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Five Reasons To Visit A Nutritionist In 2021

February 23, 2021 Categories: Featured Social Media Addicts

Without a doubt, good nutrition is part of good health. But how can you determine good nutrition? Well, the only way to achieve that is to visit a nutritionist. He or she will help you come up with healthy eating habits that can help you live a healthy life.

While visiting a nutritionist is a good idea, seeing a nutritionist who is also a naturopath is a bonus. With that said, let’s look at some of the incredible reasons to visit a nutritionist. Let’s get started!

You have digestive issues

This is one of the most common reasons why people visit a nutritionist. Diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, constipation, and heartburn are common symptoms of digestive disturbance and are usually diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome [IBS]. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, it would be better to see a nutritionist as soon as you can. The nutritionist will identify the root cause of your discomfort. He or she will even help you come up with a well-balanced meal plan that comprises food that your body can tolerate.

Weight management

If you have been struggling with weight loss for a very long time, and you have even tried many diets, but there is no change, you should see a nutritionist. A nutritionist will help. There are so many factors that can contribute to weight gain, including hormone levels, family history, lifestyle, genetics, etc. A nutritionist can help get to the bottom of your weight issue. He or she will come up with a personalized meal plan and lifestyle program that perfectly fit you. The main goal here is to help you achieve your desired weight in a gradual, safe, and manageable way.

You have eating disorders or you are picky when it comes to foods

If you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, you might find it overwhelming and unable to cope. At this point, you need to see a nutritionist who can help you recover and restore your health. An eating disorder can be in the form of anorexia nervosa where a person chooses to eat only certain foods with specific textures and colors. A nutritionist will help you through the transition back to usual whole foods diet.

Meal planning

Of course, planning a meal can be quite challenging and this is why it should be left to experts. If you want to improve your diet to live a healthy life, you need to talk to a nutritionist. The internet is full of information on what is the best diet, but it is good to get sound nutrition information from the expert themselves. Health professionals marketing via SEO and Facebook advertising are more likely to reach a broader audience.

You are pregnant or trying to get pregnant

It is also crucial to visit a nutritionist if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. It can help optimize your health throughout your pregnancy. The nutritionist will ensure that you get the nutrients you need for your health and the health of your baby.

Traditional Wedding Vs Modern Wedding: What’s the Difference?

January 20, 2021 Categories: Featured, SEO Sydney Social Media Addicts

Weddings are one of the most important days in people’s lives. Every person has an idea of how they want their wedding to look like. However, couples can take advantage of the services by wedding planners. They have the expertise to find a suitable wedding theme for their ceremony. Read on to find out reasons to consider a traditional wedding or a modern ceremony when exchanging vows with your partner.

The Difference between Traditional and Modern Wedding

In modern times, couples are being creative in the type of wedding they like. Although the traditional ways are still viable, the current generation will prefer a ceremony that fits the couple’s style and preference. It’s like digital marketing vs traditional media advertising because you need to have a plan and prepare adequately for your special day if you want it to be successful. Let us look at both types of weddings to determine how they are similar to each other.

Traditional Weddings

These types of weddings differ according to culture, and they will focus on the couple’s heritage. The ceremony is likely to be religious, and the guests can have a party to celebrate the marriage. When planning for a traditional wedding, it is critical to fuse the cultures of both partners. Here are some things to consider;

Religious beliefs; the ancient form of weddings will not necessarily base its theme on religion. However, there are likely to be affiliations to certain practices. The ceremony will incorporate religious readings before the couple can exchange vows and legitimize the union.
Attire; in western culture, the bride will have a veil over her head while the groom will most probably wear a 3-piece suit.

Modern Weddings

It is a conventional marriage that does not follow traditional procedures. Couples will opt to have a wedding planner give them themes for their ideal wedding. However, it is vital to have an idea that you can share with the experts. They can customize the ceremony according to a couple’s preference and liking. Here are some popular features;

Venue; there are limitless options to consider for the perfect location to host a modern wedding. Most couples opt to fulfill their desires by choosing the venue according to what they like. You can host such a ceremony at any location as long as you can afford it.
Dress code; couples can improvise on the attire they want to wear for their wedding. Brides are opting to go for colorful wedding dresses than the traditional white gowns.

