Boo-hoo, Adam

Would Adam Goodes get a game for any other club?

Affirmative Action Man said :

Three questions.

1. Are Australians racist ?

2. If they are then what other countries are racist ?

3. What countries are not racist ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RovF1zsDoeM

“It’s this antagonism toward a nation which has bestowed one of its highest honours upon him that grates with me.”

Marcus, can you see how patronising this statement is? It’s like saying “look at everything we have given this black guy and he has the nerve to say what he believes, making us feel uncomfortable”. Can’t you see that through his observations he is trying to make Australia a better place?

I’m a middle class white male and I have been subjected to racism. I was born in Finland and went to high school in the ’70’s in multicultural Weston Creek. Class mates included Greeks and Italians with darker skin than mine who were “wogs”. I was a “wog” too but because I had fair skin it was decided that I was to be a “white wog”.
Took it on the chin and wasn’t scarred for life.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

Good comment here.
http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-wayland-smithers-school-of.html

Dungers, you are as predictable as the sun coming up in the east and setting in the west.

Someone has to challenge the elitists who demand to be offended, the morally vain and the climate change missionaries or this blog would end up being a boring, lefty love-in.

Being Australian of the Year does not deprive someone of their right to speak out to make this country a better place. Indeed, I believe the position carries an obligation to use it to highlight issues that must be overcome.

By your logic, Rosie Batty is wrong for speaking out about bad government policy and underfunding regarding domestic violence services, just because she is Aussie of the year.

And he is perfectly entitled to call it Invasion Day, because that’s what it is. We do not improve the future if we ignore the past.

Three questions.

1. Are Australians racist ?

2. If they are then what other countries are racist ?

3. What countries are not racist ?

dungfungus said :

Good comment here.
http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-wayland-smithers-school-of.html

Dungers, you are as predictable as the sun coming up in the east and setting in the west.

dungfungus said :

Good comment here.
http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-wayland-smithers-school-of.html

From the blog:

“Of course, we have the regular roster of apologists come out, shaming the country and our society for cutting down a sports star who happens to have Aboriginal blood as part of his racial make-up. The caring, informed and sensitive city dwellers who, despite their alabaster skin tone and lack of racial diversity, can not only see, smell and hear racism, but tragically, are so deeply affected by it that they feel they must differentiate themselves from the white person next to them by pointing at them and screaming racist long enough and loud enough that somehow, somewhere in the midst of all their righteous shouting, their own skin tone will be forgotten or ignored.

One thing I’ve come to understand about our society is that often, those who see themselves as the most tolerant, educated and enlightened are usually most racist, close-minded of all. These types were the first to pick up their keyboard or a microphone and declare that speaking negatively about the so-called ‘war dance’ effort from Adam Goodes over the weekend means that we are culturally ignorant, yet in making such a claim, have themselves ignored an entire segment of the Aboriginal community, who are appalled at the ‘performance’.”

This about sums it up perfectly. All the bleeding-heart apologists pointing their fingers and yelling “racism” are so desperate to be seen as tolerant, that they are completely oblivious to how they are behaving and how divisive they are being. And that’s on top of being mistaken in their judgement of the motives of others.

Nilrem said :

Mysteryman said :

Nilrem said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

You’re expecting a child to understanding the history of language that’s before her time. That simply isn’t appropriate for her age, and I think your expectation is unreasonable.

mcs said :

To me, a racist action isn’t defined as a racist action by the perpetrator. Its no excuse that she didn’t think it was a racial slur – quite clearly the victim took it as a racist slur, and to me that is that.

Just cause you called someone a gorilla back in the day, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t find it offensive and racist in another context.

You can’t possibly know how every person you encounter will interpret what they hear, and you shouldn’t be expected to. I think the legal concept of ‘the reasonable person’ should be applied to situations like this. Unforunately, the media have not applied that concept and what we’re left with is a case of “you’re a racist if you don’t agree with him!”. It’s ludicrous. And what you’re advocating for is a situation where entirely unreasonable conclusions can be drawn based on any criteria that suits the offended party – the polar opposite of the ‘reasonable person’ test. That’s a case of forever shifting goalposts (pardon the puns) and it seems pretty ridiculous.

And what is a “reasonable person”? A white, middle-class male who has never ever endured any racism in his entire life? It needs to be a reasonable person in the category concerned. An Indigenous man whose family and himself have experienced discrimination and racism not infrequently for most of their lives. Walk a mile in his shoes.

The law doesn’t exist for a minority – it’s there for everyone. That’s why the reasonable person is used. It’s an idea that represents a general composite of the views of the community – not the views of a specific minority. That considered, I’d say one could argue that much (if not most) of the community feels similarly to the author of this article.

Don’t get on your high horse and tell me what I should be feeling. You don’t know the colour of my skin, and you don’t know what I have and haven’t experienced. Face the fact the people are booing Goodes not because of his heritage, but because of his behaviour and his comments. If you can’t see that then there’s no helping you.

The law of racial villification does not use this reasonable man test. For good reason. Racism is contextual. The reasonable man is used in some other areas of the law.

