The media needs to stop condoning the booing and bullying of Adam Goodes

I also think this needs to extend beyond this isolated incident. To often as marketers, agencies we do not override morality due to “justification” from a KPI perspective.

Of late for e.g. the articles written by Mark Latham in the AFR are just down right wrong. I would say a lot more dangerous than the Adam Goodes as he for e.g. spent an entire article trying to discredit and quite disgustingly position Rosie Batty in a bad light. The impact on them should be simple – less revenue as advertising turn away in protest.

Personally I think morality or even personal views are too often not applied to decisions we make in our industry. Now I am not suggesting that we start making decisions purely on “I do not do XYZ so thus not worth doing” however when it is a higher order discussion I think that is exactly what we should do. We wield incredible power and can enact change.

I am with Adam although I would suggest that Adam maybe could have spoken up when Alan was turfing Julia into bags and sending her to sea, etc. (Although I guess so could have I).

Well said.

Couldn’t agree more Adam.

Spot on Adam.

Typically sanctimonious tosh, from one of the many media types who are so out of touch with mainstream Australia, it’s laughable.

I could not agree more. There is no excuse for bullying. When did we become a nation of boo-ers anyway? Whatever the motivation, when I was a kid, any boo-ing was frowned upon as being the mark of a poor sport.

Thank you for the argument. Has to be said. The racism underlying this has to be exposed and exhausted.

Ditto

There is an awful herald sun article by Rita Panahi where she claims the same thing as Alan Jones, people are booing him because they don’t like him rather than his race. It astounds me that she and Alan can’t see that people don’t like him because he stands up for his race, they don’t like his speech or that he had that girl thrown out of the game. THAT IS RACIST! You hate him because he is standing up for his people but you don’t think you are a racist? Nothing he has said isn’t true, we absolutely should remember who’s land we are standing on and the atrocities that took place.

We are a terribly racist nation and in 2015 that is simply not good enough. It’s downright embarrassing.

Totally agree Adam

completely agree. and alan jones is consistently bullying people. I’m tempted to say i don’t like him, despite never meeting him. his opinions andc behaviour lead me to believe we probably won’t click.

Sorry Adam you are a fool and people like you are part of the problem!! You keep sprouting Australian of the Year for Goodes but he doesnt celebrate australia day instead he calls it invasion day, yet he still takes all the acolades. To me he is a hypocrite who is using all this to ignite the racism debate. He is not being booed because he is black!! Like all the media make it out to be. How many games have you actually been to and if a few I suggest you go along without earplugs next time! Have a listen to the NRL next time Paul Galen is on field, he gets booed constantly, does he sulk and sook in the corner? No he gets on and plays harder! Perhaps if Goodes laughed it off and ignored it and stopped play acting for free kicks he might find it all stops. I don’t think though that he wants it to stop! Here is a question for you, what would happen to a white footballer if after he kicked a goal menacingly made out he was brandishing a gun and pointed it a black person remonstrating at him from the sidelines. He would be severely dealt with, yet we let this guy and also Jedda get away with it. Have a listen to what the finance guy on the today show had to say about it, it is probably the smartest thing that anyone in and outside the media has said.

Jones has a track record of vilifying Aboriginal Australians of the Year, if you remember his apoplexia over Mandawuy Yunupingu – labelling the decision an insult to Australians. Personally, I’ve been contacting the sponsors of the clubs whose supporters have been participating in the booing and telling them I won’t use their services or products until it stops. I’ve started with West Coast and Collingwood, but there’s more to go, sadly.

Totally agree Adam. Booing behaviour is damaging and childish. Media players in power should abandon their neutrality and voice that it has no place in Australian sport.

I think Goodes miscalculated the mood of the general public and pushed things too far. Surely it’s naive to think that baiting and taunting a sports crowd is going to end well for a player? What’s the point of aggressive war dances directed at the crowd? At what stage are we trying to create a sense of togetherness rather than further driving a wedge between black and white?

