Y’all, can we, like, chill out a little bit?
Referees are opinionated people by nature, and this job requires a strong personality. And many decisions aren’t black and white. Particularly with the World Cup, and particularly with the vast majority of users being from teams that have progressed, it’s understandable emotions will run high.
But geez, man, I think we’re going a little far sometimes, last night’s thread about the Balogun red a case in point. Spirited debate is one thing, but condescension, absolutism, and accusations of bad faith are another. A huge part of officiating is professionalism and respect. Another huge part is education. If you think somebody is saying something that’s incorrect, it might be appropriate to reply with your own opinion, for their education and for that of everybody else—but can we not do so professionally and respectfully? That’s what this place used to be like, and it was a really delightful change from most subreddits.
And, let’s not forget that everybody doing this is constantly learning, no matter what level you’re at; recognize that other people, and you, can make mistakes.
Anyways, I’m no mod, so I can’t do jack. I stand down from my soapbox, and look forward to seeing continued discussion of what has been a lively World Cup so far.