Rules of a New Media World

• Tweet

• Tweet

If you follow sports you probably have heard of the latest controversy regarding a few tweets (as in that site called twitter, the act of tweeting) relating to a PSA commercial supporting same-sex marriage in which Hockey Player Sean Avery gives his support. This is not really the controversy however, it is a few tweets that followed.

First off hockey agent Todd Reynolds from Uptown Sports tweeted. “Very sad to read Sean Avery’s misguided support of same-gender “marriage”. Legal or not, it will always be wrong.” This tweet caused a strong wave of disapproval and made many wonder why a hockey management agency would publicly step out and show their disapproval.

Next in line we have Rogers Sportsnet host Damian Goddard and he tweeted, “I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage.” Damian in return has been fired by Rogers Sportsnet. Rogers has in turn stated that his tweet was not the reason he was fired and that as a contracted employee he was no longer a fit for the organization.

I am going to have to disagree with Rogers statement and assume that his tweet had everything to do with his lack of a job with Sportsnet. Here is the interesting thing. On one hand Reynolds made his statement from his companies twitter account while Goddard agreed with this statement from his personal twitter account. Yet Goddard is the one no longer with a job.

I find it interesting that amazingly personal opinion is no longer allowed. Goddard has expressed that his belief as a devout Roman Catholic entitles him to his view of the definition of marriage. Most religions institutions have not supported same-sex marriage as it violates their definitions of marriage as they view it in accordance to the Bible. However when it comes to the laws of government and how the law defines marriage, if the law governs this to be within their definition then so be it. Church and State are not always in agreement. This should still allow others to feel differently and want to stick to their beliefs.

This brings us to the last point. While new media tools have become a great way of expressing our thoughts and feelings, we need to take a moment to think before  posting our thoughts to the world. Damian Goddard is by no means the first person to be fired for posting thoughts via twitter or facebook.