As Australian of the year i’d expect Goodes to rise above the rabble and set an example for all Australians (not just indigenous Australians) on how to come together.

If you light a fire and then it gets out of control and burns you well maybe you stuffed up.

And even if you believe his cause is righteous, that’s of no benefit to Goodes if it ruins his career and enjoyment of life.

I agree. And when people are booing, what are they booing, if they have been made aware of the meaning it has for Adam Goodes?

When a woman finally speaks up after enduring so much sexism and misogyny, she is accused of “playing the gender card”. When an indigenous man speaks up, after abuse and vilification and booing, it’s called “playing the race card”.

Where is the leadership in this discussion? Not a word from the Prime Minister, the Governor General etc.

What kind of country are we living in where this behaviour is not only tolerated, but defended?

I am surprised by the use of the word ‘sook’ directed at Adam Goodes. Alan Jones accuses him of playing the victim. Social media shouts at Goodes to harden up. All this suggests a culture of bullying where the target is expected to take it and remain silent. Ah yes, the code of silence. AFL has history here. Many years ago I recall a female guest on ABC sports radio in Melbourne equating the AFL’s code of silence with domestic violence. The context was the old culture on the field of players being king hit behind the play. The expectation back then (before video replays of course) was that victims harden up and remain silent – and not testify at tribunal hearings. Such conduct on the field of play may have diminished but the culture remains strong among spectators. What we see now is the reluctance of individuals in AFL crowds to call out racist and bullying behaviour around them. It is high time that AFL crowds started to shame the abusers. Fact is – if you tolerate such behaviour around you in the stands you are also more likely to tolerate and sustain the deeper code of silence that surrounds domestic violence and school bullying. AFL fans – take a good hard look at yourself. What kind of example are you setting for your children?

Good on you Adam.
A f***ing new low point in this country.
An incredibly reactionary cultural phase we’re in… may it pass.

Sorry Garry Blencowe, I’ve gone to rugby league matches my whole life and there has never been anything vaguely approaching this abhorrent behaviour dished out to any rugby league player. Some get a bit of stick when they run on at the beginning of the match, but rugby league doesn’t have a “culture” of booing. Really, apart from State of Origin, the only booing is when the away team is offside and it’s to tell the ref to penalise them. There might be a lot things wrong with rugby league, but please don’t insult it by comparing it to this disgraceful behaviour.

I’m a West Coast fan who has chafed at Adam’s brilliance and wished him elsewhere than starring against us over the years, but I’m firmly in his camp and refute claims that this booing is just part of footy.

People cite the likes of fellow Brownlow medallists Tony Liberatore and Greg Williams whom opposition fans loved to hate, more recently serial pests Crowley and Ballantyne, and say it’s Adam’s style of play and reaction to the booing that has encouraged fans to continue. Maybe, but since his rightfully proud and defiant war dance, the booing has increased. What else does that point to than the underlying and ugly racism element?

I believe anyone who points the finger of blame at Adam does so because, whether or not they admit it to themselves, they know this reaction to him and the ongoing harassment of him is not honourable, and so they trot out the excuses to hide behind.

If anyone deserves to be booed it’s not Adam Goodes.

@Robbo, 30 Jul 15, 1:36 pm… Oh really? So basically you’re inferring mainstream Australians are racists? You don’t speak for mainstream Australia.

Very well said Adam.

To “devil’s advocate” –

when you write “As Australian of the year i’d expect Goodes to rise above the rabble and set an example for all Australians (not just indigenous Australians) on how to come together”, do you actually know what Adam Goodes said when he accepted that award?

His words were as follows. Perhaps do some research next time before attacking an honourable man.

———-

“It’s an honour to win an award for doing stuff that you love and that you believe in.

“It means treating people the way you want to be treated, whether that’s your manners, the way you talk to people, whether they are your loved ones or the person serving your dinner.

“It’s about how you choose to give back and make a difference to those around you, your community or your country that goes outside of just yourself.

