OT: Social media cancel culture targets Little League players

[Zenophile]

Make no mistake, my experience with Iowans would suggest that many are indeed pretty vile, but going after kids crosses a bright line of distinction. Apparently expressing outrage as a pretense to caring about children is so 10 years ago. In 2022 they're the targets.

‘Cotton’ in Black player’s hair at Little League World Series sparks outrage

It was off base. A video from the Little League World Series showing white players appearing to place “cotton” in a Black teammate’s hair sparked outrage online. The kids from Dav…

www.nydailynews.com

Little League World Series finds 'no ill-intent' after Iowa team placed stuffing on Black teammate's head

A group of Iowa players were seen placing stuffing from a stuffed animal on the head of a Black teammate on Sunday, which drew immediate backlash.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Midnighter]

Make no mistake, my experience with Iowans would suggest that many are indeed pretty vile, but going after kids crosses a bright line of distinction. Apparently expressing outrage as a pretense to caring about kids is so 10 years ago. In 2022 they're the targets.

‘Cotton’ in Black player’s hair at Little League World Series sparks outrage

It was off base. A video from the Little League World Series showing white players appearing to place “cotton” in a Black teammate’s hair sparked outrage online. The kids from Dav…

www.nydailynews.com

Little League World Series finds 'no ill-intent' after Iowa team placed stuffing on Black teammate's head

A group of Iowa players were seen placing stuffing from a stuffed animal on the head of a Black teammate on Sunday, which drew immediate backlash.

sports.yahoo.com

Has anyone takes to the kids, or parents of the kids, about the context here? Big difference between ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; let’s see how many cotton balls we can put on someone’s head,’ to ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; might be fun to put cotton balls on Johnny’s head because he’s black and slavery and all.’ It’s cringy and inappropriate either way, but maybe find out more before crushing the pearls around your neck, you know?

Edit: I see the parents said there was no I’ll intent. Ok - moving on…

 

[Zenophile]

Has anyone takes to the kids, or parents of the kids, about the context here? Big difference between ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; let’s see how many cotton balls we can put on someone’s head,’ to ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; might be fun to put cotton balls on Johnny’s head because he’s black and slavery and all.’ It’s cringy and inappropriate either way, but maybe find out more before crushing the pearls around your neck, you know?

Edit: I see the parents said there was no I’ll intent. Ok - moving on…

You've illustrated the issue magnificently. The virtual mob only seeks instant justice, context be damned,

 

[BobPSU92]

Burn these kids down to the ground. Wait.

 

[WVilleLion]

Has anyone takes to the kids, or parents of the kids, about the context here? Big difference between ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; let’s see how many cotton balls we can put on someone’s head,’ to ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; might be fun to put cotton balls on Johnny’s head because he’s black and slavery and all.’ It’s cringy and inappropriate either way, but maybe find out more before crushing the pearls around your neck, you know?

Edit: I see the parents said there was no I’ll intent. Ok - moving on…

Maybe you should read all of the information before you say it is cringy, etc.

 

[WVilleLion]

I saw one website blog trying to stir the pot by saying that the young black player was “humiliated “ by his white teammates.

 

[Midnighter]

Maybe you should read all of the information before you say it is cringy, etc.

Still cringy whether parents think there is no ill intent. Bunch of white kids putting ‘cotton’ on a black kids head is not a good look. My point was maybe spare the ‘cancel kids’ effort since they’re probably not fully up to speed on the connotation.

 

[NittPicker]

Another case of adults effing things up. Kids were putting fill from a stuffed animal onto the head of another kid. It wasn't "cotton balls". But hey, it looked like cotton and the kid was black so a heinous offense must have been taking place. I'm sure nobody asked the kids what was going on.

 

[BobPSU92]

Overreacting, preaching, virtue signaling, canceling on social media. Yea.

 

[OuiRPSU]

I wonder what @Moogy thinks about this.

 

[JerseyLion]

That’s how it is these days. Come to your conclusion first. Then try to figure out what actually happened later (optional).

 

[s1uggo72]

Another case of adults effing things up. Kids were putting fill from a stuffed animal onto the head of another kid. It wasn't "cotton balls". But hey, it looked like cotton and the kid was black so a heinous offense must have been taking place. I'm sure nobody asked the kids what was going on.

First rule of baseball. Don’t look in the dugout

 

[Lion84]

Still cringy whether parents think there is no ill intent. Bunch of white kids putting ‘cotton’ on a black kids head is not a good look. My point was maybe spare the ‘cancel kids’ effort since they’re probably not fully up to speed on the connotation.

