@TimmyB said:
@tigertye said:
It wasn't the nicest comment but seriously people need to harden up. I'm positive a lot worse is said on a footy field than "you're a FGC." It's funny how no one had a problem with everyone at Leichardt screaming "Birdy's a wanker" yet they get up in arms everytime someone calls someone gay or a fag. People need to get off their high horse and get over it. Most people have sworn or said the wrong thing in their life, so move on.
I've got a gay mate and we all say the word gay and sometimes worse on a night out jokingly around him, or to him and he doesn't care less, he knows we don't care about his gender choices, but we just respect the bloke for the good he does. My partners uncle is gay as well, and he's exactly the same. If he was in a blue and it someone said it with intent then it would fire him up, but if it was just mates joking around he couldn't give a rats.
If the guy who was called a FGC, is actually gay and taken offence, maybe the comment backfired and was said in the heat of the moment. A simple personal apology should suffice.
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1) There is nothing 'hard' about using gay as an insult. There is nothing 'soft' about setting a clear line in the sand that homophobic slurs are unacceptable on the rugby league field.
2) There is a world of difference between in house jokes and comments that are broadcast to the public. Ask your mate what he thinks of 'gay' and 'homo' being tossed around as insults in the public domain. If he has no problems with it, then that's great for him. He clearly feels accepted by the community and comfortable in his sexuality. It is completely different for a teenager who is grappling with his/her sexual orientation. What do you think they feel when they hear a comment tossed around like that on the football field? Unwelcome comes to mind.
3) It has absolutely nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the individual the comment was directed at. Using the term as an insult implies there is something wrong with being homosexual. I doubt Moses believes that, but what he believes is irrelevant. It conveys that message. It conveys a message that gay men and women are not welcome in the game. What would your response be if someone called a Polynesian player an 'ab* c***'? Sure the player is not Aboriginal but it's still a highly offensive and derogates the Aboriginal community.
4) Equating wanker with a homophobic slur is shockingly stupid. As in incredible. What group of people does that marginalise? Just extraordinary you would try and equate the two and shows you have absolutely no understanding of the issue at hand.
I feel for Moses because I'm sure it is common on the field, and the fact he said it does not mean he is homophobic or has character flaws. I'm extremely happy the NRL has established a precedent. Homophobic slurs should be treated exactly the same as racist slurs. Completely unacceptable.
To those who claim it is a PR thing, I think that is an oversimplification. Or at least I hope that is an oversimplification. I would like to think the reason the game is cracking down on it is because it is offensive to a segment of the population and is no longer acceptable in Rugby League.
1\. As I said, it wasn't a nice comment, and personally I wouldn't say it to someone I didn't know or that I felt would respond negatively to it, unless it was in the heat of the moment and I spilt something out like that. Most likely I'd think to myself, 'hey they was out of line,' but by then it'd be too late. I'm not saying it was the right thing to do whatsoever by Mitch. Nothing 'hard' about it. The game is getting a bit soft though. In many aspects. I honestly think that a politically incorrect comment from a young player (if it's offended another player) should be given a warning, an apology to the player given, and move on. If he does it again then yeah, maybe he sits out some games.
2\. I completely understand your thoughts and FYI, my mate is comfortable. For others I'm not sure, you'd have to ask them. It's an individual thing. But let me ask you this? Are you gunna tell me that any gay person has never said one hurtful thing to a straight person? Footy field or not mate, It's not a straight vs gay thing.
Things are just said in the heat of the moment, if you were having a heated argument with someone, the most common thing that happens in young and some older people is to target something about the other person that will put them down. Whether it be their weight, height, looks, sexuality (intended or not).
3\. I agree with what you say here. How would I react if someone was derogatory or insulted me/partner/friend/family, depends on the severity for myself. I'd probably try and sort it out, bark back or belt them one in extreme circumstances.
4\. Why is it? Why is it that calling someone 'gay' is any different than calling someone a 'd***he**' 'wanker' or a such and such? Political correctness? Earlier you said that it's hard for a young man to grapple with their sexuality. I agree. But what if there's another bloke on the field *hypothecial* battling depression or concerned with their looks/weight and is constantly on the field being call a 'fat c***'.
Should we ban the players saying that too? Do we need another ref to control the swearing or talk on the field? For gods sake.
I don't see the difference, things are said on the field to piss someone off and get a reaction sometimes, Ennis, Reynolds do it every game. IMO it's only that he said the word 'gay' in his sentence that this reaction has been sparked. It's been made into something it didn't need to be.
I'm not a rascist, I'm not a homophobe, I'm not a sexist. But it's always been the Australian way to have a bit of banter and sometimes it steams over and silly things get said to the wrong people (were all guilty of it at some stage). But most Aussies know that it gets sorted out one way or another and you let it go.
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