“I believe we are all connected whether we like it or not. We are all equal and the same in so many ways. My hope is that we as a nation can break down the silos between races, break down those stereotypes of minority populations, indigenous populations and all other minority groups. I hope we can be proud of our heritage regardless of the colour of our skin and be proud to be Australian.

“I’m not here to tell you what to think, or how to act to raise your children. All I’m here to do is tell you about my experiences and hope you choose to be aware of your actions and interactions so that together we can eliminate racism.”

“I’m so grateful for this award and this honour, however the real reward is when everyone is talking to their mates, to their families and their children, having those conversations and educating others about racism.

“The ultimate reward is when all Australians see each other as equals and treat each other as equals. To me, everything is about people and the choices we make. I believe it’s the people and the interactions between us that makes this country so special. Thank you so much and have a great Australia Day.”

Fact: There are over 70 indigenous players currently in the AFL, don’t all you goody two shoes do gooders think if it was a racial thing then all these players would be getting booed as well?

Well said Adam.
Adam Goodes was chosen to be Australian of the Year because of the work he did with indigenous youth and his Go Foundation. He was put in the position because he was seen by the National Australia Day Council as role model and advocate for the fight against racism…so of course he is going to express his opinion about it.
Goodesy said in his acceptance speech that “I believe racism is a community issue, which we all need to address, and that’s why racism stops with me”.
It certainly seems right now that it is on him but I doubt he has any regrets and nor should he. I hope he knows that there’s plenty of support out there.
He also talked specifically about Australia Day and this is what he said,
“it’s about celebrating the positives, that we are still here as indigenous people, our culture is one of the longest surviving cultures in the world, over 40,000 years.
“That is something we need to celebrate and all Australians need to celebrate.
“There are people out there thinking that today is a great day for Australia — well, it is. It’s a day we celebrate over 225 years of European settlement and right now, that’s who we are as a nation but we also need to acknowledge our fantastic Aboriginal history of over 40,000 years and just know that some Aboriginal people out there today are feeling a little bit angry, a little bit soft in the heart today because of that, and that’s OK as well.”
Personally I can’t see a problem with that. I’m happy to celebrate Aus Day for all of the above and next game I’ll be cheering for Goodsey!

Gary Blencowe, wonderful logic. “I’m not being racist because I’m only doing it to one blackfella.”

I couldn’t care less about it, it’s my game and I boo if I want to

@Rooboy having an opinion and expressing it in a straight-forward manner is not ‘attacking’ someone. Disagreeing with someone is not ‘attacking’ them. We really need to get this ‘if you’re not with me you’re against me’ mentality out of public debate. Sometimes the middle ground is where the answer lies.

To Goodes’ speech, the sentiment is spot on…..if only his behaviour followed the lead of his own words. Indigenous war dances, calling Australia Day ‘Invasion Day’ etc. etc. do not seem to fit with what he said about breaking down the barriers between people.

Actions speak louder than words.

Adam Goodes is a dual Brownlow Medallist, dual premiership player and All Australian. Were the same people booing him now booing him then? I’ve had a conversation with someone very close to me who argued it’s not about race. He says “it’s about the spear throwing, it’s about the 13-year-old girl, it’s about Goodes referring to Australia Day as Invasion Day” – those three things are entirely about race and about a man standing up for what he believes in. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and to take a stand when they don’t think something is right. Why is it all of a sudden people don’t like Adam Goodes for doing just that? The booing has started ever since Adam Goodes decided to take a stand against feeling as though he was being racially vilified. My view – and purely my view only – is people have taken offence with that and the fact he is out and proud about his ancestry. I just don’t think it’s up to anyone else but Adam Goodes and those close to him to imagine what he is feeling by telling him to suck it up and get on with things. It’s clearly got to him and if he has been subject to this on and off growing up, then there needs to be some empathy. He is standing up for what he thinks is right for him and for his mob and I don’t have any issue with that at all. I just don’t really understand why others do. Everyone is entitled to stand up for their family, their friends and their background.