Conclusion

Wedding ceremonies will cost differently, and it is vital to budget well for the day. Modern weddings are much cheaper than traditional ones since you can make it work using a small financial allocation. Ensure there is entertainment for the kids too.

Six Strategies To Increase Your Social Media Following

October 8, 2020 Categories: Featured, Social Media For Business, Social Media Strategy, Social Media Sydney Social Media Addicts

social media strategy sydney increase your following instagram facebook twitter

You can expect MICHAEL AUTHOR to speak the TRUTH about these Six Ways to Increase Your Social Media Following …

1) Spread a perspective that activates people’s fear response.
If you’re going to employ this strategy it’s important to note that your humanity, your personal life, and any emotions other than disgust, outrage, cynicism and anger have no place on your page. The more you can help people collude WITH YOU and AGAINST the enemy/competing perspective, the more your content will be shared in fringe communities and by the weak-minded.
Popular topics to address: Global politics, feminists, antifa, BLM, vaccines, 5g, trump, mask-wearing. Bonus points if you do something shocking and antagonistic on a Facebook Live.

2) Create numbered lists.
Numbered lists activate people’s biological CRAVING for certainty and direction. Particularly now, we’ve got a boatload of people craving certainty, so numbered/bullet-pointed lists will appeal to the masses like never before.
Remember: The number is arbitrary. If you are following strategy 1) the more on your list the better because it creates a sense of OVERWHELMING fear rather than just slight fear, which will cause people to share your content even more fervently.

3) Critique other highly visible online influencers.
The only thing that will increase your following faster than spreading a fear-based perspective is to activate people’s disgust and hatred of others who hold different perspectives from them.
There’s a trick to this one. Even if what the other person is saying makes a lot of sense, you must reduce their position to absurdity and then attack the absurd position rather than their ACTUAL views. In logic, we call this a Straw Man argument. This tactic serves two purposes:
A) Baiting the other influencer into engaging, which enhances your credibility.
B) Taking full advantage of being the second-mover. In online arguments, the person who RESPONDS SECOND gets the last word. That’s why in rap, “dis” videos are so popular. Most people stop listening to the first-mover after a successful, scathing, critique. Or they’re drawn into the drama. Either way benefits you.

4) TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR PIXELATED/SLIGHTLY OBSCURED TITS OR MAKE SILLY FACES
This one is obvious. If people love boobies, you win. If they get offended by boobies you also win because they tell others you showed your boobies distastefully, which gets you more eyeballs.
Obviously, it’s a bit harder if you don’t have tits. You can compensate by being extremely silly and expressive. Sorry, I know it’s not a good replacement but it’s the best you’ve got. Unless you have a man-bun, or really striking tattoos. Those are about equivalent to having tits in terms of personal draw.

5) Don’t be too intelligent/insightful. Instead, be powerful.
Power is demonstrated by how efficiently you cut down anyone who disagrees with you.
Remember: Your audience is, ideally, stupider than you are. It’s important that you speak only to people who will have something to gain from listening to your brilliance.
You must be prepared to demonstrate that brilliance, and you want to TURN OFF the people who are smarter than you to begin with by offering them nothing of value, insulting them, and resorting to ad hominem attacks. Try to sell them on your program and insult their intelligence when they choose not to join thecasinoapps.com. If they refuse to be bullied by your tactics, you can just block them.
6) Post pictures of your really hot girlfriend.

You can enjoy the genius of Michael Author by following him on Facebook.

Social Media Destroying Mental Health: Sociopathic Media & Economics

October 8, 2020 Categories: Featured, Social Media For Business, Social Media Management Social Media Addicts

Social Media Destroying Mental Health

By Philip Tripp

In a nutshell I see our current dilemma as tracing back to the following two key sources:

1 – We have created an economic system that solves for conversion of nature into money (metric: GDP or Gross Domestic Product)

2 – We have created social media platforms with algorithms that solve for optimal capture of human attention (metric: Time on Screen)

Both of the above are inherently sociopathic in nature.

How so?

They are sociopathic to the extent that they ignore the many externalities that come with the one pointed achievement of their set objective.