They also did it to white kids but of course they didn't show that picture and by the way they did it to imitate a star pitcher from Hawaii who had a white dyed mowhawk but let's make sure facts don't in the way of outrage - the probem is today everyone seeks to get outraged before they have a iota of facts around something - thanks you yellow journalism.

 

[BobPSU92]

They also did it to white kids but of course they didn't show that picture and by the way they did it to imitate a star pitcher from Hawaii who had a white dyed mowhawk but let's make sure facts don't in the way of outrage - the probem is today everyone seeks to get outraged before they have a iota of facts around something - thanks you yellow journalism.

Society today just sucks.

 

[Liontown]

Has anyone takes to the kids, or parents of the kids, about the context here? Big difference between ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; let’s see how many cotton balls we can put on someone’s head,’ to ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; might be fun to put cotton balls on Johnny’s head because he’s black and slavery and all.’ It’s cringy and inappropriate either way, but maybe find out more before crushing the pearls around your neck, you know?

Edit: I see the parents said there was no I’ll intent. Ok - moving on…

Midnighter always needs something to whine about.

 

[TiogaLion]

Why is it when I look at this video I only see kids having fun? Why do most people see the skin color of those kids?

 

[BobPSU92]

Why is it when I look at this video I only see kids having fun? Why do most people see the skin color of those kids?

Because everyone knows that all little league ballplayers are RACIST. .

EDIT: Not all, just the whiteys.

 

[bbrown]

Make no mistake, my experience with Iowans would suggest that many are indeed pretty vile, but going after kids crosses a bright line of distinction. Apparently expressing outrage as a pretense to caring about children is so 10 years ago. In 2022 they're the targets.

‘Cotton’ in Black player’s hair at Little League World Series sparks outrage

It was off base. A video from the Little League World Series showing white players appearing to place “cotton” in a Black teammate’s hair sparked outrage online. The kids from Dav…

www.nydailynews.com

Little League World Series finds 'no ill-intent' after Iowa team placed stuffing on Black teammate's head

A group of Iowa players were seen placing stuffing from a stuffed animal on the head of a Black teammate on Sunday, which drew immediate backlash.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[LaJollaCreek]

Outrage over fake outrage!!!!

 

[Bvillebaron]

Overreacting, preaching, virtue signaling, canceling on social media. Yea.

Yeah who would have thunk it?

 

[Bvillebaron]

Why is it when I look at this video I only see kids having fun? Why do most people see the skin color of those kids?

Not most people; only those with an agenda.

 

[NittPicker]

Has anyone takes to the kids, or parents of the kids, about the context here? Big difference between ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; let’s see how many cotton balls we can put on someone’s head,’ to ‘Hey - we’re bored in the dugout; might be fun to put cotton balls on Johnny’s head because he’s black and slavery and all.’ It’s cringy and inappropriate either way, but maybe find out more before crushing the pearls around your neck, you know?

Edit: I see the parents said there was no I’ll intent. Ok - moving on…

What a cop out. You claim it was "cringy and inappropriate either way". Then you edit and say there was no ill intent so just move on. So then you really didn't feel it was "cringy and inappropriate either way"? Or did you simply succumb to the initial outrage by others?

 

[Midnighter]

What a cop out. You claim it was "cringy and inappropriate either way". Then you edit and say there was no ill intent so just move on. So then you really didn't feel it was "cringy and inappropriate either way"? Or did you simply succumb to the initial outrage by others?

Those aren't mutually exclusive ideas. I think both that it is cringy and inappropriate but also not worthy of the ire drawn by the media, cancel culture, etc. Learning experience for the kids who were unaware of the problematic optics of their stunt, which did not appear to be malicious or harmful (noting good intentions don't protect you from unintended consequences; see any 'theme' parties at colleges, clothing labels putting models of color in ads that dredge up certain imagery or connotations, etc.).

 

[WVilleLion]

Still cringy whether parents think there is no ill intent. Bunch of white kids putting ‘cotton’ on a black kids head is not a good look. My point was maybe spare the ‘cancel kids’ effort since they’re probably not fully up to speed on the connotation.

Actually not cringy are all if you hear the whole story. Heard it on TV and it made sense as to what the kids were doing and why they were doing it. Not to mention that was not the only player with the cotton balls on their head. If you find it cringy and inappropriate, you are part of the issue.

I agree that trying to do the cancel thing with kids is BS.

 

[nittanyfan333]

I guess my question is, when do we just go ahead and make kids stop being kids? At what point is society just ruining innocence?