It probably uses a test based on a reasonable person in the circumstances of the person concerned. For example, an Indigenous person. Racist taunts have more impact on such a person, because they may have experienced significant racism previously, than they may have on a white person. You need to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before you write off his or her concerns.

Marcus Paul said :

“This article is yet another example of someone rushing to express their own self-entitlement to be outraged.
Further, what is the relevance of publishing another soapbox rant here? There’s countless other avenues to read and discuss the Goodes issue, it would be nice if RA could remain a sanctuary for local issues.”

What’s up champ – afraid of someone giving their opinion – while you’re happy to give yours? Life isn’t all about pretty pictures in cafe’s is it? And if you think it is, and an issue or story like this doesn’t relate to you, maybe stick to commenting on them instead. Just a thought? 🙂

I’m not afraid at all of someone giving their opinion at all. All you’ve done is miss my point about the saturation the Goodes debate has had and that I wish a Canberra-based website with no connection to Goodes, the Swans or the AFL had remained free from the issue.

Just because you can boo doesn’t mean you should. Just because you have an outlet doesn’t mean you should use it. I’m sure you have many more worthwhile issues relating to Canberra which you could share with us via RA. Do we really need another Goodes opinion? For one thing you’ve added nothing new to the debate.

It’s not for me to decide the editorial direction of the site, I understand. However, I’ve been participating and enjoying the site for many years and I read RA because it is focused matters to do with Canberra and the surrounding region. If I can’t express that opinion here, where can I?

It’s okay “champ” I’m sure plenty of people will still get to hear your voice on radio.

Mysteryman said :

Nilrem said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

You’re expecting a child to understanding the history of language that’s before her time. That simply isn’t appropriate for her age, and I think your expectation is unreasonable.

mcs said :

To me, a racist action isn’t defined as a racist action by the perpetrator. Its no excuse that she didn’t think it was a racial slur – quite clearly the victim took it as a racist slur, and to me that is that.

Just cause you called someone a gorilla back in the day, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t find it offensive and racist in another context.

You can’t possibly know how every person you encounter will interpret what they hear, and you shouldn’t be expected to. I think the legal concept of ‘the reasonable person’ should be applied to situations like this. Unforunately, the media have not applied that concept and what we’re left with is a case of “you’re a racist if you don’t agree with him!”. It’s ludicrous. And what you’re advocating for is a situation where entirely unreasonable conclusions can be drawn based on any criteria that suits the offended party – the polar opposite of the ‘reasonable person’ test. That’s a case of forever shifting goalposts (pardon the puns) and it seems pretty ridiculous.

And what is a “reasonable person”? A white, middle-class male who has never ever endured any racism in his entire life? It needs to be a reasonable person in the category concerned. An Indigenous man whose family and himself have experienced discrimination and racism not infrequently for most of their lives. Walk a mile in his shoes.

The law doesn’t exist for a minority – it’s there for everyone. That’s why the reasonable person is used. It’s an idea that represents a general composite of the views of the community – not the views of a specific minority. That considered, I’d say one could argue that much (if not most) of the community feels similarly to the author of this article.

Don’t get on your high horse and tell me what I should be feeling. You don’t know the colour of my skin, and you don’t know what I have and haven’t experienced. Face the fact the people are booing Goodes not because of his heritage, but because of his behaviour and his comments. If you can’t see that then there’s no helping you.

The law of racial villification does not use this reasonable man test. For good reason. Racism is contextual. The reasonable man is used in some other areas of the law.

watto23 said :

Every Australian is tolerant until a minority speaks out about how they are treated or have been treated and then the pack turns on them making them look like they did something wrong.

If booing players who had annoyed you/done something wrong was commonplace, why aren’t all the drug cheats, domestic violence offenders etc who play sport, getting booed every round also.

No instead we get all the “I’m not a racist but” people claiming they don’t like him, but failing to provide any real facts why. If the fact he pointed out that a 13yo used a racial slur towards him was purely coincidence, then why now. Why after he has made many positive statements regarding his race do people boo him. Even the facts surrounding the incident with the 13yo girl are being contorted by those who claim the booing has nothing to do with racism.

Nothing like toleration while ever they know their place…. Its absolutely disgusting people think any other war on this issue. Even if Goodes has drawn some of this on himself (as suggested by some people who are not racists), why do we have to lower ourselves to bunch of idiots booing?

+1. Bravo dude, you nailed it

I went to the World Cup cricket final at the MCG. Every time Shane Watson did anything, the crowd would start booing. Not because of race, just because he’s known as a bit of a tosser.

Racism isn’t a one way street. I’m of the opinion that those who complain the most about racism, are the most racist. They can’t see anything other than the difference in race.

Good comment here.
http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-wayland-smithers-school-of.html

Nilrem said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

You’re expecting a child to understanding the history of language that’s before her time. That simply isn’t appropriate for her age, and I think your expectation is unreasonable.

mcs said :

To me, a racist action isn’t defined as a racist action by the perpetrator. Its no excuse that she didn’t think it was a racial slur – quite clearly the victim took it as a racist slur, and to me that is that.

Just cause you called someone a gorilla back in the day, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t find it offensive and racist in another context.

