X/@_willcompton
Thanks to this cryptic tweet from former NFL linebacker Will Compton, which seemed to generalize something negative, the online world was pulsating for a little while. Vague words like, “Oh no, not the comments Clay,” “Come on, Lord” acted almost as a lightning rod triggering Twitter storms of opposed reactions.”
Advertisement
Having played seven years in the NFL and later turning to be a media presenter, Compton is no stranger to controversy. Immediately after pressing the Tweet button, this one struck a nerve and in came replies from cheeky to hostile. Whatever the messages were, they could be interpreted in a variety of ways, thus adding much fuel to the raging fire of interpretations, with everyone rushing to present their own.
One user followed up with “We ain’t on ur side g lol,” whereas the other shot it straight out, “Angel Reese sucks, what are we talking about here?” The mention of WNBA star Angel Reese was totally out of left field, demonstrating how such conversations can derail into insane directions online.
The discussion went off into crazy alleys as several people accused someone called Nate of being closeted. “Nate has a lot of gay innuendos in his comments. Don’t hate him cause he’s a closeted gay. It’s okay Nate!” a commentator chimed in, throwing light on the dramatic nature of online discussion.
A tinge of politics arose when one suggested Compton was “part of the whole ‘Kneel in protest of the National Anthem and for George Floyd’ social justice brigade back in 2020.” For brief moments, this sparked a discussion about activism and athletes-the manner in which in which sportsmen provide a backdrop for wider cultural exchanges.
The jabs then turned back to Compton’s days on the gridiron, joking about “the crunch in the knees though,” probably in reference to the wear and tear inflicted on the human body by football. Others questioned his sincerity: “Virtue signaling will not make them love you. I get it though gotta keep that money rolling in huh.”
The talk about Clay, who appears to be an incident unto another on his own, inspired some of the most fiery comments. “Clay blocks everyone that disagrees with him. That’s why he mentions the comments other people get,” someone observed, to which another replied, “Surprised Clay has time to post and not off burning crosses with his white hooded buddies.”
There was something quite mystifying about Compton’s original post, including a possible mistranslation or garbled phrase (“In the dark alley柔”) that some hinted at referring to his time with the Tennessee Titans. Such cryptic messaging almost always means trouble for online speculation as people really start trying to figure out what he meant.
This outspoken former linebacker is known for confronting people he disagrees with. But this last event shows how quickly online exchanges blossom, with many entering the fray from many different perspectives, some supporting, many critical, and some just because they enjoy stirring the pot.
It began with what seemed like random skittering around internet comments but blossomed into this sprawling mess that now touches on sports, politics, and personal attacks, among others. A textbook example of social media giving a huge presence for any minute remark, especially one uttered by a public figure who has some support and some critics.
Advertisement
The more replies piled on each other, the farther the origin of the interpretation of Compton’s post went. This entire episode, in itself, can act as a podcast on how swiftly online conversation can go viral, especially in the entertainment sphere involving polarizing figures from the sports world.
No responses yet