Freedom of Speech Gone

[Redleg 40,915]

As we now live in a Communist state we are no longer able to enjoy freedom of speech if you are an AFL footballer. For Petterd and Frawley to be fined, even if suspended fines, for their comments is an absolute disgrace. Neither mentioned the AFL in their Tweets or any official of the AFL, how is it then that they can be fined. Frawley said JT was not playing for the Melbourne Demons but rather Melbourne Vixens. That is a comment on the way the game is played today not anone in the AFL. Is that any different to a player saying footy today is much easier than in the past becuase it is much softer as there are no king hits. Steven baker of the Saints was one of many AFL players who supported JT and he Tweeted that he would now play Netball as it was harder than Footy. What is the difference between his Tweet and Frawley's. Petterd said one word Bullsh-t. How does Anderson know what that was said in realation to. He could have been anwering a Tweet where his mate said KC was better than a Big Mac. Was he interviewed? I don't believe so. RIP freedom of speech if you are an AFL player or club official.

PS. If Anderson had one single brain cell he might have thought, given the week the club had experienced that he would warn it and all players to be careful in the future of any comments made and left it at that.

[Harrisonrules 273]

As we now live in a Communist state we are no longer able to enjoy freedom of speech if you are an AFL footballer. For Petterd and Frawley to be fined, even if suspended fines, for their comments is an absolute disgrace. Neither mentioned the AFL in their Tweets or any official of the AFL, how is it then that they can be fined. Frawley said JT was not playing for the Melbourne Demons but rather Melbourne Vixens. That is a comment on the way the game is played today not anone in the AFL. Is that any different to a player saying footy today is much easier than in the past becuase it is much softer as there are no king hits. Steven baker of the Saints was one of many AFL players who supported JT and he Tweeted that he would now play Netball as it was harder than Footy. What is the difference between his Tweet and Frawley's. Petterd said one word Bullsh-t. How does Anderson know what that was said in realation to. He could have been anwering a Tweet where his mate said KC was better than a Big Mac. Was he interviewed? I don't believe so. RIP freedom of speech if you are an AFL player or club official.

PS. If Anderson had one single brain cell he might have thought, given the week the club had experienced that he would warn it and all players to be careful in the future of any comments made and left it at that.

I'm hoping to sqeeze this comment past our own vigilant administrator. I posted a new thread on this very subject the other day, and withibn minutes couldn't find it. I presumed it had been removed (the admins right). I tried to put a bit of humour, some would say sarcasm.. I should have known better. I'm hoping this gets on for at least five minutes.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,294]

As we now live in a Communist state we are no longer able to enjoy freedom of speech if you are an AFL footballer. For Petterd and Frawley to be fined, even if suspended fines, for their comments is an absolute disgrace. Neither mentioned the AFL in their Tweets or any official of the AFL, how is it then that they can be fined. Frawley said JT was not playing for the Melbourne Demons but rather Melbourne Vixens. That is a comment on the way the game is played today not anone in the AFL. Is that any different to a player saying footy today is much easier than in the past becuase it is much softer as there are no king hits. Steven baker of the Saints was one of many AFL players who supported JT and he Tweeted that he would now play Netball as it was harder than Footy. What is the difference between his Tweet and Frawley's. Petterd said one word Bullsh-t. How does Anderson know what that was said in realation to. He could have been anwering a Tweet where his mate said KC was better than a Big Mac. Was he interviewed? I don't believe so. RIP freedom of speech if you are an AFL player or club official.

PS. If Anderson had one single brain cell he might have thought, given the week the club had experienced that he would warn it and all players to be careful in the future of any comments made and left it at that.

Totally agree Red. Seems to me a lot of chest beating by the AFL, particularly when there is no code of conduct in place in relation to what can and can`t be said thru social media channels.

There are some excellent comments in this social media experts blog link, pretty much agreeing with what you have just posted. Hope it works...I`m no Bill Gates!

http://thinktankmedia.com.au/blog/free-speech-or-pr-nightmare-where-is-the-line-drawn-for-footy-players-using-social-media/

[titan_uranus 25,018]

Would you publicly insult your employer and not feel like there may be some ramifications?

Why is it that AFL players are allowed so-called 'freedom of speech', but others aren't? If I tweeted that my employer was weak, or that I wish I was doing something else, I'd likely be fired.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,052]

Australia does not have a right to free speech enshrined anywhere in our laws. That's the USA. And they disregard it at will.

[Harrisonrules 273]

Would you publicly insult your employer and not feel like there may be some ramifications?

Why is it that AFL players are allowed so-called 'freedom of speech', but others aren't? If I tweeted that my employer was weak, or that I wish I was doing something else, I'd likely be fired.

They are not employers but a Commission

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Australia does not have a right to free speech enshrined anywhere in our laws. That's the USA. And they disregard it at will.

No the USA has vexatious libel and defamation laws.

Freedom of speech comes with obligations and accoutabilities.

They are not employers but a Commission

.Who owns the Club licences and finances each and every club? Hmmmm

[daisycutter 29,614]

Australia does not have a right to free speech enshrined anywhere in our laws. That's the USA. And they disregard it at will.

Nor do we have a denial to free speech enshrined anywhere in our laws

[daisycutter 29,614]

Freedom of speech comes with obligations and accoutabilities.

.Who owns the Club licences and finances each and every club? Hmmmm

How can there be obligations and accountabilities for something that is not defined ?

If the AFL is the players employer then all citizens are employees of the Government.

You would argue anything for the sake of it Rhino

Edited May 15, 2011 by daisycutter

[PeterJames 46]

It's so different than bagging their employers. They are not saying it about the MFC. Not sure how people think this is the same if they were to do it.

Ricky should've stuck it up the AFL and claimed he was talking bout something else, how could they prove it was about Trengove!

[Sir Why You Little 37,035]

It's going to get worse next year when the new Broadcast right kick in.

AFL players will be paid well, but will be fined hard if they are not silent....The Fat Controller has his empire now within reach.

[daisycutter 29,614]

It's so different than bagging their employers. They are not saying it about the MFC. Not sure how people think this is the same if they were to do it.

Ricky should've stuck it up the AFL and claimed he was talking bout something else, how could they prove it was about Trengove!

Come, come Peter, we all know who/what he was talking about.

To claim otherwise would only increase the farce

I'd like to know why the Saints player who essentially said the same thing as Frawley wasn't even asked to explain. There is definitely double standards here.