Brandon Jack Article

[Kummerspeck]

Too many Australians are prepared to ignore the problem of violence our streets, as long as it's not them or their loved ones being assaulted. Brandon's got guts to speak out on the issue, knowing full well that he would leave himself open to criticism by those who'd rather believe there was no problem.

The message he sends out (as a role model) is one of taking responsibility for a better society and being prepared to try to change it. It doesn't matter whether his solution is the best one, as long as he ignites a debate and inspires others.

Before I start, my summary of thoughts on it is:

• Football player (particularly a young one) thinking about the topic: Good
• Football player using his (albeit small for now) profile to put forward an argument on the topic: Good
• His argument that instead of targeting offenders, education is more important: Good
• His "youth of today" statements and cliched blaming of the current forms of mass media: Bad
• The idea that simply having people briefly talk about the topic is a good outcome: Bad.

The problem I have with this kind of awareness raising (not limited to just Jack's piece), is that these kinds of pieces and actions like it where people say "we should do SOMETHING!!!", but then offer nothing beyond the cliches and picking the low hanging fruit of the subject doesn't actually do anything. Almost every awareness raising exercise I've seen of this type where people consider their job done because they offered an opinion just promotes laziness.
To bring it up again, of all the people I know who shared the Kony video, liked it, discussed it, expressed their thoughts on the plight of child soldiers in Uganda, and even one or two who actually went postering, a grand total of ****-all did anything tangible like raising supplies or money for Ugandan orphanages. One of those who went postering for the "Night of Action" was particularly offended by my suggestion that he volunteer in one of aforementioned orphanages or a child soldier charity. His exact reply was "I spent all last night postering, I've done my part".
So apart from his arguments which I've addressed in my other posts, my issue with "raising awareness", "sparking debates", and "getting people talking", is that it's often being done by people who aren't bringing anything to the table and seems to more often than not carry an attitude of "well, I'm awared, can't wait to see what someone else does about it."

 

[Arwib]

I've also heard a compelling theory that the discussion of alcohol and violence itself promotes the link by essentially giving people permission to punch on. The message not to get violent when drinking suggests that it's easy to do so.

 

[RW]

Before I start, my summary of thoughts on it is:

• Football player (particularly a young one) thinking about the topic: Good
• Football player using his (albeit small for now) profile to put forward an argument on the topic: Good
• His argument that instead of targeting offenders, education is more important: Good
• His "youth of today" statements and cliched blaming of the current forms of mass media: Bad
• The idea that simply having people briefly talk about the topic is a good outcome: Bad.

The problem I have with this kind of awareness raising (not limited to just Jack's piece), is that these kinds of pieces and actions like it where people say "we should do SOMETHING!!!", but then offer nothing beyond the cliches and picking the low hanging fruit of the subject doesn't actually do anything. Almost every awareness raising exercise I've seen of this type where people consider their job done because they offered an opinion just promotes laziness.

To bring it up again, of all the people I know who shared the Kony video, liked it, discussed it, expressed their thoughts on the plight of child soldiers in Uganda, and even one or two who actually went postering, a grand total of ****-all did anything tangible like raising supplies or money for Ugandan orphanages. One of those who went postering for the "Night of Action" was particularly offended by my suggestion that he volunteer in one of aforementioned orphanages or a child soldier charity. His exact reply was "I spent all last night postering, I've done my part".
So apart from his arguments which I've addressed in my other posts, my issue with "raising awareness", "sparking debates", and "getting people talking", is that it's often being done by people who aren't bringing anything to the table and seems to more often than not carry an attitude of "well, I'm awared, can't wait to see what someone else does about it."

I agree with you about the problem with this kind of "awareness raising" and "getting people talking" when trying to get an idea to spread -- to bring about change, you need to reach the enthusiasts/early adopters/die hards/activists first (they go by a few names) as they are the ones who are most likely to do something more than just talk about it, and it's often from there that the idea then finds its way to the masses. If Brandon had a bit more time on his hands instead of being a professional footballer, and seriously wanted to effect change, rather than publishing a piece in a newspaper he could instead start a movement by finding a way to connect directly with the people who really cared about the issue, as they are the ones who would be best placed to reach others and change their behaviour. (For example, in "The Book of Mormon", the musical by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the main protagonists, coincidentally two young missionaries sent to Uganda, struggled to get any conversions until they found one of the natives who was more receptive to their ideas, who was then able to convince the others to follow). Obviously not everyone is in a position to take action themselves for various reasons, but I do get your frustration with people who actually believe they are making a difference when they haven't actually done anything.

