Australian Olympic Swimmers Ordered to Remove Gun Photos

[Timbuk2]

Australia swimmers told to take gun photo off Facebook



Australian Olympic swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk have been ordered to remove from Facebook a photo of themselves posing with guns.

The picture shows Monk holding two pump-action shotguns across his chest and D'Arcy holding two pistols.

The picture was taken in a gun shop in the US, where they had been training.

The Australian Olympic Committee said the photos were "foolish and clearly inappropriate for members of the 2012 Australian Olympic team".

The sport's governing body Swimming Australia said it had demanded they remove the photo and added that the pair would be spoken to again on their return from the US.

"This incident serves as a warning to all athletes... about the dangers of social media," said Nick Green, Australia's chef de mission for the London team, according to the Associated Press.

"We say again to our athletes, do not put anything up on social media that you would not share with your mother or your grandmother," he added.

The row has received extensive coverage in the Australian media, with the Telegraph newspaper labelling the pair the "idiot swimmers".

Much as I agree that guns are silly things for silly people, and only nobheads would want photos of themselves posing with them, this is just a tad OTT.

Who cares really?

This isn't on the same level as the recent stories of pictures of teachers partying and vomiting appearing on Facebook, when their own students are privy to view them, or similar professional misdemeanour or misadventure involving Facebook pics ...


EDIT: mods if you think this warrants serious discussion, feel free to move the ol' thing over

[Veldan Rath]

So if they WOULD share those pics with their mother or grandmother they would be all set?

What kind of idiot is this Nick Green and the douches at the Telegraph calling them Idiot Swimmers?

[Aimless]

Norms are different in different parts of the world and in different settings/contexts. It wasn't wrong of them to post the pics but it isn't insane to tell them to take the pics down, given the importance--in some settings and for some people --of maintaining a spotless public image. The important questions here are: who cares about the olympics and how much? The answers to those questions should go some way towards explaining this incident.

[wiggin]

Norms are different in different parts of the world and in different settings/contexts. It wasn't wrong of them to post the pics but it isn't insane to tell them to take the pics down, given the importance--in some settings and for some people --of maintaining a spotless public image. The important questions here are: who cares about the olympics and how much? The answers to those questions should go some way towards explaining this incident.

Would you say the same thing if they had been posing with a samurai sword in a shop in Japan? Honestly, this just seems like an obsession with guns on both sides.

[Khendraja'aro]

I'm confused - isn't there stuff like Biathlon in the Olympics?

[RandBlade]

So if they WOULD share those pics with their mother or grandmother they would be all set?

What kind of idiot is this Nick Green and the douches at the Telegraph calling them Idiot Swimmers?

Don't view it from gun culture in the USA. When I lived in Australia following the Port Arthur Massacre a lot changed there. My school we'd been scheduled to go on a shooting range trip with the cadets, that got cancelled and very strict gun control became the law across Australia.

Not saying I agree that while overseas this should be controversial. But while overseas to carry the flag perhaps I can see why.

Wiggin yes it is an obsession with guns, no I'm not sure that's unreasonable. Can't remember the last Samurai Sword massacre to scar Australian culture.

[wiggin]

Wiggin yes it is an obsession with guns, no I'm not sure that's unreasonable. Can't remember the last Samurai Sword massacre to scar Australian culture.

Fair enough. I'm not really worked up about this to be honest. I just find it a bit overblown. Most countries have had traumatic gun violence - Australia is no exception. Obviously some societies have chosen to have a lower tolerance for guns in popular culture than others.

To an extent, though, I feel like this only adds to the mystique surrounding firearms. Fundamentally, they're just weapons. They can be used to murder, of course, but they also are used to protect the weak, carry out national security goals, hunt food, etc. A knife can be used to kill, but I've got a coupled dozen blades in my house for other uses. Explosives can be used to murder and maim, but they're fantastically useful in construction et al. By making a big deal about this - whether for or against them - one is adding to the special 'aura' that surrounds guns in many societies. Maybe it's a bad boy aura now instead of a 'John Wayne' kinda aura, but it's still there. I find it silly and counterproductive.

