Build Rick George a Statue (was #fireRickGeorge)

[buffaholic]

Remaining politically neutral in an account that can be identified to you personally is basic social media 101.

I am socially liberal, and many of my war-machine technology clients would likely not agree. So my follows on my Twitter page are CU sports figures, Adam, Buffnik, some music related figures, and some other personal interests. There is no Twitter account with my name on it following anything I think is inappropriate such as politics.

I have a 2nd Twitter account that I use much more often where I follow a few guys I prefer such as Garry Kasparov and others, including a little of both sides.

My point? Simply that Rick has used incredibly poor judgement in following these folks with his Twitter account, which is absolutely tied to CU. It doesn't matter that he had the account before he got here. He lists right on the account that he's the AD of the University of Colorado. That makes it tied together. Period. If his account was @RickyDgoCU (with no mention of his true identify), it would be different.

This isn't cancelling culture. It's about a public figure representing the State of Colorado and advertising his politics openly, followed up by following Nazi figures that is just plain inexcusable.

He's either dumb as a gourd (which I've suspected for some time - see his contracts) or a nazi. Either way, he sucks.

 

[patebuff]

Feels a lot like manufactured rage. People were already pissed at RG, so this gives them some additional incentive.

Spot on

 

[Jayne Cobb]

He's either dumb as a gourd (which I've suspected for some time - see his contracts) or a nazi.

You are a big one for nuance, aren't you? Maybe you don't know that the word "Nazi" means. Clearly RG is not, and has never been, a member of the National Socialist German Worker's Party, or has ascribed to any of their views, or any views in the same universe. So he's not a Nazi. Perhaps you mean he's a neo-Nazi? Clearly he's not that either. More likely you think of anyone to the right of Keith Olberman or Rachael Meadow, or someone whose politics you even mildly disagree with, is somehow a Nazi? When you throw around a term like "Nazi" willy-nilly, it loses all meaning and impact. You might as well call anyone you disagree with a Nebraska fan.

 

[buffaholic]

You are a big one for nuance, aren't you? Maybe you don't know that the word "Nazi" means. Clearly RG is not, and has never been, a member of the National Socialist German Worker's Party, or has ascribed to any of their views, or any views in the same universe. So he's not a Nazi. Perhaps you mean he's a neo-Nazi? Clearly he's not that either. More likely you think of anyone to the right of Keith Olberman or Rachael Meadow, or someone whose politics you even mildly disagree with, is somehow a Nazi? When you throw around a term like "Nazi" willy-nilly, it loses all meaning and impact. You might as well call anyone you disagree with a Nebraska fan.

I posted my definition of Nazi in the post right above it.
Neo-Nazism refers to the post–World War II militant, social, and political movements seeking to revive and reinstate Nazi ideology.

So yes, Neo-Nazist aren't actual Nazi's because they weren't alive then. So here you go:

RG is either dumb as a gourd, or a neo-nazi member or neo-nazi supporter or neo-nazi sympathizer.

Any association with Neo-Nazism, which promotes hatred and WHITE SUPREMACY is not exactly a good look for the AD.

Edit: Your attention to such nuance doesn't change the point, not even an iota.

 

[Fogo]

Well, if it wasn’t clear before, it is clear now: you are the asshole.

Thanks for proving me right yet again.

I'm sorry, I forgot the cancel culture rules for a second. Only the woketh are allowed to make claims like nazi and racist without any basis besides their personal outrage and the support of others who demand voices other than theirs be silenced.

 

[SINKRATZ]

I suspect there are far fewer Nazis and Socialists in this country than social media and the news would have us believe.

 

[buffaholic]

I'm sorry, I forgot the cancel culture rules for a second. Only the woketh are allowed to make claims like nazi and racist without any basis besides their personal outrage and the support of others who demand voices other than theirs be silenced.

Most of us are not accusing RG of being a Nazi (or Neo-nazi). Some have strong suspicions, but that is not the point.

We are accusing him from following them on his very public twitter account, the same account whereby he proclaims himself the Athletic Director. That means he's the head of the Athletic Department.

Neo-Nazi's are White Supremacists.

Athletes, that we have to recruit (i.e. sell) are largely, not white.

Your cancel culture accusations, and "only the woketh" points simply are meant to obscure the fact that Rick's public choices here are in fact a problem. A big problem. Nobody has to be "woketh" to see that this could cause many problems within the AD.

 

[manhattanbuff]

Dude you are so morally superior. I’m envious. Excellent work.

So, you’ve got no defense for RG following fascists? Appreciate the insight.

 

[GoBuffs99]

I think abortion is morally reprehensible. However I’ve never felt the need to “cancel” someone because they support abortion. And I’ve certainly never felt the need to do that because someone has taken the drastic step of…following people on Twitter who support abortion.

On that note, maybe the moral purity police-broken printer and manhattanbuff, could share with everyone if they support babies being killed in the womb? Or *gasp* if anyone they follow on Twitter supports it?

 

[manhattanbuff]

I'm sorry, I forgot the cancel culture rules for a second. Only the woketh are allowed to make claims like nazi and racist without any basis besides their personal outrage and the support of others who demand voices other than theirs be silenced.

ITT there’s been documented evidence about the specific follows and the problems with each. You have decided to evade the actual discussion in an attempt at redirecting the discussion to an irrelevant pet issue.

Unless and until you can provide a pointed reply about why the Athletic Director at the University of Colorado should follow fascists on his work Twitter account, you are just spewing more nonsense.

To top it all off: YOU alone are the asshole.