A few simple examples can be given to demonstrate this: the fact that to the economic system a dead whale is worth more than an alive one and that 2×4 pieces of timber are worth more than old growth rainforest, mono crops which maximise economic yield also destroy the subsoil and our micro biomes through the use of glyphosates, social media is destroying mental health through addiction (see The Social Dilemma on Netflix for more) as well as being openly manipulated by authoritarian and other malevolent interests (see the Great Hack on Netflix for more).

These are clearly sociopathic systems as they take no account of externalities and the damage done to the individual and the environment and are leading to outcomes such as the carrying out of warfare for economic gain, the almost total destruction of our old growth rainforests and agrarian subsoil, the pollution of our oceans and waterways, inaction on climate change, epidemics of mental health issues and autoimmune disease and the devolvement of the democratic process into authoritarianism.

A quick look at the leaders selected by the dominance hierarchies that accompany these systems will confirm that they are clearly selecting effectively for sociopathic traits, the leaders of almost all large global corporations or nation states show all the signs of having succeeded in the longest succession of zero-sum games (kill or be killed) than any other within that structure to get to where they are.

As these systems get more effective and enabled by exponential technology the externalities produced also increase exponentially as well, leading to an inevitable extinction event. In a nutshell, these systems need adjusting because left unchecked they will destroy the very substrate upon which they function, i.e. us and the natural environments in which we live.
So, where to from here?

I believe the first step is to take a break from competing to make money and staring at whatever the algorithms have come up with next to attract our attention and to reflect honestly on what is actually happening. This is about as sobering as it is to read what I’ve written above and it gets far more sobering. This is a painful process of honest self reflection of where we are at and where we are heading.

I think the next thing for us to do is ask ourselves, what kind of future do we want to see? We might consider a RESET of a couple of key metrics that are driving what we are creating and what follows is an attempt to describe what that might look like.

1 – We might consider seeking to develop and build into our economic system metrics for compassion, empathy, wellbeing, human happiness play online pokies on onlinecasinos-australia.com and sustainability. A good example is the Happiness Index which is used in Bhutan. This would ensure that the system selects for these traits in its leaders.

2 – We might consider seeking to develop social media algorithms that solve for human happiness and wellbeing rather than time on screen

3 – We might consider taking steps to grant all individuals property rights in their online data with adequate legal protections of same

4 – We might consider a universal public income so that we can stop competing with each other to convert scarce natural resources in order to have money

5 – We might seek to ban all use of glyphosates in agriculture

6 – We might seek to bolster environmental and conservation regulations in order to prevent further biodiversity loss in our oceans, old growth rainforests and other important natural ecosystems
But more than anything, the above is only going to take place when we pause and ask ourselves, Who are we? Why are we here? What do we want to create? We will need an authentic dialogue around the answers to these important questions.

We will need communities that are willing to work together to create a new story about ourselves and chart a course towards a different future than the one we are currently moving towards.
We are living in an existential moment and without being alarmist and paralysed by fear, I truly believe we must confront the truths within ourselves and those of the world we live in if we are to create a bright future to live in.

For more highly wise insights follow Philip Tripp on Facebook.

Social Media Marketing and Management for Hospitality

August 12, 2020 Categories: Featured, Social Media For Business, Social Media Management Social Media Addicts

Social media marketing and management for hospitality, restaurants, cafes and hotels in these times have to deal with fear and uncertainty. The pandemic has caused many a business to take a turn for the worse, if not totally go bankrupt and close. They have to deal with a lot of government restrictions, policies and fear of the general public as this enemy cannot be seen. Even with the proper health procedures, some customers and guests are reluctant to go out and be among people.

This is not to say that there wouldn’t be any customers at all. There are still some who would venture and just are not happy with being indoors for long periods of time. Man is a social being and even if it is just to walk the dog or stay for a day in a hotel for a fresh location, they would do that.

Walking around aimlessly is currently not on the menu, this is where social media can help. Social media marketing and management for hospitality done right will help people find out if your establishment is open, the hours it is open for and what to expect if they want to drop in. Because of imposed social distancing, most restaurants and cafes have decreased guest capacity. Some even have to cut down workers for operations.