Well said, Adam. Racism has absolutely no place in this great country. @Robbo and @Gary Blencoe stop finding ways to justify yours…

Good article Adam. [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]

Jules, what Goodes is “standing up for” is anti-Australian, hence the booing. Let him drop his provocations and the booing will cease.

I’m sick to death of the excuses that white Australia are using to condone the behaviour.

1) “I hate the way he plays, he stages for free kicks” – at last count I believe he’s 168th in the league for free kicks paid to.

2) “Wayne Carey got boo’d for five years and he didn’t whinge!” – Wayne Carey cheated on his team mates missus, which we as a society deam to be morally and ethically wrong and if you don’t find Wayne attractive you probably thought the idea was just plain wrong. Point being, there was a REASON!

3) “he insights the crowd” true. He’s done some very provocative things, like a war dance at Carlton fans. Why then aren’t we banning the Haka at the rugby? “Because that’s different!” Why? Because New Zealand have a much stronger affinity with their indigenous population and cultural expressions such as the Haka have been embraced over time? Go away you flog before I stick my tongue out at you.

4) “he shouldn’t have kicked that 13 year old girl out of the MCG” – what was he expected to do? Take her name and number? He was in the middle of the game and enough was enough. “But what she said wasn’t racist!” – have you ever been racially villified? “No” then shut the f**k up and play with your blocks, we are trying to make amends. “But she clearly heard someone else say it and copied them…” – then why didn’t that responsible adult come forward and take the blame? And since when was it okay to be racist just because everyone else is doing it?

The fact is, Adam Goodes has said he doesn’t like, so let’s just stop. I find it far scarier how vehemently people are defending their right to bully this man than the booing itself.

Adam Ferrier articular and relevant as ever, and agreeably outspoken.
Surprised at the superficial views of some mUmbrella readers.
Unrealistically high expectations are a curse.

Dear Gary Blencowe. Hope you are well today. If a country came to Australia tomorrow, 31 July 2015 and said “right, jolly good, this is all ours now” and you said “no, we were here and this is how it works, we have laws!”, “sorry old chap, its ours now – you can feed off scraps and you will have to move away and adjust” etc etc… so imagine, where would you go 1 August 2015? Would you not say in this instance someone has invaded your country? If Australia Day is not also invasion day what the hell is it? Is your version the only right version?

Sorry Devil’s advocate, you’re just making stuff up. Here is a report from the AFL website about what Goodes said re: “invasion day”. You’ll note that he mentioned that’s how he felt as a young child, but has changed his view now. How this has been twisted by so many people is amazing.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/201.....top-honour

Goodes admitted Sunday’s Australia Day celebrations prompted mixed emotions after he learnt the full story of the country’s settlement in regards to his own heritage when he was younger.

However, he said there were still reasons to celebrate his culture on January 26.

“There was a lot of anger, a lot of sorrow, for this day and very much the feeling of invasion day,” he said.

“But in the last five years, I’ve really changed my perception of what is Australia Day, of what it is to be Australian and for me, it’s about celebrating the positives, that we are still here as indigenous people, our culture is one of the longest surviving cultures in the world, over 40,000 years.

“That is something we need to celebrate and all Australians need to celebrate.

“There are people out there thinking that today is a great day for Australia – well, it is.

“It’s a day we celebrate over 225 years of European settlement and right now, that’s who we are as a nation but we also need to acknowledge our fantastic Aboriginal history of over 40,000 years and just know that some Aboriginal people out there today are feeling a little bit angry, a little bit soft in the heart today because of that, and that’s OK as well.”

Gary Blencowe, I think you’ve made Adam’s point for him. The point about bullying is well made and seems to have been missed by many. I feel very sad that much of this is a reflection of Australia today.

One weird upside of this is I’ve unfriended everyone who supports the boo-ing and the bullying on Facebook. If feels good to ditch all of the people who until now have been silent racist jerks, but have now exposed themselves to be just that.

