Other Thoughts: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Lack of decorum, tickets sales and nepo babies
As we sat down to discuss what we would write about in this week's other thoughts, we realized that we would repeat and discuss similar things that we did in prior issues. At least, y'all can't accuse us of being inconsistent with our opinions.
The current topics have the same conversation at different times, making the season feel bland. Don't get us wrong; we don't want any scandal or anything closely related to that, but we also want to be entertained because this is supposed to be entertainment at the end of the day.
As you probably figured out by the title, we tried our best to give you an OT with original thoughts. Enjoy!
Let’s have some decorum!
A TikTok video went viral, discussing how most players see what people say about them online and know the existence of active members of the fandom. Some people were surprised by the statement in the video, even though it's fair to say that we live in an era where the fourth wall between celebrities and fans has been nearly nonexistent, especially in hockey. Beyond the crazy parasocial relationships we saw in the past few months, I - Perrye - feel that the lines have been blurred, at least more than usual. I don't know if it's the Booktok effect (god knows what's happening over there, and I don't want to know), but the lack of decorum from some "creators" has been baffling to witness. I put "creators" in quotations because I'm not sure how to refer to them beyond fans who create content in their fandom, but also, that doesn't automatically make you a content creator either, but that's the closest thing we can use to describe them, I guess.
Even though I like to pretend in my world that only people who subscribe to the newsletter read THWL, the reality is far from it. Although we truly appreciate the support, it's also my reminder that someone will always perceive me on the internet, even when I think they are not. I'm also always conscious of my digital footprint, and even though there is nothing to worry about, that dictates how I move. We should always ask ourselves more, "Will I regret it in a few days, months or years?" If there's any hesitation in answering that question, this means it’s for the group chat. I know, nowadays, it might be harder to see if you cross the line because people engage primarily in bad faith, so even the tamest post can turn you into the main character of the day. However, for this exact reason, it's even more important to be sure about what you're putting out there because even your anonymity is not guaranteed anymore (but that's another conversation for another day).
My intention is not to tell people how to live their fandom, but we need to reflect on how some interact within it. We wrote this in our Summer Break Edition last year.
"We are aware that fandom is a really complex space. In an environment and a sport where the line between the fans and teams is almost nonexistent, it can be easy to lose yourself in your fandom and forget about boundaries. Let this saga be a lesson to all, and be an excellent opportunity to revisit what it means to be a fan of someone and how to engage with these people you love and admire because some of you are closer to being the next main character than you realize."
Unfortunately, the words still apply because the situation has worsened since we last discussed it. So maybe it's time to start the work for real this time, okay?
Shocker: The Winnipeg Jets aren't selling tickets.
The Athletic released an article containing a stat that has been making rounds in the media. The Jets have reported a 27% decrease in season ticket sales over the last three years. Although the team is having an incredible season, the Jets owners are meeting with Gary Bettman to discuss the team's future.
This is not a topic-worthy conversation, yet here we are. The obvious solution is to lower the prices because who currently has the extra coins to watch people skate for three hours regularly when you can do it from the comfort of your house? Do they know how much grapes cost right now?! Every time you leave your home, at least $50$ has left your bank account. The economy is beating everyone's asses, and money isn't free even for businesses who could afford to buy those season tickets for their companies.
Nonetheless, I don't think the Jets will move anytime soon, but it will be interesting to see how Bettman will justify not keeping his promise about the salary cap.
Side note: Radio-Canada investigated over a year and identified nearly 300 products sold in Canada that have undergone one or more format reductions over the last twenty years. We, as consumers, are paying more but getting less when buying groceries. The piece, written in French, is interesting for those who want to read it.
No Nepo Babies Left Behind
I - Gaby - debated even touching this one, but we reached a level of Discourse on the timeline that left us one tweet away from someone saying that the wealthy were an oppressed class.
For our non-chronically online friends, hockey media personality Andrew Berkshire released a 4-minute video criticizing the narratives around Zach Hyman’s 50-goal career achievement on Tuesday. His critique boiled down to Hyman only achieving this milestone because he comes from an extraordinarily wealthy family that allowed him to get ahead of the curve. I clocked it as rage bait from the get-go; it targeted a noted “nice guy” who is widely liked within the industry and touched upon privilege, two things that would inevitably make the Hockey Men clutch their pearls.
If I sound annoyed about the whole situation, it’s because I am. Not at Berkshire necessarily, but rather the very nature of these conversations in the sport. What he said wasn’t wrong at all; the idea that hockey was ever a meritocracy is a myth, and hockey has always been a largely inaccessible sport. While some thoughtful commentary arose, it was mostly drowned out by a bevy of people clamoring to uphold the valor of the young, wealthy, and connected of the NHL. Half of those people loudly protecting the perceived sanctity of hard work would also be priced out of the game rather quickly.
The annoyance comes from the fact that this is an important and necessary conversation to have for the future of the sport. As wealth inequity rises and hockey gets more expensive, the avenues for children to play and engage in hockey get smaller and smaller. Aside from the fact that sports are essential for community and youth development, it isn’t good for business if one of the Big Four leagues cannot engage younger audiences outside of the wealthy kids playing. However, we have found that in hockey, having these blown-out moments of virality like the Berkshire video may open up the discussion a little. However, we mostly see people batting down their beliefs and shutting down on having any conversations in the long run. We’ve seen it quite a bit with the reactionary tendencies that have emerged in hockey over the past couple of years. It’s made working in social movement spaces in hockey significantly harder.
I must emphasize that this is my opinion — which may change depending on new information — but these conservations require tact and a fundamental understanding of community organizing. There’s always a benefit to blowing the doors open on an issue. Still, it also requires follow-through and the ability to navigate a space that is generally recalcitrant to change is crucial. It’s not about hand-holding or meekly asking for change, but it requires strategy so we don’t talk in circles again.
A separate conversation that we should have though, is about Zach Hyman’s father and the scandal that was his children’s hockey empire. That story is very juicy.
The next time we write to y’all, the Cowboy Carter album will be the new soundtrack of our lives, but until then, much love!
Perrye & Gaby