Japan Olympic delegation warns against defamatory online posts

JOC, it’s called free speech as long as said posts are not defamatory or involve threats or incitement.

So the JOC can bite me.

I criticized Abe. So did others. She deserved the criticism levied at her.

If one can’t handle the criticism, don’t become an object of it with one’s behavior.

It wasn't a flood of tears, the girl was in a full on psychotic break. She was out of it. Has she had some kind of psych "treatment"? It looks like she has.

Harsh words from many people have hurt me," said race walker Ayane Yanai, who decided not to compete in her individual event to concentrate on the mixed team event.

If “harsh words” stopped people from doing big things, nobody would ever do anything.

If you’re going to give up on your event because your feelings got hurt, you shouldn’t be an Olympic athlete in the first place.

Don't judge until you've walked a mile in her shoes.....No one except her and other athletes understand the pressure of these events. They train and sacrifice their lives for these moments and the people commenting online negatively about her have zero idea what it's like.....If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.....If it was a man reacting like this everyone would be saying "Oh poor guy....I feel sorry for him etc" but because it's a woman the sexist keyboard warriors have a field day.

Criticism sometime is harsh, brutal, cruel, ambition push's us all to achieve success, competition, fair, unjust, invidious are the challenge.

One must develop the character to fight back and improve, to stand one ground and win, achieve.

These athletes must take the rough with the smooth. Support must come from counselling to tutor mental toughness,

Threats of contacting the police, taking legal action, dragging the miscreants into court is not the answer.

One cannot go through life wrapped up in cotton wool.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

Judoka Uta Abe has been criticized for breaking down in a flood of tears following her second-round loss in the 52-kilogram category.

I don’t see what’s the problem of criticizing someone if it’s done with in a civil way without insult. This is true that crying like she did was not professional nor mature for a women of her age and being supposedly an athlete. Other Japanese athletes have cried after losing (although not as pronounced) and they should really stop crying like little kids.

"Judoka Uta Abe has been criticized for breaking down in a flood of tears following her second-round loss in the 52-kilogram category."

Because she cried so much and made such a scene that she even delayed the next match! There is nothing wrong with criticizing those facts. Making fun of her for it, that's another issue. But I don't think this about her, I think it is about national embarrassment and the JOC's feelings, not hers!

Sorry, I say whatever I want. Will never allow anyone to tell me otherwise.

Because she cried so much and made such a scene that she even delayed the next match! There is nothing wrong with criticizing those facts. Making fun of her for it, that's another issue. But I don't think this about her, I think it is about national embarrassment and the JOC's feelings, not hers!

Exactly, spot on. I wouldn’t fun of her as a human, but her actions can be criticized, not sure why she’s shocked, she is a public figure, it goes with the territory, if you don’t like it, not sure what to tell you.

Don't judge until you've walked a mile in her shoes.....No one except her and other athletes understand the pressure of these events. They train and sacrifice their lives for these moments and the people commenting online negatively about her have zero idea what it's like.....If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.....If it was a man reacting like this everyone would be saying "Oh poor guy....I feel sorry for him etc" but because it's a woman the sexist keyboard warriors have a field day.

True, but I’m still allowed to have an opinion, and to say what I want and when I want.

All these keyboard warriors being all tough and saying these athletes should just suck it up—I'd love to see you out there committing your entire life to your sport in front of the entire world.

While athletes are accustomed to scrutiny, everyone deserves respect and constructive feedback rather than personal attacks. Imagine how you would feel receiving such harsh and often unfair criticism.

Positive encouragement is not that hard.

carotiToday  06:29 pm JST

All these keyboard warriors being all tough and saying these athletes should just suck it up—I'd love to see you out there committing your entire life to your sport in front of the entire world.

While athletes are accustomed to scrutiny, everyone deserves respect and constructive feedback rather than personal attacks. Imagine how you would feel receiving such harsh and often unfair criticism.

Positive encouragement is not that hard.

lol yup double standards.

A lot of you who go hard on athletes get your knickers in a twist over just one or two negative comments or downvotes, and you’re anonymous!

You might have been harshly treated in your life so you think others should be too.

But if you don’t like getting unnecessarily harsh feedback about some comment you made, consider how people in the public eye might feel about something they have put their heart and soul into for years.

All these keyboard warriors being all tough and saying these athletes should just suck it up—I'd love to see you out there committing your entire life to your sport in front of the entire world. 