Not condoing what’s happened to Adam Goodes, but I grew up watching football as a kid during the 1970s and booing was fairly common at opposition players regardless of skin colour. We need to be careful here that any form of booing/cat calling/barracking not be considered racism simply because it involves a player of a certain race.

so much nonsense in the side issues here.

if anybody is arguing that a fan isn’t allowed to boo an opposition player, then they completely misunderstand why people pay to watch their team each week.

booing an opposition player isn’t bullying and it isn’t inherently wrong.

what is at debate here is what is motivating the continuous booing of Goodes.

almost certainly, some people booing Goodes are doing it for racial reasons or at least partly because they don’t like his stance on race issues.

almost certainly, some people aren’t. Goodes is one of those annoying players for your team to play against, because he is both good and a chippy, complaining guys that is always pushing and flouting and trying to get an edge for his team. He just is. Does anyone really think Ross Greenwood is racist?

plenty of outrage on display but much of the above seems politically motivated and unnecessarily binary. (tempted to say too black and white)

we can’t ban it. we can’t prove how it’s motivated but we can suspect that at least some of it is racially driven.

Scott, mate what the hell are you on about and what has your stupid rant got to do with the situation. History is littered with invasions and take overs, it is something that has always happened and always will. I hav not said my version is right anymore than the others on this thread. There are always 3 sides to any story, yours, mine and the right one! Why has no one commented on the other things I have mentioned, the assault of the junior umpire in the nrl match, umpires constantly being abused and spat on! People like you are too quick to use the word racist, in fact it is bandied around far too much.

@fleshpeddler, is booing an opposition player relentlessly and indefinitely, over highly questionable grounds in the first place, not inherently wrong?

Goodes has every right to stick up for what he feels. And fortunately there are many vocal supporters who will support him doing this.

I think a little girl who made a racist comment getting thrown out of the game is harsh. She needs to learn that it is unacceptable, so Goodes did something within his rights so she will get the message. But instead what does end up happening is she gets strung up and made a public example of, by a media personality who has a big voice – pretty traumatic for a kid. Would this have caused the reaction it did if the person being thrown out was an adult?

On the boo-ers side there are people who are motivated by race booing Goodes, a bunch who believe he was heavy handed with the girl, there is the crowd who don’t think anything of the issue but boo anyway (anything that makes your team win, they are showing weakness, let’s poke it!), and people who are booing all those booers. And whilst Goodes is one man who wanted to make a serious point about racial vilification, the messages all mash together and hit him in this big wave of boos.

It’s all very Crucible.

Having to deal with public scrutiny is what comes with being a public figure making public actions, an example of a model Australian and making a stance. Sometimes the reaction you hope isn’t what you end up with.

We people can get ugly, standing on one side or another, hurling rotten tomatoes and mud at each other when something stirs inside of us. I hope when the dust settles from this that Australia together we can bond and learn something from it…

thanks for posting that rooboy. also Tadhg Keneally has an article today on news.com.au with the full transcript of the Australia Day speech.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/a.....7463277546

For my last comment on this subject I have simply placed a link that I think all you doo gooder tree hugging so called intellectuals should take the time to read. It is from an indigenous man Mr Kerry Marsh who has now become my hero as he tells it like it is from the perspective of a true aboriginal and someone I have great admiration for. These are the people we should listen to and I hope you all have a read.

http://theblacksteamtrain.blog.....-results=1

Hey John, read my last post and see if you can identify yourself in there!! I rest my case!!

I am glad to hear that is your last comment Gary. When you have some spare time you might try looking up the word ‘intolerance’ in the dictionary.

