Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[tricky_colour]

Roy slams Hazard http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3452082/Roy-Keane-slams-Chelsea-midfielder-Eden-Hazard-saying-team-mate-d-kick-air-training-pitch.html

Perhaps not the best thing to do when we're due to face him in the Euros ?


Like Mourinho he is taking the pressure off the players. ;)

I wonder if they will similarly stab him in the back for his troubles? :p


‘If I was a team-mate of his I would kick him up and down the training pitch", the secret Man U's success during his time playing there no doubt!

[tetsujin1979]

O'Neill to be studio guest for Arsenal - Barcelona on TV3 next Tuesday: https://twitter.com/TV3SportIreland/statuses/700646543603294208

Rep of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill will be @TV3Ireland (https://twitter.com/TV3Ireland)'s special studio guest for #Arsenal (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arsenal?src=hash) v Barcelona on Tuesday. #TV3UCL (https://twitter.com/hashtag/TV3UCL?src=hash) #COYBIG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/COYBIG?src=hash)

[DeLorean]

O'Neill linked with Nottingham Forest job, does this mean he's about to sign a new contract?!

It does sound like a job that could appeal to him, nostalgia wise, but then he possibly left his heart rule his head with the Sunderland job and that didn't work too well.

Martin O'Neill is the man Nottingham Forest have targeted to be their next manager (http://www.nottinghampost.com/Martin-O-Neill-man-Nottingham-Forest-targeted/story-29118301-detail/story.html)

Three years on, will Martin O'Neill change his tune about Nottingham Forest job? (http://www.nottinghampost.com/years-Martin-O-Neill-change-tune-Nottingham/story-29122158-detail/story.html)

[geysir]

O'Neill linked with Nottingham Forest job, does this mean he's about to sign a new contract?!

It does sound like a job that could appeal to him, nostalgia wise, but then he possibly left his heart rule his head with the Sunderland job and that didn't work too well.

http://m.nottinghampost.com/Martin-O-Neill-man-Nottingham-Forest-targeted/story-29118301-detail/story.html (http://Nottingham Post)
Is that link for a mobile phone? Somehow it doesn't open up.

Forest have intent to grab O'Neill, it would appear
'Fawaz Al Hasawi is ready to promise the Irishman full control of team affairs in an effort to lure him back to the City Ground'

Here are links to 2 stories
Martin O'Neill (http://www.nottinghampost.com/Martin-O-Neill-man-Nottingham-Forest-targeted/story-29118301-detail/story.html) is the man Nottingham Forest have targeted to be their next manager

Three years on, will Martin O'Neill (http://www.nottinghampost.com/years-Martin-O-Neill-change-tune-Nottingham/story-29122158-detail/story.html) change his tune about Nottingham Forest job?

[DeLorean]

Is that link for a mobile phone? Somehow it doesn't open up.

Sorry, it was but it should have still opened only I made a mess of it. Fixed now with another link added also.

[Wolfman]

Hopefully a wee parody.

http://www.socceronsunday.com/article/roy-keane-walks-ireland-euros-camp/

[SwanVsDalton]

Hopefully a wee parody.

http://www.socceronsunday.com/article/roy-keane-walks-ireland-euros-camp/

'You're turning into a right wee McGeady.' Got sipped coffee all over my keyboard...

[thischarmingman]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/05/restless-martin-oneill-demands-success-from-his-republic-of-irel/


Restless Martin O’Neill demands success from his Republic of Ireland squad at Euro 2016

[thischarmingman]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/fai-maintains-silence-on-martin-o-neill-s-use-of-word-queers-1.2673651


FAI maintains silence on Martin O’Neill’s use of word ‘queers’

[DannyInvincible]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/fai-maintains-silence-on-martin-o-neill-s-use-of-word-queers-1.2673651

A juvenile schoolboy-humour-type gag from O'Neill. Pretty much a variation of: "I wouldn't want people to think we're gay, 'cause isn't being gay so funny and weird?! Lolz!"

Football is the last bastion of tolerated homophobia - there are plenty of fans who would find that joke funny because they think there is something wrong or abnormal about being gay - and O'Neill, usually so intelligent and considered, should know better than to stigmatise like that. I'd be surprised if he was homophobic deep-down and this is probably just him trying to be a bit edgy with his sense of humour, but I think a retraction/apology would be worthwhile along with some sort of acknowledgement from the FAI instead of dodging controversy as usual.

[thischarmingman]

A juvenile schoolboy-humour-type gag from O'Neill. Pretty much a variation of: "I wouldn't want people to think we're gay, 'cause isn't being gay so funny and weird?! Lolz!"

