Election Year or Fear!

[Geoff Parkstone]

It wasn’t me who introduced the ‘working behind the scenes at a ground’ aspect. It was AF.

Believe it or not, my experience at Old Trafford was that the vast majority of the Indian fans - about an estimated 10% of the whole crowd - were all grouped together in one part of the ground. In much the same way as those English fans who wish to drink to excess and sing tedious songs are encouraged to stay in Old Trafford’s ‘Party Stand’ (or the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston) so, I imagine, the Indian fans, who wish to drum incessantly throughout the match, were encouraged to gather together in a particular section.

Everything was amicable and that’s how it was. When the Aussies come for the Ashes, they also tend to gather together in their green and gold enclaves.

I’m honestly struggling to make much sense of the rest of your post.

Usually the case when you are trying to extract yourself from a stupid post/opinion

As for cricket, its a bit different at Lords in my experience although the Oval does tend to kettle Aussies and indeed West Indian fans (or they did when the Oval was the epicentre of West Indian support when they had a strong team). However like you Ive never experienced any trouble at cricket matches between supporters, nor at Rugby (15 a side, never tried 13) whilst at footballl....

[ramAnag]

Usually the case when you are trying to extract yourself from a stupid post/opinion

Just rude, GP.
I simply don’t understand what you are trying to say about black youth in paragraph one of post 4625, and I wasn’t comparing TV adverts with attending sporting events.
I was making the point that, while Sarah Pochin appears desperate to express her discomfort at the number of black and Asian people in TV adverts she, and actually you, don’t seem to recognise the problem of black and Asian people being apparently reluctant to engage in the type of leisure/entertainment activities that the likes of you and I feel comfortable attending.
Unless we want a permanently divided society, and there are definitely some who do, we have to address such issues imo.

[Geoff Parkstone]

"you, don’t seem to recognise the problem of black and Asian people being apparently reluctant to engage in the type of leisure/entertainment activities that the likes of you and I feel comfortable attending."

Youre absolutley right I bloody well dont. What makes you so presumptuous as to know that those groups of people want to go to the same events as you or I do and what makes you so presumptuous as to know that they dont because they would feel uncomfortable to do so. Ive never heard anything so ****ing ridiculous in my life.

When you were 18 would you have wanted to go to an event that your grandad liked, I dont know, such as a Russ Conway concert or to see Max Bygraves do a comic turn. Of course you wouldnt. So why do you presume people dont attend the same things as you or I might want to "because they dont feel comfortable". Maybe, just maybe, they dont go because they dont want to go, because perhaps they dont enjoy it. Maybe because they have a limited budget and dont prioritise it, prefer to spend the money on something they enjoy.... So you are going to give them free tickets to go and sit bored staring at their phone just because you would have enjoyed it yourself if you were them????

My kids wouldnt want to go and see Pink Floyd play in concert (if still possible) any more than I'd want to go see Central C or Digga D. Yes I had to google them too! But you cant impose your values/enjoyment on people with different and cultural values, interests and ages just because YOU think YOU know whats best for them, and its "right on" / "woke". People are different, celebrate that difference, dont try to force them into your box of self righteousness.

[ramAnag]

"you, don?’t seem to recognise the problem of black and Asian people being apparently reluctant to engage in the type of leisure/entertainment activities that the likes of you and I feel comfortable attending."

Youre absolutley right I bloody well dont. What makes you so presumptuous as to know that those groups of people want to go to the same events as you or I do and what makes you so presumptuous as to know that they dont because they would feel uncomfortable to do so. Ive never heard anything so ****ing ridiculous in my life.

When you were 18 would you have wanted to go to an event that your grandad liked, I dont know, such as a Russ Conway concert or to see Max Bygraves do a comic turn. Of course you wouldnt. So why do you presume people dont attend the same things as you or I might want to "because they dont feel comfortable". Maybe, just maybe, they dont go because they dont want to go, because perhaps they dont enjoy it. Maybe because they have a limited budget and dont prioritise it, prefer to spend the money on something they enjoy.... So you are going to give them free tickets to go and sit bored staring at their phone just because you would have enjoyed it yourself if you were them????

