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A week on from the acquittal of Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison, the nation continues to dissect the details from the hugely divisive Belfast rape trial. One of the more controversial aspects of the whole debacle is the content of the WhatsApp messages sent back and forth between the accused and their friends in the aftermath of the incident at a house party in Jackson’s home.

Some of the language that was used is too vulgar to be repeated in this publication, but suffice to say it was incredibly disrespectful to the girl in question, and to women in general.

Like any right-minded individual, I’m naturally appalled by what was said. The comments were pathetic. But, to be completely honest, I’m not one bit shocked by the tone of the conversations.

I’ve been added to a lot of different football and soccer teams' WhatsApps down through the years, both at home and abroad, and I've also been in plenty of WhatsApp groups with other young men that had nothing to do with sports. While I’ve never witnessed anything as bad as the messages retrieved from Jackson and co.’s phones, I have seen things get fairly crude.

So I think it’s wrong to say that this kind of misogyny is the domain of professional athletes. None of the worst offenders in the WhatsApp groups I’ve been in previously were entitled soccer stars, or intercounty players, they were just regular fellas, some of whom happened to play sport in their spare time. The problem isn’t just with young male sports stars. The problem is with young males in general.

As public figures, athletes have more of a responsibility to behave appropriately than the regular guy on the street who isn’t idolised by millions of kids. Therefore it makes sense to try and correct their behaviour. But what about the 99.9% of young men who aren't elite athletes? If they disrespect women, is that somehow less wrong?

Many observers have criticised the IRFU for not educating its players. I agree that employers certainly have a duty to educate athletes about the dangers that come with fame and fortune, but should the IRFU really have to teach its players to respect women? And, perhaps more to the point, can they?

The accused in this trial behaved the way they did because they thought it was okay. And not just okay. From the way they boasted in the group, they clearly felt that this kind of behaviour is admirable. “Why are we all such legends?” Society has told them that this is how legends act. For cases like this to become a thing of the past, society has to change. That’s obviously easier said than done.

When reading the reactions in the media, one thing I noticed was the number of men who said they were disgusted by the WhatsApp messages. I don’t doubt their sincerity, but how many of them actually call out misogynistic behaviour when they encounter it themselves? How many of them simply say “yeah” and laugh awkwardly, or post a crying laughing emoji, just to avoid the awkwardness of confrontation? I have 100% been guilty of it myself. The expression, “if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” comes to mind.

I would like to think that my response will be different in the future. Changing the attitude of an entire demographic is a tall order. Changing your own, however, should be manageable enough.