments.
An occasional barb is part of the game, but this too far. Consistently toeing the line, as one of the members of the podcast mentioned in the statement, causes instances like this where a comment steps well out of bounds. Repeatedly pushing the line a little further leads to eventually stretching the line too thin and too the point of breaking.
We have seen it in here in the Canes realm, and it happens at least once a season in the spheres of other teams. Fans taking their articles or podcasts way too seriously make a comment or self righteously correct someone. Next thing you know they are commenting on something crudely, as in this case, or writing an email through private channels to express hatred of a "fun"dit, as has happened to one of our staff.
My opinion is that mental health is best left out of conversation unless it comes from a place of support. Both suicide and mental health are too serious for "fun"dits to be joking about. At times like these, everyone involved in putting their comments from the peanut gallery about a game, being played by players out there for the world to read should take a few minutes to remember their place in this. We are here, taking time and energy to talk about sports. Nothing more.