Twitter is a weird, weird place, man.

It can be fun! There are beat writers, blogs, good fan accounts, and others that make sports posting enjoyable. It’s always fun to scroll through Twitter during a game to see things you might have missed or to have a little laugh.

There were a lot of laughs to be had last night, for example. Life is fun when you can find humor in it.

Most of you fall into the fun category or just watch it, and that’s good! This post isn’t for most of you though, it’s for the weirdos who choose to use this platform to smack students and the like because they’re Big Mad and feel the need to let everyone know.

We’re trying to have a good time here, but there are so many people who seem perfectly fine with ruining that spitting vitriol or just plain hate. Some have gone so far as to build their whole identity around it and make a career out of it, which is just a deplorable situation.

When a team loses or makes a bad play, some are very quick to boo or shout inside the arena itself. If they’re watching at home, they pick up the phone and head to Twitter. Some reviews are fair, yes, but they can go overboard pretty quickly.

Under no circumstances should anyone never tag an athlete when they decide to get Mad Online. It’s just weird, wrong and shameful.

Here’s the thing. Every athlete has decided to practice a sport at some point. It’s usually because they find joy in it, playing makes them happy. They continue to play because they have a passion for it.

Who are you, an online hiker, to take it upon yourself to steal that joy from someone, a college kid at that? It’s just sick stuff.

Social media is essential these days. Athletes build brands for themselves because it’s good for them. And so much the better for them! They put their health and livelihood on the line for their sport, they deserve something in return.

Should be a good thing, social media. A warm environment that athletes can use to interact with fans in a positive way.

But no. Because some fools have decided to spoil the fun, Mike Woodson and countless other Indiana coaches must advise their teams to beware of social media.

By the way, this counts for all athletes, not just the Hoosiers. If Indiana loses, you shouldn’t be in any other team’s athlete endorsements or DMs (mega weird behavior). And you certainly shouldn’t treat former stars like they’ve spilled state secrets when they show up to events in another team’s colors to catch a game and have some fun.

These are people whose lives exist outside the court. Emotions, memories, dreams, loved ones and more.

They have a favorite place on campus, just like any other student. They don’t just think about the next game, they think about the upcoming exam. They don’t just clap a teammate after a big play, they hang out around Bloomington for lunch.

Athletes aren’t just for you to watch and certainly not for you to target when you get too crazy about something that, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t affect your livelihood in any way.

Their sanity matters far more than any game.

Before you pick up the phone to get mad at the athlete, remember the person because they are one. Be kind.