Jay Bruce and Twitter Might Consider a Divorce

Apr 27, 2013; Washington, D.C., USA; Bruce singles in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The Nationals defeated the Reds 6-3. (Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s pretty much the talk around town. Could say the entire interwebs as well. You know, the whole “Jay Bruce Twitter rant” from last evening. If you haven’t seen this yet (and I honestly can’t believe you haven’t), here ya go.

"I appreciate all the tweets, good and bad, actually. You guys are what drive the game. I’m obviously not hitting as well as I’d like to, yet….I actually feel sorry for the people on here who feel that it’s necessary to try and put me down on twitter. It really just explains…Further who you are, and there are obviously things in your life that you’re unhappy about and you take it out on me via twitter…I suggest you look into talking with a life coach or something to help you get over whatever you have going on in your life. There is obviously a….lack of something going on, and I hope you guys get it straightened out, because you all sound like idiots Everyone have a good night. Haha."

One take from Hardball Talk’s Craig Calcaterra and The Enquirer’s Paul Daughtery is that Bruce just might have been better served to not say, or tweet, a thing.

I can see the side mentioned by these two. Easily. Kind of falls under the whole “silence is golden” mantra. Ignore them and (hopefully) they’ll go away. Sometimes, they will. Sometimes they won’t or even refuse.

Both Doc and Calcaterra – and most likely, many of you – believe that social media is as big a lose-lose proposition for any athlete or celebrity that exists. We see it many times within a 24 hour cycle. Something goes amiss with a famous person and the tweets infiltrate our timelines. Some show support while others are downright inflammatory.  You put your name out there, you struggle in any area of your life and those that love to pile on the insults are sure to voice their displeasure regarding your struggles.

Call it society’s weakness.  Kicking a person while he/she is down.  Awesome example to set. Don’t offer a hand.  Instead, show ’em the sole of your boot.

A common voice from a fan’s point is that since these players make so much loot, they need to grow a thick skin or grow “a pair”. Either deal with the crap or get off Twitter. Or as I have read many a time on Twitter, “It’s Twitter”. Like it or else. It’s actually a shame that it has evolved to that point.

As a wise person stated on our Facebook page: Remember Thumper from Bambi?

Double negative aside, it’s hard to fathom that we have to use a clip from a children’s movie to make a point. A point that goes largely ignored.

Bruce owned his slump. Commendable. Bruce chose not to use profanity in his Twitter address while those that jabbed at him chose to do so. Even more commendable. Despite the fact it was viewed by some as ranting or venting, I believe Bruce came across genuine. Ending it all with “Everyone have a good night. Haha” seems almost playful. Doubt it was taken as such.

Some famous people simply do not own that trait. Nice to see that.  It’s refreshing. Granted, this all may not have been the best move, but I take no issue in what Bruce did. Social media is supposed to be an extension of a person, not an opportunity for others to hurl verbal barbs.

If you’re a Reds fan and you wonder why your favorite player isn’t on Twitter or if he is on Twitter, why he isn’t “vocal” on there. this is the main reason he isn’t.  No other explanation is needed.

What I find intriguing is that Rob Butcher, Reds media relations director, wouldn’t ask Bruce if he’d speak to Doc. Can’t say I blame Butcher for that decision. Some bases may need to be covered with Jay here.  No sense sending Bruce to the pack if he’s not prepared.

Bruce hasn’t tweeted anything else since his state of the social media address either.

It’s one thing to offer a critique or opinion (as we do here and most other blogs and sites do, too), but it’s an entirely different game when your language is simply unbearable and outright deplorable. Why must one refer to any person as a pile of manure…or something along those lines? Why is it necessary to insinuate that anyone resembles a certain part of the female anatomy? Why on earth would you ever tell a person to simply vanish or perish?

Yes, on a daily basis, I read all within the world of social media.

We know all too well that this type of interaction (if you can call it that) is by far limited to Jay Bruce.  It happens to everyone, famous or not. It’s not just Twitter, but social media as a whole. Go to any company’s Facebook page or search its mentions on Twitter and there will be criticism, which part of it may be legit, but some of it will still include expletives. It’s a guarantee.

If you’re on Twitter and you have that check mark by your name, it might as well be a bulls-eye.