Fan Safety - 140 Characters are not enough

Hello CandidCubbers,


After reading Jayson Starks excellent column on fan safety, Click Here to See it, I was inspired to think about this issue a little bit more. Why are things different? What have I noticed? Unfortunately, Twitter has only 140 characters, so this seemed to be the best forum.


I do not remember injuries to fans being as prominent as they are now. This leads me to think that there has been a change in fan activity or mentality. This leads me to believe there is one thing that has changed that could impact safety: Technology and our attention span.


I will admit, I love my smartphone. I love using it at baseball games to get up to the second information and stats that may not be provided by video boards or by watching the game. However, being a DIEHARD baseball/Cubs fan, it is really hard to get me to look away from the field when I am at a game. I used to not fill out a score card as a kid in fear of missing a second of the action.


Modern day society is very different. Rob Manfred has discussed the issues facing baseball, including an aging fan base. The current generation has not known a world in which Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Vine etc. have not exist. They constantly are checking these outlets for random updates from friends and entertainment. These programs even understand the lack of attention we having, limiting characters and time of posts to short intervals.  Additionally, with better phones, we have the ability to go ANYWHERE on the internet at any time. I'll admit, baseball is not the fastest moving sport, but the intricate strategy of every at bat is beautiful to us baseball nuts. The game is designed around the idea of failure (Maybe a little pessimistic). The heroes we raise up and enshrine in our Hall see success 28%-33% of the time at the plate.


This ability to be constantly entertained has diminished our patience and tolerance for things that take any time. These are not issues that face Hockey, Basketball, or Football since even in losing efforts, scoring happens regularly. Us Millennials demand constant attention and gratification that can be provided by these other sports. Additionally, more constant movement makes it easier for us not to look away. Manfred with be tasked with creating constant entertainment while also maintaining the game us traditional fans. Good luck.


Every Cub game I am at now, I see fans busying themselves with selfies, snaps and other things and getting loud at a somewhat delay. I yearn for the days of old in which it felt that the moment something special happened, the crowd was instantly elated. Nothing is more magical to me than an energized, attentive crowd. However, you can't be engaged and a snapchat wizard at the same time. You have to choose, and our society's choice is endangering them. #Yikes