Monday, September 01, 2008
You, Sir, are an irresponsible cock
Richard Boock highlights the inadequacies of Brian Lochore's rabble-rousing speech in a manner approximately 37-times more eloquent than my own effort. In fairness, he is paid to write, whereas I just dabble in my spare time.
I offer up the following highlights from Boock's article (thanks to Yamis for the link):
Sir Brian's comments were a reminder that great rugby players don't necessarily make great social commentators. In fact, they were a reminder that great rugby players sometimes have nothing to offer at all, apart from reminiscing on how things happened in their day. In SBL's world, that included children being physically chastised by all and sundry, children being left in the car at night while the parents were boozing, and men ruling the roost.
... on using an unsupervised motor vehicle as an overnight creche ... [i]t's as if he sees nothing wrong with the practice.
... His speech to a reported 1000 fathers carried a whiff of physical intimidation throughout. Consequences, lines in the sand, putting the hard word on people, and, of course, smacking but not hitting.
... another confused soul who doesn't understand the difference between violent and non-violent behaviour. "Yes, I smacked my children, but I've never hit them," said Sir Brian. "Yes, I smacked other people's children, but I never hit them." I know, that was then and this is now. But if he still genuinely believes that smacking is not a form of hitting, he needs to try it out on an adult some time. May I suggest Beatrice Faumuina for size? It might do them both the world of good.
...the shame is that he didn't take the chance to reject his own generation's misguided ways last week and reinforce to the many rugby players who hang on his every word, the need for tolerance and a completely non-violent approach to parenting. He could have urged young men to work closely and equitably with their partners, rather than trying to dictate proceedings throughout. Instead we heard only the anti-women slur: "our society is trying to turn fathers into male mothers". Why is that? Because intimidating, violent or wilfully reckless behaviour is now being discouraged?
Very well said, Richard.
Labels: beer, Richard Boock, rugby
Comments:
Sad thing is that Sir BJ, up until a week ago was a man of standing and mana. If Meads had made that speech everyone would have just laughed.
Personally, I saw it as a rural / urban divide rant rather than a generational or political one.
I see the rural / urban divide in this country as the biggest canyon.
Personally, I saw it as a rural / urban divide rant rather than a generational or political one.
I see the rural / urban divide in this country as the biggest canyon.
# posted by 
: 3 September 2008 at 22:08
: 3 September 2008 at 22:08
It's the haves and the have nots.
The possessive feature being a brain being put to reglular use.
Everytime I stop off in a small town in NZ I think its so quaint what simple lives the locals are living in every sense of the word.
That's all well and good for them but they can fuck off with the automatic, reflex action anti-city vitriol.
The possessive feature being a brain being put to reglular use.
Everytime I stop off in a small town in NZ I think its so quaint what simple lives the locals are living in every sense of the word.
That's all well and good for them but they can fuck off with the automatic, reflex action anti-city vitriol.
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