Is It Rude To Post On A Celebrity;s Facebook Page That They Are An Asshole?

[Mitchell]

Before I start this thread, I want to make 100% clear that this thread is NOT about me, or anything I did, but.. I saw something on Facebook this afternoon, that greatly surprised me.

As I've posted before, I watch WPVI TV from Philadelphia, and their long time lead news anchor, Jim Gardner, every weeknight at 11 for the news. Gardner makes occasional postings on his Facebook page, about holiday wishes, events, etc.

Today, when I visited Gardner's page, someone wrote "I encountered you back in the 1970s, Jim, coming out of a store. I tried to talk to you, and you were a rude, stuck up asshole".

One would think that would be ignored as spam, but.. to my surprise, Gardner, whom I've always found to be very... proper, responded to the guy, saying something like "I'm sorry I was rude to you. I had just started the job at WPVI. I was 28 years old, not very talkative back then, and very nervous". A sincere reply, I believe.

Then, the pile on started. Jim Gardner is the number one newscaster in Philly, by ratings. People started saying things like "How can you post about something Gardner did 30 years ago on his Facebook page. You are an attention hog. You're the asshole, etc etc".

The guy's criticism of Gardner, and Gardner's sincere reply, was somewhat shocking.

What do forum members think. Was the guy wrong to call out Gardner for something he did 30 years ago, or.,. was that his right to criticize a public figure on his Facebook page?

Thoughts?

Mitch

 

[mabus]

30 years ago?

I was 6 years old 30 years ago. The Jack Benny Show, Burns and Allen, and The Life of Riley were on syndication. Most people today wouldn't even know what those were.
The internet didn't exist, no politician could claim "I'm like Reagan!" because Reagan wasn't even President yet. Cassette tapes were these new fangled things.
VCR's cost over $2,000.

The fact that the guy apologized shows what a class act the anchor has become, and what a douche bag the poster still is.

 

[kis123]

Are you serious?

Someone held that grudge for 30 years? How much sleep did this guy lose because someone didn't address him on the street? What is wrong with people nowadays?? Just a bunch of walking wounded cry babies IMO! There's so much more important things going on in the world that I couldn't imagine holding a grudge that long (and I used to be really good holding grudges too).

I'll take mabus' last sentence and say the reporter showed true class and the poster showed sheer douchbaggery.......

 

[Mitchell]

mabus, in my experience of watching Gardner, he is a class act, and yes I agree the guy who attacked him is a douche.

Yes, kis, I am 100% serious. If anyone wants to see it, go to the Facebook page of Jim Gardner of WPVI TV
Philadelphia. It may still be there.

The other thing here.. is that it wasnt like Gardner was/is a close personal friend. or family member. of the person involved. To the guy in question, Gardner was/is a public figure that was preoccupied with other things in his busy life.

I would never make such a post.. (And people on here know how sensitive I can be about things). There have been times that I have debated with Gardner about stories he tells on the news.. or viewpoints he has.. but it is always a civil debate.. or an.. "I agree or disagree" thing. I'd never call the guy a douche on Facebook. It's uncilivilzed to do that. Plus, I'd be concerned that my friends and family, who are on my buddy list, would think I'd lost my mind.

Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

Apparently, there was a reason for this guy's post, but I still dont agree with his justifcation for doing it.

Since I posted this thread, there were other posts by the people involved on Gardner's Facebook page. The guy who made the original post, stated that it was both he and his wife, who encountered Gardner, coming out of a smoke shop, and that.. supposedly, Gardner made the guy's wife cry with his rudeness. As I previously posted, Gardner explained himself, and then apologized, to which the guy said "Apology accepted.. today was the anniversary of my wife's death. Happy Holidays to you and yours".

Ummm.. Okay. The guy's wife died on Xmas Eve. Very sad for him, and his wife. no doubt.. but.. I still think the guy was.. out there for calling Gardner out for something he did 35 years ago.

Anyhow, just wanted to post about the outcome with this.