Glen Blencowe, you said “You keep sprouting Australian of the Year for Goodes but he doesnt celebrate australia day instead he calls it invasion day, yet he still takes all the acolades. To me he is a hypocrite” so now I read your recent post, you now agree it WAS an invasion day! Wonderful. It’s happened many times in history you point out… doesn’t make it right. I’m sure you would be up in arms and could predict the turmoil to the Australian culture if it happened today… unfortunately you’ve also taken Adams words out of context where he also celebrated Australia Day. There seems to be two main reasons people are booing Adam: 1. “His treatment of a girl” a couple of years ago – yeah, after being racially vilified who wouldn’t in their right mind protest and take action finally! And a 5 year old understands what racism is… a 13 year old calling an Aboriginal sportsmen an Ape is incredibly bad parenting… with her parents right there… why didn’t her parents have words with her before Adam had to complain? That is shockingly unacceptable in 2015 2. “The way he plays” – his stats clearly show a clean and fair style of player more than most in the AFL. Good day to you Mr Blencowe PS. Why don’t you hug a tree… you’ll like it 😉

Hey Pete
Intolerance: unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviour that differ from one’s own

Mmmmmmm does that go both ways???

Thanks Scott love you too!! And the name is Gary by the way.

What seems to have been overlooked by a whole lot of people including Alan Jones is that, quite simply, racial vilification is against the law. It’s illegal under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. It is illegal to make “racially abusive comments at sporting events by players, spectators, coaches or officials” unquote.

When being called an ape Adam Goodes, knowing the law, upheld his rights and reported the offence to a security person indicating the offender who acted illegally. Sporting venues, to protect the venue’s legal interests, should communicate though prominent signage to patrons that it is illegal to make racially abusive comments.

Call it Forwhatitis
30 Jul 15
2:47 pm

Polls suggest otherwise, mate. It’s the silent majority on this. Do some news reading, then get back to me when you have facts, rather than misplaced passion doing a poor imitation of them.

Call it Forwhatitis
30 Jul 15
2:47 pm

PS. A bigot is someone who refuses to acknowledge someone else’s point of view. A few pro-Goodes people on here – and elsewhere – fit into that category.

Gary Blencowe – I thought you said that was your last comment?

Haha as if I’m gonna let others have the last say! Well said Robbo

You’ve got to be kicking. He’s doesn’t get booed cause he’s black. He gets booed cause he’s a flog. And he’s made it worse himself. Footballers all over the world get booed week in week out at every stadium. Black Players in Ukraine and Russia are disgustingly racially abused. This whole Goodes thing is just a piss in the ocean.

@robbo I think you are right – I am out of touch, I find it really difficult to understand how so many people can think the behaviour is acceptable even though all the leaders and players of the AFL don’t. Please enlighten me – seriously. Please try your best and explain your pov and why it’s ok to continue to continue this mass bullying to someone who has done little more than stand up for his rights.

@garyblencowe I’ve been to three games this season. The captains of ALL the footy teams who agree with me have been to a few more. How many have you been to? What does it matter? Your views are troubling and I really wish I could understand where you are coming from.

PS the finance guy on the today show! Really!! He’s your moral compass?

@devilsAdvocate Goodes was standing up for himself and the consistent harassment (that really started after he outed racism towards him on the field. Yes he took on the mob – good on him, and the mob is fierce and relentless, and needs to stop.

@paridell I could equally claim your comments are anti Australian (whatever the hell that means), but it doesnt get us very far.

@crizza @john grono and all the other supporters, way to go.

PS Adam Goodes has done more for this country than all of us on this comments thread put together. He’s a role model to millions and may his positive influence be a lesson for all of us (especially Gary Blencowe)

Well said Adam.

Can someone please explain to me, what is a flog?

The booing of Goodes started after he bullied a 13 year old girl. It intensified after he called for Australia Day to re-named Invasion Day. Doing a tribal dance drew more attention and he got it – more booing. The seventy plus other indigenous players don’t get the same treatment because they turn up to play the game without attitude.

OK, I must state that I completely agree with Adam and co. My question is that if Adam Goodes kicks the winning goal or stops a move in is tracks against my team Carlton – am i allowed to boo him for denying my team a win or at least a chance to score a goal?

I boo people if they deny my team the ball or do a hard tackle – I’ve been known to yell out Ball at occasion as well.