Facebook and Instagram are effective platforms in conveying hours of operations and getting in touch with the public. These platforms have different demographics and therefore have different buyer spending patterns. The younger, more hip, visual platform Instagram tackles the specials of the place, relying on artistic images. Facebook is the more informative of the two. The go-to all around platform where recommendations, announcements and more extensive details are shared. Take a quick look at some of the cafes currently doing it great on these platforms.

Gram Cafe and Pancakes

A relatively new cafe in Sydney, the first in Australia, Gram Cafe and Pancakes is almost a cult following in Japan. Osaka’s best kept secret is now located in Chatswood Interchange. Mouth watering and very instagrammable pancakes to suit your taste. Try the world-famous soufflé pancake or go all out with their Premium To Go Chocolate Pancakes onlinecasinosaud paired with a selection of hot beverages of Hojicha, Matcha, Black Sesame or Premium Hot Chocolate. A seasonal treat just for you! Welcome their Dark Chocolate Citrus pancake and Matcha French Toast. The name alone suggests yumminess.

Shop 67, Level 3/436 Victoria Ave,

Chatswood NSW 2067

+61-02-8084-0866

https://www.cafe-gram.com/en/shop/shop_detail/chatswood.html

https://www.facebook.com/grampancakesaustralia/

https://www.instagram.com/gram_pancakes_australia/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpjzo9I6UK/

Devon Cafe

Devon runs on love and laughter with cups of strong coffee and good food – is Devon Cafe’s philosophy. They have served brunch favourites since 2013. Devon Cafe offers food that is a true mix of Sydney’s cultures and cuisines. From truffles to caviars, toast to croissant, all your best loved mainstays and experimental dishes are waiting for you here.

76 Devonshire St

Surry Hills NSW

02 9211 8777

https://www.facebook.com/Devoncafe

https://www.instagram.com/devoncafe/

Cuckoo Callay

Fine food and impeccable coffee is what Cuckoo Callay is all about. Their venue in Surry Hills is an amazing spot perfect for people watching. They have a walk in only policy and are quite popular with fur parents. Known for fabulously fresh food and totally tasty treats, this alliteration of awesomeness will have your breakfast, brunch and lunch sorted for you. How about a puppachino for your furbaby? Yes, indeedy.

413-415 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010

02 8399 3679

https://www.cuckoo-callay.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/CuckooCallay/

https://www.instagram.com/cuckoocallay/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDNcNaRAU-y/

St. Dreux Coffee

St. Dreux coffee’s belief that passion and love for the coffee bean is the path to good coffee. Their vision was to create something fresh and new while practicing the time honored traditions of a community united by coffee. The French shepherd St. Dreux was a master multitasker. He is known as the patron saint of coffee houses and baristas. It comes as no surprise that one of the signature blends of St. Dreux is the Shepherd along with the Silver Bullet and the Rainmaker.

151 Clarence street, Sydney NSW 2000

+61 409 439 906

https://saintdreux.com/

https://www.facebook.com/St.DreuxCoffee/

https://www.instagram.com/st.dreuxcoffee/

Too much familiarity might breed contempt. And if the social restrictions get even longer, now and then, people need a breather. Even if just for a cup of coffee not made by themselves, in completely different surroundings that they wouldn’t have to wash the cup after.

Is Brisbane Australia’s Fittest City? Gyms & Personal Trainers

July 7, 2020 Categories: Featured, Social Media Sydney Social Media Addicts

Brisbane Australia is a vibrant city which boasts of historic buildings, magnificent gardens, and is a phenomenal hub of both culture and arts. What’s more, it’s one of the famous fitness hubs in Australia. It features a wide variety of top fitness clubs and personal trainers. If you’re seeking the best spot to reach your fitness goals, Brisbane might be your solution.

Is that all? Not yet! The city allows you to visit the ablest dentists in the country. By visiting the highest standard Brisbane dental clinics, you can be sure to get the best experience. Besides, you can’t train with a toothache or complication s from a dental implant.

What are the best gyms in Brisbane?

1. Healthworks

Helathworks location is at 145 Pring Street, Hendra, Brisbane. It offers a wide variety of exercises for all-round body fitness. From yoga classes, free weights, spin bikes, treadmills, strength machines, exercise cycles to racks and dumbbells, you can be sure to get the best experience while at the gym.

