The hounding of Gabby Douglas at the Olympics

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Gabby Douglas was representing the United States, but people started hounding her for not putting her hand on her heart while the national anthem was playing, something lots of athletes don't do anyway. She nevertheless was standing respectfully at attention, but apparently that wasn't good enough. Then people started piling on, saying her hair isn't straight enough, etc.

This is pretty horrible:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/ ... n-olympics

Well, if they think they can show more patriotism than her, let them replace her at the Olympics and see if they can win for this country.

I find that her teammates failing to publicly defend her at this time worse then whatever she did not do.

I think her not giving the flag / anthem the "civilian salute", is DISGRACEFUL----I always wanna SMACK the athlete that doesn't put their hand over their heart!!

She also sat stone-faced and didn't applaud in support of Simone Biles, when Simone had completed her routine. I think she became a BRAT after her being "the Golden Child" at last year's Olympics, and this year she's been replaced by Simone Biles (who is WAAAAAY better), and is acting like a sore-loser.

Maybe her teammates aren't supporting her, because they know what kind of person she REALLY is.

The Olympics have a national character. You are representing your country. When you are on the podium you are in the spotlight and your actions take on a public aspect. Failing to pay respect to your country is going to be interpreted as a statement (and probably is). I don't know why she did not render the sign of attachment to her country. That is her right, though it does mean people are going to respond to her statement with their own, which is their right. I figure you should only do something like that if you have a very good reason. Maybe she does. It will in the first instance appear disrespectful and unappreciative of the many people who donate and support the Olympic program. They likely are supporting it in the sense of representing us as a whole. Maybe she has stated her reasons or will.

People that riot and destroy stuff are thugs for sure. There is no justifying their actions.

Being an avid Olympics watcher doesn't mean you know her at all besides what you've seen and/or read.

It's easy to judge athletes because they are in the public eye. Unfortunately it means people are extra rude to them for any minor mistakes they do. It's a bit sickening.

I don't think it's necessary to put your hand over your heart though. That's just outward symbolism / tradition, which means nothing. It's like a man removing his hat to eat or pray: a man made tradition but it doesn't mean you're disrespectful if you don't follow like sheep in this...

Overt disrespect, on the other hand, is quite obvious.

If someone doesn't put their hand over their heart during the American anthem it is disrespectful? I don't understand that. If she had not stood to attention that would have been disrespectful, but hand over heart, that's almost totalitarian. As for her perceived lack of support due to her demeanor, one should never try to figure out what is in someone else's head; there is no way to know.

Campin_Cat, we've all been watching the Olympics, otherwise we wouldn't give a toss about this thread. Maybe she is jealous of Biles, maybe she is upset about her media coverage, maybe she just got her period. Who knows? But I find it frightening when people are so quick to turn on someone for no good reason.

She did not follow a social protocol, she must be autistic (satire)

This will be the last time I post in this discussion.

I honestly feel like you are just trying to attack me and others by bringing up other subjects. That's not only rude but its derailing this topic! Sorry if I offended with previous comments but honestly.. people just need to leave Gabby alone.

Athletes and celebrities get abused (online in comments, by the media in real life, etc) way too often. Almost always that type of abuse is not justified. Plus way too many people overreact to every little thing. She has her right to do what she wants and it was NOT a huge deal, but the media will turn it into a huge issue.. for the ratings, the website views and so on. Then people that don't read everything about it- will assume the media is right and there isn't anything else to it. That's ignorant and shouldn't be happening to anyone.