You can’t possibly know how every person you encounter will interpret what they hear, and you shouldn’t be expected to. I think the legal concept of ‘the reasonable person’ should be applied to situations like this. Unforunately, the media have not applied that concept and what we’re left with is a case of “you’re a racist if you don’t agree with him!”. It’s ludicrous. And what you’re advocating for is a situation where entirely unreasonable conclusions can be drawn based on any criteria that suits the offended party – the polar opposite of the ‘reasonable person’ test. That’s a case of forever shifting goalposts (pardon the puns) and it seems pretty ridiculous.

And what is a “reasonable person”? A white, middle-class male who has never ever endured any racism in his entire life? It needs to be a reasonable person in the category concerned. An Indigenous man whose family and himself have experienced discrimination and racism not infrequently for most of their lives. Walk a mile in his shoes.

The law doesn’t exist for a minority – it’s there for everyone. That’s why the reasonable person is used. It’s an idea that represents a general composite of the views of the community – not the views of a specific minority. That considered, I’d say one could argue that much (if not most) of the community feels similarly to the author of this article.

Don’t get on your high horse and tell me what I should be feeling. You don’t know the colour of my skin, and you don’t know what I have and haven’t experienced. Face the fact the people are booing Goodes not because of his heritage, but because of his behaviour and his comments. If you can’t see that then there’s no helping you.

Every Australian is tolerant until a minority speaks out about how they are treated or have been treated and then the pack turns on them making them look like they did something wrong.

If booing players who had annoyed you/done something wrong was commonplace, why aren’t all the drug cheats, domestic violence offenders etc who play sport, getting booed every round also.

No instead we get all the “I’m not a racist but” people claiming they don’t like him, but failing to provide any real facts why. If the fact he pointed out that a 13yo used a racial slur towards him was purely coincidence, then why now. Why after he has made many positive statements regarding his race do people boo him. Even the facts surrounding the incident with the 13yo girl are being contorted by those who claim the booing has nothing to do with racism.

Nothing like toleration while ever they know their place…. Its absolutely disgusting people think any other war on this issue. Even if Goodes has drawn some of this on himself (as suggested by some people who are not racists), why do we have to lower ourselves to bunch of idiots booing?

Nilrem said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

You’re expecting a child to understanding the history of language that’s before her time. That simply isn’t appropriate for her age, and I think your expectation is unreasonable.

mcs said :

To me, a racist action isn’t defined as a racist action by the perpetrator. Its no excuse that she didn’t think it was a racial slur – quite clearly the victim took it as a racist slur, and to me that is that.

Just cause you called someone a gorilla back in the day, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t find it offensive and racist in another context.

You can’t possibly know how every person you encounter will interpret what they hear, and you shouldn’t be expected to. I think the legal concept of ‘the reasonable person’ should be applied to situations like this. Unforunately, the media have not applied that concept and what we’re left with is a case of “you’re a racist if you don’t agree with him!”. It’s ludicrous. And what you’re advocating for is a situation where entirely unreasonable conclusions can be drawn based on any criteria that suits the offended party – the polar opposite of the ‘reasonable person’ test. That’s a case of forever shifting goalposts (pardon the puns) and it seems pretty ridiculous.

And what is a “reasonable person”? A white, middle-class male who has never ever endured any racism in his entire life? It needs to be a reasonable person in the category concerned. An Indigenous man whose family and himself have experienced discrimination and racism not infrequently for most of their lives. Walk a mile in his shoes.

This is a really important point – and a better way to try and express what I was trying to say in the first instance.

I’m not trying to advocate something that should be inconsistent with the idea of a reasonable person – quite clearly, at the extremes, there may be sub-optimal outcomes from such an approach. But, on that point, there aren’t that many issues in life, legal, political, whatever else, where it doesn’t get blurry at the edge – Nothing is perfect.

But I don’t accept that it isn’t reasonable, given what was said, who it was said to that he construed the comment to be racist That might not fit with the traditional ‘he should just cop it cause he’s on the footy field’ view that seems to underlie many that criticise him for those actions, but I don’t accept any part of his view on this is ‘unreasonable’ per say.

I agree the Media has gone too far – as they do on so many issues today. The real problem has been, as you’ve shown the mixing of the booing issue with the racism issue.

The only link that should have been made is that the booing in some ways is covering that undertaken by those who are doing it on a racist basis – there should never have been a booing = racist link suggested, as for the large majority that is not true. The story should be about mobilising the footy community to out the dickhead racist minority – like the two that were ejected last week at Subiaco. Instead the debate has gone a whole completely, and generally unhelpful direction instead.

What all this shows, is that racism is a very complex problem – and on that basis, Goodes should get some credit (he has his faults like we all do – which are much more exposed to scrutiny than most) for being willing to stand up, and where necessary, be outspoken on the issue, despite the reaction it has garnered and the obvious personal toll it is taking on him.

mcs said :

Southmouth said :

Raheem Sterling got some serious booing last Friday at the MCG. I guess soccer crowds are all racist as well, oh wait, no that was just because he has been behaving badly.

Southmouth, ignoring the Raheem Sterling incident (There must have been a lot of Liverpool fans in the crowd is all I’ll say), there is a huge issue with racism in soccer crowds – isolated here in the A-League, but still a big big issue in particular in South America and Eastern Europe.

