Speak your mind.

It is something we love to do, and take for granted that we are allowed to "see it, and say it", and to a large degree, we manage to do it successfully every day. Simple opinions on lunch, to passionate opinions on other much bigger matters.

One thing I have learned is, the ability to do this will depend entirely on the platform you choose to use. While there are many to choose from, Twitter and Facebook have always been my favourites. Open to the world, very limited censorship, and it is a way of just putting a thought out there. Much as I do on this blog too, although the blog has a much smaller audience most of the time.

The further away from public forums (in general) I get, the more I realise, that while interaction on them is higher, it is often overly personal, rather then focusing on the matter at hand. User accounts and profiles give people some sort of belief that they know you or understand you. Some will even go as far as to profile you and decide what the hidden message within the post was. Impossible to believe that something can be as simple as WYSIWYG.

Having run forums for almost two decades now, this is really nothing new to me.

Freedom of speech is a great thing, but also something which is hard to keep a grasp on, after all, as soon as you lay hands on it, the freedom part is somehow lost. Be it a simple change of wording, right through to complete censorship, any interaction or intervention is damaging to the flow.
A social platform is there, like soap boxes are in Hyde Park Corner. Jump up, have your say, duck from the rotten tomatoes being thrown at you from the disapproving, and move on. Agree or disagree, my opinion is my own.
Of course there is room for response, and once I step down from the box, I will happily stand and entertain any rebuttal offered from any opposing people.

What is not on, is sadly something we see far too much of, from a place where examples of how to conduct yourself should be coming from. MP's and Parliament. Shouting, jeering, talking over someone until they can't be heard anymore, then snorting and laughing at their success in shouting you down. In short, shouting people down, talking over them, or removing their ability to have their say, purely because you disagree with opinion is NOT freedom of speech.

With Twitter, I can say things which completely go against the grain of the conversation. Not to be disruptive, but because it is what I feel on any matter at hand. I will of course receive replies from people. But the key here is, they will be uncensored replies, much as my comment was. Name calling, go for it, I don't know you. As long as you are are expressing yourself in an honest fashion, say what you feel you need to. We are all different, and some people will be more aggressive and use more profanity than others, but as long as the message within is clear. All good.

Of course, there is one big thing in this freedom of speech thing...  Commitment. Being committed and standing by your comments is the key. If you feel you might regret saying it, or are worried that someone else will judge you in an unwanted way, based on what you say, don't say it in the first place. You can't take back the spoken or printed word, so why should digital media be any different?
If you have the balls to say something, leave it there. Be proud of your conviction, stand up for what you believe in, and stay standing.

All too often now, things are said in the public domain, threats, anger, statements of questionable fact. If you were wrong, just say "hey, I was wrong". Don't go hiding things and pretending they never happened. That just screams opportunistic bully. You can't go having a spat with someone because what they say doesn't fit with your belief system, or because the right things were not said, then when all is said and done, delete everything you said. That just screams pathetic.

If you search me on the internet, you will see over the years I have said many things, some of which I was completely wrong on, and I have gone on to say just that. However, the original content remains. Complete with any comments made on it by people (so long as they have not deleted them themselves). I just don't see the point in going to all the trouble of screaming and shouting, looking for attention and demanding an audience, only to then hide it all away again. That just tells me that you are a little embarrassed about what you have said to someone, and you are worried that people will realise what kind of person you are. God forbid they know the truth. But hey, maybe they might like and respect you more for being so passionate about something.

Being passionate about something is being willing to debate, discuss, and share a platform, not dominate, control and censor the other person, or remove content you feel is not in keeping with peoples perceptions of you.

This is all to common all across social media these days. "Tweet Not Available" appearing on content, where the person is being called out on their comments, but has chosen to hide what they said, rather than be called into question about it.
This sort of use of social media, and other media platforms is "drive-by" . Not gonna stop, not going to risk getting into a discussion, just simply going to drive by and spray my words from the window, then run!

We're all different!

No one is the same,  we all behave in different ways,  and react differently to certain situations. Never is it more obvious than when something happens to YOU,  and friends and acquaintances react.
My situation for example (well it's all I'm talking about but this could apply to many things life) with the recent change of circumstances for me,  and the kind offer of friends to put me up in their place in Spain for a breather.

