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University of Oregon receiver Jamere Holland made headline news over the weekend when he took to his Facebook page to protest the alleged dismissal of his teammate Kiko Alonso, who is facing punishment for driving under the influence. As it turns out, Alonso was not actually dismissed from the team, but that piece of information never made it to Holland, who unwisely decided to take out his frustration with Oregon coach Chip Kelly online. By the time Holland’s curse-filled diatribe reached the mainstream media, the troubled receiver’s fate was sealed and he has since been removed from the University of Oregon football team.
There are few things that anger a coach more than a player openly criticizing his decisions. When the player makes his criticisms known on a Facebook profile for the whole world to see, however? Well, that’s just rubbing salt in the wound. In this case, however, Holland wasn’t even accurate in his criticism. Instead of seeking out the truth through a phone call or a meeting, Holland made a rash decision based on a faulty assumption. Now, he is suffering because of it.
The immediacy and intimacy of social media technology makes it very tempting for individuals to pour their anger out online. It is very important to learn to resist these urges and really take the time to think about what you’re sharing online. Would you still complain about your job if you knew that your boss or co-workers could see what you wrote?
While Jamere Holland’s playing days at the University of Oregon are over, perhaps he, and we, can take something positive away from his experience. No matter what kind of privacy settings you have in place, you should always assume that the content you share online will be read by someone other than its intended audience. Try your best not to say anything that you’ll regret later.
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