What to say? I’m white…and every time I open my mouth, I can be accused of being racist..where do you go from there? I have no legal standing to defend myself. I feel much like the aboriginals once felt…but I doubt I would be allowed to ‘claim that right’. I feel uncomfortable around aboriginals/different skin colours now..since I grew up with them, and had close friends at school who were aboriginal, some 40 years ago, it is an interesting feeling. I feel like I am being presented to the Queen, and I can only say certain words to her, for fear of offending her and the entire monarchy. Words that I use everyday with those of the same ideals…I rarely swear, nor would I ever boo someone because of their skin colour…to be honest, skin colour is as important to me, as someone having a freckle where I can’t see it! But it is so important, mostly to my detriment, to everyone else.
The other thing which I also understand is those words which I am, by law, not allowed to utter, are commonly used between aboriginals and other races…..reminds me of the days where aboriginals were not allowed in certain areas of white mans domain….only reversed.
Well, so be it….this has made me so much stronger for myself, because I know I only have myself….I doubt there will be any swing towards balance…no one gives up power easily. And the race card is one of the most powerful.
As I said, I do not care about skin colour….I wish Adam would play….I would, and I would hold my head high, when I did it. Is that the white way….I never really gave it a thought until just now? Yes, I know…it is a racist comment…guilty, but I cannot change my skin colour! And words said, or not said, are only as good as the next person you meet.

You don’t know what “anti-Australian” means, Adam? Well, it must be a puzzling expression for some people. You may consider it a synonym of bully, prima donna and ratbag.

Adam you’ve been spending too much time among the inner-city, Leftie-luvvies.
They want to turn every conversation about any topic into one about discrimination or racism.
They want to turn Aboriginal heroes into victims, because it suits their twisted narrative, and their desire to be seen as virtuous.
This issue is sad, because it may single-handedly sink the Constitutional referendum reform. Just when all parties were getting together, Adam Goodes fires a missile into the gathering, dividing Australians along racial lines. Very ill-advised.
A great career, marred through self-harm.

The referendum, if it is ever held, will assuredly fail, but not because of Goodes. It will fail because to succeed it needs the support of a majority of electors in a majority of states. The chances of getting that for any conceivable question aimed at privileging Aborigines in the Constitution are nil, Goodes or no Goodes.

Mike, I know you’re trying to insult some of us by associating our comments with “love”. But you should give it a try, it’s a lot more rewarding than hate.

I think we have all been given responsibilities of everyone else s emotions and feelings, and it is sending us mad! From the time we hit school at 5 we are told to ‘think of others feelings’, obey their rights, and at the same time told that we are victims if…name your personal ‘bandwagon’…then told you ‘stand up for your rights, and those of others’. Bit of a tall ask, considering in Australia alone we have what…23 million individuals to worry about. Don’t even mention overseas! And not one of them thinks exactly the same way. We talk of being treated with respect, but it is different from one to the next! Oh, why don’t we put ourselves in someone else s shoes? I use that one a lot and practice too, but really, I have no idea….I can only imagine with what I have….and guess what….back to 23 million of those! Actually more, if you think how much each person imagines in a 5 second frame!
Let us go back to being put in charge of our own emotions…that might have social media slam to a stop, but there might be a bit more peace.
Adam…wonderful guy….has what? Over 10 million supporters (using half of Australia as a basis) who think the world of him, a job, job security for life, money in the bank, noted by a country….but he is unhappy as all hell. Just goes to show, do not give control of your emotions to strangers to be responsible for, or anyone for that matter….their only example is theirs…it is not yours…..you give one away, and get back 23 million to be responsible for!!!! People do not have the ability to care for others emotions….only you can do that properly. Your own foundation has to be solid and hard built by only you…if it is built by others…it has flaws…about 23 million of them!

Thank goodness @Robbo and @Gary Blencowe are such a minority in this discussion. That’s a heartening and postive outtake to all this. I would seriously pay money to witness them play on a professional AFL field and get booed for over an hour reletlessly and see how they both handle it. Obviously they are made of tough stuff!
Hopefully in another generation’s time – the likes of them will be completely wiped out of society. There is no place for them in modern Australia today.

