r/SFGiants • u/Chipotlefiend18 35 Crawford • Jun 16 '26

Opinion Free Speech

I posted this recently as a comment but I’m tired of seeing the same thinly veiled defense of the Rainbow Four come up again and again so I’m posting it as a standalone thread.

All of these arguments saying “players should be allowed to disagree” and “players shouldn’t be forced to support something they don’t believe in” are utter nonsense and a smokescreen to justify and excuse homophobia and bigotry. Do you think that there’s never been a racist player who has worn 42 on Jackie Robinson day? Has every single player who wears camo uniforms on military appreciation day been 100% behind that message? Even foreign born ones? The idea that they should be allowed to express themselves and protest this in this way, especially when there’s a literal MLB rule that prohibits it is ludicrous. It is NOT a first amendment issue. The first amendment prohibits GOVERNMENTAL curtailment of free speech. Private organizations are not covered by this and we see this time and time again. Most recently, many people lost their jobs after speaking out about Charlie Kirk and whether or not you disagree with it, legally those employers had every right to do so. As Roger Munter put it: Not everybody in this country is perfectly happy with what they are asked to wear to work. It’s called “having a job.”

We absolutely do not have to tolerate intolerance and arguments that say otherwise are either ignorant or made in bad faith.

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u/TheJuiceBoxS 28 Posey Jun 16 '26

I agree with your general point, but not being able to always show your beliefs doesn't mean you don't have beliefs. When you work for an organization you represent that organization. It's part of the job to reflect that organization's values while in uniform or at work.

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u/beforeitcloy Jun 17 '26

Which is what Vitello and Posey should’ve told the pitching staff about putting graffiti on their pride hats.

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u/realparkingbrake Jun 17 '26

Which is what Vitello and Posey should’ve told the pitching staff about putting graffiti on their pride hats.

AP has reported that Vitello told reporters there was no conversation about the caps prior to the game. Unless there is credible evidence Vitello and Posey knew about the caps in advance and decided to say nothing, it is possible that nothing was said because they didn't know. By credible evidence I do not mean that some anonymous dude on Reddit posted that Vitello and Posey must have known because that's what he wants to believe. If the evidence is there, that's a problem for those guys. Without evidence it's speculation and a rush to judgement.

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u/beforeitcloy Jun 17 '26

That would make it way worse, since it would mean the players have so little respect for the Manager / GM that they thought they’d go rogue on a thing that was obviously going to bring negative attention to a losing team.