This still bothers me. I work with criminal drug addicts, the "scum of the earth" by layman's standards, and it has taught me one thing: very, very few people are truly "bad." People do bad things. Western cultures are absolutely obsessed with the good guy/bad guy dichotomy, and we're equally as obsessed with these revenge porn fantasies, where the "bad guy" gets his due. Maybe it's an oversaturation of narrative entertainment - everyone needs to have their role - I don't really know. But I constantly see this adage, that Voynov is an "awful human being," and it really bothers me.
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But if that's all you knew about him, I'm sure he would be an awful human being, too.
I wanted to quote your whole post but take out the middle just for the sake of consolidating the post.
I just wanted to say this is very well spoken and I 100% agree. I have said numerous times in different locations when people have judged Voynov that there's a difference between a horrible person and a horrible act. I've never hit a girl out of anger (just being playful or by accident), but I have done some bad things in life I'm definitely not proud of. I definitely would not want to be judged based on the worst times in my life, nor do I think anyone else would.
I simply hope those who say things like "You're dead to me, Voynov" and "You're a horrible person, Voynov" never have to be judged based off of the wrongs in life they've committed. I further hope they can reflect on Voynov's situation, and since they are getting back together, that both sides get help. Even if you never like Voynov again (which would be silly either to decidedly like or dislike someone you don't know), you pretty much have to hope he gets help so this doesn't happen again.
It IS possible for good people to do terrible things. Just as it's possible for terrible people to do good things. People are mistakenly taking a possibly bad time in someone's life and judging, which is silly.
But that's the Internet for you.
Christ guys, I've spent over a year mostly defending his character, the difference in cultural norms, and how I hope he learns/gets rehabilitated, and I even said he was 'being' a crappy person, not that he's permanently a crappy person, and MY post gets picked out as the teaching point?
I 100% agree with your point, but I'm getting read wrong and lectured to, and that's road apples.
I fully believe in the power of people to change and learn. I'm working in similar situations as you, see them every single day, and have had DV affect my family massively. I don't hold grudges, I do forgive, and I believe it takes time, but remember I was the one arguing that the best course of action here, whether he played in the NHL or not, was bigtime rehabilitation and support for the family HERE--not booting him from the country/league because that's just the NHL saying "don't want this problem" not "let's fix this problem for the future."
Patrick Kane is American.
Ive addressed that before. He should be forced to remain in the US and not allowed to play in Canada. In the same way that any Canadian born player shouldn't be allowed to enter the U.S.
Richie and I were both commenting on a growing and concerning narrative and way people are being judged. Yours was just more recent, but there were other things other people have said that really bothered me, but I didn't have time to respond prior.
If you feel targeted or lectured, I'm sorry, that wasn't my intention. I still maintain there are people being judgmental and righteous when I am sure we all have done regrettable things, and people confuse an act with a person's entire character.
This still bothers me. I work with criminal drug addicts, the "scum of the earth" by layman's standards, and it has taught me one thing: very, very few people are truly "bad." People do bad things. Western cultures are absolutely obsessed with the good guy/bad guy dichotomy, and we're equally as obsessed with these revenge porn fantasies, where the "bad guy" gets his due. Maybe it's an oversaturation of narrative entertainment - everyone needs to have their role - I don't really know. But I constantly see this adage, that Voynov is an "awful human being," and it really bothers me.
Man, you really hit it on the head here. Its the Hollywood popculture that is embraced by politicians.
Brad, for the record, I didn't intend to single you out. I know I quoted you, but that wasn't my intent, and I know you've defended Voynov multiple times.
That post was the culmination of a lot frustration directed at the variety of things we've all been forced to endure from the hockey world.
So yeah. Didn't mean to single you out, brotha.
I actually do really like that quote. Hollywood vision of justice is clouded by the idea of the pure hero vs. the twirling-moustache villain instead of the real grey area where most people live.
Ive addressed that before. He should be forced to remain in the US and not allowed to play in Canada. In the same way that any Canadian born player shouldn't be allowed to enter the U.S.
I'd build the biggest wall you've ever seen around Kane and I'd make Stan pay for it.
If Kane plead to a deal or lost by trial I doubt whether or not he would be allowed into Canada would be an issue. He'd be gone from the Hawks and the NHL for awhile. I agree though that ROR should be suspended now since the precedent the NHL has set is that if you're arrested you get suspended immediately until the outcome of the trial. The fact that they are picking and choosing crimes as though crashing your truck through a closed coffee shop is not as bad as beating your spouse is ludicrous. ROR probably has issues with substance abuse as do many NHLers as us King fans should now understand very well.
But, but, but it was the off season , he can be suspended [said every poster defending him]. I really hope the NHL takes all arrest as seriously as they did Voynovs, off season or not.