In the realm of modern football, and by extension, contemporary life, one of the most disconcerting phenomena is the hyper-volatility in forming judgments. While life is inherently dynamic and ever-changing, the speed with which judgments are passed on individuals and events has detached itself from the natural ebb and flow of existence. What's paradoxical is that this volatility has become so obvious that it has become predictable.
Sit back and observe the daily spectacle unfold. You witness the rollercoaster ride of public opinion, oscillating from declarations of adoration to expressions of disdain and back to adoration within a matter of days. You marvel at how a player can be hailed as a genius, then swiftly labeled as incompetent, only to regain genius status, all within the span of a single week.
One reason for this constant shift in opinion is its allure to attention. To maintain a stable stance on an issue for an extended period means you are no longer considered newsworthy; you cease to move at the frenetic pace demanded by our hyper-connected world, effectively rendering yourself "boring." If you hunger for attention, this can be an unsettling feeling.
To capture attention, one must either break news or, in the absence of fresh developments, reinterpret existing events to create the illusion of newsworthy headlines that draw people in. This cycle perpetuates itself because audiences have become as addicted to news as they are to any other substance. The line between what is genuinely newsworthy and what is not blurs, and what matters is to satisfy cravings delivered through endless downward swipes.
What's even more intriguing is that those who frequently shift their judgments at such a frantic pace often fail to realize their own contradictions from just days prior. There's no time for reflection, no opportunity to absorb information and reassess one's evaluations. Information disseminated at breakneck speed leaves both the source and the recipient unaccountable.
The drawback of such volatility extends far beyond the realm of social media. It permeates all aspects of decision-making. Club owners and managers who succumb to this volatility ultimately erode long-term value. Quick, impulsive decisions made in response to the fleeting whims of the moment may appease the hungry crowd, but they undoubtedly undermine long-term interests.
Interestingly, this volatility is surprisingly predictable. For instance, when evaluating a club's potential, closely observe how its decision-making correlates with the fluctuations in public opinion. The higher the correlation, the poorer the club's long-term performance is likely to be. In contrast, it takes old-fashioned patience and independent thinking to make decisions that create enduring value. This is the immutable law of nature, which will always prevail, regardless of the fleeting dictates of social media.
