Match Atmosphere

[Theregulars]

12 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

…..and if I thought everyone should be treated the same and was against the idea of ‘reverse’ discrimination (which actually doesn’t exist because ‘reverse’ discrimination is just simple discrimination too).

Your sentence ends when it appears to get to the second half.

 

Is your argument that you’re being discriminated against by players making a 15 second gesture against racism? Or that you are being discriminated against because people are suggesting the reason the gesture makes you uncomfortable is because you are, in fact, a racist?

 

Where is the reverse discrimination? 

[Superior Acuña]

I think taking the knee in the PL has become a mostly meaningless tokenistic gesture. But I’ve no doubt those booing it are racists. So I clap it. Maybe the booing shows it’s not so meaningless actually… I dunno.
 

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Superior Acuña

[Keegans Export]

3 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

Last time we did what?

The whole take a knee before KO thing. I asked because you said it was "every time we watch a match" and I don't go very regularly so I don't know whether it was a one-off today or a regular thing.

[Vinny Green Balls]

16 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

I’m not being discriminated here. Why did you say that? I was answering the post that suggested I was a racist.

because you brought up reverse discrimination

[Toon1984]

1 minute ago, Theregulars said:

Your sentence ends when it appears to get to the second half.

 

Is your argument that you’re being discriminated against by players making a 15 second gesture against racism? Or that you are being discriminated against because people are suggesting the reason the gesture makes you uncomfortable is because you are, in fact, a racist?

 

Where is the reverse discrimination? 

You’re making my head hurt. I was saying that I believe in everyone being treated the same way - black/white, gay/straight, Christian/Muslim and am against ‘reverse’ discrimination that usually looks to promote a minority at the ‘expense’ of a majority. That is all.

[Theregulars]

21 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

I think everyone knows about the issue of racism. Any decent person is not racist and those that are, are unlikely to change. So I think taking the knee is a waste of time.

So to answer your question the idea of  saying ‘look at us taking the knee and remember not to be racist’ has become repetitive and possibly irritating to any reasonably intelligent person - that’s why people boo.

 

I’d be more in favour of having ‘taking the knee’ before international games as countries outside of Europe have a far greater problem with racism than we do. 

 

One could argue that any reasonably intelligent person can see that racism remains a problem that blights society and using the literally most watched platform in the country to remind people that it’s a problem might be useful in combating said blight, but that’s just thick old me. 
 

Racist is as racist does. 

[Toon1984]

1 minute ago, Keegans Export said:

The whole take a knee before KO thing. I asked because you said it was "every time we watch a match" and I don't go very regularly so I don't know whether it was a one-off today or a regular thing.

Oh. Today at 3pm.

[Rafalove]

Atmosphere sounded decent on television considering it was a standard 3pm kick off time against not very good opposition.

[Theregulars]

Just now, Toon1984 said:

You’re making my head hurt. I was saying that I believe in everyone being treated the same way - black/white, gay/straight, Christian/Muslim and am against ‘reverse’ discrimination that usually looks to promote a minority at the ‘expense’ of a majority. That is all.

It’s a strange position to take if you believe in equality to then subsequently get wound up by a pro-equality gesture.

[Toon1984]

Just now, Theregulars said:

One could argue that any reasonably intelligent person can see that racism remains a problem that blights society and using the literally most watched platform in the country to remind people that it’s a problem might be useful in combating said blight, but that’s just thick old me. 
 

Racist is as racist does. 

You were doing well till the last sentence.

 

Maybe we should take the knee before we go to the cinema, catch a bus, go to the shops - to remind us not to be racist, not to steal and not to tell lies.

[Superior Acuña]

As I said thought it was good, but as someone else said - people leaving early  what are they on? Got to think many of them do it habitually, meaning they’ve missed many of the best moments. Love to think of them realising what they missed today, but would rather they just passed their ticket on 

[Vinny Green Balls]

20 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

That's just my reason for finding it annoying. I think the bottom line is that no matter what reason you have for finding it annoying (some of which will admittedly be just conscious or unconscious racism), it's still annoying. We don't sing the national anthem in our matches here, albeit I do definitely take that point about nationalism more broadly.

