Fans & Fighters Alike Are fascinated With Social Networking

With the advent of MySpace, Facebook and now Twitter, fans are now given access to their favorite, athletes and entertainers personal lives.It is mind-blowing how big these social networks have blown up over the past few years.Looking at it from a mixed martial arts standpoint, these networks connect our favorite fighters at all times.It also allows for media outlets to report on major announcements at a moments notice.

To think, I could know what Frank Trigg plans on having for lunch, just by looking at my cell phone. The question I ask, is when does it become annoying? When does it cross over the line, into the realm of too much information?

I actively use Facebook, Twitter and Digg to promote my work. On my best days, I may write two stories.With that being said, anyone who follows me would only receive on average, one or two “tweets” a day.I actually enjoy many of the posts that fighters such as Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Shane Carwin and Joe Lauzon put out.They are usually informative, interesting and funny, for the most part they release information pertaining to their careers.

Now Trigg on the other hand feels it is necessary to let us know what he is eating, what he plans on wearing, and where he is going, at all times. His most recent “Tweet” was about an acne medication that he had purchased for his son! I don’t know about you, but I don’t find this to be relevant to his MMA career.I know when I signed up to follow him, I didn’t expect to be bombarded with messages about acne ointment or his choice of dressing on his salad.Trigg isn’t the only one, Nate Marquardt is a great fighter, and by all accounts, he seems like a great guy.I just don’t need to see pictures of the horsemeat he is about to purchase and consume!!

When reading posts like these, I ask myself, are we at fault? Are the fans that thirsty for information about their favorite fighters, do the combatants themselves feel compelled to let us in on their every move?I understand they are going to hawk their sponsors products, I have no problems with that. Afterall, they have to support their families.

Is it absolutely necessary that we need to know that they are going to take a nap?

Kenny Florian is on pace to take Trigg’s place as the No.1 “Tweeter” in the MMA universe.I don’t mind his posts about how his training is going, I believe that it’s good for the fans to know how he is feeling before a big fight.What we don’t need to know is that the Whole Foods Market is his favorite place in the world.Heaven forbid you are signed up as his Facebook friend and are following him on Twitter. You get whacked twice in that scenario.

Our fascination with today’s superstars has gotten out of control, as is their fascination with letting us know their every move. Some things are better left unsaid. I have read that the WWE has put restrictions on the subjects there wrestlers can discuss, and who they can discuss them with.Because of the crazy rate at which information can be shared, the first amendment is now being jeopardized!The idea just hit me as I was checking my Facebook this morning. I just wanted to know if anyone else felt the way I do.

Are we really better off knowing things before we are really supposed to.Has the element of surprise been thrown out the window?Luckily, MMA is not predetermined or we would be reading spoilers about the bouts before they were aired.Wait, that does happen when cards take place overseas!