Cricket

[codswallop166]

Of all the countries that play cricket most of the players can speak English,so they would be able to understand the banter that goes on and off the field.But what could stop those players who are complaining about racial slurs from reverting to their native language to do the same.

[goodgoalie]

I'm sure they do. I wouldn't know if someone was abusing me in Hindi or Urdu

[Ken4155]

What's to stop English players learning a bit of the lingo of the team they are playing so they know when this is happening?

[surreyman]

Ken, that might be a difficult one to police if you dont know the context. If you happen to pick out the phrase "fat,lazy,idiot" in a foreign language you would need to now it was aimed at you rather than the big fast bowler who just let the ball go through his legs on the boundary.

[goodgoalie]

I reckon you can call anyone a 'fat, lazy idiot' no matter their ethnicity :)

[Ken4155]

I'm guessing that the OP's question is as a result of what is happening at YCC. And i doubt very much that the phrase "fat lazy idiot" was very high on the list of insults mentioned in the complaints.

[surreyman]

Very good point Ken & Goalie.
At the highest level it's very difficult to get away with any inappropriate actions or words (whatever the language) ON the field with stump mics and multiple cameras trained on you (think sandpapergate).
Also top level umpires nowadays are a lot more "tuned in" to diffusing any on field tensions. Granted that doesn't help in the dressing room or if you are playing on the village green on a Sunday afternoon.

[andy-hughes]

Thus gives rise to the perpetual debate about when joking around crosses the line into offence.

I think the old rules if sensitivity and perception apply here, and I hesitate to suggest that either or both are in short supply in Yorkshire in general, or Heddingly in particular.

If someone is laughing and joining in with banter, then fine, acceptability finds its own level.

But if one or more people are clearly uncomfortable or upst, then dismissing the behaviour as 'banter' and the non-participants as lacking a sense of humour is simply not acceptable.

Because someone does not appreciate your humour means it's your responsibility to adjust it, not theirs to accommodate your idea of wit.

It's about being an adult with a sense of responsibility and awareness, not an overgrown adolescent with personality problems.

[goodgoalie]

Talking of village cricket teams, when I was playing for one, someone on my own side repeatedly called me 'Jock', which wound me up something rotten. I ended up getting him by the throat, pushing him against the dressing-room wall and telling him (with liberal use of expletives) if he ever called me that again I'd knock him into next week.
He never did it again