I just saw on Facebook that Ali’s suspension was lifted!
I disagree about disabling comments on SafeSport related articles. The remedy with respect to offensive speech/hate speech is MORE speech, not enforced silence.
But I agree that it is PROFOUNDLY DISHEARTENING to see where so very many folks’ heads still are on the topic of SafeSport.
Like others, I am of the opinion that professionals/prominent folks in the sport who CHOOSE to make foolish/inflammatory comments publicly on viral COTH FB links to SafeSport related articles? Well… it does reflect on them. In a poor way. It will cost them clients eventually.
As for whether or not victims feel dissuaded from reporting as they watch this sort of thing play out, over and over and over? Well… there are shades of grey with respect to this. Some victims will be horrified by how ‘backwards’ many folks still are in terms of their attitudes on sexual abuse of minors. Other victims, however, are people who were abused decades ago… and who have been living with silence and shame. That’s a complicated and challenging thing. Anyone who has gone through that experience has thought to themselves at some point, “How would people react if they knew about my story/experience?” Building up a total nightmare scenario in one’s mind in terms of fallout from the disclosure of one’s abuse? That is not an uncommon psychological phenomenon. Not at all. Maybe social media adds another layer to this whole public disclosure fear that many private survivors have… but the stress already existed. It’s part of what abuse survivors live with.
I wish people were more empathetic in general when commenting though. Especially about situations where investigations are ongoing, and most of the underlying allegations are unknown. People should try and let some of these cases play out, and hold back on commentary until final decisions pertaining to completed investigations are announced.
3 Likes
I disagree to some extent that professionals who post foolish and inflammatory things on Facebook will lose clients. It’s often so difficult to find a trainer who is affordable, within a reasonable drive, knows and works well with your horse, knows and works well with you, and rides in your discipline. I think most riders have those factors first and foremost in their minds. Now, if a trainer is obviously (or not so obviously) verbally condoning or enabling abuse, then any sane and compassionate person will get out of that barn yesterday.
But I’ve known many people in real life–in the horse world and outside of it–who I get on well with face-to-face, seem incredibly nice, and then I friend them on Facebook and just as quickly unfriend them. 
Particularly if a client isn’t terribly deep into social media, I think the perceived blowback from posting awful things on SafeSport articles isn’t likely to be as great as some posters might suspect. But viewed collectively, it can certainly create the perception that the community is against SafeSport.
2 Likes
@Impractical_Horsewoman - that’s a sad, but valid perspective. I live in an area where I am blessed to have many coaching professionals nearby. Plus… I’m low level these days… so I approached it from that vantage point. But I can see what you are saying.
1 Like