For instance, CSKA Moscow were forced to play a number of games behind closed doors because of ongoing racism from their crowds. Zenit St Petersburg is another club that has seen racism towards their own players (such as Hulk, their record transfer purchase).

I’m not sure choosing soccer as an example was too well thought through.

That is my point, sort of. Racism does exist but just because people react to someone being a knob doesn’t make them a racist or homophobe or whatever, if the target happens to be in a minority group. Only if all the members of that group are treated poorly is it bigotry etc. We should be free to call a knob a knob without that card always being played

“This article is yet another example of someone rushing to express their own self-entitlement to be outraged.
Further, what is the relevance of publishing another soapbox rant here? There’s countless other avenues to read and discuss the Goodes issue, it would be nice if RA could remain a sanctuary for local issues.”

What’s up champ – afraid of someone giving their opinion – while you’re happy to give yours? Life isn’t all about pretty pictures in cafe’s is it? And if you think it is, and an issue or story like this doesn’t relate to you, maybe stick to commenting on them instead. Just a thought? 🙂

Testfest said :

I have no idea what Adam Goodes thought he would achieve by going public with his dislike of the booing. All he has done is guarantee that it will never ever stop…

If your team is playing and you knew that some booing would throw one of the opposition players off his game, then of course you’d join in! What sort of supporter wouldn’t do their bit to help their team win the game?

Errr, a supporter that would not be prepared to do anything for a win. Like join with racists to bully a champion.

mcs said :

Antagonist said :

nsee said :

I think this little debate about Goodes should serve as a reminder to Australians about how racist this country has always been.. until very recently (treating Indigenous Australians as part of the Floral & Fauna Act, the refusal to recognise them in the Constitution, the White Australia policy, etc etc).

It’s easy to say “move on,” that the past is the past, and all the rest, but all these blatantly racist policies were only abolished less than a generation ago. We won’t stop living in a society with racists for several more generations to come.

We only need to look at the refugee policy, which panders to the racist and super-conservative vote to see this.

Telling Adam to get over it, or to write articles childishly titled “Boo Hoo Adam” do not add to the conversation at all – it’s for the most part an attempt to cover up the reality that White Australia is still not ready to front up to the fact that racism is still alive – and that they’re just trying to conceal it.

And while aboriginal continue to rightly or wrongly have a chip on their shoulders about the past (some of them myths), the reconciliation process is dead. Perhaps the wrongs of the past are still too fresh for people to move on yet. Many wrongs continue today – most notably in NT. And to be honest, I cannot see the past being reconciled within my lifetime. And that is a great shame.

Would you have the same advice for the Jewish population of the world?

I was not handing out advice. I offered an opinion on the status quo based on personal experience that includes many years in aboriginal affairs in one capacity or another. It appears to be the insurmountable hurdle that stands in the way of true reconciliation and genuine social improvement for aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people. And, understandably, there is no ‘magic bullet’ solution.

I have no idea what Adam Goodes thought he would achieve by going public with his dislike of the booing. All he has done is guarantee that it will never ever stop…

If your team is playing and you knew that some booing would throw one of the opposition players off his game, then of course you’d join in! What sort of supporter wouldn’t do their bit to help their team win the game?

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

You’re expecting a child to understanding the history of language that’s before her time. That simply isn’t appropriate for her age, and I think your expectation is unreasonable.

mcs said :

To me, a racist action isn’t defined as a racist action by the perpetrator. Its no excuse that she didn’t think it was a racial slur – quite clearly the victim took it as a racist slur, and to me that is that.

Just cause you called someone a gorilla back in the day, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t find it offensive and racist in another context.

You can’t possibly know how every person you encounter will interpret what they hear, and you shouldn’t be expected to. I think the legal concept of ‘the reasonable person’ should be applied to situations like this. Unforunately, the media have not applied that concept and what we’re left with is a case of “you’re a racist if you don’t agree with him!”. It’s ludicrous. And what you’re advocating for is a situation where entirely unreasonable conclusions can be drawn based on any criteria that suits the offended party – the polar opposite of the ‘reasonable person’ test. That’s a case of forever shifting goalposts (pardon the puns) and it seems pretty ridiculous.

And what is a “reasonable person”? A white, middle-class male who has never ever endured any racism in his entire life? It needs to be a reasonable person in the category concerned. An Indigenous man whose family and himself have experienced discrimination and racism not infrequently for most of their lives. Walk a mile in his shoes.

mcs said :

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

You’re expecting a child to understanding the history of language that’s before her time. That simply isn’t appropriate for her age, and I think your expectation is unreasonable.

mcs said :

To me, a racist action isn’t defined as a racist action by the perpetrator. Its no excuse that she didn’t think it was a racial slur – quite clearly the victim took it as a racist slur, and to me that is that.

Just cause you called someone a gorilla back in the day, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t find it offensive and racist in another context.

You can’t possibly know how every person you encounter will interpret what they hear, and you shouldn’t be expected to. I think the legal concept of ‘the reasonable person’ should be applied to situations like this. Unforunately, the media have not applied that concept and what we’re left with is a case of “you’re a racist if you don’t agree with him!”. It’s ludicrous. And what you’re advocating for is a situation where entirely unreasonable conclusions can be drawn based on any criteria that suits the offended party – the polar opposite of the ‘reasonable person’ test. That’s a case of forever shifting goalposts (pardon the puns) and it seems pretty ridiculous.