My kids wouldnt want to go and see Pink Floyd play in concert (if still possible) any more than I'd want to go see Central C or Digga D. Yes I had to google them too! But you cant impose your values/enjoyment on people with different and cultural values, interests and ages just because YOU think YOU know whats best for them, and its "right on" / "woke". People are different, celebrate that difference, dont try to force them into your box of self righteousness.

Ooops. Seem to have hit a nerve there.

Anyway, nothing to do with me thinking I know what’s best for people or imposing my values on them and nothing to do with age either. That’s a completely different issue and just another example of you deflecting with a huge red herring.

Fact is that approximately 43% of Premiership footballers are black but only an estimated 13% of spectators are. Why is that do you think? Lack of interest? I think not.

Another fact is that, according to the Arts Council, 92% of British theatre leaders are white and there are concerns about the cultural disconnect which has led to both theatres and museums attracting predominantly white ‘audiences’.

Years ago, on one of many theatre trips which I organised for relatively deprived kids, I made a point of insisting that a notoriously difficult te enager could only come on the trip if he understood that he was sitting next to me at Buxton Opera House throughout a production of the Hobbit. People thought I was mad taking him, but he was actually as good as gold and thoroughly enjoyed the production, although I’ve never forgotten him saying at the interval, ‘brilliant innit sir…not for the likes of us though is it?’

Perhaps the proven reluctance or inability of black/Asian people to access such entertainment should be more of a concern then than how many black/Asian faces appear in TV advertising. It is to me. Apparently not to you, but self righteousness doesn’t come into it. It’s all about offering opportunity and equality.

[Andy_Faber]

Back on topic (sorry rA), general consensus, and ignoring comments on obviously partisan media, appears to be that she’s merely brought into mainstream media a fact-supported issue that is widely discussed on social media already. I’d estimate 95% of thousands of comments support her sentiment if not her delivery. My own opinion is she said it how she did deliberately to maximise the amount of fuss generated

[SithHappens]

My own opinion is she said it how she did deliberately to maximise the amount of fuss generated

I admire your faith in her ability.

Personally I don't think she has the intelligence to be so creative but who knows.

[ramAnag]

Back on topic (sorry rA), general consensus, and ignoring comments on obviously partisan media, appears to be that she?’s merely brought into mainstream media a fact-supported issue that is widely discussed on social media already. I?’d estimate 95% of thousands of comments support her sentiment if not her delivery. My own opinion is she said it how she did deliberately to maximise the amount of fuss generated

No need to apologise, AF, although I don’t think I ever went off topic. Just tried to add a perspective…that the underrepresentation of black and Asian where certain activities are concerned is rather more important than how ‘mad’ a Reform MP feels about adverts.

As regards your ‘95% of thousands of comments support her sentiment’. I guess that depends where you look.

[MadAmster]

Both my lads would gladly attend a Pink Floyd concert although one is a metal head and the other Techno. They have both been "subjected to a wide variety of sounds when they were growing up. From me, obviously Soul and R&B but also Beatles, Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Reggae, Ska, two Tone... Their Mam is a rock chick so they also got to hear a wide range from her.

I'm glad they got to listen to a wide range of genres and grew up to appreciate various kinds of music.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Let me draw a line under this. I couldn't agree less. It's up to them to select their preferred entertainment and ensure it's personally affordable. You can even have the last word as I'm sure you will want.

[Andy_Faber]

Both my lads would gladly attend a Pink Floyd concert although one is a metal head and the other Techno. They have both been "subjected to a wide variety of sounds when they were growing up. From me, obviously Soul and R&B but also Beatles, Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Reggae, Ska, two Tone... Their Mam is a rock chick so they also got to hear a wide range from her.

I'm glad they got to listen to a wide range of genres and grew up to appreciate various kinds of music.

Likewise. As I’ve said before, politics divide, sport provokes, music unites. Currently digging professor Nick Harrison who, amongst other daft things, Delights in rock/funk mashups with an infectious smile