Politicians are quick to moan that they get a rough ride from social media. And we're not doubting that there has been some very nasty stuff indeed.
But however bad politicians have it on the twitter machine, they can at least console themselves that there is one subsection of the population who cop even more abuse from online warriors than they do.
Who would count it a good evening's work if they merely received the kind of hammering that government ministers get for an appearance on Vincent Browne.
We speak of course of football co-commentators, the most reviled people on the internet.
Few are more reviled than the formerly inoffensive Niall Quinn. Perhaps only Michael Owen gets it worse and that's only because he does it more.
It's hard to know what happened but, at some point in Quinny's career, his inoffensiveness became so marked that it started to become offensive to some people.
Roy Keane it may have been who fired the starters pistol on this when he mocked him as 'Mother Teresa' on account of his caring and squeaky clean persona. Dunphy pushed along the process a fair bit when he dubbed him "a creep" on national television. Quinn has never once retaliated to any of this.
Not even Quinn's brilliant autobiography, which detailed his drinking excesses in his Arsenal and Man City days, could make a dent in his teacher's pet image.
Last year, Quinn disclosed on Game On that he never reads twitter and he's been advised not to do so. He's been well advised. He sounded genuinely cheerful when he disclosed this, implying that he definitely doesn't read the stuff.
Otherwise, he has either an exceptionally thick skin and an insanely healthy and nonchalant attitude towards online criticism.
We're talking John Terry or even Alan Dukes levels of indifference.
Tonight was more of the usual craic. According to twitter, he should switch his job title from co-commentator to game ruiner. Liverpool beat Spurs 2-1 tonight in the EFL Cup. Neither team was close to full strength but the game was relatively enjoyable.
That's some claim. That a co-commentator is so grating that he actually ruins an otherwise exciting game. It's not like social media to fall into the trap of hyperbole.
Quality reserve team match that, even if Niall Quinn did his best to ruin it.
— Conor Kelly (@ConorPacKelly) October 25, 2016
As painful as losing and going out of a cup is, none of it is as painful as listening to Niall Quinn's voice for 94 minutes.
— Danielle Hill (@DLJ88) October 25, 2016
Thank god I haven't got to listen to Niall Quinn commentate any longer
— Taylor Carter (@TCarter14) October 25, 2016
Niall Quinn, awful. @SkySports I'd like to hear objective views from your analysts please. Embarrassing
— Sam Rosser (@Prism_Fitness) October 25, 2016
"The way it comes up and down so quick" says Niall Quinn about a shot that went waist height and simply stayed there.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) October 25, 2016
Before tonight, I completely forgot how utterly abysmal Niall Quinn is on commentary.
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) October 25, 2016
If we went out of this competition to avoid Niall Quinn commentating on another one of our games, I salute the players.
— Alan (@LaptopManager_) October 25, 2016
There we have it. We can't write anymore (although that last one was funny). It's too tough. For those out there still brave enough to admit they harbour a residual fondness for Quinn on account of his international career, his charitable side, or even his hurling career, we give this tribute to the man composed in honour of his recent 50th birthday.
