Illegal Business

Seeing as the whole mysterious superinjunction-imogen-thomas-footballer thing appears to be coming to a head, I thought I'd share a few thoughts, given that my area of interest lies both in Manchester United and in the media.

A cute picture instead of...

I'm wondering why more people don't take the Wayne Rooney "publish and be damned approach" - let's face it, you're news for a week or two, get heckled a bit more at away grounds and then everyone pretty much forgets about.  And I'm no expert on the matter but does whether or not a story gets into the public domain really affect what goes on in the private domain?  By which I mean isn't the problem in the relationship the affair, not the public knowing and no amount of secrecy is going to alter the fact you've betrayed your loved one.

It's like a plaster: just rip it off, get it all out the way quickly.  In this case its more like trying to keep a two week old plaster attached to your arm while having a bath...

A hell of a lot more people are interested in the story now than they ever would have been if it had just come out in the Sunday papers.  Not only that but then the mysterious footballer goes out of his way to upset the world's internet users by taking action against Twitter.  Twitter who then, at least temporarily, removed the block on him trending meaning yet more people who didn't care before now found out about his affair.  As Richard Herring, comedian, has said (can't find reference I'm afraid), If you don't want people caring about your sex life, just tell them all about it in great detail, they'll get very bored.  The fact that you're trying to cling onto the secret just makes everyone even more interested.

At which point does the superinjunction become not only useless but becomes void.  After how many people know the secret do the courts just admit defeat.  There must be a tipping point.  And I think we've probably reached it.  

And from a Manchester United standpoint.  IF *cough* it is one of our players, wouldn't it have been better to just come clean originally.  Now we're going into a Champions League final with the possibility that one of our player's mind might be distracted and its going to become one gigantic sideshow for the worst elements of the world's media.  

It seems like he's been badly advised, if not in the first instance, then definitely in the second.  I'm not against the idea of a superinjunction altogether.  I can see why, a player like the mysterious footballer, who is pretty reserved in dealings with the press, and with regards sponsorships and TV work - he's not exactly Rio is he? - would want to maintain his privacy.  But now it is obviously impossible why make it worse, alienate more people with legal action against Twitter.  Couldn't Rio have had a word, he must know how Twitter would react?  Surely?

And finally, as my Gran used to say - "It'll all come out in  the wash..."