The gym cost is about 15 dollars weekly, and there’s an option of contract or no contract. They offer secure lockers, day spa and massage, a steam room and tennis courts. The changing rooms have all the necessities, like lockers, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards.

2. Anytime fitness

The gym is located on 175 Street, on River Front, below Café Pacino, Brisbane, and has branches in most parts of the world. It features Spin bikes, exercise cycles, battle ropes, treadmills, barbells, squat racks, kettlebells and many more. It offers flexible options for membership with a seven-day free trial pass and free fitness consultation.

The services are not only affordable but friendly, and this makes it the best spot for anyone on a budget. You’ll also get access to security 24 hours in a day plus free classes, virtual coaching, yoga and kickboxing classes.

3. Jetts 24 Hour Fitness

Located at 356 Street Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, and has many other clubs across the country. The gym offers small group training, barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, free weights, functional training and suspension training, among others. It also provides a three-day trial pass coupled with personal and professional experiences.

There are no lock contracts, and you expect to pay 34.90 dollars per week. Where can I take meals while training? You’ll find a variety of cafes in the town, and most Brisbane cafes are also audcasinos health-focused. As such, you don’t need to bother about health-related complications while eating out.

Can you get personal trainers in Brisbane?

If you have never hired a personal fitness trainer, Brisbane will allow you to do just that. You’ll get most of the personal trainers in the leading gyms in the city, but you can as well hire one for home training. Although finding a great personal trainer can be a real challenge, Brisbane has a wide selection of expertise in the field, and you can always get the most suitable personal trainer for your needs.

The bottom line

Brisbane is undoubtedly the fittest city in Australia. With a wide variety of top-rated gyms, you can be sure to get the best programs to help you achieve your fitness goals. You can as well get the best personal trainers to help you with your fitness endeavors.

Do Not Blame Social Media

July 29, 2019 Categories: Featured, Social Media For Business, Social Media Managers, Social Media Strategy, Social Media Sydney Claire Felices

People worry all the time about being happy. It didn’t just happen today, this generation. So do not blame social media. That pervasive feeling have been nagging at us a longer time than we care to admit. Instead of working towards it, we reflect, we question and rationalise. And we compensate. Should it be any different for our children? It is not just the kids, but most adults are also hooked on social media. They can’t put their phones down. They use them for work meetings, for buying things, for keeping in touch with their old school buddies. If you, who have been born of a different generation are using these tools for your own day to day, what do you suggest children who are born of this time, use?

The problem was always there. It’s not pretty. And before social media we didn’t want to address it. So, it stayed hidden. Do not blame social media for pointing it out. Social media platforms exposes and sometimes zeroes on user personality. The substance of a person you would usually not have a clue to, can now be hinted at by their social media accounts. Narcissism, love of cats, political inclinations; it’s right there.

Social media has been blamed for everything including mental health issues. A disparity of income can affect available alternatives. Sports (equipment), community sponsored drama, school music recitals. When these children are all tuckered out from sports, or thinking and creating costumes and props for plays, there is less time worrying about what they are missing out on. They sleep, rest, they collaborate, they communicate with their peers. They get to worry about different things and not just how many likes their new profile picture have.

Roosevelt said ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ Well, sure. That is when you are looking from a place of where we (in our opinion) fall short of. But you can’t be less at everything. The body image dissatisfaction is a tired argument, it has been plaguing women since the 80’s and magazine subscription was a thing. Like most of the problems being blamed on social media, this is an old one. It is hardly fair to put the blame on a newcomer just because it is convenient. This is not to say that the children should be given unlimited access to social media. It does mean that they should be given a chance to explore it. The same way we explored newspapers for news, classifieds, garage sales and even personal ads.

This is their world and their time. What we must do is try to help them along using tools we already know (responsible posting/sharing, security measures) to hone theirs. Guide them in the safe and proper use of social media.

