Why Do Social Media Users Believe That Celebrities Are Fair Game?

WHY is it that so many people think that celebrities are fair game on social media? Why do so many individuals with nothing better to do with their believe that it is all right to hurl abuse at sportsmen and women from the safety of their Twitter account?

For sure, we don't always agree with what the rich and famous do, but does that really give us the right to say whatever we want about them? And should we be surprised when they decide that enough is enough and retaliate?

Lee Westwood, who is one of the most mild-mannered of individuals, was subjected to some vile abuse over his inability to close out several major championships. Let's not forget the skill and the dedication that got him into position to get into contention in the first place. So why should Westwood have to bite his tongue as some anonymous individual hiding behind a Twitter handle writes the first piece of nonsense that comes into his head?

Westwood is one of the finest golfers Europe has ever produced. Full stop. Does anybody really think that he set out to NOT to win The Open, The Masters, the US Open and the US PGA Championship? On and on the abuse went until, finally Westwood snapped and decide to retaliate. He admitted that he'd had a drink or two and he said later that he regretted his actions, especially as they only led to further criticism.

The latest golfer to get involved in a Twiter row is Ian Poulter, and it has to be said that the whole thing has been especially unedifying. He was playing the 15th hole and was in contention during the second round of the Hong Kong Open when he was distracted by a cameraman and ended up walking off the hole with a quadruple bogey eight. Unsurprisingly, Poulter, who is battling back to fitness and form after a wretched year on the sidelines, was a little hot under the collar and told the cameraman in question what he thought of him.

Before long, the Twitter trolls were having their say about the Englishman. Now it could be argued that if he signs up for Twitter, has well over one million followers and himself tweets on a regular basis then he should be prepared to take whatever flak comes his way. But when does that flak overstep the mark.

Glenn I'm disapointed. I remember you delivering & was a great experience. I guess I will never use @ReliableCarrier to move my cars again. pic.twitter.com/Qudl9m8qkv

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) December 11, 2016

For Poulter it was when a car salesman called Glenn Stacey described him as a "d**k, on and off the course." It turned out that Poulter had used Stacey's company, Reliable Carrier, to move some of his extensive and very expensive collection of cars a few years ago, a privilege for which Poulter no doubt paid the company, and Stacey, handsomely. Poulter tweeted that he'd had a first-class experience with the company and added, unsurprisingly, that he wouldn't be using Reliable Carrier again." No real surprise there.

But other Twitter users then decided to get involved, with one accusing Poulter of an abuse of power and of being a bully. Now perhaps I am missing something here. Are we saying that it is all right for somebody to call Ian Poulter a "d***" but it is not all right for Poulter to defend himself and, quite rightly, tell the world the name of the company the guy works for and that he will never use said company's services again? I am confused.

Poulter tweeted that he'd a great experience with Reliable Carrier and had even paid a tip but repeated that he would not be using the company again. Personally, I believe that Poulter was well within his rights and that Stacey can count himself a very lucky man to still have a job. And what seems to have been buried away in all of this is that Poulter then contacted the chief operating officer at Reliable Carrier to ensure that no action would be taken against their employee.

In my view, there is only one loser in all of this, and it is not Ian Poulter. And just for the record, I will not be asking Reliable Carrier to move my Reliant Robin anywhere.