Random Irritations

[Deleted member 16999]

Really?

If it was deemed an integral part of my job. Whilst I'd want the employer to maybe give me a break, I wouldn't expect them to say I could just stop doing it all together.

I also, only saw her mention it when she announced her refusal to part take. So like I have said. I sympathise with her struggle, just not how she's decided to trying to get them to change.

What would be the best situation for your employer? Try and help you with the problem or risk you having a breakdown and going on the sick for possibly months?

The reason you could be having issues at work could vary, but I genuinely can’t see a scenario were an employer helps you see someone then tells you to “suck it up” when you return.

As for the Lady in question, her mental health problems have been documented since 2018, she was fined after not doing the media interviews when she won her first round, despite saying she wasn’t doing them.
Yes, she may of gone about it the wrong way, but to fine her and then threaten dq and future bans hasn’t helped them either.

Both parties should of discussed it privately imo.

 

[Papas1982]

What would be the best situation for your employer? Try and help you with the problem or risk you having a breakdown and going on the sick for possibly months?

The reason you could be having issues at work could vary, but I genuinely can’t see a scenario were an employer helps you see someone then tells you to “suck it up” when you return.

If I was trying to stop doing something deemed integral to my job. Then me being there and not performing said task would be detrimental to them anyway.

Not saying she couldn't skip them for this tournament if she really was struggling at this time. But the tour were never gonna ok it and say you've no longer got to do them.

She also just refused to do them, going to Twitter to make your point is a basic Karen move.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Unfortunately that is the problem

It’s not their problem.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

If I was trying to stop doing something deemed integral to my job. Then me being there and not performing said task would be detrimental to them anyway.

Not saying she couldn't skip them for this tournament if she really was struggling at this time. But the tour were never gonna ok it and say you've no longer got to do them.

She also just refused to do them, going to Twitter to make your point is a basic Karen move.

Or maybe lighten the load for you or swap jobs whilst undergoing treatment, to take the hard nose stance won’t help anyone.

The Tour could of excused her for this tournament and worked with her and the Doctors.

It’s things like this why people suffering won’t speak up, the fear of losing their livelihood or being ridiculed etc, as seen by some of the posts on here, some (not you) can be quick to judge.

 

[Hobbit]

Maybe now is the time for the LTA to apply some ‘house rules’ on the media. Some journalists behave like rabid dogs, ask questions that are far too personal. Surely any interview should be about the match…?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If I was trying to stop doing something deemed integral to my job. Then me being there and not performing said task would be detrimental to them anyway.

Not saying she couldn't skip them for this tournament if she really was struggling at this time. But the tour were never gonna ok it and say you've no longer got to do them.

She also just refused to do them, going to Twitter to make your point is a basic Karen move.

Is answering quesitons a second time to the waiting media Wolves really that integral to her playing Tennis ?

She answers questions after the match on the court but struggles in the media scrum where at times it pretty brutal.

The French Open won’t be affected dramatically by her not doing match press conferences- or at the very least finding a way for the impact on her to be less stressful.

At the end of the day her job as it’s called is to be a tennis player and to play tennis - if they require media time then there needs to be ways for people like Osaka to partake in ways that won’t affect her so much

As opposed to just threatening her with bans

 

[GB72]

Maybe now is the time for the LTA to apply some ‘house rules’ on the media. Some journalists behave like rabid dogs, ask questions that are far too personao. Surely any interview should be about the match…?

That is a fair point. Not sure why it even has to be individual journalists, an interview with a member of the LTA with journalists submitting points that they may like to be raised via a portal would seem an option. In general, with the technology available, I am still not sure I see the need to cram dozens of journalists in a room for the obligatory press conference.

 

[Neilds]

It’s not their problem.

It is the problem of those people who cry wolf and try to use the MH excuse to get their own way or force their point of view.
This view is not related to tennis , I don’t know enough about that issue but in general life, I feel that MH is used too often as an escuse and detracts from those who are really suffering. They either don’t get believed or don’t want to come forward due to the fear of being ridiculed. Neither situation is good

 

[GB72]

Is answering quesitons a second time to the waiting media Wolves really that integral to her playing Tennis ?

She answers questions after the match on the court but struggles in the media scrum where at times it pretty brutal.

The French Open won’t be affected dramatically by her not doing match press conferences- or at the very least finding a way for the impact on her to be less stressful.

At the end of the day her job as it’s called is to be a tennis player and to play tennis - if they require media time then there needs to be ways for people like Osaka to partake in ways that won’t affect her so much

As opposed to just threatening her with bans

I guess, and I have no real side in this ,every job has elements that are not strictly integral to the completion of the task in hand but are seen as a normal and necessary part of the job overall. I suspect, if you break it down, very few of us limit our work to the simple bare task in question and have to carry out additional jobs whether it be in the name of marketing, business development, client care etc.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

In fairness, whilst it is part of the job, there should be some sort of protection in place to save them from some of the more inane questioning that they are subjected to, or the "journalist" that refuse to leave a point alone despite the interviewee having clearly given an answer, albeit not the one the journalist wanted.

Standard of journalism these days is very poor, for example “Brooks or Bryson, who would you rather go for a pint with?”

