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This afternoon, while I basking in the glow of my Twitter feed, mostly because of yet another stellar performance by my #FightinPhils, one simple, yet powerful tweet burned through my retinas and into my soul.  It was by beloved CBS Sports golf analyst and commentator Peter Kostis @peterjkostis , and consisted of two words and less than ten percent of Twitter’s allotted characters: : “Fuck off!!”.  Wow, if I wanted that information, I would follow my ex-wife!

In this world saturated by posts and more posts, especially through social media, there are clearly two players.  Those that provide quality content, and the idiots that comment on it.  And Mr Kostis, if you didn’t cross that line, you certainly blurred it.  OK, so your smartphone was stolen, but don’t insult my intelligence by telling me that the first thing you would do upon it’s return is to check your Twitter account (which you used almost a full Earth day previous), and post an apology five minutes after its’ compromise.  I wouldn’t expect such a quick turnaround from Tobias Kirschstein.  I know…, just google him.

So.  Why should somebody that makes presumably a good coin working for a company that endlessly makes a big deal over negative tweets by athletes half(sic) your age, be given a pass by your followers, and take your comments at less than face value.  Public is public, it’s how you earn a living.  Private is your’s, and never the twain …… If it was Tiger, or Rory, or Stewie, tweeting with such abandon, it would be leading tomorrow’s telecast.

Pick an excuse, and trust me, there are no wrong answers here.  But remember, you can use a good excuse only once, but a great excuse, you can use forever!

A. Damn Thumbpad, I meant to type “Gixl pgg!!”
B. “My dog has a social media problem, AND a potty mouth.”
C. “phone was stolen at dinner. apologies”
D. “It was Feherty.”

OK, I believe “D”.  But, sir, you’re No David Feherty!

With more people in our society relying on digital media outlets for their information, and with these outlets marketing their wares through social media; where does work stop, and fun begin for broadcasters and journalists?  Or how can we tell if that story was meant to be sent to the Onion, but was sent to CNN by accident?  And why does the media jump all over John Q. PublicFigure for an off-color social media posting, yet expect us to take a pass on their own?

Tough questions.  I’m sure that the answers will get grayer in the future rather than more black and white, because we, as a society, are getting more immune to celebrity fuckups, internet scams, and drunk texting.  I’m fine when one of my buds tells me that I’m an asshole on FaceBook when he’s drunk.  One, because I am, and two, he’s holding me to the same standards to which I hold him, in a forum beloved by hundreds of my “closest” friends, not millions, or in Mr Kostis’ case, with retweets, hundreds of thousands of devoted sponges waiting for the quality information that we have been falling to sleep to for years.

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