Yesterday me and Ali caught up with a girlfriend for lunch in Hampton. My friend is a rugby journo and owns a big rugby website.
Anyway, for some reason, 2 other Journo's A and B have had a long standing battle on Twitter. When A's book came out over Xmas (hilarious read) B slagged it hugely, saying it was anachronictic etc.
He then became very personal towards A on Twitter, despite the latter not really biting.
I tweeted at B "FFS, can we all show some professional decorum here? We all write for a living."
My girlfriend, through her professional acct, also made a few tweets to same effect....
B responded to me "fuck off you sycophantic cunt' to which A (thankfully replied) "Nope- played against each other- that's where you earn respect".
Anyway, at the Samoa game, i saw B and it became apparent this was overspilling into the real world. He started on me at the top of the East Stand steps outside the press box and I just turned round and summat like said 'Look mate, grow up or do something about it. " Quite frankly, I wanted to slot him one.
Anyway, my girlfriend had texted me to say this had further spilled over the following week (Australia match) and only y'day she told me this- B kept badgering her all day about the tweets. At the end of the PC, he'd had another skinful and started again, and, in front of the entire press corps, got fairly physical towards my friend (prodding and wagging fingers and squaring up). Now I don't care what was said, you DON'T do that a) in the workplace b) to a woman c) in any event.
As luck would have it, as it looked like he was about to hit her, another rugby correspondant, dragged B out and threw him down the stairs of the press conf room, whereupon he wasn't seen again.
I simply am appalled at this. I am also appalled that I reacted to him, but equally I don't regret I stood up to his bullying.
What on earth is the world coming to when this happens?
And, what SHOULD I have done?
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Comments
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
Tomorrow, didn't you get an invite?
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
as for your question - hard to know how to respond to people when they start behaving irrationally - I'm sure in Brian Moore's day it would have been sorted with a quiet word "outside" but people in the public eye can't afford to get involved now, so that sort of behaviour is probably more likely to occur.
Also it may be worth remembering that the owners of the FB website are responsible for its public content and any possibly defamatory remarks therein so this would be better off moved to a private area.
I have reported it to the mods.
Looking beyond that. I wouldn't assume "writing for a living" as any sort of indicator of intelligence.
Furthermore, what exactly do you expect from someone who works for the Daily Mail? Why would you expect anything better from such a low watt mouthpiece of ignorance?
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Sports editor of the Mail - Nuff said!
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Next monday is the Writers dinner and awards. Notwithstanding the fact Katy McClean will win the player of the year, I suspect this might percolate a little on that night....I've got 12 going, so need to pick good brawlers, just in case.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Well, get someone to video it, remember not to say anything and let him do all the yapping, being unprofessional, then tag him on twitter over it.
Let the rest of the world deal with him, it would be career suicide for him.
If he attends said dinner it would be pure suicide rather than career suicide to start a scene with a female journo with half of the Premiership players there.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
I say they should settle it the old way -
http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a579/imadray/BrianMoore_zps92053d40.jpg