 

[Deleted member 16999]

It is the problem of those people who cry wolf and try to use the MH excuse to get their own way or force their point of view.
This view is not related to tennis , I don’t know enough about that issue but in general life, I feel that MH is used too often as an escuse and detracts from those who are really suffering. They either don’t get believed or don’t want to come forward due to the fear of being ridiculed. Neither situation is good

So the issue with MH is your perception of those speaking out? How are the genuine going to come forward if we believe no one?

 

[Hobbit]

Is answering quesitons a second time to the waiting media Wolves really that integral to her playing Tennis ?

She answers questions after the match on the court but struggles in the media scrum where at times it pretty brutal.

The French Open won’t be affected dramatically by her not doing match press conferences- or at the very least finding a way for the impact on her to be less stressful.

At the end of the day her job as it’s called is to be a tennis player and to play tennis - if they require media time then there needs to be ways for people like Osaka to partake in ways that won’t affect her so much

As opposed to just threatening her with bans

I agree with 90% of what you’re saying apart from her job is to play tennis. That’s a little too simplistic. At her level she’s an entertainer. Not everyone is at the match or watching it on TV. There has to be some media involvement to not only report the match but to also personalise it a little. For example. A few simple quotes, “it was a really tough match. Her backhand was ‘dangerous.’

That’s all that’s needed.

Osaka needs compassion and help but she also has a responsibility to the LTA and the fans. Give her a break, absolutely, but at some point she needs to do interviews.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Okay, I'll be that person. Start a thread. It's an interesting topic and worthy of one. This one needs to get back to stupidly innocuous things that irritate.

 

[Foxholer]

Servicing the media is an integral part of a tennis player's commitment when playing tournaments - especially Slams! However, it behoves the WTA (in this case) to ensure that its members are not unduly affected by that commitment! I admire, with regret, Osaka's action to withdraw!

I'm pretty certain that Osaka's action will instigate some sort of change - either a greater delay after a match (which wouldn't help her imo), or the presence of a 'buddy' official who can fend 'spurious/irrelavant/upsetting' questions. I know that there is some sort of 'training' wrt dealing with the media, but it has obviously been deficient in her case!

There is definitely a difference betwen the immediate after-match interview and the later general 'press-conference'!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I agree with 90% of what you’re saying apart from her job is to play tennis. That’s a little too simplistic. At her level she’s an entertainer. Not everyone is at the match or watching it on TV. There has to be some media involvement to not only report the match but to also personalise it a little. For example. A few simple quotes, “it was a really tough match. Her backhand was ‘dangerous.’

That’s all that’s needed.

Osaka needs compassion and help but she also has a responsibility to the LTA and the fans. Give her a break, absolutely, but at some point she needs to do interviews.

She carries out the aftermatch on pitch interview which is normally with a presenter or former player who will quiz here on the match and how it went etc -

It’s the aftermatch grilling in the press conference where it’s Journos looking to find the headlines etc - and because the regulations towards them are so lax it can get messy

Just look at how Kyrigos attends them - he is fine with the on court stuff as well

 

[rudebhoy]

It is the problem of those people who cry wolf and try to use the MH excuse to get their own way or force their point of view.
This view is not related to tennis , I don’t know enough about that issue but in general life, I feel that MH is used too often as an escuse and detracts from those who are really suffering. They either don’t get believed or don’t want to come forward due to the fear of being ridiculed. Neither situation is good

People bottling it up and not admitting to mental health issues is a far bigger problem than people "crying wolf" as you call it. At least it is to me.

 

[GB72]

People bottling it up and not admitting to mental health issues is a far bigger problem than people "crying wolf" as you call it. At least it is to me.

Agree, very much a problem amongst my generation. Brought up on being expected to man up and get on with it but I would remember as a child in the 70s that having what was simply described as a breakdown was seen a normal and that was coupled with widespread alcohol abuse being seen as just routine behavior

 

[Swinglowandslow]

I know not everyone's personality is geared up to " public" things.
I get wound up st the thought of public speaking situations. Others just love the "look at me" scenario.
But as to answering questions from journslists I think for years those that have to, have been advised ,badly, that they must always be polite, and even meek.
It's an even money bet that she has been advised to not show any anger and always be guarded and polite etc, and that has probably got her wound up.
It's about time someone told some journos to "just shut up and go away if you are going to behave like that". Or words to that effect.
I love it when I see a politician or similar lose their cool abit at some stupid rabid type journo.
Needs to be done more.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Read a good article earlier; the players don’t need the press to communicate and advertise, and they certainly don’t need the tiresome press conferences.
They have Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
They can tell us how it went, what they thought, and get across their point of view much better than by being asked inane, inappropriate questions by idiot journalists.

It’s actually the printed press who are concerned with this week’s happenings, because it shows that they are an irrelevance in this modern electronic world.

 

[Beezerk]

It's about time someone told some journos to "just shut up and go away if you are going to behave like that". Or words to that effect.
I love it when I see a politician or similar lose their cool abit at some stupid rabid type journo.
Needs to be done more.

I can't see it happening, they would run the risk of being made to look like a mad man/woman in the press "breaking news...so and so loses his ? in press conference...must be raving starkers".
Would be great though ?