Think before you post that nasty comment on the Internet.

[Mama_Bull]

Free speech sometimes comes with a price

By Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinel

May. 19, 2009 

Madison – Think before you post that nasty comment on the Internet.

That was one of the messages Madison Memorial High School junior Vander Blue delivered Tuesday in discussing his decision to withdraw his non-binding, oral commitment to play basketball for Wisconsin.

Blue stressed he didn’t re-open his recruitment because of a published report in which a source raised potential academic obstacles or because some UW fans, after reading the report, used the Internet to criticize his intellect and work ethic.

Tuesday was the first time I’ve ever been in the same room with Blue so I don't know him at all. However, he seemed sincere so I’ll choose to believe him when he says the reason he backed out of the commitment he gave UW after his sophomore season is that he wants to explore all his options before making his final decision.

I also believe many of the derogatory comments posted on fan boards bothered Blue, who is 16.

Listen to what he had to say.

“Just to see how these so-called Wisconsin fans, what they had to say on those blogs,†he said, “it really made me second-guess: Do people really want me here?

“Because I know if I was a fan and I heard about a recruit I’d be more like: ‘What can we do to help him?

“And not: ‘Let’s make him feel like the worst person in Madison right now.’

“That is how I felt. I felt like I was in a corner, trapped and I couldn’t get out…

“I just felt like it was so unnecessary. I don’t think I’m that worse of a guy. Sometimes I might be tired and have a little attitude…I don’t think I’m a horrible person.

“These 40-year-old adults talking about somebody who don’t got their license yet. I just felt it was so unnecessary…

“Picture yourself in my position. Rumors going around, you’re just keeping quiet. And you read the article and 1,000 people throwing you under the bus, trying to find every reason, saying: ‘Good, we don’t want him here.’

“It just made me feel bad like I was worthless here.â€

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/45448857.html

[SRQ]

unfortunately, thinking is not a prerequisite for posting online

[bulls96go]

A word to the wise

[Matt]

thing is though...every program has those type of 'fans'

and the players have to understand that.

i know if i was a player or someone in my immediate family was...i would stay clear of these boards like the plague.  cant get too emotionally involved with someone who is spewing stuff from the safety of a screen name and keyboard.