 

[Gary Indiana]

 

[Not Sure]

 

[Buffnik]

I don't know, dude.

For starters, the post said that he followed "progressives", and then proceeded to list 2 famous musical artists (Bebe Rexha and Gwen Stefani), a "vocal Trump critic" who also happens to be a mentor for CU student athletes (a more relevant connection to RG than his political beliefs, I think), the Colorado Secretary of State who happens to be public enemy number one for local "Big Lie" proponents like Tina Peters, and a "black women in sports" scholar (I would also suggest that the work performed by this scholar is relevant to his job as a college sports AD). Clearly irrelevant to his job as a college sports AD are any ideas by white supremacists like Faith Goldy.

Additionally, it's really weak sauce to try to create an equivalence between any of those accounts and the accounts for people like Seb Gorka, Faith Goldy, and Jack Posobiec for reasons that I hope you understand.

I don't find his "record on diversity hires" as particularly compelling "evidence" that he doesn't let this thinking influence his work at CU, nor do I find it particularly relevant- the truth is that no man can know what truly lies in another's heart. But the fact that he follows those accounts does beg the question. I do not find it appropriate, at all, that he's comfortable enough to follow Faith Goldy on his account where he's clearly listed as a CU representative.

Solid rebuttal

 

[rosstr]

So, you’ve got no defense for RG following fascists? Appreciate the insight.

You’re so ****ing smart. Well done. You’ve made the world a better place with your superiority. You should run for public office.

 

[manhattanbuff]

You’re so ****ing smart. Well done. You’ve made the world a better place with your superiority. You should run for public office.

You still don’t have a defense for the Athletic Director at Colorado following fascists with his work account.

I’m happy it gives you happiness to insult me. Your insults don’t invalidate my arguments.

 

[Hank]

I don’t think it’s fair to judge people by things other people say on Twitter. That’s a crazy standard.

Even if RG is a right wing guy, which he seems to be

Very Neil-Young-esqe. Waiting for the RG Planet of the Apes video to emerge.

 

[Hank]

I am confused, does following someone mean you agree with them?

This isn't rocket science.

 

[Hank]

Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, regardless of other’s opinions of said beliefs.

You can think better than this.

 

[SINKRATZ]

Isn’t the real question here whether you feel a Twitter follow constitutes some form of endorsement of that person’s beliefs? I’m not sure I’m prepared to make that leap. And I still maintain Twitter is awful.

 

[Hank]

Isn’t the real question here whether you feel a Twitter follow constitutes some form of endorsement of that person’s beliefs?

No.

 

[SINKRATZ]

No.

What is then?

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

No.

You certainly have a lot of vague and snarky responses on this subject today. Care to elaborate?

 

[Buffalo Brad]

You do not need politics to build a case to fire the incompetent leadership in the AD, Chancellor or any other position that influences the AD direction. They have all failed in the one area that we have to succeed in, Football. The amount of mismanagement of funding and the constant droning of we are poor and cannot compete is a self fulfilling narrative now. Bring in some real professionals who actually understand how to operate an AD and the story would change. Unfortunately we know that will not happen with the chancellor we have. Depending on how the president search goes, it may never happen - and Kroll is leading that charge.

 

[Hank]

What is then?

FFS. The question is whether a person's follows, taken as a whole, reveal something about that person.

Bunch of morons in this thread (and people who are not morons doing mental gymnastics just so they can argue).

 

[SINKRATZ]

FFS. The question is whether a person's follows, taken as a whole, reveal something about that person.

Bunch of morons in this thread (and people who are not morons doing mental gymnastics just so they can argue).

Isn’t that pretty much exactly what I said? Do a person’s Twitter follows mean they support those viewpoints?

 

[Not Sure]

You do not need politics to build a case to fire the incompetent leadership in the AD, Chancellor or any other position that influences the AD direction. They have all failed in the one area that we have to succeed in, Football. The amount of mismanagement of funding and the constant droning of we are poor and cannot compete is a self fulfilling narrative now. Bring in some real professionals who actually understand how to operate an AD and the story would change. Unfortunately we know that will not happen with the chancellor we have. Depending on how the president search goes, it may never happen - and Kroll is leading that charge.

But his twitter follows!

 

[Hank]

Isn’t that pretty much exactly what I said?

No. If that is what you meant, then you need to say it better.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

FFS. The question is whether a person's follows, taken as a whole, reveal something about that person.

Bunch of morons in this thread (and people who are not morons doing mental gymnastics just so they can argue).

And yet, here you are, Hank

 

[Buffnik]

FFS. The question is whether a person's follows, taken as a whole, reveal something about that person.

Bunch of morons in this thread (and people who are not morons doing mental gymnastics just so they can argue).

I think it's revealing. It doesn't mean I agree with every take by people I follow, but you can tell by my follows that I'm a sports fan, more specifically that I'm a supporter of Colorado sports teams, and more specifically that my primary focus is CU sports. Wouldn't that also track for things other than sports such as political or religious leanings?

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

I think it's revealing. It doesn't mean I agree with every take by people I follow, but you can tell by my follows that I'm a sports fan, more specifically that I'm a supporter of Colorado sports teams, and more specifically that my primary focus is CU sports. Wouldn't that also track for things other than sports such as political or religious leanings?

Generally, yes, but I followed Trump while he was on Twitter, and I certainly didn’t support him. When it comes to politics, with Twitter being the primary form of communication from politicians to the public, I think it’s a little different. Knowing what influential leaders of the country are saying and thinking transcends the “I only follow things I like/agree with” boundary, IMO.