Southmouth said :

Raheem Sterling got some serious booing last Friday at the MCG. I guess soccer crowds are all racist as well, oh wait, no that was just because he has been behaving badly.

Southmouth, ignoring the Raheem Sterling incident (There must have been a lot of Liverpool fans in the crowd is all I’ll say), there is a huge issue with racism in soccer crowds – isolated here in the A-League, but still a big big issue in particular in South America and Eastern Europe.

For instance, CSKA Moscow were forced to play a number of games behind closed doors because of ongoing racism from their crowds. Zenit St Petersburg is another club that has seen racism towards their own players (such as Hulk, their record transfer purchase).

I’m not sure choosing soccer as an example was too well thought through.

Antagonist said :

nsee said :

I think this little debate about Goodes should serve as a reminder to Australians about how racist this country has always been.. until very recently (treating Indigenous Australians as part of the Floral & Fauna Act, the refusal to recognise them in the Constitution, the White Australia policy, etc etc).

It’s easy to say “move on,” that the past is the past, and all the rest, but all these blatantly racist policies were only abolished less than a generation ago. We won’t stop living in a society with racists for several more generations to come.

We only need to look at the refugee policy, which panders to the racist and super-conservative vote to see this.

Telling Adam to get over it, or to write articles childishly titled “Boo Hoo Adam” do not add to the conversation at all – it’s for the most part an attempt to cover up the reality that White Australia is still not ready to front up to the fact that racism is still alive – and that they’re just trying to conceal it.

And while aboriginal continue to rightly or wrongly have a chip on their shoulders about the past (some of them myths), the reconciliation process is dead. Perhaps the wrongs of the past are still too fresh for people to move on yet. Many wrongs continue today – most notably in NT. And to be honest, I cannot see the past being reconciled within my lifetime. And that is a great shame.

Would you have the same advice for the Jewish population of the world?

Mysteryman said :

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Sarcasm or not, we aren’t talking about a 5 year old here.

By 13, people have a reasonable idea of what is right and wrong (unless there are other issues at play – which as far as I’m aware, there isn’t in this case).

Assuming she was attending school as she would, I’d be exceptionally surprised if she hadn’t at very least been taught about bullying, and at least been introduced to the concepts of racism.

mcs said :

Reply

Reply

No_Nose said :

Everyone has an opinion about it and that is fine. What I have yet to see from any side of the arguement is a workable practical solution.

In my opinion the entire blame for this untidy mess rests wholly and solely with the media. They pushed and pushed until it became a story and now they have made it too big to go away. They have created an issue that quite simply has no solution.

You simply cannot ban a crowd from ‘booing’ a particular player. You cannot ban a crowd from booing in general. You cannot restrict a crowd to only booing incidents of ‘unfair play’ or poor umpiring.

As an AFL supporter I don’t particularly like Goodes because of his style of play and more importantly because he uses that style of play to help his team beat my team. I’m sure if he played for my club I would love his style of play, because it gets the job done well. I really have no opinion about what he does or doesn’t do off-field and I don’t care. He doesn’t play for my club…so I don’t like him! But I would hate to see him end his career on this media constructed issue.

I don’t have an opinion on it but seeing how it is dividing this nation I’ll be voting NO at the forthcoming referendum.
Well done Mr. Goodes.

Everyone has an opinion about it and that is fine. What I have yet to see from any side of the arguement is a workable practical solution.

In my opinion the entire blame for this untidy mess rests wholly and solely with the media. They pushed and pushed until it became a story and now they have made it too big to go away. They have created an issue that quite simply has no solution.

You simply cannot ban a crowd from ‘booing’ a particular player. You cannot ban a crowd from booing in general. You cannot restrict a crowd to only booing incidents of ‘unfair play’ or poor umpiring.

As an AFL supporter I don’t particularly like Goodes because of his style of play and more importantly because he uses that style of play to help his team beat my team. I’m sure if he played for my club I would love his style of play, because it gets the job done well. I really have no opinion about what he does or doesn’t do off-field and I don’t care. He doesn’t play for my club…so I don’t like him! But I would hate to see him end his career on this media constructed issue.

Ian said :

Anyone thinking the booing of Goodes is not mostly driven by racism is kidding themselves.

Much like anyone thinking the asylum seekers debate is not largely about racism. It is all about the Libs and ALP pandering to the racist voters. I’d guarantee that if the asylum seekers were, lets say, white South Africans fleeing black oppression, those same people would be demanding the government send ships and planes over there to rescue them. Unfortunately, the people seeking asylum now and in recent years are inconveniently brown skinned, and muslim.

Example A of what I was talking about in my first comment.

No analysis of the issue, nor argument or evidence presented, just a broad based assumption that “I” know what all other people who disagree with me think and believe, “just because”. “I am right, you are wrong”.

And the worst part of this is, it couldn’t be more useless and counterproductive in convincing people of your position or bringing them around to your point of view. This kind of behaviour only servce to entrench existing thoughts, opinions and opposition.

