‘You Media’ are to blame for all the drama on the campaign trail

WATCH: Global News urban affairs reporter Mark McAllister and city hall bureau chief Dave Trafford break down the latest mayoral debate with newcomer Doug Ford.

I was admonished by a few Ford fans who attended the Tuesday night debate at York Memorial C.I. because I referred to the event as a “show”.

I could have called it a circus or a spectacle but I chose to use the word “show”.

They insisted that this was a debate and I got a bit of a finger wagging that started with “You media….” The implication was that “you media” turned this thing into a show failing to consider the real issues and ideas that need discussion and debate during this campaign. “You media” are to blame for only showing up because of Doug’s promised attendance. “You media” hype up the drama while failing to acknowledge accomplishments.

Uh huh.

The auditorium filled to capacity and so began a constant din of caterwauling, squealing, shrieking and good old fashion shouting for more than two hours. And that was just the audience.

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To be fair, the uproarious behaviour favoured no one candidate. The Chow camp and the Tory team got loud and did their share of heckling and hooting but Ford Nation was definitely louder.  Some of the Fordites were on the verge of obnoxious, one felt quite comfortable hurling racial epithets, and the sole person to be removed by police was a Doug supporter.

With few exceptions, no one was there to listen; no one was there to really get a clearer sense of the issues; no one was there to inform their vote.

There were no minds changed. There were no new ideas. There was a whole new energy but it was the adrenalin driven and brawlish versus spirited and thoughtful.

This is what qualifies as debate at City Hall and in this campaign.

And I got lectured because I referred to the event as a “show”?

I probably should have stuck with “circus”.