Ignoring is a Weapon of the Wise... and Controversy is Food for Fame-Seekers

Audiences are no longer influenced by media discourse.

Some voices in sports media, social media, and spaces no longer rely on reliable information or professional, sound presentation, but rather feed on excitement, controversy, and provoking audiences. They are well aware that controversy brings views, views bring profits, and profits create more influence and reach.

Unfortunately, many fans contribute – without realizing it – to creating and sustaining this phenomenon. Every follow, every reshare, every angry comment, and every attempt to respond or refute ultimately becomes new fuel that gives these accounts life and grants them the fame and influence they seek. In fact, some of these voices do not distinguish between supporter and opponent; what matters to them is the volume of interaction, not its content. If fans ignored these narratives and denied them attention, their impact would shrink and their presence would gradually decline; because triviality cannot survive on its own, but lives off reactions and dies when deprived of the spotlight. Those who rush to respond to these narratives are not equal; some exploit them as an opportunity to enhance their personal presence, increase their followers and views, to appear as 'the confronters' or 'the defenders,' while the club's interest is the last thing on their minds.

On the other hand, some rush in good faith out of love, zeal, and belonging, believing they are defending their club and exposing the falsity of those narratives, but in reality, they unknowingly contribute to expanding their reach and giving their owners more value than their actual size. The truth that everyone should realize is that big clubs are not shaken by a tweet, nor are they affected by bickering, nor is their status reduced to a fleeting opinion or superficial presentation.

History, achievements, and popularity are not created by spaces nor destroyed by accounts. Moreover, any transgression or offense has official channels and competent legal authorities capable of handling it and holding perpetrators accountable, away from media chaos and futile bickering. As for preoccupying oneself with chasing every provocateur, responding to every insult, and engaging in every side battle, it will not achieve any real gain for the club or its fans, but will instead give those voices exactly what they want: more noise, spread, and presence.

In the end, the ordinary fan remains the biggest loser; his emotions are drained, his time and effort are wasted in battles that add nothing to his club, while the controversy makers reap views, profits, and fame at the expense of that sincere emotion. Therefore, the strongest way to confront triviality is not to descend into its swamp, but to deprive it of the oxygen it lives on. Not everything said deserves a response, and not everyone seeking fame deserves to be granted it. Sometimes ignoring is a conscious stance, not weakness, and silence is more eloquent than a thousand replies. When will we realize that some battles are not worth fighting? When will we learn to think with our minds before our emotions push us to serve those who seek to exploit them? In summary: the more interaction with controversy makers, the greater their influence and spread; the more they are ignored, the more their impact shrinks. Conscious ignoring is not passivity; sometimes it is the wisest and most effective stance.

Saleh Al-Qablan