Lets show respect to each and every one, the color of the blood is red , no matter what the back ground is.

Middle class white blokes telling aboriginals to get over it. You sir, are a disgrace to your race.

nsee said :

I think this little debate about Goodes should serve as a reminder to Australians about how racist this country has always been.. until very recently (treating Indigenous Australians as part of the Floral & Fauna Act, the refusal to recognise them in the Constitution, the White Australia policy, etc etc).

It’s easy to say “move on,” that the past is the past, and all the rest, but all these blatantly racist policies were only abolished less than a generation ago. We won’t stop living in a society with racists for several more generations to come.

We only need to look at the refugee policy, which panders to the racist and super-conservative vote to see this.

Telling Adam to get over it, or to write articles childishly titled “Boo Hoo Adam” do not add to the conversation at all – it’s for the most part an attempt to cover up the reality that White Australia is still not ready to front up to the fact that racism is still alive – and that they’re just trying to conceal it.

And while aboriginal continue to rightly or wrongly have a chip on their shoulders about the past (some of them myths), the reconciliation process is dead. Perhaps the wrongs of the past are still too fresh for people to move on yet. Many wrongs continue today – most notably in NT. And to be honest, I cannot see the past being reconciled within my lifetime. And that is a great shame.

I find this topic incredibly frustrating, especially since Goodes has so few games left in his career. All of the issues around Goodes had died down, until whipped up again by a WA crowd, who are very well known as the most hostile in the country.

I’m a hardcore AFL fan and yes, I cheer, yell and boo at games. And I personally reject the statement Australia is a racist country. It’s a lazy sweeping statement that’s impossible to prove one way or the other. I think there’s a very strong argument we’re doing much better than many other countries on tolerance and inclusiveness, especially the USA – and even the UK.

I’d agree to change the date of Australia Day, if it was truly a day everyone could commit to, but that will never happen…

I digress. I never have and never will boo Adam Goodes for anything he says off field or who he is. By the same token I won’t be cheering every time he gets the ball, as has been suggested as a response to racism. AFL is a game – more than any other game – where no player single player is bigger than the team. It’s also an aggressive game – players have been caught saying absolutely despicable things to each other. Fans also make threats and say outrageous things in the heat of the moment. So I don’t really understand how boos can affect such a seasoned professional at the end of his career… Other players are booed their entire career simply by switching clubs…

Anyway. The issue has now blown up so far beyond the AFL world that nobody can plead ignorance to it – and I’m sure it will all die back down.

Raheem Sterling got some serious booing last Friday at the MCG. I guess soccer crowds are all racist as well, oh wait, no that was just because he has been behaving badly.

Oh, and have we already forgotten about Dawn Fraser’s little outburst from a few weeks ago?

I think this little debate about Goodes should serve as a reminder to Australians about how racist this country has always been.. until very recently (treating Indigenous Australians as part of the Floral & Fauna Act, the refusal to recognise them in the Constitution, the White Australia policy, etc etc).

It’s easy to say “move on,” that the past is the past, and all the rest, but all these blatantly racist policies were only abolished less than a generation ago. We won’t stop living in a society with racists for several more generations to come.

We only need to look at the refugee policy, which panders to the racist and super-conservative vote to see this.

Telling Adam to get over it, or to write articles childishly titled “Boo Hoo Adam” do not add to the conversation at all – it’s for the most part an attempt to cover up the reality that White Australia is still not ready to front up to the fact that racism is still alive – and that they’re just trying to conceal it.

Tooks said :

mcs said :

Tooks said :

robinlburton said :

“I think (the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome. You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up … and this happens.” – Johnathon Thurston

He is also going to perform a war dance if he scores in round 21.

Does he ‘grate’ against you now too?

JT is as dumb as a bucket of bricks. Sleeping with a team mate’s wife wasn’t his finest moment either. Great player though, no doubt.

Perhaps people boo him because he publically bullied and shamed a 13 year old girl. Perhaps they boo him because he is a dirty player. Perhaps they boo him for the comments he’s made (as mentioned by Marcus). There is no doubt in my mind the continual media focus on this issue encourages people to boo him even more. Honestly, what do they think fans are going to do when told: stop booing Goodes.

At some point we have to move forward. Don’t forget the past, but let’s move forward. I find his comments divisive. By all means, bring attention to the issues facing the Aboriginal people, but stop the stupid comments.

I completely agree that the media isn’t helping at all – but the revision of history that is occurring now isn’t helping either.

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yes, it was an ugly incident, but to suggest it was a case of Goodes ‘bullying and shaming’ her is a real example of the revisionist history that seems to be occurring about that incident.

I don’t buy that it was a racial slur. As a young kid watching footy (the Rugby codes) I’ve called players gorillas (don’t think I ever used the word ape though) to describe players (white-not that that should matter).

The girl and her mother deny it was a racial slur. Are we going to call them liars? Is that fair?

Now if she had yelled something that was clearly and undoubtedly a racial slur, then I’d back his actions 100% as I did with Nicky Winmar so many years ago.