Scrolling Limits Hit Users of Facebook & Instagram

August 1, 2018 Categories: Featured Social Media Addicts

Media reports indicate that Facebook and Instagram are about to implement time limit provisions for users on their platforms. These new tools will allow users to manage their time by setting time limits on their scrolling behaviour. Previously, and in a similar vein to casinos banning clocks from their facilities, users were unaware of time’s ticking nature during their social media forays. Disappearing into the digital realm was a common Alice down the rabbit hole experience for many users of Facebook and Instagram. Parents have contacted police thinking their children have been abducted, when they were merely locked in bedrooms on social media. Wives and husbands have filed for divorce citing spousal neglect. Too many, once normal, folk have been lost to a computer-based obsessive lifestyle. Now, scrolling limits hit users of Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook Forced to Change

Facebook dropped $US 119 billion last week in their share value. Mark Zuckerberg has faced congressional enquiries and the approbation of the world’s media in recent months. Fake news is never far from the lips of the president. Russian bots have belittled the reputation of the world’s so-called ‘greatest democracy’. Facebook has been forced to change by these building dark clouds on its horizon. The mental health of its estimated 2.23 billion global users of the platform has suddenly become an important issue for Zuckerberg and his managerial team. Sedentary lifestyles are physically killing us and time spent on Facebook and Instagram is a substantial part of this growing health epidemic.

Poor Mental Health Outcomes

Poor mental health is a consequence of poor physical health. Lack of exercise is a major contributor to depression globally. Whether allowing people to set time limits on their scrolling behaviour will save the planet is highly unlikely in this writer’s view. Hopefully, there are positive signs that future generations are tiring of the allure of this platform. Social media platforms like Facebook appeal to many as a simplified way of interacting with life. They are like board games, where the complexity of existence is reduced down to a superficial set of behaviours. These do not demand any sacrifice or any real commitment of any kind. Identities are fraudulently created and manipulated to mimic signs of real life. Friends and followers are bought and sold cheaply, unlike garnering real friends or followers. Likes are flashed up in a head spinning haze of insincerity. Living Life According to the Rules of Facebook is the title of my coming book.

Will the new Nine Ate Fairfax entity be able to stand up to Facebook for longer than the scrolling limits on my Facebook page? Join me on my next outing here to find out what is likely to happen.

Facebook Fakes Fumble on Texas, Queensland

July 18, 2018 Categories: Featured Social Media Addicts

The ABC reports that the tiny town of Texas, Queensland has become home to hundreds of Facebook fake identities. Speculating that it is all due to auto-suggestion protocols online, when users are setting up a fake profile on Facebook, it appears that the Aussie town comes up as a third option for places in Texas. Many of these fake identities are involved in pro- President Trump postings on Facebook. Texas, QLD only has a population of some 900 people, but boasts hundreds of profiles of US military personnel who claim to be from there. Facebook fakes fumble on Texas, Queensland.

Fake News Alive & Well on Facebook

Fake news is alive and well on Facebook. The ABC provided details of 218 of these fake profiles to Facebook and most of them were taken down within a few days. Since then, another batch of 19 has popped up, as new profiles of US military personnel from, you guessed it, Texas, QLD. It sounds like a poorly programmed bot or poorly educated folk employed, probably offshore, by unscrupulous social media manipulators, perhaps on behalf of Trump interests. It is not the locals in Texas, QLD, committing these fraudulent activities. The ABC identified pro-Trump interests, love site scammers, and get-rich-quick scammers, using these fake identities online for their nefarious activities.

Locals Unaware of the Ruse

If all these US military types, sexy women and successful investors did all live in this tiny town on the Dumaresq River in the southern parts of the Darling Downs, it would be a pretty happening place. The ABC pointed to the fact that Lee Kernaghan, apparently, put Texas on the map via his country music classic of the same name. The song’s lyrics stereotypically reveal that it is a one-horse town. Lester Dawson, the editor of the local newspaper, was unaware of the Facebook ruse and its links to his town, until informed by the ABC News reporter.

Social Media Replacing the Real World

Social media is rapidly replacing the real world for many folks around the globe and it is becoming increasingly important to view the online realm with a great deal of scepticism. It is also paramount that traditional media, like the ABC, continue to scrutinise platforms like Facebook and call them to account. Governments are failing to do this job, both here and in America. If Trump in the White House is, seemingly, making use of fake news for his own purposes, he may be the President who cried “wolf”, once too often.

Is Too Much Media Coverage Killing the AFL?

