Mega Thread The Adam Goodes Megathread - Now with Added Poll!

[JohnnyFontane90]

Ends up? He's been in politics for years, he just hasn't been elected yet. But if a bit of a song and dance and an orchestrated media shit storm earns your vote, more power to you. I'm sure having an Indigenous PM is a heart-warmingly progressive thing to do.

i dare say if he doesn't like boos and negative public opinion then politics is the last occupation on earth he should get into. imagine if tony abbott quit after beeing booed!

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

No. Most racists are cowards and would never admit they are racists. In this case, they can cling/hide behind the "Goodes is a dickhead" excuse and mob mentality, and pretend they are not racist. When the reality is they can't handle his opinions on indigenous matters.

Lol. What if I told you I know of a couple of aboriginal people that boo him as well and loathe him... Is that also racist or are they excused due to color?

 

[Cannon82]

Look im not in disagreement that the booing should stop. It should stop because if this is his last year, he should be able to play his last games out with the crowds support for what he achieved in the game. It shouldnt stop because the dogooder talking heads like Caro, Wilson, Gill etc are telling people they are racist.

Problem is it won't, or at least not for the right reasons. It's now about forcing people to tow the party line - you could stick a cardboard cut out of Goodes on an RC car and drive it around the ground and people will boo every time it gets near the ball. Fear of publicly being branded a racist by the PC element is a piss poor solution to the 'problem'.

 

[Mr Magic]

So the booing isn't racist but you prefer to make the blanketing assumption that the booing is because of the dance?

Wow...

Wrong on both accounts.

Firstly I never said the all the people who were booing were not racist. No doubt some where. It is naive to think otherwise. But putting things into perspective and considering the poll, I have not been there, but have seen some events and I believe the majority of the booing is not about race at all rather Goodes conduct and now other peoples conduct.

Secondly I have never made the blanket assumption is because of the dance. I am saying the dance was a threat to some like it or not. The fact of the matter is, and many other posters have said the same, that Goodes conduct on the field as well as ape gate and his handling of the girl, note I do not mention Eddie as that was fair game, was not totally done well and this has been added to the booing and probably the level of the booing. The war dance though in the aftermath has had an exponential effect to the booing though IMO and was a major catalyst if not the major catalyst.

It does not help Goodes AFLHQ sided with him rather than the crowd after the spear incident IMO. To be fair, and I am not singling Goodes out here because I think their are other players behind the scenes meddling with his honourable desires possibly, it does not help AFL HQ either nor puts some media personalities in a good light either IMO

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I've never actually come across someone who has admitted to being a racist.

Either they are too ashamed/cowardly to admit it, or too ignorant/stupid to admit it.

So I wouldn't know what a "true racist" would do. How do you know?

Maybe they are clever little buggers who deliberately don't target all aboriginal players so they can't be identified as true racists?

Have you stopped to think that the booing of Goodes has nothing to do with racism? I've yelled abuse at umpires on a consistent basis so am I racist as well considering I have some aboriginal heritage and considering they're white?

 

[Procrastinator35]

Sorry, that comment belongs on page 1 or 2 of this thread. It's a shallow thought and we've moved well past that point now.

Sorry, the only shallow thought here, is the notion that all booing is racist!....And that all booing should be banned as a result of young Adam Goodes' perceptions & feelings.

 

[Cannon82]

Goodes has generally been a fairly private person, just FYI. But yeah, he's been in politics for years...

Might have been for the first 3/4 of his career, but certainly not in recent years.

 

[sherb]

I support the right of people to boo at matches without being called racist. I support the right of people to have their own thoughts without being told they MUST be racist. Im sorry if that causes more grief to an AFL player, but said player may well have done some illadvised things that were part of it too.



Sure you have.



Never said it was important. I just find it fascinating that folks like you can denigrate people on the other side of the argument and think nothing of it.

You will not find me calling those booing racist. Nor will you find me saying they MUST be racist.

I made my assessment of those doing the booing and I gave a clear explanation of why.

I also explained why I think the booing should stop, again clearly outlining the reasons.

