Bay 16 Swearing

[tractorboy]

People who leave young kids at home, stay at home with them

[omni]

Worse swearing on the field. The crowd swearing isn't just limited to Bays 15-17 (just wait untill we take the entire northern concorse) but there is a nice group of supporters sitting just behind the away bench 'hey Corica, where's your wheel chair?'

[WWFC]

It's always been that way, and always will be that way.

People asked the same question at the Spirit, and the answer was, don't sit near it if you don't like it. I've got young kids too, and they can hear all they like [just like they do at school], but they also know not to repeat it.

[Yellowbeard]

I actually commented to Grunta during the game "Who would let their kids sit in front of this?" I know mine wouldn't have been there.
I'll have a swear and a beer. It's 1 bay out of a whole stadium.
If you don't like it start the "Kidienators"
perhaps you can try "We love you crawling, oh yes we do, oh crawling we love you" ;D

[Bearinator]

Guys, this convo is going nowhere. There is always, ALWAYS going 2 be 1 farking DICK who cant handle swearing. If u cant handle it, in the nicest way possible, PISS OFF. We are marinators, and we will sing whatever the bloody hell we want, and no grumpy prick, or security guard, will EVER stop us. Am i right or wrong??

[Saxon]

Radio man,
You obviously haven't expierenced European football. I was at a Scottish premier league game last year (hibs v's rangers), and it's chalk and cheese. Their fans want to kill each other. The words that come out of our mouths are nothing compared to over there.

[dnm]

I'm with you Radioman.

I was sitting near the players tunnel and the expletives were crystal clear from the Marinators end on Sunday afternoon.

Here's a novel idea... let's do our very best to keep people away!! There weren't even 10,000 people at the ground on Sunday. Not really a great turn out for a game that has had good media attention and in a stadium that seats 20,000. Those who are arguing that Radioman obviously hasn't been to Europe... who cares... this isn't Europe! For soccer [that's what it's called in this country] to make it in Australia there has to be some changes. The Bonnyrigg/ Sydney Croatia saga hasn't been particularly helpful... and I'm sure that the drunken stupidity from behind the goal at the first 3 Mariners games won't do much to serve the game either.

[marinermick]

the bloody christian right is taking over this country

[omni]

Drop the critising christians crap!

I am christian and have I ever said I had a problem with bay 16, it's there for fun and yes there are 4 letter words used but like people have said, it's a 20,000 seat stadium, if you don't like it go find another one.

[DJ]

Well done Marinators we could be heard loud and clear from the tunnel! Good job

[lazza]

PisteAgain said:

I actually commented to Grunta during the game "Who would let their kids sit in front of this?"

I would, and did. He's 13, intelligent, can think for himself, was there on Wed. night beside me as well, and had a bloody ball.

He wants me to buy him a season ticket too! (See .. Dad's are useful for some things...)

[marinermick]

omni said:

Drop the critising christians crap!

I am christian and have I ever said I had a problem with bay 16, it's there for fun and yes there are 4 letter words used but like people have said, it's a 20,000 seat stadium, if you don't like it go find another one.

i am christian as well and i know they are taking over the country - have a look at the last election with family first nearly getting the balance of power in the senate

have a look at the economic power the hillsong group is becoming

do you realise they now own the marketing and franchise rights for gloria jeans for the whole of the southern hemisphere

soon we will not be able to say the word islam, hindu or buddha without some sort of retribution

[dnm]

I'm a Christian [what is a Christian... www.christianity.net.au/] and I'm not particularly worried about the language that other people use. I'm not going to go to a soccer game and get super offended at the language being used. I don't expect people who aren't Christian to speak as if they were. So I'm not imposing any Christian Right Wing rules on anyone.

I think that:
1) Using swear words is just another way to show that soccer supporters are not intelligent enough to think of a more appropriate and descriptive word. Be careful that you don't come off looking like Rugby League blockheads who have no brains and a limit to about 10 words with more than 3 letters long!
2) My argument in my previous post was that if the language that is being used in Bay16 is going to be heard throughout the whole of the stadium then the words of Radioman [+many others] ought to be heeded. Why ought they be heeded? Well there are some who are not going to come along with their families and support the Mariners. Good luck getting more than 10,000 when the season actually starts! Don't get me wrong I think that the vibe and atmosphere that the Marinators create is fantastic... but to take out a few questionable words here and there may actaully add to the atmosphere rather than detract by driving families and other potential supporters away from the games.

So either listen to Radioman and try to make the game as attractive as possible... or ignore what he has said and let soccer ramain a nothing sport in Australia known as a game for foreigners and holigans.

[DJ]

Hang on a minute - "So either listen to Radioman and try to make the game as attractive as possible... or ignore what he has said and let soccer ramain a nothing sport in Australia known as a game for foreigners and holigans"

I will have you know that yes I sit in Bay 16, I am not a hooligan, and no football is not a nothing sport in Australia! I will stand behind the goal every game making as much noise as possible, if I swear I swear get over it!

Everybody wants the Socceroos to make the world cup next year, and many people follow the Australian players overseas. Football is on Sunday afternoons for 6 hours, we have live games on SBS and lots on foxtel, so don't tell me it's a nothing sport!

[dnm]

Thanks for the reply DJGrounsell.
I'm not suggesting that you are a hooligan... and I don't think that soccer is a nothing sport. Yet... I drove past the stadium last night and saw an ad for a League game Roosters vs Raiders... there is no way that they will have a small crowd like the 3 during the soccer games this past week.