Doesn’t make a difference. No one is saying the woman shouldn’t cry, that’s not the issue, but losing is a part of doing competitive sports. Seems like the pressure of winning was instilled in this woman so much that she had no room in her soul to deal with a possible setback. There is no excuse for having a breakdown like that, none. I think her meltdown making global international news like this is causing her more damage. So much so that the JOC has to step in and warn people around the world we will come after you if you don’t say anything nice about this grown woman? You kidding me? I think this society should stop pushing kids in competitive sports to never accept defeat, in doing so, you’re setting up for failure.

While athletes are accustomed to scrutiny, everyone deserves respect and constructive feedback rather than personal attacks. Imagine how you would feel receiving such harsh and often unfair criticism.

That’s a two-streak, she does get a lot of respect, but she can also be criticized when she screws up

Positive encouragement is not that hard.

She has gotten more than enough adulation. She hold her head up high walk with grace and fight on. We all love winners, we love losers that push themselves to the limit against extraordinarily difficult odds as an underdog, but we have less sympathy for athletes that think they’re entitled to a medal especially gold, nothing is ever promised to you whether it’s sports or your life or your destiny. She just have to make this a learning experience and work harder and watch herself on how not to behave when you lose.

A lot of Japanese athletes are surprisingly bad sports when they lose, seen it in soccer, baseball, martial arts, tennis, etc. It can take the form of excessive crying and whining, making excuses or claiming the opposition had an advantage, pestering the authrities to intervene in their favor.

Japan's glass jaw gets shattered once again on the world stage. The Japanese Olympic Committee's declaration/threat is almost as embarrassing as the wailing. A projection of sheer weakness.

bass4funkToday  07:20 pm JST

All these keyboard warriors being all tough and saying these athletes should just suck it up—I'd love to see you out there committing your entire life to your sport in front of the entire world. 

Doesn’t make a difference. No one is saying the woman shouldn’t cry, that’s not the issue, but losing is a part of doing competitive sports. Seems like the pressure of winning was instilled in this woman so much that she had no room in her soul to deal with a possible setback. There is no excuse for having a breakdown like that, none. I think her meltdown making global international news like this is causing her more damage. So much so that the JOC has to step in and warn people around the world we will come after you if you don’t say anything nice about this grown woman? You kidding me? I think this society should stop pushing kids in competitive sports to never accept defeat, in doing so, you’re setting up for failure.

While athletes are accustomed to scrutiny, everyone deserves respect and constructive feedback rather than personal attacks. Imagine how you would feel receiving such harsh and often unfair criticism.

That’s a two-streak, she does get a lot of respect, but she can also be criticized when she screws up

Positive encouragement is not that hard.

She has gotten more than enough adulation. She hold her head up high walk with grace and fight on. We all love winners, we love losers that push themselves to the limit against extraordinarily difficult odds as an underdog, but we have less sympathy for athletes that think they’re entitled to a medal especially gold, nothing is ever promised to you whether it’s sports or your life or your destiny. She just have to make this a learning experience and work harder and watch herself on how not to behave when you lose.

Is her reaction really bothering you that much?

She's just being human, dealing with years of pressure and thousands of hours of practice.

I've had moments like that too, like when my daughter died in my arms and when I lost an important job.

It's okay to be vulnerable and express your emotions sometimes, you know. We're all entitled to be ourselves and express ourselves the way we need to in the moment.

Athletes should not read the sns comments, and problems ara gone.

As for Abe, she had a gold already in Tokyo so should not have been in such a state.

Top athletes have normally a strong mental and her reaction was disproportionate.

She is a beautiful human being, she is an inspiration to me! She showed what it means to fight for your country with your heart! I adore her!

caroti: "Positive encouragement is not that hard."

True, and I don't think there is anyone on here who doesn't believe that, and doesn't give it. But when you say criticism (and there is positive criticism -- also called 'feedback') is not allowed and only positive comments are, it ceases to become positivity and becomes propaganda.

There is nothing wrong with how the woman we all seem to be talking about performed in the sport. It's how she "performed" after, once again I may point out, even delaying the next match. Saying we have to give her praise for everything she did, including the post-bout tantrum, is like when someone says you can't say "no" to a person's ambitions, dreams, or mistakes, even telling the blind kid his dream to be an airline pilot is a realistic one he can most certainly achieve.

smithinjapanToday  08:38 pm JST

caroti: "Positive encouragement is not that hard."

