The Kansas City Chiefs are the latest group to have to apologize for a Tweet that poked a fan after he first posted a crude Tweet slamming them.
A fan named Travis Wright is receiving his 10 minutes of fame after posting a Tweet noting: “I’m not much of a @kcchiefs fan anymore. Clark Hunt’s yearly 30m under the cap bullshit is unethical. Greedy bastard owners can F.O. cc @nfl.”
An anonymous person in the Chiefs’organization responded to Wright in a private Tweet saying, “It would help if you had your facts straight. Your choice to be a fan. cc Get a clue.”
Wright then went public with the Chiefs’ “private” response and the team (person?) responded “I apologize to the fans for my response to a tweet sent to me earlier. No excuse for my actions. I am truly sorry and it won’t happen again.”
Yes, the Chiefs are a bit testy these days after an opening season drubbing by the Atlanta Falcons. And, yes, as Kansas City Star sports columnist Kent Babb learned recently, the team is very touchy about the subject of it being under the salary cap.
Wright was on Fox4 this morning discussing the incident (below).
Wright’s actions and the team’s response bring up some interesting social media issues. Wright’s initial Tweet was crude and offensive and the team probably should have just ignored it. In fact, if Wright was employed by a company and had posted that under his company’s account he likely would be looking for a job today.
However, if the team had decided to respond, it probably should have provided specific facts to counter his argument. While Wright’s post was mean-spirited and personal, it is important for the responder to remain calm. You should “assume” every Tweet can go public—even private ones.
But social media is causing other issues these days. KCUR host and veteran Kansas City Star reporter/columnist Steve Kraske posted on Facebook that author Joe Posnanski would be joining him on the show (Wednesday) and asked “What questions do you have for him? And did publishing this book even after the Sandusky scandal broke change your view of Joe?”
Unfortunately, Kraske’s post was almost entirely hijacked by two individuals who simply attacked each other relentlessly. People who wanted to respond to Kraske’s questions found themselves watching a bitter, personal attack. In reality, it ruined any meaningful questions or dialog regarding Paterno.
Social media outlets can provide fast, up-to-date and useful information. However, they can also cross the line of civility and good taste.
If people are not mature enough to post legitimate questions and responses then maybe they should stop posting at all.
A few thoughts:
Almost all the money made a team owner makes from NFL Football comes from TV and tax breaks. Fan support is needed only to secure votes for the next bond issue to improve the stadium.
The Chiefs apologized to the “fans”, but not to Mr. Wright.
I agree with Mr. Wright that it is b.s. for the Chiefs to be spending so low beneath the salary cap. However — and this is the point most people don’t get — THE CHIEFS ARE A PRIVATE BUSINESS. It’s not “our” team. It’s not the fans’ team; it’s not the city’s team. The Kansas City Chiefs, Inc. belongs to it’s stockholders.
MOUTHPIECE OF ENTIRE ORGANIZATION
The biggest shock to me in all this is how the Chiefs’ (presumably “corporate”) Twitter account was handled in first person – lots of references to “I” and “me” – as in “my actions,” etc.
I think the Chiefs would do well to consider their Twitter account a mouthpiece of the entire organization. If they’ve hired someone outside to handle their social media, it sounds like some punk teenager with an axe to grind — not a “corporate voice” like Twitter users have come to expect from organizational accounts.
At a minimum, the Chiefs should understand the difference between a personal attack on an individual and a more general “shout out” aimed at the team’s ownership. They came off as Twitter newbies without a clue about how the system works.
Good point. It was surprising the word “I” was used by the Chiefs. It leads one to wonder why no staffer’s name was given.
PUBLIC DISCOURSE SINKING
The level of public discourse continues to sink lower and lower in America, with social media playing a key role in this trend. The moral of the story?
Get mad! Be bitter!
Then by all means get even with Twitter!
Problem solved.
Case closed.