Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Probably, and I suppose it would be difficult to contend being a racist at the football is contributing to public debate - in good faith.

I suppose for the ignorant types out there who already struggle with what is and isn't OK to say at the football, banning them for something that will unlikely be punishable in broader society will probably confuse the issue for them.

Out of it all, that the crowds reported it shows to me that we've come further than the past. It's a silver lining to the fact this garbage is still happening.

[jeemak]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Out of it all, that the crowds reported it shows to me that we've come further than the past. It's a silver lining to the fact this garbage is still happening.

Sure, and I hope that if standards within broader society are relaxed somewhat it's not reflected in a relaxation of standards at AFL games (or any other sporting codes across the levels for that matter).

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Sure, and I hope that if standards within broader society are relaxed somewhat it's not reflected in a relaxation of standards at AFL games (or any other sporting codes across the levels for that matter).

This is kind of the debate. If idiot's want to make racist comments such as this, then the argument goes 'so be it'. But the counter of that is it's the rights of the AFL or whomever else to pass judgement of their own to eject of refuse services, the right of the media to smash these morons publicly and it's my right to tell everyone I know I think it's disgraceful and this clown should be banned from any and every institution that can ban him legally.

It's the issues that surround most Australian States legislation into human rights legislation, about offering a particular right but needing to say the opposite at the same time, ie "you are free to join a trade union". But the opposite right should also be enshrined that you are free not to join a trade union. It's a hard balancing act, and I can see the philosophical argument outside of media hype. If it's a right to a publicly name and shame idiots like these, should there be free will of people to make these comments. Drilling further down into the Vic human rights legislation debate, is it the role of government to intervene in these events, or should the community evolve to the point where we move issues of race, gender, reconciliation etc and we the people move social consciousness beyond these idiots, but of course having various pieces of legislation and strong defamation laws.

However you see the arguments, and I see both arguments. That we've gone from Nicky Winmar standing up against racist comments at the footy with such a strong display, to the average Joe now standing up against racism at the footy is a great thing. Unfortunately it may take another generation of education to push racism further into the past, but this shows me we are slowly on the path to that, but there needs to be more education.

[Bornadog]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

I remember in the 1980's going to the footy and supporters yelling out stupid remarks to not only indigenous players but also those of European heritage. Yes it was all a laugh, and if you said something you were the one that was set upon.

Times have changed for the better and now people are dobbing in these idiots. There are still many racists in our society but if we all stand up to these morons, slowly but surely they will be weeded out. As for the moronic idiots in Government, lets hope the senate blocks any changes to the laws, otherwise society is going backwards.

[jeemak]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

One of the strengths the AFL relies upon currently is the crowd being self-policing - to an extent (or at least self-reporting) - and by a relaxation of standards I was referring to a drop in the level of crowd vigilance on the matter.

I won't engage any political aspect of the issue (meaning I'll keep my opinions about the repeal of 18C to myself), that's not what the forum is for.*

*Edit - Sorry BAD, this was not in response to your post.

[Mofra]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

One of the strengths the AFL relies upon currently is the crowd being self-policing - to an extent (or at least self-reporting) - and by a relaxation of standards I was referring to a drop in the level of crowd vigilance on the matter.

This actually works - someone near me yelled out a racist comment towards an Asian opposition supporter last year, and was told in no uncertain terms to pull their head in.

No comments from that poitn onwards were made, and haven't heard anything similar at a game since.

[Bornadog]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

This actually works - someone near me yelled out a racist comment towards an Asian opposition supporter last year, and was told in no uncertain terms to pull their head in.

No comments from that point onwards were made, and haven't heard anything similar at a game since.

Also, sometimes better to call security and not get directly involved if the guy looks drunk and agro.

[Happy Days]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Also, sometimes better to call security and not get directly involved if the guy looks drunk and agro.

Good call; the dickheads who make racist comments are also the dickheads who start fights at the footy.

[Bornadog]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Good call; the dickheads who make racist comments are also the dickheads who start fights at the footy.

Yeah I learnt this from my wife. I was at the Gabba once and a supporter was drunk and being really obnoxious. I was about to say something and she stopped me. She got up and went out the back. A few minutes later the guy was on his way out.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

I don't consider such people to be Bulldogs fans at any rate.
A fan is there to cheer, and even if they wear our colours, it would be deeply hurtful for Liam or Goodsey to hear that crap.
They don't belong to us. If they are prepared to apologise and have the proper understanding of our code of conduct, then welcome.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

I liked that Peter called us out on it. Doing the right thing is sometimes hard and press around this isn't great, but it's this kind of leadership that inspires people like us at the games to call in security and get them thrown out and banned for life. This is leadership about race from an AFL president, which contrasts what other AFL presidents have done.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Actually, I think all fans of every team know there is a racist element within their fold. Not sure too many will judge us because of a few lunatics. Good on you Peter for being on the front foot.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

I have to agree wholeheartedly. I was talking about workplaces recently as my pet academic topic is something called 'emotional labour'. As a part of that discussion someone who works very high up in a global conglomerate asked me to think about racism in these terms...

3 people go for the final interview process for a job. One Indian, one Korean and one anglo saxon Aussie who went to a similar university to yours, knows Aussie sport and you can talk about contemporary Aussie formative experiences with them. All three are determined exactly suitable as each other to have the position, who do you decide to employ?

If you answer the Aussie, is that a form of passive and indirect racism?

I'm sure some would have differing opinions.

I would hire the person most different to the rest of the team. It's the only way to grow my team. Those who hire like-for-like are generally the corporate conversative, better not risk it type.

I blame the baby boomers and the next generation. This whole giving medals for simply applying or trying, and worse not keeping the score at footy games is rubbish. My neighbour's kid can recall every score and the final score from every game he has ever played. From my worldly view, it's how you deal with the bad things that happen to you, they are formative life lessons. Leaving these lessons to 20 or more years old is a massive employer problem as young workers as an observation cannot take criticism and cause problems when they do get told they're not perfect and mummies little angel. So many IR problems i've been thrown at me because of this. But alas, I digress.

I agree, I'm only a few years older than that generation and I'm glad I was raised right. The amount of crap I see at work astounds me, my daughter is more mature at 8.

Back on topic, it's funny how we want to ban people from footy games for saying racist things while a reasonable portion of the public seem to want to make it OK to say racist things directly to and about people through changing legislation.

If 18C is repealed to the extent George Brandis wants it to be, is the AFL going to be faced with a situation whereby people are banned for doing something that's completely legal?

I'm glad the club has taken this proactive step. I'm happy for people to have a good humoured crack at someone for things they can and should probably change about themselves. There's usually enough of that fodder to feed on without having to revert to things people can't change (such as red hair, for instance - which is apparently not OK to have and deserves derision, though I've never understood why).

Only a ginger, can call another ginger “ginger”…

[jeemak]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Only a ginger, can call another ginger “ginger”…

Self loathing gingers! Won't somebody please think about the children?

[Remi Moses]

Re: Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame

Once upon a time people found it offensive to have aboriginals playing football.
Now they find it "Offensive" because an aboriginal has an opinion!
Shame Shame Shame! Some of the shameful vitriol directed at Goodes through social media just shows how many dimwits we have in the world.