Mitch

 

[chicago]

The guy is most likely a troll and the newscaster should have ignored him. Anyone that cares that much about a celebrity, let alone one that no one outside of Philly knows about, one way or another probably has a few issues.

 

[ArchNemesis]

It's not rude, as long as you call them an asshole politely. LMAO

 

[Mitchell]

Mairead, I dont think the guy meant for his post to be "trollish". I actually think he was serious. He had his picture on his Facebook page, and he looks to be a rather old man. It would seem to me that he was in fact serious. As for what you said about Gardner ignoring him: Gardner probably should have ignored him, but.. apparently, he felt a need to respond to it for whatever reason.

Mitch

 

[locker669]

Why would you wait 30 years to friend someone on Facebook just to tell them what an asshole they are?

 

[Mitchell]

locker, this guy didnt "friend" Jim Gardner. Jim Gardner is a public figure. Anyone who hasnt been banned from Facebook, can post comments on any public figure's profile/wall on Facebook, which is what this guy did to Gardner.

Mitch

 

[Kittycupcake]

It's never polite to call someone an asshole. No matter how much of one they may be.

 

[DontAskJusTckle]

If it were a case of friending, I'd have to agree with Locker. You don't befriend somebody simply to call them an asshole. I'm presuming that Gardner created his Facebook account himself, or at least consented to it. That being the case, he must have known that the "public figure" status would open himself to all manner of praise AND flames.

Yes, it was rude and fairly petty, to whine about something 30 years ago. I would have had more respect for him if he'd flamed Gardner for something more current.

 

[Korastus]

30 years seems excessive, and possibly a little bit crazy.
As far as calling out a public figure on a social networking site, I say horrible things to Newt Gingrich on twitter all day every day, soooo, I say go for it.

 

[Coup de Grace]

Wow... They could have gone about it another way without looking like a douche. They could have simply articulated to them what happened 30 years ago without the insult slinging and they probably would have received the same response, the difference being not looking like a jerk.

I kind of had a similar incident with a celebrity. Before she became popular, Jasika Nicole (Astrid) from Fringe was signing at a comic show I regularly attend. I walked over to her table and she straight big-timed me and pretended like I wasn't even there. I'm 6'3" so she can't say she didn't see me. Even so, I never felt the need to post nasty remarks on her twitter page, if she has one. If I ever get the chance to see her again, I might tell her what she did in a joking way, but I certainly wouldn't be rude or impolite.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

locker, this guy didnt "friend" Jim Gardner. Jim Gardner is a public figure. Anyone who hasnt been banned from Facebook, can post comments on any public figure's profile/wall on Facebook, which is what this guy did to Gardner.

Mitch

Well, anybody has the right to call whomever they want an asshole. Doesn't mean one should though. It's a stupid move posting anything negative up on their fan page though. It's inviting backlash from FANS.

I'd chalk this up to trolling.

 

[Mitchell]

The whole thing about something happening 35 years ago that was wrong.. hit home for me a bit.. for this reason.

As I've posted previously, my father was business manager for the rock group Kiss from 1973 to either 1980 or
1981.

When I was little.. just about.. 35 years ago.. I was always fascinated by Gene Simmons doing the whole "Tounge" routine. Around that time, my father introduced me to one of the other members of the band.. at my father's office. I believe it was Peter Criss. I said something like "Nice to meet you, but who I want to meet is.. "The Tounge", and I stuck out my tounge at him.. to which he just laughed. I highly doubt one would see this member of Kiss posting on his Facebook page :" Know what.. in the 1970s, I met my former business manager's brat kid.. who was.. 6?.. and instead of being nice, the little asshole stuck out his tounge at me!". He may or may not remember the incident, but, if he does.. he hasnt posted it anywhere that I can see.

Back to the subject of Gardner and this guy: If Gardner had.. physically assaulted him, done something criminal, etc, etc, then maybe I can see the guy doing what he did.. However.. for just being rude? Uh.. I still think the guy went a bit overboard.

Mitch