Taking A Knee Taking The......?

[Theblip]

Who here thinks it’s right that sports people are now taking a knee before events like F1, football and tennis matches, etc? Is this something that is expected to continue forevermore now? If so, why? I can’t help thinking that nobody dare try and stop it, and any unwilling sports people would be too fearful of criticism, maybe worse, if they don’t do it. What do you reckon?

[waterboatman]

Ridiculous!

[Theland]

Yes.
Any more than that comment invites a zapping!

[emmie]

i think it should be stopped, its a sop to the so called black community and how many black people would do the same for the white community, answer none

[mibn2cweus]

Not so sure taking a knee provokes the desired effect. Even less sure of what their desired effect might be.

[naomi24]

I think people in the public eye (and others) do it because jumping on currently favoured bandwagons demonstrates to the watching world their concern for ‘woke’ or for whatever else is the trendy flavour of the day - a seemingly obligatory club for the deeply caring to join with no little or modest fanfare. Witness Gary Lineker’s recent ramblings. I’ve no doubt that some involved would rather not be, but for the sake of avoiding damage to their reputations won’t risk honest rebellion. I feel the same about this as I feel about that appalling display of virtue signalling on Britain’s Got Talent. Sport, like light entertainment, is no place for politics - divisive, as this campaign is - or otherwise.

[douglas9401]

Young Mr Hamilton has become delusional, forgetting that his body is bought and paid for as an advertising hoarding for team sponsors, not somewhere to hang any race-related thoughts that might pop into his head.

[allenlondon]

Unbelievable, but predictable.

The massed ranks of the Answerbankers united in their righteous struggle against the forces of progress.

[douglas9401]

Perfect timing, now we can get the feminist take on the whole thing.

[Mozz71]

They have a choice. Not all sportspeople have done it, many in American Football, F1, Cricket (as mentioned) and non-Premier League football have declined to take the knee, whether as a team or an individual decision, with zero consequence or backlash.

They have a choice whether or not to do it, and whether they want to or not, it's their right to make that decision.

[naomi24]

^ :o)

[naomi24]

^That to Douglas.

[MallyJ]

I don't understand why some people are up in arms over this. Some people feel really strongly about racism and want to register their feelings and some people don't. It is an action that hurts noone but with which lots of people want to show some solidarity with those that are at risk of, for example, murder by police.

[Theblip]

Mozz71, google “abuse for not taking a knee”, and you’ll get plenty of articles like this: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/12486903/sale-sharks-death-threats/

[Mozz71]

To an extent, I agree with Mally. If it was solely an anti-racism statement, then I think it would be less controversial, but it seems to be a direct support with BLM, which is what gets people's goat.

Having said that, the first game of the new NFL season featured the two teams joining together to support racial unity (not BLM directly). They were roundly booed by the (socially distanced) crowd. Whether it was a particularly idiotic crowd (I mean, who, extremists from both sides apart, doesn't want racial harmony or unity?), the fans not wanting to see the two "enemies" unite (the teams that is, not the races) or just sport starved fans just saying "get on with the football, I'm not sure.

[Bazile]

This corona virus has certainly got a lot to answer for

[Mozz71]

Theblip, I agree, that is disgusting, but we live in a world where people get sent death threats for appearing in a movie people didn't like, or making a joke someone found offensive. Social Media is a nasty, toxic place, full of bullying and tribalism.

This is a tiny minority pf idiots sending those kinds of messages, and social media platforms should be made to take ownership of such problems.

[tamborine]

For a career criminal who held a knife to a pregnant woman - no way!

[naomi24]

//If it was solely an anti-racism statement, then I think it would be less controversial, but it seems to be a direct support with BLM, which is what gets people's goat.//

I think that’s right. I think the general public find BLM’s ambitions, not least to defund the police, quite alarming - and I don’t think they appreciate historic statues being destroyed or relegated, or the country’s history being trashed either.

[bednobs]

yes, I also agree with mozz's observation

[Arksided]

I just think what a bunch of nobs... get up and get on with the game.