I'm glad to see you take it so well Smokey.

Players have suffered chants for years,

Rent Boy Rent Boy and the likes have occured at many a ground, it's not something invented and specially targeted for Gareth Thomas

I don't agree some are worse than others. I'd suggest it's simply that some are more of a cause celebre than others.

If a heterosexual player had been called gay and suggestions made that he took it up the bum, there wouldn't have been an utterance about it.

I think you are overplaying the issue in order to try and take the high ground. Homophobia as you call it isn't any bigger a problem, in terms of numbers of instances or in society overall than kids being picked on because of an aspect their appearance.

As I've said if Thomas had a real problem with what was said, why hasn't he done something about it? There are plenty of channels for him to proceed with a complaint.

People need to see this for what it was, a bit of ribbing. What are you going to do if players rip the out of him, which they will inevitably do?

Storm in a teacup. it's done it's been noted, move on and stop being so bloody high and mighty.

Meaningless to express frustration? That's a really poor cop out. If that's the case aren't the fans who chant these things as ignorant as those you are chastising for ribbing Thomas? Resorting to foul language and abuse is exactly the same ignorance as you say was directed at Thomas, but you somehow seem to think one is worse than the other.

Rank hypocrisy.

I haven't deviated in any way. My argument has been consistent that what was aimed at Thomas is no worse than what is aimed at anyone else from a rugby crowd, or in society in general.

I didn't say it wasn't an issue, I argued it was no more of an issue than anything else that often passes completely without comment.

Had it not been a high profile union player on the end of it, it wouldn't have raised a single comment.

Carry on self flagellating.

You're right in one way, obviously there is a hierarchy of sorts, but explain how being called a bald/fat/thick *insert expletive here* is any different to being called a gay *insert expletive here* - why should the latter be considered any worse than the former?

Sureley they are all insulting and directed at a particular aspect of a person that stands out from the "average" persons aspects?

What player has been getting called a 'rent boy'???

Not since ive been in England no.

Its all that Superleague stuff.


You cant see NRL here unless you watch it online so I tend not to bother.



So whose the rent boy?

You?

This is exactly the same argument used by the BNP to suggest that there's nothing particularly bad about calling black footballers "black s" or "s". People who abuse people about being black and people who abuse people about being gay, are bigoted s. Those who try to defend the indefensible are - at best - deluded and naive, and - at worst - are fundamentally in agreement that it's ok to abuse people for being black/gay.

Really, if anyone thinks that it's ok/not particularly bad, to direct homophobic abuse towards a gay player, then they should at the very least know that the civilised world thinks they're a [and I hate the infantilising swear filter on here].

You can control fatness, baldness and even intelligence to an extent. They are all intrinsically negative characteristics, and they operate on a different scale - you can have somebody who is very fat, or someone who is just a bit tubby. Homosexuality, on the other hand, is not something someone can control, is not a negative characteristic, and is a fixed characteristic - you can't reduce your homosexuality, or have someone who is 'quite homosexual', and the same goes for race. If you can't see the difference, then I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are just naive.

what thomas did isnt the RL way

he shouldve taken it on the chin and played on

just saying in the media it hurt him means he will suffer more of it

hes soft. needs to toughen up if he wants to make in in league

RL players have played games with broken arms and jaws, a little bit of name calling is hardly anything to carry on with the soft git

Any player who happens to upset the fans of the home team in front of the main stand i'd guess

Im not questioning whether you can control the other things, the fact of the matter is that someone has a certain characteristic and a group of people shout abuse at them based on said characteristic. It's still offensive and abusive and whether or not they can control it or not is irrelevant:-

"oh lets call this guy a bald ****** because he can always go and put a wig on so it's ok!"

nonsense!

Barry McKenzie thinks half a dozen or so thick drunken Yorkshiremen calling him a poofter is the least of his problems.

He is 35, got no teeth, no hair hes playing for the Crusaders of all people and if reports are to be believed isn't having the best start to his Rugby League career.


Having said that I wish him all the best. He was a great Union player and I'm sure he will do ok at League