 

[bungwahl]

Sorry, the only shallow thought here, is the notion that all booing is racist!....And that all booing should be banned as a result of young Adam Goodes' perceptions & feelings.

Who said that? I don't think anyone on here is talking about banning all booing.

Opposition fans have always booed and heckled players taking set shots, or in-game villains. By all means those that want to do that can.

 

[sherb]

And Mark Ella, dont leave him out.

Why are you falsely attributing a quote to me?

 

[Tyrone Time]

I made the point earlier.

Booing is herd behaviour. It's fuelled by negativity, which in this case has turned plain nasty. It's simplistic, unintelligent and has little basis in consistency or considered reasoning. "He's a flog, I don't like him". (Forget you have flogs in your own team you don't boo). "He's dirty" (never mind all the other dirty players running around). "He says/does things I don't like". Or the doozy - "I've been told I can't boo him, so I'm gonna boo him". And so on.

The booing in the Goodes case is coming from the most unsophisticated, uneducated and unpleasant part of the supporters in question.

I think my statement is pretty spot on.

In WA on the weekend, absolutely it was herd behavior. But then it was when Watson and Selwood copped it over there too. Where the media outrage?

Of course we defend/ignore the behavior of our own flogs. Like the Swans fans that use to call Buddy a "one season wonder" or drug user. Now he plays for them, he's a star and he is a better human because of the Bloods culture. That's tribalism, thats sport. Do I boo Puopolo or Lewis for staging? No. Do I boo Selwood and Monfries for the same thing? Yes. Internally do I like any of the 4 doing it? Absolutely not!

Booing Goodes is now a sport, but this would've all went away earlier if the media didn't stir the pot, the Swans didn't play the race card and if they simply went to the AFL before Indigenous Round, discussed the spear dance, did it pre-game with the school children and made it into some about the round. Instead, it was done in a manner that had the potential to cause issue and hate and now people are surprised it did. And if you call him, the AFL or Sydney out on it, you're racist and don't get it. It's been a PR disaster and could've been stopped months ago. Now, it's a run away freight train.

I just don't like the name calling and finger point from one side, when both really are to blame and just being tribal about their POV.

 

[Balony_pony16]

I was originally on the fence on this, I've boo'd lots of footballers before. Ryan Griffen comes to mind in the GWS game. Seen it this year directed at my team, when the SCG Sydney crowd got sooky at the Bulldogs winning and boo'd the winning team off the field.

Have never personally booed Goodes, as he's done nothing to a Bulldogs player or staged for a free kick against us that would deserve it. If anything he's talked up the dogs due to his brother playing for us. So he is just another oppositon player who I hope doesn't do well against us.

So originally with the Hawks I was thinking ok so what they're booing him, players get boos all the time. Then it went on again and again, after weeks of it and different supporter bases picking it up, it makes you uncomfortable and question, so why is Goodes singled out like this?

He is not constantly whacking blokes on the field? Doesn't stage for free kicks like a lot of other players. He hasn't walked out on a club in bad circumstances Why this constant vitriol?

Had no issue with him pointing out the racist comments by the girl or the spear dance. Even if I did take issue with it, it wouldn't be enough to want to boo him the next time I saw the Bulldogs line up to play Sydney because again it didn't effect my team. Isn't that the reason you boo at the football? To voice your displeasure at actions by a footballer or umpire that effects your team?

Even if you think you're doing without any racist undertones, ask yourself why do you still need to boo him this week. (if he was playing) What has he done to you or your team to deserve it?

Agree... Although I see clearly how this has all gotten out of control, I do still struggle understanding the ruthless negative behavior AFL crowds in general as it is not something I subscribe too at games. Crowds do love to boo though and you can watch a team that is up by 100 pts still have his supporters go nuts against an umpire for a speculative free kick against when it clearly has nothing to do with the result, and it should be beer up time and getting ready to sing the team song.

Point is booing for the most simple reasons is ingrained into AFL supporters. The Goodes issue is pretty complex but it shouldn't surprise people how & why it how it has got out of control.

Me personally I hate the AFL being used as a vehicle to drive social agendas, and disliked Goodes clear pre-retirement campaigning on the field. But I wouldnt be the type to be booing him the way he has been as I would just feel stupid doing it and I find relentless booing annoying at games generally.