Just because you’ve called players gorillas before doesn’t make it acceptable to call an Indigenouse person an ape. The context is critical. Indigenous people have been likened to apes, or less than human, for centuries, and you can’t ignore this context. It makes all the difference. Walk a mile in the shoes of an Indigenous person.

mcs said :

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yep. Should should have popped straight into the world with an acute sense of race relations. From her first breath she should have known that an insult, commonly used these days to insult people, regardless of colour, for being slow-witted or brutish, had previously (and predominantly before her time) been used for racial vilification.

Definitely her age is no excuse.

/sarcasm.

Anyone thinking the booing of Goodes is not mostly driven by racism is kidding themselves.

Much like anyone thinking the asylum seekers debate is not largely about racism. It is all about the Libs and ALP pandering to the racist voters. I’d guarantee that if the asylum seekers were, lets say, white South Africans fleeing black oppression, those same people would be demanding the government send ships and planes over there to rescue them. Unfortunately, the people seeking asylum now and in recent years are inconveniently brown skinned, and muslim.

Mcs,
I’ve got to correct one thing and it’s the myth that Aboriginals were governed by the Flora and Fauna Act until the 1967 referendum. I don’t know where this myth comes from, but it just won’t die.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/03/10/myths-persist-about-1967-referendum

mcs said :

Tooks said :

robinlburton said :

“I think (the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome. You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up … and this happens.” – Johnathon Thurston

He is also going to perform a war dance if he scores in round 21.

Does he ‘grate’ against you now too?

JT is as dumb as a bucket of bricks. Sleeping with a team mate’s wife wasn’t his finest moment either. Great player though, no doubt.

Perhaps people boo him because he publically bullied and shamed a 13 year old girl. Perhaps they boo him because he is a dirty player. Perhaps they boo him for the comments he’s made (as mentioned by Marcus). There is no doubt in my mind the continual media focus on this issue encourages people to boo him even more. Honestly, what do they think fans are going to do when told: stop booing Goodes.

At some point we have to move forward. Don’t forget the past, but let’s move forward. I find his comments divisive. By all means, bring attention to the issues facing the Aboriginal people, but stop the stupid comments.

I completely agree that the media isn’t helping at all – but the revision of history that is occurring now isn’t helping either.

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yes, it was an ugly incident, but to suggest it was a case of Goodes ‘bullying and shaming’ her is a real example of the revisionist history that seems to be occurring about that incident.

I don’t buy that it was a racial slur. As a young kid watching footy (the Rugby codes) I’ve called players gorillas (don’t think I ever used the word ape though) to describe players (white-not that that should matter).

The girl and her mother deny it was a racial slur. Are we going to call them liars? Is that fair?

Now if she had yelled something that was clearly and undoubtedly a racial slur, then I’d back his actions 100% as I did with Nicky Winmar so many years ago.

Tooks said :

robinlburton said :

“I think (the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome. You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up … and this happens.” – Johnathon Thurston

He is also going to perform a war dance if he scores in round 21.

Does he ‘grate’ against you now too?

JT is as dumb as a bucket of bricks. Sleeping with a team mate’s wife wasn’t his finest moment either. Great player though, no doubt.

Perhaps people boo him because he publically bullied and shamed a 13 year old girl. Perhaps they boo him because he is a dirty player. Perhaps they boo him for the comments he’s made (as mentioned by Marcus). There is no doubt in my mind the continual media focus on this issue encourages people to boo him even more. Honestly, what do they think fans are going to do when told: stop booing Goodes.

At some point we have to move forward. Don’t forget the past, but let’s move forward. I find his comments divisive. By all means, bring attention to the issues facing the Aboriginal people, but stop the stupid comments.

I completely agree that the media isn’t helping at all – but the revision of history that is occurring now isn’t helping either.

I keep hearing about him ‘bullying and shaming’ the 13 year old girl. Lets not forget the details of the incident however:
– She made what most would consider to be a clearly racist remark – and most definitely Goodes saw it that way.
– He clearly did not know at the time of pointing her out that she was 13 – he reacted to the comment from the crowd, not the person.
– Yes, she was young and immature, but I don’t think that should be any excuse for ignorance.
– Goodes showed significant compassion and empathy in the aftermath, asking for support, education and empathy for the girl.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

Yes, it was an ugly incident, but to suggest it was a case of Goodes ‘bullying and shaming’ her is a real example of the revisionist history that seems to be occurring about that incident.

The whole saga has become extremely complicated with many reasons why people are booing. We need to remember that (a) Footballers have always been booed by some fans (b) There is no record of Indigenous players getting booed more than anyone else (c) Aboriginal players who took a stand against racism such as Nicky Winmar & Michael Long were never booed.

The problem seemed to start when Goodes pointed out a 13 yo girl for calling him an ape. Goodes was right to do this however the AFL response was to send burly security men to grab the girl, remove her from her parent’s control despite their protests & frogmarch her out of the stadium.

This caused the public to (unfairly) turn against Goodes who didn’t help matters by provoking his detractors with his spear dance & now we have this awkward situation that is difficult to solve.

I have often booed Goodes because I never liked him as a player. I also booed Barry Hall, Byron Pickett & even Leigh Mathews & many others.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of Goodes, that is fine. But your one smells of what many opinions do – your comfortable for an aboriginal footballer to be a superstar on the field, but confronted when he is willing to speak up off the field, especially on controversial subjects. As Chewy said, he is entitled to his beliefs, even if you don’t agree with him, and I struggle to see what exactly he has done off the field that is so distasteful.

