Damien Cox has infuriated the Big Ern

[rayne008]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Let's break this down a bit.

First of all, there is a difference between identifying a person as suicidal, and judging his actions as suicidal. The first meaning is plain, while the second is metaphoric. I maintain that while no MMA fighters, boxers, hockey or football players have a death wish, their participation in activities that appear more and more to be detrimental to their long-term well being and mortality is suicidal. In other words: it is [metaphorically] suicidal to subject oneself to the vulnerability of devastating head trauma by his participation in professional fighting. That does not mean that these people are literally suicidal.

Second, let's look at what Cox in fact tweeted:

Poorly worded? Yes. Inflammatory? Yes. Responsible? No.

But, did Cox actually accuse McGrattan of being suicidal? No. The meaning of his tweet was that McGrattan's willingness to subject himself to a potentially mortally dangerous activity is so outrageous that it looks suicidal. Cox does not actually believe that McGrattan is suicidal. It's hyperbole. The problem with what he said has a lot to do with the character limit of twitter, combined with Cox's inability to exercise tact, but at no point is he purporting that McGrattan has an actual wish to die.

Furthermore, the point of the tweet is perfectly obvious from the first two sentences, which have been virtually ignored to this point: Cox insinuates pretty clearly that McGrattan's nonchalant dismissal of the incident is incredibly foolhardy and shortsighted. His cavalier disregard for the danger, and his insistence that the fight and the result were "no big deal" is—to be blunt—somewhat ignorant, given the current levels of alarm about professional fighting. The point is not that McGrattan is suicidal, rather that he is oblivious about the danger, because the only alternative is that he would have an actual death wish, and there is no good reason to think that he does.

This is not an apology for Cox. I think the tweet was stupid, and he deserves criticism for making it. This is an attempt to show that while it was ill advised and inappropriate, there is a real kernel of truth behind what he has attempted to say.

I agree with everything you just posted, especially after hearing him on the radio with Rob and Pat. He seemed a little oblivious to the danger he was putting himself in, which I found eye opening in light of all of the issues players in similar roles have had.

I'm also seeing I'm part of the problem as I'm a huge fan of Big Ern, but have less and less appetite for fighting.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

You are completely missing the point. It's not the person your insulting whose offense you should be worried about. It's actual mentally challenged people

That was my point. Calling someone suicidal impacts the mentally ill in a similar way that calling someone ######ed impacts the the mentally disabled. So why is one okay and not the other?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

That was my point. Calling someone suicidal impacts the mentally ill in a similar way that calling someone ######ed impacts the the mentally disabled. So why is one okay and not the other?

Because one is a slur with a negative connotation whilst the other is merely a statement.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Because one is a slur with a negative connotation whilst the other is merely a statement.

You use the term ######ed in any connotation and it is unacceptable. So why is this any different? People being called suicidal does have an impact on the mentally ill.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Might want to edit again

oh for eff's sakes... it was a long day. thanks to everybody for not jumping down my throat too badly. lol

[Erick Estrada]

Cox is untouchable as he and McCown are firmly entrenched in Toronto sports scene. Both of them have made careers based on being jerks and saying outlandish things. That market loves them so he's not going anywhere and this won't be the last time Cox says something in bad taste.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by rayne008

I agree with everything you just posted, especially after hearing him on the radio with Rob and Pat. He seemed a little oblivious to the danger he was putting himself in, which I found eye opening in light of all of the issues players in similar roles have had.

I'm also seeing I'm part of the problem as I'm a huge fan of Big Ern, but have less and less appetite for fighting.

"I disagree with him so he must be oblivious."

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Cox is untouchable as he and McCown are firmly entrenched in Toronto sports scene. Both of them have made careers based on being jerks and saying outlandish things. That market loves them so he's not going anywhere and this won't be the last time Cox says something in bad taste.

I don't think McCowan's belongs in the same breath as Cox, McCowan might be a be abrasive but he usually makes good points that are well researched and stands behind his convictions. Cox on the other hand is a troll and wishy washy at best. He will flop flop on many things regularly.

[Tinordi]

Amazing that loudmouth public personalities still have yet to learn not to drink and tweet.

No sympathy for Cox. If you're out drinking beers shut off the Twitter.

[undercoverbrother]

Damien's last name is appropriate, sadly it is spelt incorrectly.

[taco.vidal]

I finally heard the McGrattan interview on Fan960 when Kerr played it this afternoon. McGrattan does sound delusional at best. Commenting that he's not worried about a disease he cant pronounce (CTE) because he might get that or cancer in the future?

I liked the guy as a Flame and he's battled through a lot. After listening to that interview, I actually worry about him more than when I first did after he lay motionless face down on the ice. Hopefully his wife, family, and friends talk to him about the risks he is taking as a fighter in hockey.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I don't think McCowan's belongs in the same breath as Cox, McCowan might be a be abrasive but he usually makes good points that are well researched and stands behind his convictions. Cox on the other hand is a troll and wishy washy at best. He will flop flop on many things regularly.

McCowan is a blowhard. I will listen to his show because I think he does a decent job and he's more of a professional but he's still kind of a blowhard.

[killer_carlson]

Today is Bell Let's Talk Day. Bell will donate 5 cents for:

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

McCowan is a blowhard. I will listen to his show because I think he does a decent job and he's more of a professional but he's still kind of a blowhard.

He's a somewhat sedate Don Imus.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I don't think McCowan's belongs in the same breath as Cox, McCowan might be a be abrasive but he usually makes good points that are well researched and stands behind his convictions. Cox on the other hand is a troll and wishy washy at best. He will flop flop on many things regularly.

McCowan doesn't research all that well IMO. He's frequently unfamiliar with the subject his guests are coming to talk about, and his hockey knowledge is poor indeed.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

McCowan is a blowhard. I will listen to his show because I think he does a decent job and he's more of a professional but he's still kind of a blowhard.

that was why I referred to him as abrasive