 

[Grant Green]

I guess my question is, when do we just go ahead and make kids stop being kids? At what point is society just ruining innocence?

Follow up question. Why do we care so much about what a few people say on twitter about a story that will last about 24 hours?
I'm willing to bet that adults are taking this way harder than the kids actually involved.

 

[Zenophile]

Follow up question. Why do we care so much about what a few people say on twitter about a story that will last about 24 hours?
I'm willing to bet that adults are taking this way harder than the kids actually involved.

Fair question. When I saw this story reported this AM, I was legitimately disgusted at the notion of children being targeted on social media. Perhaps I should have taken another breath (note: I did take one) before memorializing my reaction in a post.

 

[nittanyfan333]

Follow up question. Why do we care so much about what a few people say on twitter about a story that will last about 24 hours?
I'm willing to bet that adults are taking this way harder than the kids actually involved.

Oh I don’t disagree. But this is a microcosm of a bigger issue. In todays social media world we live in, unless your kids are living under a rock, societal influence is everywhere. However big “society” is, it’s not only teaching kids that the boogeyman exists, but it’s teaching them to look for it. Which goes to my original question of ruining childlike innocence.

 

[BobPSU92]

Follow up question. Why do we care so much about what a few people say on twitter about a story that will last about 24 hours?
I'm willing to bet that adults are taking this way harder than the kids actually involved.

Lives can easily be destroyed in far less than 24 hours on social media.

(General statement. Not implying that the kids’ lives will be ruined in this case.)

 

[Grant Green]

Oh I don’t disagree. But this is a microcosm of a bigger issue. In todays social media world we live in, unless your kids are living under a rock, societal influence is everywhere. However big “society” is, it’s not only teaching kids that the boogeyman exists, but it’s teaching them to look for it. Which goes to my original question of ruining childlike innocence.

Frankly, the kids of today are much better equipped to deal with this stuff than the adults.

(General statement. Not implying that the kids’ lives will be ruined in this case.)

Then save the outrage for a case that is actually significant. I see little difference between the people being outraged by silly things and the people who are outraged by those people.

 

[Fac]

First rule of baseball. Don’t look in the dugout

I thought it was "No Crying".

 

[nittanyfan333]

Frankly, the kids of today are much better equipped to deal with this stuff than the adults.

Disagree

Suicide rates among young people continue to rise, but there are ways to help

connect.uclahealth.org

And it’s getting worse

Teen Suicide Rate Spikes 56% in a Decade

A new report from the CDC shows the teen suicide rate in the United States has skyrocketed in recent years. Between 2007 and 2017, the teen suicide rate spiked by nearly 56 percent — the rate climbing from 6.8 deaths per 100,000 people to 10.6.

www.healthline.com

 

[WVilleLion]

Sure they are better equipped. They can be harassed 24/7 and if it gets too rough, some doc will just assign some medication to help them cope.

 

[Grant Green]

Disagree

Suicide rates among young people continue to rise, but there are ways to help

connect.uclahealth.org

And it’s getting worse

Teen Suicide Rate Spikes 56% in a Decade

A new report from the CDC shows the teen suicide rate in the United States has skyrocketed in recent years. Between 2007 and 2017, the teen suicide rate spiked by nearly 56 percent — the rate climbing from 6.8 deaths per 100,000 people to 10.6.

www.healthline.com

Neither articles cites cancel culture as an influencing factor. You seem to be arguing more about social media pressures, such as cyber bullying, than cancel culture.
And PS. I think if you look at suicide rates, you'll find other age groups have increased as well and are all higher than the 15-24 age group.

 

[91Joe95]

Some adults are just happy attacking kids.

 

[nittanyfan333]

Neither articles cites cancel culture as an influencing factor. You seem to be arguing more about social media pressures, such as cyber bullying, than cancel culture.
And PS. I think if you look at suicide rates, you'll find other age groups have increased as well and are all higher than the 15-24 age group.

I’m not arguing causation. This started with me saying kids aren’t immune from societal pressure. You said they were more equipped to handle assuming since you quoted me you were referring to societal pressure). I said (based on increased suicide rates) that I disagree, kids aren’t better equipped to handle societal pressure.

and yes, all suicide rates have risen in the past 10 years, but none as sharply as the 15-24 age group. 25-34 is close but it’s not.

This LLWS issue notwithstanding, my belief is that these hyperbolic responses to innocent kids having fun are nothing but bad, and an issue that needs to be dealt with.