Why do U.S. Americans hate on American athletes for speaking their mind?

[Revoltingest]

Considering you made a quote about me in a thread which was personal to me about my health, I have no love for you, but I wont insult you, although I could, it defeats the purpose of discussion.

I've never addressed your health.
I know nothing about it.
Let go of this imagined grudge.

 

[Curious George]

Inspired by the following:

Opinion: New Winter Olympic sport: American 'fans' hating on American athletes who speak their mind


Way before the issues of Kaepernick, but spearheaded by him, it seems that athletes are barred from having a public opinion of something that affects them. It seems that citizens forget momentarily that athletes, are educated persons themselves, well hell they are persons themselves. It would appear to me that #45 has given those with bigoted views a platform to discuss their bigotry in the spirit of free speech. Why are athletes being told to simply "dribble a basketball" if they're having issues with something political as was said by Lauren Ingraham told Lebron, on his dislike for Trump (see:Fox News host tells LeBron James to 'shut up and dribble' after Trump criticism). Do we as a society prefer athletes to simply be automatons who perform without question, or do we prefer to have athletes with extraordinary abilities but also have extraordinary beliefs? Because sports happen within the world, everything is interconnected, whether it is issues with politics, gender, or race.

Lebron James know this all too well when his California home was vandalized with the "N-word" spray painted on his house. Everything is interconnected and athletes like everyday citizens have a voice. People often look at their wealth as something that ought to hinder their speech because there seems to be this idea that social disparities are a "poor persons" thing. Who says Lebron cannot feel anyway about racism? Why couldn't Obama resonate with Trayvon Martin, considering Obama is the first person of color to hold the office of power? Why can't gay athletes who come out be proud of their sexuality? Or the disabled, seeking more rights to be equal of those who aren't disabled? Why do we as a society choose to silence these people, but allow the ones that ought to be silent, a platform to be heard?

While there were a lot of questions in that post, I imagine that the answer to the title is that people who voice on a platform political speech make themselves a focal point for the animosity towards whatever they speaking. Professional athletes are celebrities. Celebrities are highly visible. There are a variety of attacks that people use, but most often you will see ad hominem attacks because they are effective, emotional, and can cut deep. I think celebrities that take it upon themselves to voice their opinions do so knowing that they will be attacked with a lot of hate. For that, they deserve some credit. Though, when someone with a platform uses that platform to give voice to something with which I disagree it is a little frustrating. I want people to see and hear the counter arguments. Usually, people fail to present sound arguments in their speaking points and the message is consequently lacking.

But I cannot hate on them, nor do I want them silenced. I think it is important for people to hear diverse views.

In the same vein, here is another example of disapproval of an athletes opinion, though it is not suggesting the opinion be silenced.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I've never addressed your health.
I know nothing about it.
Let go of this imagined grudge.

Read the message as I meant every single word

 

[Epic Beard Man]

While there were a lot of questions in that post, I imagine that the answer to the title is that people who voice on a platform political speech make themselves a focal point for the animosity towards whatever they speaking. Professional athletes are celebrities. Celebrities are highly visible. There are a variety of attacks that people use, but most often you will see ad hominem attacks because they are effective, emotional, and can cut deep. I think celebrities that take it upon themselves to voice their opinions do so knowing that they will be attacked with a lot of hate. For that, they deserve some credit. Though, when someone with a platform uses that platform to give voice to something with which I disagree it is a little frustrating. I want people to see and hear the counter arguments. Usually, people fail to present sound arguments in their speaking points and the message is consequently lacking.

But I cannot hate on them, nor do I want them silenced. I think it is important for people to hear diverse views.

In the same vein, here is another example of disapproval of an athletes opinion, though it is not suggesting the opinion be silenced.

Astrophysicists should even comment on God as well as Tyson did some time ago......There is criticism to go around. I like Tyson so I'll view the video en route to home.

 

[Revoltingest]

Read the message as I meant every single word

I'll pass.
I prefer to address the issues.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Do we as a society prefer athletes to simply be automatons who perform without question, or do we prefer to have athletes with extraordinary abilities but also have extraordinary beliefs?

So I cannot as an athlete use my platform to talk about blacks being harassed by cops and injustice arrest and killings but Trump is exercising free speech to call me a son of a b**ch?

It makes me wonder if there is another element, in that athletes aren't the automaton workers that most people are. They are still a part of "the machine," but they aren't necessarily easy-to-replace cogs like just about everyone in the working class is. Might it be a jealousy not just rooted in prejudice with celebrity status, wealth, and more of a platform to speak on, but also a jealousy that stems from having a lack of autonomy at work? We are a simple cog, so we want Lebron to shut and be one himself, ergo he should "shut up and just dribble."

 

[Revoltingest]

It makes me wonder if there is another element, in that athletes aren't the automaton workers that most people are. They are still a part of "the machine," but they aren't necessarily easy-to-replace cogs like just about everyone in the working class is. Might it be a jealousy not just rooted in prejudice with celebrity status, wealth, and more of a platform to speak on, but also a jealousy that stems from having a lack of autonomy at work? We are a simple cog, so we want Lebron to shut and be one himself, ergo he should "shut up and just dribble."

