Slightly separate from the Sordell incident but while we are on the subject of swearing.
I raised a concern some while back when there was an incident that involved a fan alleged to have racial abused a player at Priestfield. I made a comment in an article that during that same game Steve Evans was referred to in terms as a fat c**t by a large section of the crowd. This chanting occurred several times throughout the game. I never once heard or read one critic of this behaviour in our so called family friendly environment.
Now in later debate it came across that the latter incident was more or less deemed acceptable within football grounds, I think it was put to me in a manner that people should be prepared for that language if they step inside a football ground.
I am not arguing that point and I do not care either way whether some one chooses to swear or not, however, the point I was trying to make was that the thought police and media were trying to take over complete control of social behaviour within our stadiums, contrary to the social environment outside. Now excluding racism from this topic, I stated it would probably only be a matter of time, maybe within the next decade that the thought police would have stopped anyone from swearing in football grounds. Calling someone a fat c**t would be deemed just as socially unacceptable within football grounds. So those that are the critics now also might need to take a closer look in the mirror at their own behaviour in say 10 years time.
My thoughts were completely dismissed.
I added to later debates as what I saw as excessive policing of the working classes, everything from no standing, no smoking, no drinking within view of the pitch, high prices. Basically a destruction by successive governments and millionaires/billionaires of the working class and OUR game.
So despite that dismissal I find it ironic that if what Ringo states is true, we did not have to wait that decade before the thought police have moved to the next stage of social behaviour. Maybe this was in the form of a banner but whether through verbal exchange or banner is it not much the same thing?
My words above are not meant to be in relation to a comparison with racism.
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