Breaking up is never easy, sometimes painful,  other times confusing. Either way it's nice to get distance and reflect when possible. Add to that that having rooms in your house ripped apart and rebuilt over 10 days is never a great place to be at best of times... I speak from experience here.
Combine the two and it's a mess,  so getting away is good.
Now I have done wild getaways before,  and can say that while fun,  it's not for me.  I like peace,  I like invited and wanted conversation,  and I like being in control of things. So sitting up a mountain overlooking the coast of Spain  and over to Africa with relaxed like minded people is a great solution. Remote,  quiet,  uninterrupted unless I want it.

I'm sure we all have our own  ideas of what a break is,  what constitutes peace and quiet, and for me,  apparently much to the annoyance and dismay of others,  includes using social media. Now being realistic,  social media is where I'm at. It's something I like to use, a lot!  As with all my trips over the years,  I have been all over social media when I'm away,  so this is no different. And just to add, my hosts are also online quite a lot,  so if anything I'm fitting in better.

Now why you ask! Why go all the way to Spain and be online. Well that's easy. It's noise,  it's activity,  and just enough to keep my brain  ticking over and now nose diving into self pity and sorrow about the break up. I didn't come away to cry or be depressed,  I came away to find myself a little,  and get my feet again without my partner in crime.

I know comments are made with the best interests at heart,  and quite frankly those making them for their own reasons can happily stop following me.  I can help with a how to if you don't know how to unfriend,  or block me.

But as I said to someone yesterday,  surely the concern for me should happen if I start acting abnormally,  doing weird shit,  (weirder than usual) or just plummet off the rails.

So, sorry if MY use of social media while I am making adjustment to MY life bothers YOU so much that YOU feel the need to insult or berate me for it.  But for me right now,  it's what works,  and it's what I intend on continuing to do for as long as I please.

For those who have messaged with genuine concern or sadness,  thank you.

Right,  better get back to Facebook,  Twitter and Instagram before it forgets me. Feet up,  lay back,  sun time.

Later!

PS sincere big thanks to my hosts for this break. (it's not a fuckin holiday!)

Formula 1, Nico Rosberg, and Lewis Hamilton

Its been a while since I have written a blog, certainly a long time since I have felt compelled to air my views on something so strongly. Not that my voice matters, but its boiling up inside of me so here goes.

My feelings on Lewis Hamilton have changed back and forth over the years. In times of frustration he has been known to sulk a little and seems to have gained a reputation with the negative media for being childish and a dummy spitter.
That said, time after time Lewis has shown himself to be an amazing driver, a great personality, and a deserving winner of both races and championships. As time has gone on I have realised that all in all he is a good guy, great at what he does, but just a little complex to read at times. Emotions show through and he is being a baby, hide them and he is being arrogant.

Then there is Nico. For me I have always seen Nico as a genuine guy, heart on his sleeve and saying it as he sees it. Happy times, sad times, whatever he is feeling is what is shown on the front. Rarely bitter in defeat, but not unheard of, Nico strikes me as someone who strives to have a good PR game, and tries to perform with grace. He has shown he has the spirit to win at times. However over recent times he seems to have been a little down trodden and settle for #2.

So Monaco..... Last year we had the lock up and over shoot scandal. Forcing his way to pole, ruining Lewis's chances of the position, and therefore stealing the race. A year later, the jury is still out on the matter, with different "experts" batting their feelings on the matter around again on the build up to this years race. Sky F1 for example, Johnny Herbert did 5 mins on the surface and approach to the corner this year, showing undulations in the surface, suspension bouncing, body flexing, and explaining how some favour the right to avoid uneven loads. This was followed by OvershootGate with all the theories once again resurfacing. Even though it had just been explained.

This year, pretty clear cut quali, Nico locking up a couple of times, but no impeding anyone in doing so. Lewis takes pole. Phew!
Or so we thought!

Half way through a rather dull race, I decided to go and wash my cars, so knew nothing of what would happen in the last 12 laps or so. Reading a comment on Facebook I realised that positions had changed, and looking at social media, could see it was getting messy already. Watching the highlights a short while later, there it was, Max having a huge crash (glad he is ok), safety car, and with so little time left, a strange decision by the team and Hamilton to pit.... Was passing at Monaco ever really that much of a threat.
In post race interviews, both the team and Lewis took part of the blame for the decision, and agreed it was a very badly thought out one, with dire consequences. How communication could have been so bad I don't know, but shit happens, and mistakes are made. That's just how it goes. You win some, you lose some. At times you take a gamble and it blows up in your face.

