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Rugby and Racism


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9 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Your 'old men' reference is that a deliberate form of stereotyping discrimination against individuals on the basis of their age, do you use it systematically or just casually?

Two things, firstly I have not opened the link so have not seen the footage to form an opinion

Well spotted John, thanks for the spelling lesson.

 

One spelling, one punctuation. 👍👍😀😀😀

In any case, GJ is just trying to trip up people who suggest that we and our game might not be even a teeny- weenie bit racist.  

It's a sector-specific subset of his "we are all guilty" philosophy (is GJ a Catholic believer after all?) that has resulted in people who disagree being absent voluntarily or compulsorily from hid political sub forum. 

 

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47 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Bingo.

Also playing some footage of players from thirty years ago to show how we were once inclusive but not even considering why our teams barely reflect the actual diversity of the communities and towns in which they're located ... it's maybe not the good look that some old men on a forum think it is.

This is a false argument when it comes to professional sports team in a system where poor performance results in relegation. The owners and people making recruitment are custodians of organisations that are "owned" emotionally and culturally by the people who support them. Adhering to a policy to reflect almost exactly the ethnic and cultural make-up of the town in which they are based would look good to some outside observers but would run the risk of weakening the team and club both short and long term. Sports teams recruit on the basis of finding the best (affordable) person for the job and should do for reasons of competitiveness and business success.

At community clubs in those towns then yes it would be desirable to see a mix of ethnicity and cultures that gives a true reflection of the population of the town. This could also aid social cohesion in the community. However you cannot force people to play if they don't want to play RL. All you can do is create a welcoming atmosphere that makes people from all aspects of the community feel that the club is for them and that they wish to be a part of it.

In terms of the people coming to watch the games and support the team then certainly all people from all cultures and ethnic groups (as well as the LGBTQ+ community, disabled people etc.) should feel that the clubs and the terraces are a welcoming place. The collection of faces in the crowd cheering on the team together could certainly be more reflective of those wider communities and we as clubs and fans should do as much as we can to make everyone feel that RL is the sport for them.

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30 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Your 'old men' reference is that a deliberate form of stereotyping discrimination against individuals on the basis of their age, do you use it systematically or just casually?

Two things, firstly I have not opened the link so have not seen the footage to form an opinion

Well spotted John, thanks for the spelling lesson.

 

Well, except that I think it should be 'counsel', but let's not be pedantic!

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52 minutes ago, wiganermike said:

In terms of the people coming to watch the games and support the team then certainly all people from all cultures and ethnic groups (as well as the LGBTQ+ community, disabled people etc.) should feel that the clubs and the terraces are a welcoming place. The collection of faces in the crowd cheering on the team together could certainly be more reflective of those wider communities and we as clubs and fans should do as much as we can to make everyone feel that RL is the sport for them.

Basically, we agree. You can't force people to like or to play rugby league. But, right now, we're doing very little to encourage anybody new to become engaged with the sport and the longer that continues the more we will become reliant on people who already know and support the game.

I like the messaging coming out of the RLWC about inclusivity and rugby league being a sport for all. I'd like to see that point proactively followed through by the RFL in its day to day activities.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

Your 'old men' reference is that a deliberate form of stereotyping discrimination against individuals on the basis of their age, do you use it systematically or just casually?

I used it very deliberately. And would include myself (just) in the grouping.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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3 hours ago, JohnM said:

One spelling, one punctuation. 👍👍😀😀😀

In any case, GJ is just trying to trip up people who suggest that we and our game might not be even a teeny- weenie bit racist.  

It's a sector-specific subset of his "we are all guilty" philosophy (is GJ a Catholic believer after all?) that has resulted in people who disagree being absent voluntarily or compulsorily from hid political sub forum. 

 

You've not still got the mornge on about that have you? 🤣🤣

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Watched this clip again the other day. Remember loving this documentary as a kid. My jaw dropped when I heard the two officials in the crowd comment on the winning Doncaster try 😮  3.00-3.05. Listen carefully 

 

 

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12 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Watched this clip again the other day. Remember loving this documentary as a kid. My jaw dropped when I heard the two officials in the crowd comment on the winning Doncaster try 😮  3.00-3.05. Listen carefully 

 

 

I remember hearing language like that quite regularly when I started attending regularly as a kid in the early eighties. Like that example some was even directed at players being praised for their efforts. It was worse if one of the black players made an error or played for the opposition. Thankfully I don't hear it very often more recently and when it does happen it tends to be stamped on pretty quickly by other fans. I don't doubt that it still happens though unfortunately.

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15 hours ago, wiganermike said:

I remember hearing language like that quite regularly when I started attending regularly as a kid in the early eighties. Like that example some was even directed at players being praised for their efforts. It was worse if one of the black players made an error or played for the opposition. Thankfully I don't hear it very often more recently and when it does happen it tends to be stamped on pretty quickly by other fans. I don't doubt that it still happens though unfortunately.

It does still happen unfortunately. I've heard some quite nasty stuff aimed at the coloured Toulouse players (even at Mark Kheirallah who isn't particularly non-white, just a bit mixed race).  No other fan stepped forward to have a word.  This stuff has always gone on, I don't think it's because people are overtly racist, as if they were they would be doing the same to their own coloured players. I think it's more of a way to get under the skin of the opposition, trying to find a chink to unsettle them. I had something similar when I was at school in the 70's. I remember a young lad from the opposing school (we went to a posh rugby school in Blackpool) who turned up to play hockey. (It turned out actually that he was the son of Rohan Kahnai the West Indies cricketer) , someone called him Kunta Kinte to try and wind him up.  He put 11 past us that day.  I met him years later and he mentioned it in passing only as he was more upset because Kunta Kinte was from West Africa, and he himself was a proud British Guianian. He used his anger well !

It's not pleasant, and this season...for what it was, was worse as the away supporters are now so close to the box where the WAGS are that every word can be heard, at least in the old stadium the away fans were normally on the opposite side of the park. 

 

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There’s a post on YouTube Huddersfield v Wigan, where the Wigan loose forward, Tony Johnson? Is quite obviously being head hunted by several of the Wigan team.

The only inference that I can draw is that it’s because he’s black

This is a truncated version there’s the full match available 

 

 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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On 28/07/2020 at 15:46, Bleep1673 said:

You are not allowed to mention Rugby League and Racism in the same paragraph, I have just served a 4 week ban for accusing the RFL of not engaging with the South Asian communities. Caribbean descent is one thing, but given the high Asian populations of Rochdale, Bradford & Halifax etc., you would think a higher number of Asian player are involved...... That is me banned for free speach again.

No. Dont suspend me for freedom of speech, again

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8 minutes ago, JohnM said:

This is not a freedom of speech issue, though. You are free to post whatever views you have on whatever subject you like on Facebook, Twitter etc etc.

You’re not to be fair, they ban people for expressing their opinion all the time. Not that I use either of them myself. 

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There is no freedom of speech. One cannot just go about saying what they wish.

What we say of do is governed by statute.... libel and slander laws exist. Offensive language, racial outpourings and hate speech all set in law plus many other examples.

TRL is no different. It has rules. If we wish to engage in this forum we abide by the rules laid down by those that run it. It really is that simple.

I digress.....

I've seen and heard many examples of racism at rugby matches.... by fans of almost every side I've even seen going back almost 50 years. Sadly, it still happens, often in the most repugnant manner.

 

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7 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Can we have celts v saxons v danes?

Love it . Some nice knotwork jerseys , blue painted faces an opportunity to celebrate the ancient cultural heritage of the UK , No one could surely have an issue with that .

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