 

[Collingwoodity]

Have I missed something. What has this got to do with freedom of speach? Do you even know what that is? Freedom of speach is the right to express yourself, your thoughts, your ideas etc. How is the AFL preventing anyone from doing that? You can go to the football next weekend and boo Adam Goodes and all the aboriginal player you see fit. You won't be sent to prison, you won't be charged, hell, you won't even get thrown out of the game. Just that everyone around you will know that you are racist. That is not a breach of freedom of speach that is the fundemental tenant of freedom of speach. You will be judged by what you say, but you won't be breaking the law by saying it.

*Speech.

In the hypothetical scenario you have concocted where I am booing Adam Goodes this week:

No, those around me won't know that I am racist.

The reasons this is wrong are:

1. Because I am not a racist.
2. If I choose to boo Adam Goodes I can choose to do so for any reason except if it relates to his race.
3. I would not boo Lewis Jetta who happens to be of the same race as Adam.
4. Most people around me will also be booing some might be booing as racists but perhaps they are all not booing because of race.
5. It is not possible to conclude that I, or anyone else booing, is racist if I, or they, choose to boo Adam Goodes without knowing why I, or they, chose to boo him.

 

[bird_man]

To me, I don't think what you answer in the poll makes any difference. If you continue to boo Adam Goodes, you are a flog, what ever the reason.

Their have been lot of worse people involved in our great game that did not receive the same crap as this bloke. And I don't even like the fella. Grow up and move on, you are an embarrassment to our great game!

 

[Procrastinator35]

Who said that? I don't think anyone on here is talking about banning all booing.

Opposition fans have always booed and heckled players taking set shots, or in-game villains. By all means those that want to do that can.

Then they should feel relieved that you have given them permission to do so.

 

[the_interloper]

Lol. What if I told you I know of a couple of aboriginal people that boo him as well and loathe him... Is that also racist or are they excused due to color?

They'd probably get called "Uncle Toms" or whatever the indigenous equivalent is by their own people I'd suggest.

 

[Toump Ass]

Milne was never booed?

You mean like how nobody ever called Steve Milne RAPIST every single game for ten years?

Adam Goodes' reception gets is worse than anything Milne received. And what Milne was accused of is infinitely worse.

Your post was giving the impression that all indiginous players get boo'ed which isn't true.

You're right, it's not all indigenous players who are booed. Just the one that happens to be most vocal about indigenous issues. Funny that; we only boo the aboriginal who refuses to be silent.

You can guarantee that people will find an excuse to boo Franklin the moment he starts talking about his race. ("Ahhh he's too big for his boots now he does cocaine and he has money, he's a mercenary/dirty player, I've always hated him" )

 

[mcgarnacle]

If you want to know why people dont like Adam you can just go and read the hundreds of posts of people telling you why. It continues because its now a game with him and it puts him off his game. Pretty simple even a left wing uni student should be able to understand it.

Bullshit.

it's average plebs with insignificant little lives filling empowered by the mob.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Personally I wouldn't be holding to much weight onto Waleeds opinions.

I've read some of his work and he seems to enjoy lumping together different groups, simplifying complex issues by making blanketing statements. To form only two sides of an argument.

In this case, its fine as it only polarising footy fans.
In the case of middle eastern politics, frankly ignorant and quiet dangerous.

Agreed. A man that laments the impact of discrimination, yet practices so much of it in his journalism.

Still have great respect for the guy, and think he's a brilliant commentator on contemporary issues, but needs to be careful of allowing bias creep into his commentary.

 

[bird_man]

25 % boo him because he is a dirty player? Pleeeeease!

If you boo him at least be honest about it people. Why wasn't Barry Hall booed every time he got the football? The great Leigh Matthews?

