TB abuse is abuse no context no sliding scale its as simple as that, thats equality and thats fairness, unless you feel some are more equal than others over to you!!!!!

First of all. I am not "as bad". The point I was making in that in our circle of friends we are able to make ginger jokes because we know he takes it as a joke and gives as good as he gets (it has been that way since we were three!). However none of us would dream of making a joke about the gay or ethnic minority members of our group. As for any form of abuse being "bullying", I don't know if there is a definition out there for bullying, but I am fairly confident that acts of bullying must carry some form of malice or intention. Thus calling my best mate of 15 years a ginger related joke when I know he will take it as a joke and reply with something equally funny cannot be called bullying.


As for Cas fans calling Riley ginger, I wouldn't be offended and I bet he wouldn't consider it much more than a minor distraction too. Cas fans certainly wouldn't get in trouble for calling him ginger.

At the end of the day you cannot equate generic sporting banter with racial/homophobic abuse. As a club your time and efforts would be better spent backing the players and weeding out the idiots.

Quote Matt King's Barber="Matt King's Barber"First of all. I am not "as bad". The point I was making in that in our circle of friends we are able to make ginger jokes because we know he takes it as a joke and gives as good as he gets (it has been that way since we were three!). However none of us would dream of making a joke about the gay or ethnic minority members of our group. As for any form of abuse being "bullying", I don't know if there is a definition out there for bullying, but I am fairly confident that acts of bullying must carry some form of malice or intention. Thus calling my best mate of 15 years a ginger related joke when I know he will take it as a joke and reply with something equally funny cannot be called bullying. As for Cas fans calling Riley ginger, I wouldn't be offended and I bet he wouldn't consider it much more than a minor distraction too. Cas fans certainly wouldn't get in trouble for calling him ginger. At the end of the day you cannot equate generic sporting banter with racial/homophobic abuse. As a club your time and efforts would be better spent backing the players and weeding out the idiots.'" i take it you have read this policy www.therfl.co.uk/community/page.php?areaid=30 , problem is you dont understand it............

Quote Matt King's Barber="Matt King's Barber"First of all. I am not "as bad". The point I was making in that in our circle of friends we are able to make ginger jokes because we know he takes it as a joke and gives as good as he gets (it has been that way since we were three!). However none of us would dream of making a joke about the gay or ethnic minority members of our group. As for any form of abuse being "bullying", I don't know if there is a definition out there for bullying, but I am fairly confident that acts of bullying must carry some form of malice or intention. Thus calling my best mate of 15 years a ginger related joke when I know he will take it as a joke and reply with something equally funny cannot be called bullying. As for Cas fans calling Riley ginger, I wouldn't be offended and I bet he wouldn't consider it much more than a minor distraction too. Cas fans certainly wouldn't get in trouble for calling him ginger. At the end of the day you cannot equate generic sporting banter with racial/homophobic abuse. As a club your time and efforts would be better spent backing the players and weeding out the idiots.'" i take it you have read this policy www.therfl.co.uk/community/page.php?areaid=30 , problem is you dont understand it............

I clicked the link but all that came up was a bunch of links under the heading "Resources".

What I am pointing out is the de facto position of these rules, law and regulations.

Don't tell me that I "don't understand it", I am just being realistic.

Your fans broke the law, the club failed to enforce it, you have been fined. Back your players, weed out the idiots. You have been in great form over the past few games, and lets face it as a club you need to unite in order to ensure you stay in SL over the coming seasons (I think everyone knows you are real contenders to miss out next time).

I haven't had time to study the facts or the laws, but I am telling you, clubs might try to restrict people saying it, but you will never see a club fined to the extent Castelford were for chants about hair colour.

A good example of the de facto position of these rules is that today in Wrexham, whilst Ganson was warming up the crowd game him a few jovial rounds of "you fat bstd". What did Ganson do? Laughed, and ran along patting his belly in response to the crowd!

if you click on the powerpoints and posters it is the rfl respect policy for ALL clubs to follow

Right, well instead of worrying about that put together a campaign to find the people who chanted, get the banned, and try to overturn the fine.

This is the bit I don't get...
I take it there wasn't an anti gay demo and people were not threatening him....
And as he has himself said he has the mickey taken out by his team mates...
And we are saying abuse is abuse and is not tolerated even on a sliding scale...
So why are people not surprised at the severity?
If banter is changed to abuse and fined then all banter must be stopped and thus sealing the worms in the can..
And also why did the RFL not chastise Cas then get them to partner in a larger more positive action in education of the masses? I would imagine Cas would have got inboard big style, Pink day anyone?

Where has Gareth Thomas gone on record as saying his team mates make jokes about him being gay?!

That would really shock me if he had.

"But I love them taking the . We've got another Australian on the wing, Nick Youngquest, and he's a gay icon. He's been on the cover of Attitude but he's comfortable in his [straight sexuality. It still gives the boys a laugh because they say to me: 'Oooo, he's not so happy now you're taking over.' Me and Nick are good mates and we'll walk in the room together and someone will shout: 'Here come the girls!'"
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/04/gareth-thomas-gay-interview-crusadersHere you go starter for one[/url

And a little porkie pie for another, Or is this the truth and the RFL are doing this on their own back


Gareth never made an issue of the chants or complained to anybody; the story simply took on a life of its own when it was heard by so many others who acted on it. As far as Gareth is concerned, it's done and dusted now. [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/04/gareth-thomas-rfl-castlefordMmmm Well well well[/url

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/ma ... -crusaders this is the article its taken from enjoy.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/ma ... -crusaders this is the article its taken from enjoy.

the more i find out about the bloke i dont think hes anything but a to55er. who is being clever with this and the rfl,

The implication from this article is that at first his team mates had the up most respect for him, so much so they weren't comfortable even mentioning him being gay. The point is that first of all you can't compare what his team mates may have said to the abuse he received at Castleford. Furthmore, it is irrelevant if he was or was not offended, homophobic abuse was no doubt offensive to the many other people (especially those with children) who heard it.

It will be interesting to see how your appeal gets on.