 

[RW]

Luke Ablett has penned his own thoughts on the issue, in an article appearing in tomorrow's Sunday Herald Sun. He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but he argues that violence in the community has a deeper underlying cause:

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/opin...le-state-of-mind/story-fni0ffsx-1226799680751

 

[Sanecow]

Luke Ablett has penned his own thoughts on the issue, in an article appearing in tomorrow's Sunday Herald Sun. He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but he argues that violence in the community has a deeper underlying cause:

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/opin...le-state-of-mind/story-fni0ffsx-1226799680751

Not sure who told him those things. Sounds like his mates were largely dickheads.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Not sure who told him those things. Sounds like his mates were largely dickheads.

Who among us can say in all honesty we didn't hang out with the odd dickhead in our impressionable youth?

 

[SM]

Who among us can say in all honesty we didn't hang out with the odd dickhead in our impressionable youth?

Or was the dickhead?

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Or was the dickhead?

Quite.

 

[SM]

Quite.

I was referring to myself, in case there was any confusion.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

I was referring to myself, in case there was any confusion.

Me too, he said, even more ambiguously than before.

 

[baja]

Not sure who told him those things. Sounds like his mates were largely dickheads.

Yeah I come from a pretty rough area and I knew better than what Luke Ablett suggests young men are taught, in fact I was probably taught most of the opposite very poor choice of words I think from him.

 

[baja]

Who among us can say in all honesty we didn't hang out with the odd dickhead in our impressionable youth?

For sure, they were great examples of bad examples and you learnt from them not followed them.

 

[bedford]

The big problem is drugs mixed with the booze and the bigger problem is the laws that don't penalise these scum pushing this shit on the kids. The worst one is ice, , when you read the daily's every week there is a story about violence from someone on the shit. Just like the team that beat us in 06, it gives you the strength of 7 people and mixed with booze it is a lethal dose.

 

[RW]

For sure, they were great examples of bad examples and you learnt from them not followed them.

Yes but I think there is some truth in what he says. Maybe not necessarily about the causes of violence, but in the vulnerability of men generally. Look up Brené Brown's work. Of course it may be different in individual families, but the sentence beginning "boys are taught to be tough" in Luke Ablett's article does ring at least partly true (though obviously it is a generalisation).

 

[bedford]

You only have to look at the neknominations to see what scum are being bred

 

[baja]

Yes but I think there is some truth in what he says. Maybe not necessarily about the causes of violence, but in the vulnerability of men generally. Look up Brené Brown's work. Of course it may be different in individual families, but the sentence beginning "boys are taught to be tough" in Luke Ablett's article does ring at least partly true (though of course it is a generalisation).

Maybe Im taking his comments too literally but I was also taught to be tough, tough enough to not be a sheep so yeah its a massive generalization and one poorly aimed, I agree with Sanecow when he says Ablett must have been surrounded by dick heads for saying what he said.

 

[bedford]

And he was in Drouin, but its a fair piece.

 

[baja]

And he was in Drouin, but its a fair piece.

I know you love Lukey but they were poor words from him, I think he knew much better too.

 

[bedford]

I remember going to Sunday pub games and seeing people getting attacked with broken bottles and punch ups everywhere, but the press never got hold of it. I'll say it again drugs is the biggest problem not the booze as that's been going on for decades. STOP THE DRUGs !

 

[bedford]

I like Luke, he's a decent person, but you have to remember that his family has been through a lot.

 

[RW]

Yeah, I know what you mean (in response to baja's post). FWIW I agree with bedford, it's pretty scary to read about some of the effects of alcohol mixed with drugs. There are some horror stories out there from Aboriginal communities in particular.

 

[baja]

Yeah, I know what you mean. FWIW I agree with bedford, it's pretty scary to read about some of the effects of alcohol mixed with drugs. There are some horror stories out there from Aboriginal communities in particular.

I cant recall one single story about a 'king hit/coward punch involving a indigenous person?

 

[RW]

I cant recall a story about a 'king hit/coward punch involving a single indigenous person?

Am talking much worse than coward punches... at least in terms of damage done to the communities involved... from accounts of doctors who have worked in remote areas... (I moved slightly away from the original topic, sorry)

 

[baja]

Am talking much worse than coward punches... at least in terms of damage done to the communities involved... from accounts of doctors who have worked in remote areas... (I moved slightly away from the original topic, sorry)

no money in those areas you suggest drugs are the problem but Im being serious when I say indigenous people don't roll like that when it comes to king hits, sure they can get nasty but most are proud not sniping dogs.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

For sure, they were great examples of bad examples and you learnt from them not followed them.

Hopefully. I got through OK, but for others it was a different story. Not sure if I had some innate sense warning me not to get too close to the scary guys, or if I just wasn't very brave. Probably symbiotic actually.