There are societies that have widespread assault weapon ownership and fairly low levels of gun crime, and there are others that strictly regulate it (and consider it a big no-no in pop culture) who have issues. I think that other factors are far more important in protecting society from gun violence than a couple of kids taking a stupid picture.

[Timbuk2]

I'm confused - isn't there stuff like Biathlon in the Olympics?

Biathlon is in the Winter Olympics (target shooting and cross-country skiing)

And there are various shooting events in the Summer Olympics - target and skeet.

[Veldan Rath]

Don't view it from gun culture in the USA. When I lived in Australia following the Port Arthur Massacre a lot changed there. My school we'd been scheduled to go on a shooting range trip with the cadets, that got cancelled and very strict gun control became the law across Australia.

Not saying I agree that while overseas this should be controversial. But while overseas to carry the flag perhaps I can see why.

Wiggin yes it is an obsession with guns, no I'm not sure that's unreasonable. Can't remember the last Samurai Sword massacre to scar Australian culture.

It's still a pussy like knee jerk reaction to two guys taking pictures while HOLDING guns...and posting them...who was really hurt by this? (And if there was, those people need therapy).

[Aimless]

Would you say the same thing if they had been posing with a samurai sword in a shop in Japan? Honestly, this just seems like an obsession with guns on both sides.

I would be surprised given that samurai swords are a total non-issue in today's world except as symbols of great strength discipline and honor!

[wiggin]

I would be surprised given that samurai swords are a total non-issue in today's world except as symbols of great strength discipline and honor!

You clearly haven't seen Kill Bill.

[LittleFuzzy]

Norms are different in different parts of the world and in different settings/contexts. It wasn't wrong of them to post the pics but it isn't insane to tell them to take the pics down, given the importance--in some settings and for some people --of maintaining a spotless public image. The important questions here are: who cares about the olympics and how much? The answers to those questions should go some way towards explaining this incident.

As Khend says, the Olympics includes several shooting events. Given that, I can't see how the public image of the Olympics or the Australian team is jeopardized and consequently where the Australian committee gets off making this sort of demand and judgement.

[RandBlade]

As Khend says, the Olympics includes several shooting events. Given that, I can't see how the public image of the Olympics or the Australian team is jeopardized and consequently where the Australian committee gets off making this sort of demand and judgement.

The shooting events probably include different types of guns and poses than what they did.

[Dreadnaught]

Yeah, Australia is weird about guns in ways that are the opposite of how many people think Americans are weird about guns.

That said, it's not as if guns are outright illegal in Australia.

One guy posted on the Facebook page of a swimmer that they should defect to the US. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenrick-Monk/21186794737

NSFW, I'M GOING TO POST THIS OFFENSIVE PHOTO HERE.



http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/new...uns-photos.htm

But seriously, it's a very different culture in this area.

[GGT]

And Phelps got into trouble (and lost sponsors) for pics showing him smoking dope at a party....after he'd already won those gold medals.

Is social media becoming more detrimental, and losing its shiny luster?

[Flixy]

And Phelps got into trouble (and lost sponsors) for pics showing him smoking dope at a party....after he'd already won those gold medals.

Is social media becoming more detrimental, and losing its shiny luster?

Well, dope is illegal, and olympic sporters do have a certain role model function. And sponsors don't want to be associated with someone who smokes dope, or with someone who cheats (Tiger Woods), or basically anything negative if they can help it.

Not to mention that I'm fairly sure smoking dope is illegal for sporters, according to doping laws.

[Lewkowski]

Wow... there are crazy liberals everywhere.

[RandBlade]

You realise that in Australia that Liberals are equivalent to the GOP?

[Timbuk2]

Don't upset Lewk's microscopic view of the world.