True, and I don't think there is anyone on here who doesn't believe that, and doesn't give it. But when you say criticism (and there is positive criticism -- also called 'feedback') is not allowed and only positive comments are, it ceases to become positivity and becomes propaganda.

There is nothing wrong with how the woman we all seem to be talking about performed in the sport. It's how she "performed" after, once again I may point out, even delaying the next match. Saying we have to give her praise for everything she did, including the post-bout tantrum, is like when someone says you can't say "no" to a person's ambitions, dreams, or mistakes, even telling the blind kid his dream to be an airline pilot is a realistic one he can most certainly achieve.

Who said anything about not allowing constructive feedback and criticism? Not me, and not the article. If the next match is delayed for a few seconds because someone is having a mental breakdown or just feeling extremely emotional, who’s to say that’s wrong?

Professional sports are passionate, stressed and emotional.

People already have to control their emotions a lot.

A little understanding and flexibility go a long way.

Japanese TV channels have no interest besides handful kind of sports normally.

But, they rapidly incite expectation to Japanese Olympians and emotion to public only during Olympics because they spent immense money to broadcast Olympics.

Relation between sport and Japanese society looks like disease.

i'd love to see how they define "defamatory" and how they're going to try and enforce this.

Back in a previous Olympics, another Japanese judoka (who's now become something of a TV personality) was robbed blind by what was apparently one of the worst referee calls in the history of the sport. From my limited knowledge of judo and from a video I saw where an expert went over it in detail, his opponent (a Frenchman) went to throw him, the Japanese guy reversed the throw, and they both sort of fell over at the same time. The ref awarded a score to the French fighter, which was shown later by video analysis to be 100% the wrong call. The Japanese coach protested instantly, but the fighter just got up and went back to the start line. He eventually lost as a result of the call.

His reaction? "I lost because I wasn't strong enough".

Wonder what's changed?

I mean, look at this thread. Anyone insisting that an athlete is a valid target for criticism is being thumbed down mercilessly. We seem to be at the peak of the "Everyone Must Love And Support Everyone Else" era, ffs.

The argument that "you're not an Olympic athlete so you're not allowed to criticise them" is so weak that it could be used in homeopathy, because you should also admit when you're wrong. I was critical of Simone Biles when she took time off. I now realise that I was 100% wrong on that because she came back and won everything under the sun. Shows what I know...

Except, as the article clearly points out and everyone seems to be conveniently ignoring, it was not constructive and fair criticism. It was cruel and unnecessary 'insults and threats'.

Here are some examples and you tell me whether these are constructive or fair criticisms:

"I'm ashamed to be the same Japanese,"

"Why are you crying when you're not a child,"

"You f...g crybaby!'

"Do not come home to Japan, you are not welcome!'

"I hope you die. How embarrassing you are!"

Next, they'll be searching this forum for people badmouthing athletes. Heaven forbid anyone get any sort of criticism.

Is her reaction really bothering you that much? 

Yes

She's just being human, dealing with years of pressure and thousands of hours of practice. 

Other athletes lose badly and can still keep their composure without coming completely undone.

I've had moments like that too, like when my daughter died in my arms and when I lost an important job. 

Losing a child is very different than losing a medal. I lost my position as a bass player for 2 prestigious bands in the late 90’s and it broke me, but I had to maintain my emotions, I’m not a kid, I just had to deal with it.

It's okay to be vulnerable and express your emotions sometimes, you know.

I agree

We're all entitled to be ourselves and express ourselves the way we need to in the moment.

I think so, but if you’re a public figure and the cameras are on you and you play in a competitive world games, I think you should try at least, try as hard as you can to keep your composure, because people are watching you globally and people will make comments unfortunately good or bad, anyway, sorry for your.

if you’re a public figure and the cameras are on you and you play in a competitive world games, I think you should try at least, try as hard as you can to keep your composure, because people are watching you globally and people will make comments unfortunately good or bad

Would you say this applies to all kinds of public figures, not just athletes?

> bass4funkToday  09:48 pm JST

Is her reaction really bothering you that much? 

Yes

She's just being human, dealing with years of pressure and thousands of hours of practice. 

Other athletes lose badly and can still keep their composure without coming completely undone.

I've had moments like that too, like when my daughter died in my arms and when I lost an important job. 

