Tigers social post about threats

[longlivethecrumbie]

Tigers have released a couple of tweets on Twitter (I refuse to refer to it as anything else) regarding threats made to players and staff:

While we understand the disappointment following today's result, personal threats or abuse directed at players, coaches and / or staff on social media is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by the club.

Please, keep it civil

Followed by:

Please note:

We have seen and received reports from fellow fans with examples of abuse which, if deemed necessary, will result in formal action against Season Ticket Holders or supporters identified as directing abusive or threatening language towards individuals.

[sapajo]

Indeed but it must apply to everyone that resorts to abusive and/or threatening behaviour no matter who they are.

[Truefollower]

I was like most disappointed at today's result, however if we as a club are starting down the road of attracting so called supporters with football supporter mentality then the rugby family is doomed. If this is the way the game is going I will after holding a season ticket for 37 years will walk away and watch from my armchair. This type of behavior needs to be dealt with by the club with the maximum sanctions they can impose. Save our game and the rugby family.

[Tiglon]

Completely agree.

So disappointed by the result, but personal abuse or threats are not acceptable, and are far more disappointing than the result.

[ads]

I was like most disappointed at today's result, however if we as a club are starting down the road of attracting so called supporters with football supporter mentality then the rugby family is doomed. If this is the way the game is going I will after holding a season ticket for 37 years will walk away and watch from my armchair. This type of behavior needs to be dealt with by the club with the maximum sanctions they can impose. Save our game and the rugby family.

It's nothing to do with football*, it's all to with absolute idiots thinking it's ok because of the anonymity of the Internet. It's rife throughout all walks of social media life and it's pathetic.

* If rugby fans want to take the high ground they really need to stop comparing rugby with football. When you have 10 times the people watching there will be 10 times the idiots.

[Old Hob]

I was like most disappointed at today's result, however if we as a club are starting down the road of attracting so called supporters with football supporter mentality then the rugby family is doomed. If this is the way the game is going I will after holding a season ticket for 37 years will walk away and watch from my armchair. This type of behavior needs to be dealt with by the club with the maximum sanctions they can impose. Save our game and the rugby family.

It's nothing to do with football*, it's all to with absolute idiots thinking it's ok because of the anonymity of the Internet. It's rife throughout all walks of social media life and it's pathetic.

* If rugby fans want to take the high ground they really need to stop comparing rugby with football. When you have 10 times the people watching there will be 10 times the idiots.

Apparently, it was not just on the anti-social media but inside the ground directly at the players. That IS football behaviour.

[MCC1964]

Indeed but it must apply to everyone that resorts to abusive and/or threatening behaviour no matter who they are.

Agreed. The definition of ‘abusive’ is an interesting one though. I, for one, think there are many posts on this very forum that edge into the ‘abusive’, whether that be towards other posters or members of staff and one of the reasons I only dip in and out these days.

Take the ‘targeting’ of Whiteley at the moment. Whiteley did not lose us that game yesterday, yet there are calls for him to be let go and more general scapegoating, which is completely over the top.

My measure is ‘would you be prepared to make that statement directly to the subject of the statement’? I suspect in most cases the true answer would be ‘no’. I’m all for robust rugby debate and people’s right to express their opinions, but there is a limit. And to label this a ‘football issue’ is completely trite. It is a societal issue and a very sad one. Maybe we’ve always been like that as a society, but now of course there are so many different ways to make those opinions public.

Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away and dismiss it as ‘bants’. Maybe I’m guilty myself. I hope not, but perhaps something like the statement the club put out is the jolt we need to perhaps take a step back and reassess and some good may come out of it. After all, it’s only a game. You only need to open a newspaper or your preferred web browser to realise there’re many more serious things going on out in the world right now.

[tigerburnie]

It's nothing to do with football*, it's all to with absolute idiots thinking it's ok because of the anonymity of the Internet. It's rife throughout all walks of social media life and it's pathetic.

* If rugby fans want to take the high ground they really need to stop comparing rugby with football. When you have 10 times the people watching there will be 10 times the idiots.

Apparently, it was not just on the anti-social media but inside the ground directly at the players. That IS football behaviour.

