Crowd Behaviour

[gotzy9 33]

I was watching footy classified tonight and im very interested about this issue of crowd behaviour that has popped up for discussion. Seriously we need to get a life. Suggesting that people should be warned and even ejected from games for swearing and abuse is absolutely ludicrous.

1. Football is a tribal game and always has been- get used to it.

2. People should be able to go to the footy, have a pie and a beer and vent their spleen (it is a release of pressure and stress from the week)

3. People are passionate about their teams and will say things on the spur of the movement (why does everything have to be taken so literally)

4. Swearing is (whether its right or wrong) just a part of life- you will hear it in general conversations, in movies and songs, in the workplace, amongst mates etc etc. How much can words hurt at a footy match

5. -How do they police it???

- How is anything proven?? If i dont like an opposition supporter near me can i just report them for abuse and get them kicked out??

- There will be serious inconsistencies as some people wont report it and some will (it could be luck of the draw as to whether you get ejected)

I honestly think that making a big deal of this is a joke. I can understand why racism should not be tolerated in any way shape or form but anything else should be accepted at the footy. It always has been part of the culture, it has happened for years and people should be able to go with their mates and enjoy the game without having to think every single time before they open their mouths. If certain people wish to be immune from it they should purposely go and sit in deserted areas of the stadium, in a corporate box or watch the game on T.V. Geez people are becoming seriously soft these days huh??

[Sir Why You Little 34,944]

I was watching footy classified tonight and im very interested about this issue of crowd behaviour that has popped up for discussion. Seriously we need to get a life. Suggesting that people should be warned and even ejected from games for swearing and abuse is absolutely ludicrous.

1. Football is a tribal game and always has been- get used to it.

2. People should be able to go to the footy, have a pie and a beer and vent their spleen (it is a release of pressure and stress from the week)

3. People are passionate about their teams and will say things on the spur of the movement (why does everything have to be taken so literally)

4. Swearing is (whether its right or wrong) just a part of life- you will hear it in general conversations, in movies and songs, in the workplace, amongst mates etc etc. How much can words hurt at a footy match

5. -How do they police it???

- How is anything proven?? If i dont like an opposition supporter near me can i just report them for abuse and get them kicked out??

- There will be serious inconsistencies as some people wont report it and some will (it could be luck of the draw as to whether you get ejected)

I honestly think that making a big deal of this is a joke. I can understand why racism should not be tolerated in any way shape or form but anything else should be accepted at the footy. It always has been part of the culture, it has happened for years and people should be able to go with their mates and enjoy the game without having to think every single time before they open their mouths. If certain people wish to be immune from it they should purposely go and sit in deserted areas of the stadium, in a corporate box or watch the game on T.V. Geez people are becoming seriously soft these days huh??

As the AFL turn over more money it will only get worse...The Carefree joys of growing up in the 70's are long gone sadly.

Australia is so much more regimented than it used to be...

[gotzy9 33]

The last thing we want here is little [censored] for tat arguments like preppy kids have in the schoolyard.The footy shouldn't be a sacred place.A mate and I were having a chat about this a few weeks ago as we quite often get asked to watch our language and it becomes increasingly frustrating when it's usually something extremely petty( like saying bullish!t under our breaths about a bad umpiring decision).If this is such a big issue why can't they have family friendly areas at the footy where this can be monitored??

[gOLLy 401]

Anything goes bar racsim. Mild swearing is OK depending the umpires decision. ie: Sh!t and Ar$sh0le. But anything else is no go.

[Bendigo Demon 115]

I sit in the reserved seat section of the Melbourne members. We know most who sit near us, after years of suffering pain together. At the Carlton game, an idiot sat near us who we have never seen before, and proceeded to, as his frustration levels grew. drop the "F" bomb at the top of his voice every second word. I am not averse to swearing, but there is a time and a place. A quiet word was said, no more swearing. There is no place for racist abuse, and swearing has to have it's limits.

[Adzman 2,085]

I am fine as long as you keep the racist stuff out. There is no need for racism in sports. Swearing you can live with in moderation(the odd F-Bomb is fine), racists taunts need to be stamped out of crowd behavior.

[Webber 10,181]

As the AFL turn over more money it will only get worse...The Carefree joys of growing up in the 70's are long gone sadly.

Australia is so much more regimented than it used to be...

