On 9 July 2012 20:57, Eric B <[email protected]> wrote: >> So why didn't he just call him a Cnut then? >> Why bring his colour into it? > > Its because he wanted to INSULT him, he was angry. As much as I > despise that prick JT, hes only human. > > You can bet your ass that if I get into some fight with a guy and I > want to insult him I will call him names that attack his very core > being. Thats what insulting is all about right?
As Chris Rock puts it, "If you've got one leg and you crash into the back of my car - I'm bringing up the leg". There's an interesting point about insulting, though. Robbie Fowler admitted in his autobiography that he homophobically abused Le Saux - not because he's a homophobe, but because he knew it would wind Le Saux up. But is that any different in action than someone shouting it at him meaningfully? If not, shouldn't it carry the same punishment? I made a stand-up/documentary thing for Radio 4 last year, The Sinha Test*, which looked at who Paul Sinha - born in England to Indian parents - would be supporting in the England v India Test series. As part of it, we interviewed Min Patel, who was born in Mumbai but brought up in Kent, and played two Tests for England (both against India). We were talking about racial abuse (apparently, Scarborough is the worst place for it), and I put it to him that they might have just been trying to upset him (and other ethnic minorities). He dismissed that - he said the abuse went far beyond anything that might niggle a professional sportsperson, and just betrayed a loathing of Asians. It wasn't targeted at him as an off-spinner, or an opposition player, but as a British Asian. Personally, I think there'd be lots more things you could shout at Anton Ferdinand that might upset him other than his ethnicity. "Sunderland reject", "You're not even the best player in your family", "Christ, Anton, have you ever even looked in a mirror?". All more likely to succeed as a provocation than "You black c***"". Cheers, Ed. *The Sinha Games: Tuesday 24th July, 6.30pm, Radio 4. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