This society of today has zero respect or personal control, people think they have a right to say what they like to who they like without any retribution, it's not a sport thing it is a breakdown in Society.

[sapajo]

It's nothing to do with football*, it's all to with absolute idiots thinking it's ok because of the anonymity of the Internet. It's rife throughout all walks of social media life and it's pathetic.

* If rugby fans want to take the high ground they really need to stop comparing rugby with football. When you have 10 times the people watching there will be 10 times the idiots.

Apparently, it was not just on the anti-social media but inside the ground directly at the players. That IS football behaviour.

This society of today has zero respect or personal control, people think they have a right to say what they like to who they like without any retribution, it's not a sport thing it is a breakdown in Society.

"Retribution" is inappropriate under the circumstances. I think "redress" is more fitting

[Pellsey]

people think they have a right to say what they like

Isn't this called freedom of speech!? IMHO Censorship is probably at its worst for a long time now. You are no longer allowed to call an apple an apple (think gender politics) without fear of retribution.

However, I 100% agree that any abuse or threats are a different thing and should, in no way be tolerated, and anybody found guilty of this should have serious penalties, and should not be welcome in the rugby community again. This is horrendous.

[kk20gb30]

Indeed but it must apply to everyone that resorts to abusive and/or threatening behaviour no matter who they are.

Agreed. The definition of ‘abusive’ is an interesting one though. I, for one, think there are many posts on this very forum that edge into the ‘abusive’, whether that be towards other posters or members of staff and one of the reasons I only dip in and out these days.

Take the ‘targeting’ of Whiteley at the moment. Whiteley did not lose us that game yesterday, yet there are calls for him to be let go and more general scapegoating, which is completely over the top.

My measure is ‘would you be prepared to make that statement directly to the subject of the statement’? I suspect in most cases the true answer would be ‘no’. I’m all for robust rugby debate and people’s right to express their opinions, but there is a limit. And to label this a ‘football issue’ is completely trite. It is a societal issue and a very sad one. Maybe we’ve always been like that as a society, but now of course there are so many different ways to make those opinions public.

Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away and dismiss it as ‘bants’. Maybe I’m guilty myself. I hope not, but perhaps something like the statement the club put out is the jolt we need to perhaps take a step back and reassess and some good may come out of it. After all, it’s only a game. You only need to open a newspaper or your preferred web browser to realise there’re many more serious things going on out in the world right now.

100%.....

[tigerburnie]

people think they have a right to say what they like

Isn't this called freedom of speech!? IMHO Censorship is probably at its worst for a long time now. You are no longer allowed to call an apple an apple (think gender politics) without fear of retribution.

Free speech does not give licence to breaking the law of the land, being abusive is not exercising free speech it is a criminal offence. Now your further comment referencing gender politics as you call it is another debate altogether.
Those involved in our game would not want it to go the way of a sport where violence has almost become acceptable and it is now unsafe to go as a general member of the public. A recent event in Perth where a 10 year old was injured by a thrown pyrotechnic(flare) has sent some shockwaves through Scottish sport at the moment, rugby must ensure we are not on a slippery slope, safety for officials, players and paying spectators has to be paramount.

[Rugbygramps]

I am both saddened but unsurprised by this. I have recently deleted all social media accounts, and in future will be severely restricting my posts on this forum, only checking in for updates on players incoming and outgoing

[Pellsey]

people think they have a right to say what they like

Isn't this called freedom of speech!? IMHO Censorship is probably at its worst for a long time now. You are no longer allowed to call an apple an apple (think gender politics) without fear of retribution.

Those involved in our game would not want it to go the way of a sport where violence has almost become acceptable and it is now unsafe to go as a general member of the public. A recent event in Perth where a 10 year old was injured by a thrown pyrotechnic(flare) has sent some shockwaves through Scottish sport at the moment, rugby must ensure we are not on a slippery slope, safety for officials, players and paying spectators has to be paramount.

With this I could honestly not agree more. Rugby has always been a gentleman's / lady's game (for spectators anyway) and I would certainly fight for it to remain such.

As for Scottish laws, that is another debate