Jonathan Martin and the Miami Dolphins

I've heard the same thing about newsrooms.

 

Exactly.

What kind of bullshit rationalization allows them to just acknowledge that it isn't a normal workplace?

It might not be, but there's no reason why it can't and should not be.

 

The report also mentions that Martin has a history of being bullied, often by people half his size.

 

I worked on the commodities exchange floor in New York for a long time. It was very "masculine". And, because you worked alongside people working for other firms, or who were independent traders, there wasn't one HR department to complain to, or to manage the situation.

But, even at its worst, it wasn't like what's described in the report.

People goofed around. But, you goofed around with your peers, not the weakest link.

These guys were classic bullies. They looked for people who would take their shit, and not fight back.

 

I don't think an NFL locker room can ever be a "normal" workplace, just like the work setting of a Rock and Roll band, a UFC fighter, or a Professional Wrestler can never truly be normal. If a profession inherently requires socially abnormal workers, and involves hitting others in a violent game for a living, truly "normal" ain't ever gonna happen.

But it can be better than this.

 

There is enough evidence of racial bullying, anti-gay bullying, misogyny and drug use that the DOJ could open an investigation.

 

Just because stuff like this happens elsewhere doesn't make it right. Guys used to leer and grope the staff in offices regularly in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, did that make it right? Ultimately, the message has gotten across that its not right.

Do you need to harass, bully, and demean people to have a successful football team/organization? You're answering yes if you accept that this behavior is okay, acceptable, "because the NFL is different, not a workplace." I refuse to do so; I expect better from the NFL.

IMHO, what happened is unacceptable and should not be condoned or excused. And if the NFL does not change, then I will vote by not watching any longer.

 

I'm telling you though that the Asian guy is about to get paid because his case was just made for him (but no $$ would be worth getting subjected to that.)

 

Why do all of these shit-for-brains think they never have to act like civilized human beings? The newsroom wasn't exactly the most button-downed office in existence, but it also wasn't the high school or college newspaper.

 

In this case: roids.

(And a heavy predilection toward being an asshole in the first place.)

 

Drugs, low education, lack of real-life maturity in the way other adults are forced to develop it.
In other words, you can partly thank college football for it.

 

A NFL locker room is far from a normal work environment, but I don't get the sense that what is being described as happening in Miami is anything close to commonplace.

I've heard some crazy stories and seen some crazy things, but nothing on the level of some of the stuff in that report.

Fine books are common. Crude jokes about mothers/sisters/girlfriends/wives are common.

The other stuff? Not in the locker rooms I've seen... I'm sure like anything else there are a couple really bad ones and the rest aren't nearly as bad.