How many people are actually complaining about his public opining?
I've noticed one. Is it more than 10?
Does it matter that a few boneheads object to the political speech of others?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

How many people are actually complaining about his public opining?
I've noticed one. Is it more than 10?
Does it matter that a few boneheads object to the political speech of others?

I know a few people who basically think athletes and celebrities should just shut up and do what they do. The reasons given can vary though, such as how I've heard said many times something to the extent of "how hard can their lives really be?" and "they don't know what it's like" so what they say gets dismissed.
I thought it seemed an interesting question, if such attitudes have anything to do with a jealousy rooted in their own lack of workplace autonomy? Not that they get as much as what people think, but it appears to explain the "shut up and dribble" remark.They want those like Lebron to be nothing more than an easily replaced cog like they are.

 

[Shad]

It makes me wonder if there is another element, in that athletes aren't the automaton workers that most people are. They are still a part of "the machine," but they aren't necessarily easy-to-replace cogs like just about everyone in the working class is. Might it be a jealousy not just rooted in prejudice with celebrity status, wealth, and more of a platform to speak on, but also a jealousy that stems from having a lack of autonomy at work? We are a simple cog, so we want Lebron to shut and be one himself, ergo he should "shut up and just dribble."

Could be. After all athletes in American are afforded a lot of privileges other people will never see beyond more autonomy. For example NCAA recruiters actively pursue highschool stars as various sports programs are profitable whereas academics are not to such a level. Ironically I bet some of the very people making objections are those that promote the treatment of those athletes in such a manner.

A part of the issue with sports is the fact that it is cultural for many. It is personal for many.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

It makes me wonder if there is another element, in that athletes aren't the automaton workers that most people are. They are still a part of "the machine," but they aren't necessarily easy-to-replace cogs like just about everyone in the working class is. Might it be a jealousy not just rooted in prejudice with celebrity status, wealth, and more of a platform to speak on, but also a jealousy that stems from having a lack of autonomy at work? We are a simple cog, so we want Lebron to shut and be one himself, ergo he should "shut up and just dribble."

Well, as someone who is not a professional athlete and in some uncomfortable way, I can understand the critique by average U.S. Americans. Professional athletes such as those playing in MLB, NFL, and NBA are making a tremendous amount of money for what we laymen think is simply recess fun and games. We have made athletes in an indirect way demi-gods therefore any complaint they have ought to relate to their service as talented people, therefore we degrade them because we feel as demi-gods they have no right to complaint. But ironically the so-called demi-god in office shouldn't complain either since one demi-god became one through training, dedication and athleticism, the other became one through daddy loaning his tends of millions to start a company,

 

[Epic Beard Man]

 

[sun rise]

Another theory....
Athletes are like other celebrities (eg, actors), in that their
views are given more exposure than us ordinary schlubs.
So when we hear their ignorant blather, we're jealous cuz
our ignorant blather goes unnoticed.

That plus when someone says something that some disagree with, there's a lot of verbal upchucking in response.

 

[sun rise]

How many people are actually complaining about his public opining?
I've noticed one. Is it more than 10?
Does it matter that a few boneheads object to the political speech of others?

Yes. Some complain as loudly as a jet engine at full throttle. Most could care less.

 

[Revoltingest]

I know a few people who basically think athletes and celebrities should just shut up and do what they do. The reasons given can vary though, such as how I've heard said many times something to the extent of "how hard can their lives really be?" and "they don't know what it's like" so what they say gets dismissed.
I thought it seemed an interesting question, if such attitudes have anything to do with a jealousy rooted in their own lack of workplace autonomy? Not that they get as much as what people think, but it appears to explain the "shut up and dribble" remark.They want those like Lebron to be nothing more than an easily replaced cog like they are.

There are a great many opinions about who shouldn't speak.
Surprisingly, even I, the most respected janitor on the forum,
find occasional objection to my opining.
(They might tell me to "just dribble", but fear misinterpretation.)

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes. Some complain as loudly as a jet engine at full throttle. Most could care less.

Say what!?
I can't hear you over the noise from Fox
News on the TV in the house down the street!

 

[Revoltingest]

That plus when someone says something that some disagree with, there's a lot of verbal upchucking in response.

Aye.
People take disagreement to personally.
But you get credit for never biting me.
And I work continually on not biting.

 

[sun rise]

Say what!?
I can't hear you over the noise from Fox
News on the TV in the house down the street!

You know what they say happens when you let the Fox in the henhouse.

 

[Polymath257]

Another theory....
Athletes are like other celebrities (eg, actors), in that their
views are given more exposure than us ordinary schlubs.
So when we hear their ignorant blather, we're jealous cuz
our ignorant blather goes unnoticed.

But isn't that why we are all here on RF? So our ignorant blather will be noticed?

 

[Revoltingest]

But isn't that why we are all here on RF? So our ignorant blather will be noticed?

But our posts are only read by a couple dozen others....if we're lucky.

 

[Quetzal]

So when we hear their ignorant blather, we're jealous cuz
our ignorant blather goes unnoticed.

Not true! My ignorant blather gets all sorts of attention here on RF!