Normally I wouldn’t bother to tune in specifically to listen to Tiger Woods apologize, but I happened to be somewhere where it was on the radio so I listened. I watched his apology again last night. To me it didn’t feel sincere, it felt scripted, controlled. I admit that would be a tough thing to do without some preparation, that isn’t what really bothered me. What really bothered me about his apology I have been bothered with before. I have observed it previously in other apologies, interviews and statements from individuals in the public eye.
Tiger was upset about the media probing his family and following his daughter to her school. He made statements such as:
“what we say will remain between the two of us”
“everyone one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me”
“these are issues between a husband and wife”
I have seen this many times before and here is the thing; when you choose a path which moves you more in the public eye, you loose some of your private life, period, full-stop. It has always been this way. More specifically, if you choose to become a politician, police officer, actor, sports professional, appear on a reality TV show, CEO of a major company, popular blogger or anything else where you increase your exposure in the public eye, you choose to sacrifice some if not all of your private life. This choice extends in different degrees to your family, friends and anyone else connected to you. Grasp, think about, and understand this concept. Seriously consider it and the possible repercussions. Now make your decision. Choose wisely, because you, your family, and everyone involved with you will live with this decision.
While I understand the frustration this probably causes these people to feel, and I personally feel bad for Tiger’s daughter, I do, Tiger made that choice. Consciously or not, when Tiger decided to pursue a career as a golf professional he made that choice for himself, his family, his daughter and anyone else involved in his private life. Right or wrong that is what happened.
Especially in todays world of the Internet, blogging, twitter and other social media, the expectation of a private life that remains private is just silly. Loosing some or all of your private life is part of the choice when you decide to do something that puts you more in the public eye, and it is not negotiable. If you have made a choice to be in the public eye then when you apologize to the public, don’t expect a private life. To me it shows a lack accepting responsibility for your choice and maybe a little bit of stupidity. Instead, consider the public eye a risk factor when making decisions and give it the appropriate weight because it is a factor and this factor is not in your control. Deciding where to go with your wife for dinner, where to take your family for vacation, what dentist to use, what school to send your daughter to, purchasing your son that Iphone, having an affair, or whatever the decision is, all require a risk assessment of the public eye factor. Assess the risk and decide accordingly. Yes, that probably sucks, but you chose that when you chose to be in the public eye. Ignoring, downplaying, pleading or trying to control it won’t make it go away. When you use your credit card, you accept the terms of service. Even if you didn’t read them, they don’t go away. The credit card company will still hold you to them. It is the same when you choose something that will knowingly or not put you and your loved ones in the public eye.
I personally do not care about Tiger Woods’ private life. I have enough trouble keeping up with my family and friends lives. I typically don’t read gossip articles or posts. I have no real interest in private lives of people that I do not have a relationship with. I do feel bad for his daughter. For her that must really suck. I dislike the paparazzi and could never do that job and feel good about myself. I hope Tiger as her dad has learned to factor his daughter into his decisions in the future. But don’t expect a private life when you make a choice that puts you more in the public eye. That is just silly and history shows that it never works.
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