Unforeseen Consequenses

[Aberdeenplotter]

A footballer apparently tries to wind up an opponent by making some jibes about the colour of his skin. Now a shotgun cartridge has been sent in the post to the victim of the alleged verbal abuse. I am mortified.

[Hilary B]

No idea what this is about, but on the face of it, the 'gift' in the post could have any of several different meanings (unless there was an accompanying note to explain it) the most obvious choices being a threat, or an offer of revenge for the insult.
ALL Verbal abuse is a bad thing, but labelling certain words as unacceptable doesn't tackle the REAL problem, the feelings that may (but often do not) lurk behind those words. You don't cure a social ill by tackling the symptoms (and sometimes the same symptoms merely indicate a rather silly sense of humour anyway), you get to the root, and you tackle the serious issues, like actual THREATS, or incitement to violence, rather than careless use of language.

[bearded bloke]

IIRC it is illegal to send explosives by royal mail,if the police find the sender he will be in deep poo poo.

[SarzWix]

Change the record Hilary, eh?

[Aberdeenplotter]

It's not a question of whether it's legal or not to send explosives through the mail nor is it about tackling the symptoms or the underlying causes. It is simply a question of whether it is acceptable for an extremist, jumping on the back of something that happened during a football match, to put someone into a state of fear and alarm by sending them a bullet in the post. No-one under any circumstances is entitled to do that whatever the symptoms and whatever the underlying problems.

If any other grapes are with me on that point, please just post a reply of I agree. The message needs to get out there.

[Seahorse]

It's a no brainer, isn't it? I can think of no way whatsoever that this is acceptable.

[Alison]

Basically they are some ****s out there

[Ananke]

I agree!!!

It's unacceptable.

[donnakebab]

I agree with you totally AP. But aren't we talking about footballers, and aren't they narcissistic, prima donas that think that they can get away with anything they like because they can afford the best lawyers?

I could be wrong.

[Aberdeenplotter]

The original incident involved footballers and I would hesitate to tar them all with the same brush but who knows is responsible for the bullet in the post incident.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Not acceptable in any way shape or form.

Football the 'beautiful game' yeah more like the Roman arena in my view.

The guy who was supposed to have been abused (have to say that because the case still has to go before the courts) has already recieved threatening letters and now a shotgun cartridge. If that isn't a death threat I don't know what is especially as both protagonists are to play against each other this weekend.

Colin

[donnakebab]

Could be a journalist trying to create a money spinning story for himself.

[mothhawk]

... as both protagonists are to play against each other this weekend.

Colin

Well, let's hope they are grown up enough to walk out onto the pitch together and publicly shake hands. Being paid a disgustingly huge amount of money still doesn't make football anything more than a game. Games should be played with good manners and grace, win or lose.

[cptncrackoff]

didnt the one that said what he said, say that he said 'blind' not 'black', (thats confused me so good luck!! )
i didnt watch it, or bother to investigate much.

But he hasnt been found guilty yet!? - innocent til proven guilty anyone!?

[VirginVegGrower]

Back to talk about veg...so today I bought MORE potatoes