Losing a child is very different than losing a medal. I lost my position as a bass player for 2 prestigious bands in the late 90’s and it broke me, but I had to maintain my emotions, I’m not a kid, I just had to deal with it.

It's okay to be vulnerable and express your emotions sometimes, you know.

I agree

We're all entitled to be ourselves and express ourselves the way we need to in the moment.

I think so, but if you’re a public figure and the cameras are on you and you play in a competitive world games, I think you should try at least, try as hard as you can to keep your composure, because people are watching you globally and people will make comments unfortunately good or bad, anyway, sorry for your.

Everyone is unique and handles personal shocks and tragedies in their own way—expecting everyone to act the same is unfair and unrealistic.

Just because you or some athletes maintain their composure in times of extreme stress or shock doesn’t mean everyone should be held to the same standard.

We’re all entitled to our own emotional reactions, especially in high-pressure situations. A bit of empathy for the diverse ways people cope can make a big difference in how we support each other.

It is beyond reason that so many people are as ignorant as they are about athletes. First, many of the athletes here are amateurs, not seasoned pros. Second, Major League baseball players and others from other sports can be seen crying after their teams have been eliminated in a post-season playoff. The emotions athletes put into their games often result in tears, even for pros. People live in a fantasy world of tough-minded athletes who are impervious to emotion. In reality, grown women and grown men cry.

She needs to see a therapist for her mental health like Simon Biles does

Everyone is unique and handles personal shocks and tragedies in their own way—expecting everyone to act the same is unfair and unrealistic. 

True, but then don't complain when others judge you, If you want to be a world public figure then you have to take all the criticism that comes with it, you can't tell the entire planet that it's unfair and doesn't work like that.

Just because you or some athletes maintain their composure in times of extreme stress or shock doesn’t mean everyone should be held to the same standard. 

True, then if you can't, don't say anything about how people should treat you when they react to seeing a spectacle like that, like you said, not everyone can be held to the same standard.

We’re all entitled to our own emotional reactions, especially in high-pressure situations. A bit of empathy for the diverse ways people cope can make a big difference in how we support each other.

The ones that want to give this woman like you, you go ahead and people like me that don't like the childish outbursts will continue to make comments.

The emotions athletes put into their games often result in tears, even for pros. People live in a fantasy world of tough-minded athletes who are impervious to emotion. In reality, grown women and grown men cry.

More excuses? Give me a break!

@caroti There’s an old saying if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen! People have a right to opinion what is the opposite of encouragement? For me the other side of failure is success if someone discourages me I’m going to work harder to prove them wrong. Your logic doesn’t sit well with me calling people keyboard warriors. First of you use the narrative of a person committing their entire life to a sport in front of the entire world. I call it bs this is the athlete choice what happens if the athlete didn’t make it in through trials the entire world is not watching but what about that athlete psychic if they don’t make the team do they cry out loud from failure it’s all mental. In Japan people work all of their lives they get ridicule even slapped and bullied by bosses and coworkers don’t they too deserve respect instead of being criticized in front of their colleagues and sometimes the public. This has nothing to do with citizens saying harsh things about athletes what it does say is the athlete had to learn mental toughness just as when they do well they except praise win or lose all the athlete can say is they did their best. Silencing people who bash athletes for poor performance is a complex issue Japan is raising but on one hand, I can agree to protecting athletes from excessive negativity and personal attacks, athletes or a common working man or woman any negativity I think can impact their mental health and well-being but I also feel that Constructive criticism is a part of sports and can be beneficial, but harmful and abusive comments are detrimental.

On the other hand, freedom of speech is a fundamental right, and people have the right to express their opinions. The challenge lies in finding a balance between allowing free expression and preventing harmful abuse. Encouraging respectful and constructive feedback while addressing and mitigating harmful behavior through moderation and education might be a more effective approach than outright silencing critics.

All these keyboard warriors being all tough and saying these athletes should just suck it up—I'd love to see you out there committing your entire life to your sport in front of the entire world. 

While athletes are accustomed to scrutiny, everyone deserves respect and constructive feedback rather than personal attacks. Imagine how you would feel receiving such harsh and often unfair criticism.

Positive encouragement is not that hard.

Constructive criticism is a good thing, in moderation. Every athlete has a coach and that's their job. Coaches don't list everything wrong, every time. They are careful to make observations about the action, not the person, most of the time. Athletes get enough criticism, that no more is needed by the peanut gallery.