You're so right. I lived in London for 11 years until returning to Melbourne 3 years ago, and was amazed at the over-regulated, conformist Nanny-state that Australia/Melbourne had become. There has been no let up in this bizarre push for sanitised expression, as evidenced by this recent discussion of swearing fines. This is just staggering garbage. It was bad enough that I watched people wait at pedestrian crossings for the 'green man' without a car anywhere on the horizon, as if transfixed by their lack of options, but what now? Everybody saying 'fudge', and 'golly'? FFS!!!

What are we afraid of in this country? Individuality? Imagination? Subversion? And this media frenzy over the Majak Daw abuse, how can that ever be an issue of police, or legal intervention? It's a crowd, and the crowd should deal with it. Or are we too numbed by our powerlessness in the Nanny state? If the brainless idiot who was abusing Daw was standing anywhere near me, he would only have said it once, and he wouldn't have wanted to stay at the footy. This would not require violence or even the threat of such, but just a modicom of social interaction with a few friends.

Let's show some guts and conviction in protecting our rights and the rights of others.

[Fork 'em 6,576]

Young kids don't need to hear toothless losers dropping the F-bomb every few minutes .

[old dee 22,990]

Young kids don't need to hear toothless losers dropping the F-bomb every few minutes .

You have my vote "Fork em" I am occasionly vocal at matches.

But the rule is no swearing and no racist remarks.

I enjoy the good nature banter at the football.

However there are limits.

My wife and daughter will only go on days were they expect the crowd to be low.

That way they can move when they cop a bad situation.

I for one do not want to return to the 70's crowds it was not the

"good old days".

Edited June 6, 2011 by old dee

[daisycutter 28,691]

I think Filth, Bummer, Feral and Scum supporters only should be banned from swearing at the footy

[Rogue 585]

If someone can't enjoy the footy without repeatedly swearing then I reckon the problem is with them, rather than the rules.

[Nasher 33,166]

If someone can't enjoy the footy without repeatedly swearing then I reckon the problem is with them, rather than the rules.

Agreed. The first thing I thought of when I read the OP was that the footy has such a yobbo culture. It's not socially acceptable to run around swearing and abusing people at the top of your lungs in the street, so why is it okay at the footy?

Get fired up by all means (I do whether I'm live or watching on TV) but keep yourself under control FFS.

[rpfc 27,646]

Agreed. The first thing I thought of when I read the OP was that the footy has such a yobbo culture. It's not socially acceptable to run around swearing and abusing people at the top of your lungs in the street, so why is it okay at the footy?

Get fired up by all means (I do whether I'm live or watching on TV) but keep yourself under control FFS.

Yeah, we all have our moments, but I try to keep my remarks that, apparently, I have to yell out to pithy, funny remarks rahter than attacks.

Just like here...

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

here we go

let's strip away another fundamental tradition of the sport

if you all grew up listening to people swear at the footy, i'm sure it ruined all your lives

it's part of the atmosphere

but yeah go ahead sanitise everything and make it nice and clean and boring, just like they have removed the biffo from the game to the point you cant even tackle anymore

won't somebody think of the children?

good onya AFL

[H_T 2,941]

Young kids don't need to hear toothless losers dropping the F-bomb every few minutes .

Agree. So I would recommend they avoid Collingwood games at all costs.

[hardtack 10,158]

here we go

let's strip away another fundamental tradition of the sport

if you all grew up listening to people swear at the footy, i'm sure it ruined all your lives

it's part of the atmosphere

but yeah go ahead sanitise everything and make it nice and clean and boring, just like they have removed the biffo from the game to the point you cant even tackle anymore

won't somebody think of the children?

good onya AFL

Since when has repeatedly dropping the "F" bomb been a part of the tradition of sport? When I was growing up and going to the footy, there was very little of that and I honestly cannot see why today should be any different. Do you drop the "F" bomb etc in these forums? If not, why not?

Seriously, if you can't go to and enjoy a game without yelling abuse, then you either have a major self-control issue or a very limited vocabulary, particularly in the area of adjectives. My kids know to avoid me when I'm watching the game on TV and they expect to hear a few expletives, but regardless of what you think, many children do find it intimidating/frightening if someone who is a complete (and often drunk) stranger to them starts screaming abuse at anyone and everyone as can happen at a footy match.

Sure, leave all of the "biffo" in the game (assuming "biffo" refers to violent behaviour - which it traditionally did) as long as you don't mind the family element staying at home as has occurred in the NRL here in Sydney; the reason being that often in footy crowds it's an unfortunate case of monkey see, monkey do; that is, violence on the field begets violence in the stands.

