Yep they are (were?) great mates and leaving him tangled up in the net always made him smile. To be fair, regardless of what he has said recently, he is still an absolute football genius.
Absolutely. Like I say, I didn't intend for this thread to be about whether or not his legacy has been ruined, but more about how long until the club pull the plug. Which can't be long imo.
A bigger question might be, what is making so many people fall down these conspiracy theory rabbit holes in the first place? I mean it’s by no means just MLT is it? This Qanon **** in America, which I don’t know a great deal about either tbh, seems to have hooked millions of people. Why are so many people so desperate to believe all this nutty stuff? And when do the lizards take off their Royal Family suits and relax? So many mysteries.
I blame the internet and this supposed culture of it being 'cool' to use alternative media these days. The strange thing is how quickly it deteriorates . As I said in the OP, it's one thing to question the efficiency of lockdowns (A valid discussion point in my view) but how do you get from that to Gates murdering a leader of a country in less than 12 months? What's really worrying (imo) is that seemingly you're getting more and more relatively intelligent people falling for this ****e. It's not just stoners who never leave their parents spare room anymore. Not sure what the answer is tbh but can only see it getting worse.
The internet gives randoms a voice. Not a bad thing in the freedom of speech theory, but if you just look at all those who believe this **** it is amazing. And there lies the issue. In the past they were crackpots, now they are cool. It also gives those crying out for attention a voice. I go back to mrs no7 ex mate who thought that she was cool saying the world may be flat and not to believe everything and to question it. Aged 10 I probably questioned if the world was flat then the evidence showed me we are living on a big football. Nowadays, that evidence is drowned out by so called cool people who tell you to question everything. I can’t see us ever getting over this to be honest.
To answer the original question: I’m really surprised they haven’t already pulled the plug. I think if we had a more engaged owner, they would’ve done. I don’t envy them. What a horribly divisive decision to potentially have to make!
I agree that the internet has expedited this, however tabloid media is the same: showing something from a specific angle and stating it again and again so people take it as true. I think that the issue is that many people don't critically think anymore. No critical thinking or philosophy taught in the UK or US at school. Here's the consequence.
Are conspiracy theorists any different from people who believe in God? None of that religion stuff has been proven either. But if MLT was posting stuff about Jesus and God, people would have to respect that.
The spread of conspiracy theories is and continues to be incredibly harmful, from the damage things like QAnon has caused to individuals and families (Google “QAnon casualties” for plenty of tragic stories) to the radicalisation of people to totally misguided causes (racially or sexually motivated violence, harassment and more). Plus it’s not true to say that people with religious beliefs have to be accepted. There are lots of examples of people espousing fringe or ultra conservative religious beliefs that are exclusionary to LGBTQ+ people or other ethnic/religious groups who have had endorsements or working agreements reevaluated in light of their opinions coming to light. Quite rightly too. If you’re acting like a cock in public and also representing a business or organisation, then you pay the price. It’s not “cancelled“, it’s being held accountable for being a toxic, stupid person. As for Mr Le Tissier, he scored some great goals and he’s an stupid asshole who I wouldn’t want being the public face of the club. Both those things can be true.
It really is tragic that a club icon, perhaps the club icon, has become such a high profile idiot. No one can ever doubt what Le Tiss did at the club and even though he is now behaving like a first rate plonker I will forever love him for being such a brilliant footballer and a maker of magic. The goals he scored, the lift he gave the team and that goal against Arsenal in the last league game at the Dell are moments of pure genius. It's just tragic that he is now involved in stuff that to many, casts a shadow over his football. I must admit that it doesn't affect the way I see his time at the club but now he is an ambassador I would understand if the club took him to one side and gave him a very serious talking to. I'm not sure they would cancel his ambassador status because a lot of folk wouldn't understand, or even care, about the reasons and there would likely be quite a backlash. To be honest, I can live with his nutty ideas because I never read the crap he comes out with, and if I did I wouldn't take any notice of it. I am happy to remember the utterly brilliant footballer and the incomparable collection of wonder goals that made being a Saints fan such fun. Nothing can diminish that for me, and I hope the club feel the same and can find a way of sorting things out with him.
Sure, but it’s a very grey area, as to what is ‘acceptable’ or not. Is he encouraging people to commit crimes and violent acts? If so, that’s a clear enough issue. But if it’s simply his opinions on matters, then it’s up to every individual whether they agree with it or not. I don’t use Twitter and I get it that he’s saying stupid sh*t. But it’s a free country and free speech and all that. Soon as you start coming down on people for stuff like this, it causes problems.
Free speech doesn't mean free from consequence though, and nobody as far as I can see is restricting his right to free speech. Racist language wouldn't fall under the banner of encouraging violence etc but pretty sure that none of us would want a racist associated with the club. Not suggesting it's the same btw but an example. The point is that if you're to be associated with a huge business like a PL football club in these modern times then you need to be 'on message' and not controversial in any way. Whether you or I agree with that doesn't really matter; it's the way the world is. To use your religion example then that wouldn't be an issue in itself, but if he then used a public platform to start talking about banning abortions or outlawing homosexuality then we'd be having the same conversation.
I would imagine that the overwhelming majority of Saints fans (and football fans in general) have no idea at all of MLT's views. Not that is any defence, of course.
I remember when Cortese put him in his place by refusing him free tickets to Saints games and he got the hump. Great player but he is a bit of a tosser. So entitled at times its cringeworthy.
If they havent already, I’d be surprised if someone high up at Saints isn’t having a word with Le Tiss soon because I agree he will start to reflect badly on the club. Franny is a sensible bloke, he should have a word with him. Some of his views on lockdowns may be valid, or at least discussion worthy, but his vaccine views and Bill Gates conspiracies are odd. It’s almost as if he’s doubling down on them the more people question him. Le Tiss gains nothing from voicing those opinions, so even though we have free speech, I do wonder why he’s persisting. Despite all that, they’re his opinions and even if I don’t agree I won’t let them tarnish my views of him as a Saints legend. Same for Rickie. If you have a different view to someone else, so what?
Wish i hadnt gotten up and read the forum today. On International Happiness Day too! Gonna choose to ignore it and just remember his goals. Like I manged to blank out the last couple of seasons of his career and only remember the winner against Arsenal at the Dell!
I think a lot of it comes from frustration/fear/anger. People always want someone to blame and vent their anger towards. As you can't really vent anger/frustration toward a virus particle, it is really hard to just accept we are in a really **** situation and will be for some time. So people like MLT declare the whole thing as nonsense, some big conspiracy by Government/Bill Gates/China/Big Pharma/Take your pick and then they have a target to vent their anger towards. I am as frustrated as anyone and whilst I do think a lot of the lockdown rules have been ridiculous and in some ways have caused more harm than good, people who declare anything & everything relating to Covid as a conspiracy probably do so because they just can't accept what is happening and don't know what to do about it.