We've all been frustrated about something before. That's part of being a human. Not everyone handles that frustration well. Empathy is a good thing to show when other people aren't at their best. Would you like the entire world to see you on your worst day and judge you just by that short time?

anyone else catch the irony of “someone” chastising people for not accepting defeat?

anyone else catch the irony of “someone” chastising people for not accepting defeat?

In what way???

Here are some examples and you tell me whether these are constructive or fair criticisms:

"I'm ashamed to be the same Japanese,"

That seems a little harsh, 

"Why are you crying when you're not a child,"

To me fair comment, I have been involved in kids sports for 15 years and I've never seen a child react like that. My own son was cut from a j league club and saved the tears until we were in the car

"You f...g crybaby!'

No need for bad language but she did act like a babu

"Do not come home to Japan, you are not welcome!'

Unacceptable

"I hope you die. How embarrassing you are!

Totally unacceptable

Professional athletes deserve our support when they do well and,or give their all, and criticism when they act in an unseemly manner

I

Whatever happened to sportsmanship? Y’know, not getting cocky; underestimating your opponent; and then congratulating them on their better skill and harder earned victory? “The Spirit of the Olympics.”

Her reaction, and consequently the JOCs threats smack of poor sportsmanship and hurt feelings.

Totally unacceptable 

Professional athletes deserve our support when they do well and,or give their all, and criticism when they act in an unseemly manner

Exactly.

caroti: "Who said anything about not allowing constructive feedback and criticism? Not me, and not the article. If the next match is delayed for a few seconds because someone is having a mental breakdown or just feeling extremely emotional, who’s to say that’s wrong?"

Who said it's wrong? We just pointed out it is not only unprofessional, but very childish and makes you look bad, which she now does. Until then, she did not -- not in my books. She did her best, and that's all that matters... until the breakdown. Trust me, had she gotten the gold medal the JOC had already counted towards Japan's overall count people would be beating their chests with pride as though they themselves had achieved it -- equally as bad as the negative criticism of something they could never do themselves. But you're missing the entire point... if it is okay to have a breakdown on stage and stop the show, it's okay for people to comment on it. Period. Some, like the JOC, do not want it mentioned at all because they take it as negative criticism.

Look, it's the double standards as well. As I said, had she have won, people would be swelling with pride and praising Japan and Japanese Judo, the nation, stoicism, etc. So, when she loses and throws a fit more than any other player of any other nation... ummm... why is it unacceptable to criticize?

carpslidy: "Professional athletes deserve our support when they do well and,or give their all, and criticism when they act in an unseemly manner"

Exactly, although we don't ALWAYS need to criticize, to be sure, nor praise. They definitely don't deserve the kinds of posts you quoted -- the morons that wrote those are the keyboard warriors, not people who offer valid criticism.

Exactly what is he going to do about a poster in another country?

Crying when one loses isn't unwarranted but there's a point where it becomes self-indulgent and selfish, taking away the focus on and joy of the athlete who won.

Criticizing and athlete, or rather their performance, is part of the game. Insulting an athlete, especially on a personal level and not related to their performance is odd and childish. Threatening an athlete is a crime.

Anyone who threatens to harm life, body, freedom, honor, or property, or uses assault to make someone do something they are not obligated to do, or interferes with the exercise of rights, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 3 years.

The same applies to anyone who threatens to harm the life, body, freedom, honor, or property of a relative, makes someone do something they are not obligated to do, or interferes with the exercise of rights.

Attempted crimes under the preceding two paragraphs shall be punished.

Japanese Penal Code Article 223 (Coercion)

Poor babies. How weak they are. If you’re going to act like a child and cry like a baby then expect some fall out.

Clearly Japanese have never heard of

“sticks and stones can break your bones but words will never hurt me”

This statement is as bad as the actual childish acts from adults.

JOC, it’s called free speech as long as said posts are not defamatory or involve threats or incitement.

So the JOC can bite me.

The article should at least characterize what kind of comments made the JOC react like this. The bar has to be really, really high on free speech on the internet around a public figure.

So I agree. Bite me.

how are they going to press charges for something on social media?

If it were me, and I didn’t like what was on there about me, I’d quit the media. I wouldn’t care in the first place, so I’m not sure why someone who does care would keep reading poor comments.

Do what you can do first, and tell the athletes to quit the media if they don’t like it.

simple solution compared to hunting down culprits who likely are not liable for any crime.