Letter: Social media use loses Bigger a vote

On Sept. 29, I decided to take to the Internet to find out more about our mayoral candidates.

Upon Googling Brian Bigger's name, the first result was his Twitter account. To my great astonishment, one of his first tweets was a picture he took while at a Sept. 26 Sudbury Wolves game. The caption read, "Hockey fight!", and pictured two players engaged in a fight.

His facebook page had the same photo and caption.

I find it very disturbing that the man who may become our next mayor derives pleasure at witnessing this display of violence between teenagers, and believes sharing this photo with voters is a positive, vote-getting thing to do.

His actions as a potential community leader are irresponsible and inexcusable, and show a profound lack of judgement as they promote and endorse what the NHL (and minor leagues) are under great pressure from many sides to curb and eliminate: violence in hockey (and its resulting injuries).

I fear to think of seeing this kind of judgement at city hall representing our city to the north and to the world.

Mr. Bigger unashamedly encourages teens into beating each other's brains out in an activity which is designed to develop sportsmanship, and considers it "entertainment" worthy to be shared with the entire community. This is an attitude worthy of Sudbury gaining a"mining town" reputation — those Sudburians, even the mayor likes a good fight.

It brings to mind an old saying, "As a man thinks, so is he" (you are what you think).

The Internet has helped me decide who gets my vote, and it certainly is not Mr. Bigger.

Raymond Beaulieu
Sudbury