 

 

 

I don't find it annoying even if I think that it's the hipster version of what Kaepernick did (which actually did take courage, and ruined his NFL career). If it went on for 3 minutes, then, yes, I'd be annoyed. I don't boo the national anthem here, but I don't stand either. I think a national anthem at a domestic sports game represents something overtly nationalistic and jingoistic about American culture, and deserves booing much more than players taking a knee in a pretty harmless gesture.

[Toon1984]

2 minutes ago, Superior Acuña said:

As I said thought it was good, but as someone else said - people leaving early  what are they on? Got to think many of them do it habitually, meaning they’ve missed many of the best moments. Love to think of them realising what they missed today, but would rather they just passed their ticket on 

Cannot understand anyone going before the final whistle. We were all over them. Serves them right if they missed the goal celebration!

[Keegans Export]

5 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

Oh. Today at 3pm.

If you like you can save us going back and forth here and admit that today was the first time in ages and your point about it being "rammed down your throat every time you watch a match" was absolute bollocks. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

2 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

You were doing well till the last sentence.

 

Maybe we should take the knee before we go to the cinema, catch a bus, go to the shops - to remind us not to be racist, not to steal and not to tell lies.

this is such an idiotic comment. The taking a knee gesture comes from Kaepernick kneeling for the national anthem before an NFL game.

[Theregulars]

6 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

You were doing well till the last sentence.

 

Maybe we should take the knee before we go to the cinema, catch a bus, go to the shops - to remind us not to be racist, not to steal and not to tell lies.

It’s unfair of me to continue so I’ll leave you to it, but I’ll offer you a suggestion that might be helpful. Talk to someone not white and ask them how they feel about the current state of our society and their place in it. You might then take a less frivolous and pig-ignorant approach to the reality you inhibit. 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Theregulars

[Toon1984]

4 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

this is such an idiotic comment. The taking a knee gesture comes from Kaepernick kneeling for the national anthem before an NFL game.

Yes, I was aware of that. So a different sport, in a different country. Got it.

[Kid Icarus]

5 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

I don't find it annoying even if I think that it's the hipster version of what Kaepernick did (which actually did take courage, and ruined his NFL career). If it went on for 3 minutes, then, yes, I'd be annoyed. I don't boo the national anthem here, but I don't stand either. I think a national anthem at a domestic sports game represents something overtly nationalistic and jingoistic about American culture, and deserves booing much more than players taking a knee in a pretty harmless gesture.

Like I say though, we don't do that either. I generally take the point though because when the Queen died there was absolutely no question about whether football should be political or not, in fact it was largely seen as an apolitical thing, which tells you everything.

[Vinny Green Balls]

27 minutes ago, Toon1984 said:

Yes, I was aware of that. So a different sport, in a different country. Got it.

...that also traditionally has suffered severe racism, and continues to do so. It's about racism in sport first. Not racism at bus stops or in movie theaters.

 

 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Vinny Green Balls

[Toon1984]

4 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

It’s unfair of me to continue so I’ll leave you to it, but I’ll offer you a suggestion that might be helpful. Talk to someone not white and ask them how they feel about the current state of our society and their place in it. You might then take a less frivolous and pig-ignorant approach to the reality you inhibit. 

 

 

 

What an incredible statement. You have no idea who I’ve spoken to nor who I know! Can I suggest you travel some more and learn about other cultures. You come across as very ‘UK’ blinkered.

[Theregulars]

Just now, Toon1984 said:

What an incredible statement. You have no idea who I’ve spoken to nor who I know! Can I suggest you travel some more and learn about other cultures. You come across as very ‘UK’ blinkered.

You come across as a racist, tho.

[Theregulars]

I’ll play on. Your suggestion is valuable - I’ve lived in the UK, the States, Spain and Singapore. Where should I go next to broaden my horizons to understand that anti-racist gestures are discriminatory?

[Toon1984]

1 minute ago, Theregulars said:

You come across as a racist, tho.

You’ve just proven my point.

[Theregulars]

Just now, Toon1984 said:

You’ve just proven my point.

That you’re a racist?

[Theregulars]

When was the last time they took the knee at SJP before today?