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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4r0xmv wrote

Yeah, let's not ignore the fact that almost EVERY form of competition at every level has elements of "offensive language" and racism. Often times the person trash talking is just going for the most offensive word/phrase of the day to illicit a reaction.

While it's not right and these parents need to be removed, maybe we can put more effort into overcoming these feelings of being offended and how to persevere regardless.

Or we can cancel sporting events, remove spectators, and nerf the world...

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vtskier8022 t1_j4rjqb5 wrote

If you are using racist language to elicit a reaction, you are being racist.

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4rp31o wrote

Yeah, I disagree on that. Just because someone says a word that is deemed 'racist' doesn't mean that the person has actual hate for a race in their heart. It makes them a stupid asshole, but it doesn't make them David Duke.

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vtskier8022 t1_j4uhafi wrote

Actually it does. If you are aware that a phrase is a racial slur but you still believe that it is acceptable to use in day to day life then you are in fact, racist.

A person who values each person individually would say “wow there are millions of other words to use, I will just not use the hateful slur.”

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4umfzc wrote

Yeah, I don't mean acceptable in day to day life. You're not getting what I'm saying and are most concerned with labeling a person as something. Not suprised!

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vtskier8022 t1_j4uya1h wrote

I know what you are getting at. People may not say it intending to cause another race harm.

That said, when a person decides to use a racial slur just to like, talk smack or whatever, they are deciding that those words are acceptable to use directed at another person. Deciding that racial slurs are ok to use in a context like that speaks to that persons view on race.

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Intelligent-Hunt7557 t1_j4saf3w wrote

This is the kind of weaselly forum-shopping that comprises intellectual dishonesty. None of us has the time or expertise to know ‘what’s in their heart’ or to separate the true-believer bigots from the grifters. You’re engineering the discussion so we throw up our hands and do nothing. Hate speech is hate.

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4upwpy wrote

Who decides what hate speech is? Who picks the words? You?

If you say a word once publicly does that make you a hateful racist?

GTFO with your one size fits all label

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Intelligent-Hunt7557 t1_j4w3hgl wrote

Don’t cut yourself with that razor’s edge! You know very well who decides what words mean- users themselves! And yes, if you say the n-word the people hearing you have good reason to believe you are demonstrating racism, despite your ‘just words’ defense.

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joeconn4 t1_j4ts9go wrote

Almost every form of competition at every level has elements of offensive language and racism??? Are you kidding me? I've competed in hundreds of races, coached for 20+ years, played competitive golf, racket sports, old man baseball, rec basketball and volleyball, pond hockey. Have heard very little offensive language.

It's not all sports all levels. But being around youth/HS team sports probably the worst spectator behavior I've seen/heard.

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4upe7d wrote

You ever listen to when they mic NFL players?

I didn't just say sports, I said competition. The amount of racism and trash talking in online gaming is by far the worst.

HS sports are bad because the parents are living their glory days through their child; selfish babies.

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joeconn4 t1_j4w3mfn wrote

You wrote " ...almost EVERY form of competition at every level..." The NFL is one level. HS sports are another level. The thousands of competitions I've taken part in are other levels. Perhaps you feel that what I've been involved in is "sports", not "competition". I would disagree. When I'm grinding over putts to win a $10 Nassau, or trying to figure out what the oil pattern is on the lanes I'm bowling at to try to cash at a tournament, that feels like competition to me. When I was on the start line with hundreds/thousands of other people and I'm trying to have the best race I can have and beat a bunch of people, that feels like competition. When some guy is staring me down on the pitcher's mound and I know he's going to throw me his best pitch and I'm going to try to smack it, that feels like competition.

I love listening in when they mic NFL players, MLB, NBA, NHL - even more so when the players don't know what they're saying can be picked up and you get a raw look into the real stuff they say during competition. Lotsa shaky stuff, but lots of positivity/camaraderie too. Will also say I've worked the table for college B-Ball and officiated college & h.s. volleyball and from those positions you hear some stuff, from the court, from the benches, from behind us in the stands that is cringe-worthy (and a whole lot more from the bleachers that is just ridiculously misinformed). So for sure I know that sometimes offensive language and racism gets tossed around. My experience is that it's far from "almost every form of competition at every level".

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4w9w5m wrote

Look, all I'm saying is that if you're competing, don't be surprised if your opposition says something negative to you, about you, etc. Some guys actually do this on purpose to put their opponents on tilt.

IMHO, it's far better to know how to deal with these negative comments, then to attempt to remove them (which you can't).

An individual does have control over how they react to these negative or racist comments; it's a choice to let it affect you.

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joeconn4 t1_j4whugv wrote

I hear what you are saying.

All I'm saying is that in my 50+ years competing, at many different levels and in wearing many different hats (competitor, coach, official, spectator), I would strongly dispute that what you initially wrote, "...almost EVERY form of competition at every level has elements of "offensive language" and racism..." is anywhere close to true.

If you had led with your last comment, I doubt I would have responded to begin with. I agree with your last comment almost 100% - with the exception that it's my personal feeling that at college, high school, grade school age sports where the competition exists to a large degree to further the education of the competitors, in those environments if offensive/racist language is being used then as a teachable moment those in charge of the competition would be serving their communities well to consider any potential sanctions including removing players from teams or having competitions without spectators. Behaviors change through both positive and negative reinforcement.

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j4ws81f wrote

Totally agree with your second paragraph. I guess any time I've competed (football, track, lacrosse, bjj, pool, arm wrestling, etc...) I've been very aware of trash talking from both competitors I know and those I don't.

Honestly, I hope that the actual frequency of trash talking is more on the level that you've experienced; that would indicate progress as far as sportsmanship .

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