My point is this... soccer is PERCEIVED as a nothing sport... people see what is going on with the Bonnyrigg / Sydney Croatia saga and they dismiss soccer straight away. If the Central Coast wants to have people at their game other than up500 Marinators... then they really need to think about how they can make the game attractive.

I was really disspointed with the crowd on Saturday & Sunday ... I was hoping for an atmosphere like that of the Rugby World Cup.

The general vibe on the 3 pages of this topic has been quite selfish. The attitude has been... "If I like to swear then I will swear. Who cares about anyone else..."
STOP THINKING ABOUT YOURSELVES... start thinking about other people. If you want soccer to work in Australia... think about the attitudes of others.


Go on swearing all you like... because In the end it doesn't really matter... it's only a game... and there are things of far greater significance in life.

[marinermick]

Got this email from the Mariners from a parent that have written to them:

Is there any chance of posting or emailing me the Marinators cheersquad songs. We were at the match on Sunday 15/5/05 and My son and Family were very impressed with the Marinators who gave great voice to the supporters of the CC Mariners and we enjoyed their songs and wish to learn them so we can join our voices with them.

[name withheld]

[Adz]

Excuse me dnm, you are saying the size of the crowd is inversely proportional to the number of swear words we use in our songs? The reason we got under 10,000 on Sunday is because the Marinators get drunk and have fun, which is driving the families away? Nothing to do with the weather looking like it was about to hammer down with rain at any time... or there was only 4 days to advertise the game.. or maybe everyone was at church on Sunday instead of the football? ;D
Shall I go on... you mentioned the Bonnyrigg / Sydney riots yourself, perhaps this influenced people into not buying a ticket? By the way, I don't like you comparing the Marinators getting drunk and singing a few songs to people starting riots and throwing flares at each other! It's not the same thing!
As for the original issue of swearing, have a look at the cricket when England come out for the Ashes. They have a little supporter group (the "Barmy Army", you might have heard of them) who follow England around the world, drink, swear and sing songs. Every song we used you could hear at any given time coming from the "Barmy Army", and does that drive people away from the cricket? Well, the S.C.G. gets sold out every Ashes tour! In fact, the last Ashes tour half the ground was wearing "Barmy Army" merchandise - mums, dads, kids of all ages - they weren't offended by the "drunken stupidity".
So, in conclusion (finally ), we're not going to change our ways so you might as well take your little crusade elsewhere.

[brett]

dnm -

I'm a very open minded person, I'll listen to anyone's full opinion before I make a judgement. I respect the people who say that swearing isn't the best thing for kids and families to hear. I agree with them. I also know that the swearing isn't going to stop, whatever anyone says.

But coming in and first making highly generalised statements that are false like "Soccer is perceived as a nothing sport" and "people see what is going on with Bonnyrigg and dismiss soccer straight away" and then trying to relate crowd size, hooliganism, and the future of FOOTBALL in this country to our swearing is pretty hopeless mate.

I dont see how you can call us selfish either. We are the majority. If we have to tone down the language because a dozen people nearby dont like it, why dont they move further away. You cant tell me you can clearly hear the words to what we are singing from the other side of the stadium.

By bringing passion to every game we increase the atmosphere in the stadium, and the public can see that. If we had to constantly correct ourselves and switch "Bolton's a f---wit" with "hey bolton we dont like you very much" it's only going to detract from our experience, the passion in the bay and the atmosphere in the stadium.

If you want to be positive and talk about the great direction football is headed in this country and how we can get more people to our games than the rugby league games then please go right ahead, but trying to put the blame on us, the people who have been the heart and soul of the Mariners support since day 1, you're the one holding the game back.

[Grunta]

dnm said:

My point is this... soccer is PERCEIVED as a nothing sport... people see what is going on with the Bonnyrigg / Sydney Croatia saga and they dismiss soccer straight away.

Shame no one gets to see marinators and bling bling fans, shaking each others hands after the match and enjoying a drink together isn't it.

[Radioman]

Well,... I think I am near embarrassed for posing the question about swearng.. I think we should end this discussion otherwise fighting may be on the cards.

It really was meant as a simple suggestion - I am sure we can think of many song without needing to add swearing.. I can cope with the swearing, I don't really wish my kids to hear it but they are old enough now to hear it and say it or better - NOT say it. Just because it happens it doesn't make it right - or good. I am merely suggesting it is not necessary for evry song to include it (no not all do) nor should they promote violence such as a comment from bay 16 several times on Sunday - break his *&$#@ legs... I personally don't think it is a good image.

I guess a fine line between a laugh and being offensive.

What is offensive is to suggest someone who agrees that we should maybe try and minimise - or not maximise swearing is a Christian. Surely you don't need to be a Christian to not swear?
Congratulations to the fella for saying he was - and that he is also tolerant - not complaining about the swearing himself, but suggesting we consider the view - amazing how the "for swearing" party was intolerant of this person - anything else to be intolerant of.. and to what degree.

Bay 16 Rules - I sat there deliberately - 3 Time (4 actually). I did laugh, but there was also some I didn't understand - I thought we were nearly promoting Ned Zjellich for a while, and some I saw as silly - but I also saw as fun for others.

Perdon the long winded answer.. just lets all consider each others view and get back to bay 16 for the A-League - and bring our family, friends, workmates... my ex-wife was even there!