So post race, interviews with the media showed a rather disappointed Lewis Hamilton, and rightly so, and a very happy, and somewhat gracious (or I saw it that way) Nico Rosberg. From the first interview he sung Lewis praises, empathised as he is able to do, and said Lewis deserved the win.

So, so far, its a race, with an unexpected outcome, a disappointed driver, a happy driver, and a team in conflict with itself. All as expected there then really.

Now lets look at the fans....WOW !

As I have said I am all for backing someone and supporting them, even defending them (even though they don't know me, and probably don't care about my thoughts)
But some people take it all a little too far.. No scratch that, some people take it WAY too far. With personal attacks on the drivers (people they know little about), spiteful comments, and I would think that they even make the person they are supporting cringe a little with some of the comments made.

Lets take a look at a few of the comments posted on Nico Rosberg's Facebook page...

Henry Felix Mwesigwa Shame upon you Nico for the celebrations you made to day in Monaco as if u had won the race when actually u were just cheated into winning the race. Total shame and embarrassment to Mercedes team. U can cheat into winning but can't break Lewis Hamilton's fighting spirit and talent.

Mark Jones Learn to win with grace , you did not deserve to win , so why celebrate like that , I'm sorry but you came across as smug , when really you hould have been more humble and realise the situation you were in , that's why your not a champion

Christina Justice Gillardo Thank Mercedes for handing you the win that you absolutely DID NOT deserve!!! Lewis is a better person and driver than you will ever be.

There are many more where these came from.

One of the biggest complaints, from what I assume are the Hamilton fans is how Nico behaved on the podium. Huge celebrations.
Lets be honest for a second here about a couple of things.
Firstly, this is Monaco, EVERYTHING is big and overdone in Monaco, its the F1 showcase, its the fashion show, the catwalk of Formula 1. The race itself is generally a huge parade, with little overtaking or position changing, unless there is some bad luck.
Secondly, a win IS a win, you can't deny that. Gifted or fought for, crossing the line first is what matters. In the rules, a mistake was made by a team, no one cheated or broke rules. Nico crossed the line first, so celebrate. I imagine there would be even more fury if Nico had "stolen" the win, then refused to show any excitement or celebration in doing so.

At this point I would hazard a guess that Lewis and all other drivers would love to distance themselves from the true haters out there. We all have cheeky snipes, and comments about the ones we don't want to win, god only knows how many jabs I have taken at Hamilton over time, especially when he has acted like a child, or that play the race card moment he had.

I just don't understand where so much anger and hatred comes from in these people, especially given that 99.9% have never met and probably never will meet both their idol and their adversary. Having an opinion on something is all well and good, I mean, look at me typing away. But going to town, assassinating someone's character, judging them far beyond the limitations of the track and sport, and in some peoples cases, obsessing to the extend of hunting out every piece of positive media on someone, and airing an opinion on it, shooting them down with hatred and contempt. That's is borderline worrying.

For me, sadly, this has all become part of modern day sport. Social media is a wonderful thing, self expression, joining a global conversation, airing an opinion. All welcome for sure. But them some take it to a whole other level.

For me, Monaco, Mercedes, Lewis and Nico...
Merc brought a great package to the race, and gave themselves the best possible start. Lewis drove away from the start and controlled the race, as he does so well. Nico stayed close enough to take advantage of any mistakes by driver or team. The mistake was made, Nico was in the right place, gained from the error, and took the flag.
Nico's post race comments were very generous to Lewis, humble in the win, praise for his team mate who he said deserved the win.
Lewis was pretty restrained, not much he could say about the situation, but was nice not to see a hissy fit.
Mercedes admitted an error.
Nico celebrated Monaco style, and as any winner of an F1 race should.

Then sadly the people who call themselves fans destroyed the whole thing with a barrage of hatred and abuse.

Fair play to Mercedes to trying to calm things down a little.

So my message to you 'fans' out there.
Get a grip, its a sport, there will always be winners and losers. Celebrate wins, and take defeat with dignity. The drivers managed it, why can't you?
Here's to Canada, when the on track fight starts all over again, hopefully with a little less off track, on-line immaturity and pathetic behaviour from all the fans.