 

[DrEvil_]

I’ve been going back and forth on this issue a fair bit. I know that as a Swans fan I am biased in my judgement, and if I remove that I can see how his reaction to being called an ‘ape’ could be perceived as an over-reaction. I agree that it could have been handled better, and I don’t have an issue with people who think that. In regards to his war dance against Carlton, I can also see how that can be seen as designed to deliberately taunt and tease the crowd to only intensify the booing. Based off that, some people might think that him being a ‘flog’ is justification enough for their booing. I don’t want to get into whether that is right or wrong. I also don’t think that it’s fair to label entire supporter groups as racist because of it.

However all of that being said, I don’t think the booing is really acceptable even if it’s beyond anyone’s control. It would be naïve to think that the booing isn’t race-related given how much it has intensified not only post Collingwood game, but post-AOTY, or post-Carlton war dance. I don’t pretend to know why every single person boos, but I think it’s clear that it has gained traction as a response to the media and because of the sheep mentality. As with a lot of schoolyard bullying, it’s perceived by the perpetrator as harmless and mindless entertainment. It’s funny because everyone else is doing it.

I don’t really think the whole concept of ‘they deserve to be booed because they are a flog’ comes into – that to me just seems like an afterthought as justification for their actions. I don’t think anyone prior to booing would make the conscious thought process of ‘Adam Goodes is a flog so I will just boo him.’ It’s more that you hear the noise and decide to join in, whether because of humour or because everyone else is doing it. I personally believe that is harmful because it is no different to the bullying you see in the playground or on the net – people who aren’t intending to hurt others but moreso doing it to prevent it being done to them or thinking it’s funny and harmless.

I think that the level of criticism he has received is unfair. People wish to label him as a sook but fail to see how manipulated they are by the media. It’s clear as day in the post-game press conferences how many questions are poised to Longmire regarding the boo-ing, whether it is racial vilification, how Adam Goodes feels about it and so on and so forth. What bothers me more than the actual booing itself is the media seeing this as a profitable opportunity and the vast majority lapping it up. Even in light of the other personal scandals that we have seen erupt over the years, I don’t think that any have received the same level of scrutiny and judgement.

The media want to portray him as the saviour for the minority, whilst knowingly pushing him under the bus to be hated. It’s clear as hell that they’ve made a mountain out of a molehill to sell a story, and it’s sad to see someone who is merely just a footballer on the end of it. He could have done things differently, but at the end of the day he didn’t. Maybe he privately regrets publically highlighting the girl at the football game, maybe he doesn’t. I don’t think people can say that they’ve never made a mistake, but they’ve never had to deal with the consequences as publically as Adam has.

As for the people who want to say that life isn’t easy, racism exists, stop being a sook etc. all I can say is I hope you never have a child grow up in an environment where it’s okay to be bullied because of differences you cannot change.

As a Swans fan, it will be a very sad day if he retires. From a pure footballing sense, hate him all you like but he is a legend of the game. Dual premiership player, brownlow medallist, multiple AAs, etc. Off the field, I have met Adam and he is beyond polite and easy-going. He is someone who I personally respect for his ability to bring light to controversial issues, and it is a shame that his exit may potentially be forced because of this. I don’t ever want to see someone forced out of doing something they love because of the actions of others – and I hope that doesn’t happen.

Pretty much this. Also interesting to note that Goodes never said the boos were racist. In fact last year he said he wasn't affected by it. Robbo, Pridham, and the rest of the media gang are the ones calling the boos racist.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Then they should feel relieved that you have given them permission to do so.

the greatest example of targeted booing in Australian sport was that of Wally Lewis whenever he came down to Sydney.

the undertones are clearly different here.

 

[Balony_pony16]

25 % boo him because he is a dirty player? Pleeeeease!

If you boo him at least be honest about it people. Why wasn't Barry Hall booed every time he got the football? The great Leigh Matthews?

Seems pointless trying to argue what % of the crowd boos for what % like we can put it in a pie chart

 

[mcgarnacle]

25 % boo him because he is a dirty player? Pleeeeease!

If you boo him at least be honest about it people. Why wasn't Barry Hall booed every time he got the football? The great Leigh Matthews?

they kept their mouth shut about their black heritage.

 

[bungwahl]

Then they should feel relieved that you have given them permission to do so.

Ok, just here to pick arguments and make snide comments? Feel free to ignore me, thanks.