Edited June 7, 2011 by hardtack

[old dee 22,990]

Agreed. The first thing I thought of when I read the OP was that the footy has such a yobbo culture. It's not socially acceptable to run around swearing and abusing people at the top of your lungs in the street, so why is it okay at the footy?

Get fired up by all means (I do whether I'm live or watching on TV) but keep yourself under control FFS.

I have over the last couple of years started travelling to the game by train.

No problems until I went to the carlton night game.

That trip home was not good.

I had to endure a group of young girls, 18 at most who were drunk.

6 of them screaming the worst language you can imagine at everyone in the train.

god deliver me from this group of future "Aussie" citizens.

Result: I will take the car to all future night games.

I am no saint but this is way over the top.

We do not need foul mouth idiots at games

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Swearing at the footy, apparently a great Aussie tradition...garbage.

Probabaly started in essence in the 70's and 80's and should go the way of the mullet. There's a time and place for everything. F's and especially C's next to my kids is not the time and place and if you do it I'll ask you to stop.

Pick the posters who don't have families.

[Juicebox 628]

I think a bit of common sense is needed. My rules are:

- No 'C' word

- No racism

Everything else, within reason, is fair game. If I know I'm sitting in a crowd with a majority of families and children then it's a differant story.

[Striker475 696]

Depends on where you sit. I'm a vocal person at the footy, but I try to make it funny rather than shout obscenities. Worst one I've had in a long time was Friday night - couple of Dons fans who thought every second word had to be f---.

There is a line in there somewhere. Couple of things:

- MCC is, by virtue of what it is, held to a higher code of behaviour.

- Racism is strictly not on.

- Other stuff I'm not sure. I agree with some in the media who have been saying that Eddie is hypocritical by holding a Saints fan to account over the Andrew Krakouer stuff, yet won't hold his own supporters to account as they call Milne a rapist. But it's hard, you can't police everywhere and there are always going to be areas where fans get rowdier. (Bay 13, anyone?)

[juzzk1d 1,354]

Some [censored] bag told me and my mates to stop swearing, I literally tried and could not help myself - its just a part of footy life.

Here is a thought, if the AFL are so concerned about footy crowd behavior have a little section for family if they are too scared of being surrounded by passionate supporters, let them sit in a little section in which you won't hear a peep out of anyone.

That we in turn we can swear, they can sit there and listen to their children talk about how well they are doing in their game boy game at the time.

Everyone is happy.

Edited June 7, 2011 by juzzk1d

[Fork 'em 6,576]

Since when has repeatedly dropping the "F" bomb been a part of the tradition of sport? When I was growing up and going to the footy, there was very little of that and I honestly cannot see why today should be any different.

Didn't hear it very often during the 70's - 80's .

Any-one that did were smartly told to pull their heads in . B)

Nowadays , many fear getting stabbed for their trouble .

[Arrow 1,257]

I think a bit of common sense is needed. My rules are:

- No 'C' word

- No racism

Everything else, within reason, is fair game. If I know I'm sitting in a crowd with a majority of families and children then it's a differant story.

Bingo, bingo and bingo.

The amount of passion people show on here, especially using their spare time to talk Dees, suggest that this team is our lives.

It is than completely understandable at times for the emotion to over-ride you. Just like it is a joke for players not to be seen swearing in front of the camera (THE biggest joke of a rule ever), at times supporters will swear in the true taste of passion for sport. I am openly admitting I am one who whilst at the game has very little control from the first bounce until the final siren.. but I do agree, if little kids are around, and I'm young comparatively myself, I always move myself or am mindful of my language.

If I got booted from the G for calling Strauss' HTB decision f**king balls I'd never be able to go back.

[gotzy9 33]

Some [censored] bag told me and my mates to stop swearing, I literally tried and could not help myself - its just a part of footy life.

Here is a thought, if the AFL are so concerned about footy crowd behavior have a little section for family if they are too scared of being surrounded by passionate supporters, let them sit in a little section in which you won't hear a peep out of anyone.

That we in turn we can swear, they can sit there and listen to their children talk about how well they are doing in their game boy game at the time.

Everyone is happy.

Totally agree juzzk1d. You should be able to let your passion come out at the footy.Obviously racial abuse should have a zero tolerance approach but anything else is fair game and a part of footy.We shouldnt be getting involved in little [censored] for tat crap where certain words get banned etc. The rule should simply be no racism. If you dont like it then go follow netball or tiddlywinks or something else.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

The rule should simply be no racism. If you dont like it then go follow netball or tiddlywinks or something else.

Yeah mate woohoo.

That's tellin em. That's f*&(*n tellin em. F&)-&n haters yeah!!