July 16, 2018 Categories: Featured Social Media Addicts

I will raise my hand and identify myself, up front, as a passionate, life-long AFL supporter and fan. I struggle to get, even vaguely, excited about NRL’s State of Origin. Trying to understand the decisions of the referees in Rugby Union has me scratching more than my head. Soccer, in my opinion, lacks scoring and body contact. Basketball is one of those overhyped American sports, which is more mouth than action. AFL has it all: full body contact, speed, sublime skills, thrills and spills. It is the game for me, but, is too much media coverage killing the AFL?

Wall to Wall Opinion & Analysis

It seems like only yesterday, but was probably twenty plus years ago, when the footy was rarely on the TV, apart from the matches themselves. A Sunday morning review show on Channel 7 and 9, and that was about it. Now, AFL has its own dedicated channel on Fox, with wall to wall opinion and analysis. On the Couch, AFL 360, On the Mark, Bounce, Open Mike, The Beep Test, The Weekly Lowdown, Saturday Stretch, and Bob are all on Fox Footy. The Footy Show on 9 has been around forever. 7 has Talking Footy, The Front Bar and Gameday. I am sure that I have missed a number of shows on community stations and state-based programs as well.

If Something is Worth Saying, Say it Loudly

All of these programs are populated, in the main, by ex-AFL players as their talking heads, with a few savvy TV hosts thrown in for good measure. The gameday coverage itself on Channel 7 and on Fox contains around six or seven commentators and specialist boundary riders for each match. To say that the coverage is brimming with ‘so-called’ expert opinion is to do a disservice to the concepts of overflowing and capacity. Ex-Players like Dermott Brereton, Dwayne Russell and Brian Taylor believe in the principle that if something is worth saying it is worth saying loudly. Sports commentators of all persuasions, AFL, NRL, rugby and soccer, back the booming voice to silence any doubters. The question must be asked, however, do all these shouting sages contribute to make watching the game a better experience?

The Game is Lost in a Sea of Overhyped Opinions

In my view, the game is lost in a sea of overhyped opinions and platitudes. These blokes, and they are blokes in the main, are paid well to proffer their opinions. On this basis alone, I surmise that they feel the need to emphasise what they are saying on air. Pronouncing each syllable of every word with gusto, and in BT’s case stretching vowels and syllables like OR-AZ-IO FAN-TA-SIA for his own amusement. I must admit that I enjoy BT’s vocal histrionics, simply because they are so silly. The amount of hot air being generated by these sports commentators should be enough to power one of those failing coal powered stations around the nation.

The Coverage is Sucking the Oxygen Out of the Sherrin

There are concerns being raised about falling attendances for the AFL in Melbourne, its heartland. Plus, lower TV ratings for matches, when compared to the same time last year, have been recorded in 2018. Industry pundits and ‘so-called’ experts are confidently predicting major rule overhauls to combat congestion and lack of end to end scoring. These ex-players are singing from ‘the golden years’ song sheet, when high marking and free-flowing footy, apparently, graced our ovals. I, personally, reckon that memories like these are always washed in a rose-coloured glow and things were never quite as rosy as believed. I don’t think there is much wrong with the game itself, but the coverage is sucking the oxygen out of the Sherrin, right before our eyes.

Let the Game’s Natural Poetry Speak for Itself

Let the game’s natural poetry speak for itself and let’s put a sock in the mouth of overblown commentators like Anthony Hudson and Dwayne Russell. It was always a point of difference for me that AFL did not need the lungs and larynx of a Darrell Eastlake or Ray Warren to make our game infinitely watchable. I miss the measured punning of Dennis Cometti terribly. There are too many talking heads on the footy shows, with too few worthwhile things to say. There is a surfeit of faux analysis concerning gameday strategies, which must have the coaches rolling their eyebrows back, if not an extra man in defence. There are some good operators on TV, I like Matthew Richardson and Tim Watson, these are two examples of keen intelligences who don’t need to shout out their stuff to get their message across. Footy coverage, just needs some pruning to make it less of a talkfest and more of a spectacle once more.

Let’s not let Rupert Murdoch turn coverage of the AFL into a copy of the “American-style’ overblown NFL, where the media runs rampant like a gunman in a US school. Restraint is called for, now and into the future, in regard to the media. Too much media coverage is killing the AFL.