so they didn't?

Exactly but stand by for the righteous rebuke.

So the image of RL is unimportant? If Hardaker's actions had been condoned, would it matter to you if Sky, Tetleys and First Utility pulled out so as not to be associated with us, or if parents stopped their children taking up the game because of it?

What? The recommendation was put in place then dropped due to complaints from the black community. The point is that when it suits, some are all to keen to get the pitchforks out. Now, if these same people were to denegrate Dianne Abbott for committing hate crime with her infamous tweet a couple of years back, fair enough.

Whoa. No ones suggesting condoning his behaviour. That's about as likely as Sky et al pulling the plug because of it.

Maybe because because being a redhead/ginger has never caused a person to be sold into slavery or lynched? Or these days not given a job, told to go back to their own country or generally treated like a second class citizen? Tell me you're just trolling and aren't actually that ignorant that you think racist/homophobic insults are no more offensive than hair colour based insults

What's Diane Abbott got to do with Zak Hardaker or Rugby League in general?

We are talking about Zak and his foolish comments. Most of us agree that he was out of order and that he deserved his ban. We agree that the RFL did the right thing.

You seem to think that this is some left wing or liberal conspiracy. Perhaps my comment about it being a hate crime was out of context although it certainly is correct. I don't think that you need to worry about pitchforks in my case as I think the ban is correct and maybe Zak will learn. Perhaps some good will come out of it.

If you need to go trawling through the net to prove your quip about baa baa black sheep I feel genuinely sorry for you. If you look hard enough you can always find something to confirm your right wing prejudices.

I never need to trawl the net to confirm my left wing prejudices (haha).

Maybe you have never had to deal with a family member or friend who attempted suicide because of the abuse he constantly received over his sexuality, yes a spear tackle can ruin peoples lives and I don't condone that but please don't think that verbal abuse is to be laughed off or is any less serious because believe me it can and does affect lives.

This is a good challenging thread, one of the best actually. I recommend a film called "The Normal Heart" I had to reassess a few things after watching this film, I never realised I was so prejudiced, but thats how Wigan brought me up during the 1980s. I can remember the days of inflatable bananas, but to be fair Wigan fans did switch to inflatable light bulbs because of the Norweb connection. We progressed then, we can progress now....

I still have my light bulb

It is mainly due to the fact that being a ginger as you put it isn't punishable by death in as much of the world as it is to be homosexual, which in reality is just as part of a persons nature as having the gene that causes red hair.

It may seem like a stretch, but the main reason that the laws are in place to prevent abuse of a persons nature, is to stop persecution of a group of people who are only seen as outsiders due to some bronze age text of a group of illiterate tribesmen that is still in circulation for some reason.

In fact I would invite you to visit Amnesty Internationals web page, on it you will find evidence of why homophobic abuse should not be tolerated in modern society. These documents include testimony of people who have escaped with only their lives after being turned upon for being homosexual or even for being suspected of being a homosexual.

On there you may also find the "guide to stoning" which is an official publication of Iran, guess what they do with homosexuals in Iran and other such places, punishments for homosexuality include, being driven over by a tank, having a wall pushed on you, being thrown from a building roof and yes you guessed it stoning, but not with stones that are too big or too small so not as to take too long or forbid it be over too soon! There is even a person who selects the sizes of the stones to be thrown!

Now I am not for one second suggesting that a bit of "name calling" as you put it leads to this, but you must see that it is the thin end of the wedge as they say and it was illegal in large areas of Europe to even be homosexual until quite recently, and according to some British politicians, homosexuals cause floods!

Do me a favour !

What the hell has the stoning by muslims on gays in Iran got to do with some stupid remarks on the Superleague pitch?

Amnesty International is a 'lefty' website, so I won't be reading their opinions in anyway, thank you very much.

I will say that '[uPolitical correctness[/u' or to use it's proper name '[ucultural marxism[/u' is destroying western civilization. Which is what the 'Frankfurt school' intended.

When I was in the Army and called very bad names by the drill staff, I learnt to 'grow a pair'.

Regarding the 'ginger' example; that is a form of public ridicule and bullying but which is seen as being perfectly OK in this country. In other words, it's OK to abuse some in the UK. But not others. That is selective social engineering, but that is what marxism is all about ?

With that, I will get out of this thread. As I don't come on here to discuss politics.

Can't we return to the good old days where sledging was mainly about what you did to your opponents mother or wife the previous night.

Alternatively use a variation of the Frankie Boyle "My dad's gay. My dad ****** your dad....And your dad enjoyed it!"

good post.

And yet you did.

You must be gutted about the treatment of Emre Belozoglu. Another nail in the coffin of Western Civilisation eh?

I will never understand people who think human rights are somehow a 'lefty' concept.

I remember when 'political correctness' wasnt 'cultural marxism' but simply 'politeness'

perhaps its time for this thread to die a death, as Zak Hardaker's names has long since had an early bath .. (or rename it the "this forum isnt really about politics BUT ..." thread)

My final comment on this. You brought racism into the debate with your hate crime nonsense. I proved myself right and you wrong re the nursery rhyme. What's wrong with using the Internet for that? You proved your own ignorance re the tar brush thing. As for right wing prejudice I am an ex union representative who has never voted Conservative in my life, but nice attempt to pigeonhole me.

Finally, my view on the issue is that there is no proof that Hardaker has a phobia or hatred of all gay people just because they are gay. He has foolishly insulted an individual through frustration, loss of cool or whatever. Or do you really believe that his actions were actually spurred by a fear or hatred of every gay person on the planet?

My final comment too

I didn't bring racism into it. It was brought up by a previous poster.

The nursery rhyme is a myth propogated by people like you. No-one ever banned it.

Sorry but the tar brush comment is racist to many people who are black.

You may have been a union rep but that prooves nothing. The trade unions had a shameful view on immigration from the Caribbean in the 50s/60s for example on the docks in East London.

Your views are right wing now. I'm not pigeonholing you, you did that all by yourself. I'm proud to be a socialist, at least be proud to be whatever reflects your own views (probably the tories)

We don't need proof about Zak's homophobia. It came out of his own mouth.

What self righteous nonsense. You are effectively saying we should condone any insults except racist or homophobic. The punishment is well over the top as is all the gavel gazing.

We could just punish people for insults based on race, colour, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin. You know, like the rules say?

What? So if I and some friends decide something is racist, whether it is or not, it becomes racist? Seriously...This is how it works now?

Ok, I've decided ''When the Saints Go Marching In'' is racist (and let's say homophobic for good measure!). Anyone care to join me then we can get it banned?

That probably comes under the "inciting religious hatred" rule...

Damn! How did I forget to include religion!! Can we say it's politically incorrect to support Saints too?

That's one of the commandments isn't it