Keyboard warriors are a social media scourge - and I've been one of them

Writing in the Racing Post Weekender, tipster Paul Kealy shares his views on social media and the Gordon Elliott situation

We need to put to bed the Gordon Elliott saga sooner rather than later, but the outraged response from many to the trainer’s suspension on Friday shocked me more than I expected and I began to feel troubled about my own reaction on social media just under a week earlier.

Once it became apparent the image of Elliott astride a dead horse was real I became as angry as I can ever remember, and by the time the Rob James video emerged I was in full-on rage mode, even taking to Twitter like one of those demented keyboard warriors to declare: “These human vermin are destroying the sport.”

At the time I’d have happily seen the pair of them buried alive, and I’m not talking metaphorically.

Those sort of reactions do not reflect well on the person I like to think I am and I regret both, but they do show the power of raw emotion.

However, there comes a point when emotion has to be overtaken by rational thought and, seemingly in the case of a lot of people, this hasn’t happened.

This fact may be unpalatable to those who believe Elliott should be hounded out of the sport for life, but on a scale of misdemeanours ranging from running through a field of wheat to serial killer he is light years closer to Theresa May than he is to Jeffrey Dahmer.

Gordon Elliott was banned for a year after being pictured sitting on a dead horseCredit: Edward Whitaker

In the eyes of the law anyone who has broken the speed limit has done worse, having willfully endangered the lives of themselves, their passengers and anyone who got in their way (not preaching, I had to complete a speed awareness course in December).

Of course, in racing’s tiny cocoon it is so much more important as these are harmful images that fall right into the hands of those who wish to demonise the sport, and those of news outlets whose survival requires them to sensationalise whenever possible.

However, when it comes to the ‘crime’ that has been committed, how many people can really claim they haven’t done worse?

I can tell you now that if you judged me by the first ten years of my working life, you’d wonder how I ever got off that fruit and veg stall, and I should have been sacked at least once during my first year at the Racing Post.

There cannot be an adult who hasn’t engaged in something they don’t regret, and a large proportion will be thankful their past transgressions were not captured on camera and are not in the domain of their current friends and colleagues.

Elliott’s has been shared and commented on around much of the developed world, however, and no length of suspension will banish images that will likely haunt him for the rest of his life.

You might say he has brought this on himself, and there’s no argument there, but how many of us have never acted or spoken inappropriately in serious circumstances?

For example, I have laughed my head off at, and made jokes about, dementia – while watching my father slowly succumb to the disease.

You would think I was the most callous person alive if you took literally my rants about the cost of his funeral in the summer of 2019 and my thoughts on what we should have done with the body to avoid them (I still think human disposal is the only con greater than bottled water), yet I loved him dearly and miss him daily.

Humour is one of the most effective ways for people to deal with trauma and to help avoid mental health issues, and while it may not be to the taste of everyone, it’s arguably quite necessary.

It has been said, of course, that removing a dead horse from the gallops is a generally sombre occasion, and while that is no doubt true, let’s not pretend they are carried to their final resting place by pall bearers and given a 21-gun salute.

Gordon Elliott: image has provoked a lot of reaction on social media

They are dealt with as quickly and cheaply as possible, and whether you like it or not, there will on occasions be morbid humour to ease the process for those involved. It is better this is not seen and recorded, but please let’s not be so naive.

The never-to-be-forgotten image of Elliott may make him look callous and uncaring, but the performances of Elliott’s horses on the track, and the condition in which they are sent there, tell a whole different story.

I have met Elliott a couple of times, but I could not say I really know him or the person he is and I doubt either of us will care too much if we never meet again.

However, having wanted the book – plus a few other things at the start of last week – thrown at him, I now believe my initial reaction to have been way out of proportion, and that by the time he returns he will have suffered considerably more than needed to be the case.
You may disagree, but have you had a really good look at yourself?

If you want more on this story . . .

Denise Foster to run Elliott yard while trainer serves six-month suspension

IHRB hearing into controversial Rob James video to take place on Wednesday

Chris Cook: it's a time for optimism – even if it did poor Jean-Paul Gallorini no good (Members' Club)

Peter Scargill: Beck Edmunds brought me to tears – it's people like her Elliott has let down (Members' Club)

Another View: spreading the word on horse welfare has never been so vital (Members' Club)

The Weekender is out every Wednesday and is available at all good stores. You can also download the edition from 9pm on Tuesday evening