Frankly, I think it makes so many people uncomfortable, because there is more than a grain of truth to a lot of it.

I understand the angst about the Invasion Day comment, but truth be told, what exactly is wrong with him calling it that? To the Aboriginal People, many do view it as invasion day – and its not up to you, or any other white people, to tell them that it isn’t a reasonable opinion to hold. I support moving the date of Australia day (1 January would make eminent more sense to me). Here is a good, reasoned discussion about it from Dick Smith.

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-truth-is-january-26-should-be-first-fleet-day-not-australia-day-20150124-12xb0x.html

Likewise, Goodes’ comments on the constitution, whilst definitely disagreeable for some, are valid and understandable from a proud Aboriginal man. These are the same people until the mid 1960s were governed by the flora and fauna Act. Its about time that, at very least, we have a proper conversation about how to ensure equal recognition of them in the constitution (even if in the end it doesn’t happen).

You speak of Thurston like he is a demi-god for what he does off the field, but you deride Adam Goodes because he has chosen at times to be outspoken. He also does an enormous amount of amazing other work off the field, that never hits the headlines. For instance, his role as an Ambassador for White Ribbon:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-25/australian-of-the-year-goodes-more-work-to-be-done-on-racism/6045170

Or the amazing work he and his mate Micky O’Loughlin are doing through their foundation:

http://www.go-foundation.org/

I’m all for a pantomime villain in any code of football on the field and the obvious reaction to them from the crowd – there are plenty of them around, and many deserve the receptions they get. Quite clearly, a reasonable part of the behaviour in the crowd is driven by this.

But I ask on that point – why has it got imminently worse since 2013, when he chose to say ‘enough is enough’ and point out racism when it occurred? It is of course very likely to be a tiny minority that are doing it for racist reasons – but it has got to a point where the masses are providing cover for these people, through the multitude of other reasons quoted. What Goodes is now getting on the field is far beyond the scale that any other villians have got on the field.

Perhaps it just comes down to you having a preference for your Aboriginal footballers to ‘play footy but be quiet’, not to actually speak up, be proud of their culture and actually seek to make changes for the better to the world. Goodes will always be a divisive figure, but you’ve fallen into the trap that many have – being selective in your fact presentation and telling only part of the story.

Also, I’d like a link to where Goodes called the crowd ‘bigots’ for booing…. he may well have, but I missed it if he did. Indeed, Chris Scott, Geelong coach, has said used that exact term in recent days, but I can’t recall Goodes saying it (indeed he may have and I missed it) http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-29/boo-goodes-and-you-show-you-are-a-bigot-says-chris-scott

I’d also like to know what you think of these comments from Thurston – given your obvious dislike for the war dance, and your man crush for Thurston. Are you suddenly going to turn on him as well?

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/johnathan-thurston-hopes-to-perform-aboriginal-war-dance-in-support-of-adam-goodes-q03514

Overall, I don’t agree with everything in this article, but a lot of it strikes significant resonance with me – and in many ways helps explain why Goodes is viewed differently to many others.

https://newmatilda.com/2015/06/01/not-so-level-playing-field-why-we-love-cathy-freeman-and-hate-adam-goodes

robinlburton said :

“I think (the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome. You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up … and this happens.” – Johnathon Thurston

He is also going to perform a war dance if he scores in round 21.

Does he ‘grate’ against you now too?

JT is as dumb as a bucket of bricks. Sleeping with a team mate’s wife wasn’t his finest moment either. Great player though, no doubt.

Perhaps people boo him because he publically bullied and shamed a 13 year old girl. Perhaps they boo him because he is a dirty player. Perhaps they boo him for the comments he’s made (as mentioned by Marcus). There is no doubt in my mind the continual media focus on this issue encourages people to boo him even more. Honestly, what do they think fans are going to do when told: stop booing Goodes.

At some point we have to move forward. Don’t forget the past, but let’s move forward. I find his comments divisive. By all means, bring attention to the issues facing the Aboriginal people, but stop the stupid comments.

“I think (the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome. You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up … and this happens.” – Johnathon Thurston

He is also going to perform a war dance if he scores in round 21.

Does he ‘grate’ against you now too?

I disagree that Goodes is way “out of form” off the field, he simply has his own political beliefs and he’s entitled to them even though I personally disagree with them. And I dont believe it’s racist in the slightest to disagree with his politics.

And I beleive there’s many different reasons why he gets booed, from those you’ve listed above, to his team, his play and no doubt some racial elements from a minority few.

But it’s now gone beyond what Goodes does or doesn’t do, he’s now seen as a symbol and the more certain sections of the media talk about this and label everyone who doesn’t agree with them “racists”, the worse it will get. It’s the exact same reason why Tony Abbott or Bill Shorten would get mercilessly booed, they might be nice people in real life but others dislike what they represent, they dislike their “side”.

Once again the media and their politically correct cheer squad are making things worse for a man they claim to be trying to help. A man who does good things in the community and should be respected.