How old are you, Stu? I’ve lost count of the things that were confidently thought to be on their way out, from the flag, to the monarchy, to Anzac Day, to “the likes of them” being “completely wiped out”.

People who talk like this tend in the long term to turn into “the likes of them” themselves, so the ranks are ever replenished.

Of course, there are always new Stus arising to predict the imminent disappearance of the old Stus!

@Paridell I am old enough to know better to defend gutless boo-ers.
It’s interesting that those boo-ers dont ever identify themselves. Its easy to hide behind a gutless act (and in defence of said gutless act).
My comment above is that there is far mor support in favour of Adam Ferrier’s article here than against. And in my opinion thats a good thing.
P.S. “Stu” stands for Stuart Langeveldt. Feel free to email me directly at stuartlangeveldt@gmail.com

Stu, I note that you believe it a good thing that more comments here are in favour of Mr Ferrier’s views than against them.

It would appear, though, that you prefer unanimity.

I also note your remark, which I find rather sinister, that “the likes of them” will be “completely wiped out” because “there is no place for them”. Somehow I doubt such views presage utopia! They never have in the past… quite the contrary.

@Paridell. Thank you for noting my comment. Much obliged.

1. You are correct. I do prefer unanimity when it comes to agreeing with the Adam’s article “The media needs to stop condoning the booing and bullying of Adam Goodes”. I make no apologies for wanting consensus on this topic. The booing of Adam Goodes was/is disgusting and hopefully will now stop to let the man do what he is good at.
2. Don’t box at shadows @Paridell. There is no “sinister” intention in my original comments. Simply, as we grow up as a society and a nation, my hope is that the inherent racism that is behind the booing will be “wiped out” because (IN MY OPINION) there is “no place for them” i.e. racists in modern Australia.
3 Granted – this may seem “utopian”. But I can hope, can’t I ?

But you’re assuming people are booing because of the colour of his skin. That’s not true because other indigenous footballers don’t get booed. Goodes is booed because of his antagonising remarks in the media (eg. his ‘Invasion Day’ comments) and his provoking supporters of other teams eg. the war dance, rushing towards opposition fans on the boundary line after scoring a goal, etc. His race has got little to do with it.

@Reality Check (comment 74)

You are not keeping up Reality check.

Goodes was called an Ape by a member of the crowd, which is highly offensive. He reacted to that by reporting her to the officials. As a result of his quite legitimate action, he was booed. Ultimately what this means is that Goodes spoke up when he was racially abused and then a large contingent of the crowd, ultimately endorsed that racism, which is quite frankly horrifying.

As for ‘Invasion Day’. Read a real history book and learn about the many languages and people who were living on this land prior to European settlement.

@Mr Realty (comment 75)

You forgot to mention it was a 13 year old girl that said that. If I walked past a 13 year old and she called me names, I would just ignore it like water off a ducks back. They are kids, they don’t know any better. Goodes should have done the same. In fact Goodes being a grown man and footballer should have known better. He looked weak by picking on a 13 year old girl.

In 2015, there are 71 listed Indigenous players in the AFL. Your argument fails, comment 77, because if it was race issue, we would be hearing 70 lots of booing each time an indigenous player steps onto the footy oval. We do not. Goodes gets booed because of what he has done, not who he is. Stop playing the race card.

Stu, when I said I found your comments slightly sinister, I was referring to the comments themselves. Your intention in making them may or may not have shared the same sinister quality. But the idea of “wiping out” people or opinions strikes me as totalitarian, and all the more so if it is justified in the name of anti-racism. Your reply looks forward to a time when “racists in modern Australia” have been wiped out! And who will determine who is a ‘racist’ and therefore deserving of being eliminated? Without a doubt, the same petty bureaucrats who in other countries have deemed those they didn’t like to be enemies of the people, life unworthy of life, sub-human, or simply surplus to requirements.

Our problem isn’t in Australia isn’t inherent racism. It’s the inherent lust for power that underlies the pervasive anti-racism discourse. Present company excepted, I’m sure. That’s why I find your particular comments only slightly sinister.