Football is the last bastion of tolerated homophobia - there are plenty of fans who would find that joke funny because they think there is something wrong or abnormal about being gay - and O'Neill, usually so intelligent and considered, should know better than to stigmatise like that. I'd be surprised if he was homophobic deep-down and this is probably just him trying to be a bit edgy with his sense of humour, but I think a retraction/apology would be worthwhile along with some sort of acknowledgement from the FAI instead of dodging controversy as usual.

Agreed, I think the Irish Times report is very well even-handed in its treatment of it, especially when you consider what they'd make it of across the water:


In both instances, the comments were clearly meant humorously. O’Neill, who comes across as both intelligent and considered, shows no outward signs of either misogyny or homophobia but fairly regular ones of a dated and occasionally, given his position, somewhat inappropriate sense of humour.
He routinely apologises during his press conferences for how awful his jokes are, which in itself appears to be part of a comic routine but now, as in March, he appears surprisingly slow to say sorry when his jokes stray into genuinely offensive territory.

But it's ugly and disappointing, particularly if you really like MON because of his intelligence and off-beat humour. And the FAI won't say anything because it will be blown away never to be mentioned again once the football starts. Regrettably.

Depressing.

[paul_oshea]

I was told about this, and thought Today FM obviously purposely kept it quiet, but someone obviously mentioned it to the papers.

I think Martin felt that he was amongst friends, its not a proper FAI/media related thing, so what he said could be said amongst friends and the guard was down.

What he said isn't right of course, but at least it was refreshing that he was willing to be that open and honest and (in his mind funny), which he must have been to make those jokes - he must have felt very relaxed.

[DeLorean]

I thought his WAGS comment was brilliant in the context it was made, and would have suggested to anybody who got offended by it to grow a pair. This is completely different though. I kind of feel sorry for him because presumably he's not homophobic and got carried away in the moment. It's a stone age expression though and highly insulting. You'd really only expect it to come from the lips of an imbecile in this day and age. I'm holding out a bit of hope that there'll be an apology yet.

[DannyInvincible]

I was told about this, and thought Today FM obviously purposely kept it quiet, but someone obviously mentioned it to the papers.

I think Martin felt that he was amongst friends, its not a proper FAI/media related thing, so what he said could be said amongst friends and the guard was down.

What he said isn't right of course, but at least it was refreshing that he was willing to be that open and honest and (in his mind funny), which he must have been to make those jokes - he must have felt very relaxed.

Ewan MacKenna had tweeted something the other day about O'Neill having used a slur recently and stated his surprise at how the media hadn't covered it at all. He was vague and gave no further detail as to what the slur actually was. I was curious, but I realise now he was obviously referring to this. The tweet has however since been deleted, which is odd.

[paul_oshea]

Well I think there is a good rapport and atmopshere around the team and the public at the moment, that even the most caustic of journalists are holding back. Having said that, I am still surprised Dunphy hasn't used it as a stick to beat him with.

[DeLorean]

Yet...

[Stuttgart88]

I thought his WAGS comment was brilliant in the context it was made, and would have suggested to anybody who got offended by it to grow a pair. This is completely different though. I kind of feel sorry for him because presumably he's not homophobic and got carried away in the moment. It's a stone age expression though and highly insulting. You'd really only expect it to come from the lips of an imbecile in this day and age. I'm holding out a bit of hope that there'll be an apology yet.I agree. I thought the WAGs joke was funny too, in its context. This is different and O'Neill is a smart enough guy to know that. Really disappointing and an apology is due. Simple apology and move on.

It's interesting to note in the context of Paul Kimmage's article yesterday bemoaning the deterioration in the relationship between the Irish team and media since 2002 and earlier. Kimmage says the trust has been breached. I blame Tom Humpries and his editor myself, but others won't I'm sure.

[sadloserkid]

O'Neill is gone down in my estimation to be honest, almost as much for not holding his hand up and acknowledging how tasteless a comment it was as for the comment itself! Delorean hit the nail on the head, it's a word that we've come to expect only for the lips of the totally ignorant these days and it's disappointing to say the least that A) he would say it at all and B) that it's not seen as something worth ignoring by his employers.

Backwards isn't the word...

[paul_oshea]

i dont know why you are expecting an apology, he hasnt even thought about the comment himself, because to him there probably wasn't anything wrong with it.

and i would say most have moved on. I was told everyone at the event found it funny, or at least those who didnt stayed silent.

[DannyInvincible]

I thought his WAGS comment was brilliant in the context it was made, and would have suggested to anybody who got offended by it to grow a pair. This is completely different though. I kind of feel sorry for him because presumably he's not homophobic and got carried away in the moment. It's a stone age expression though and highly insulting. You'd really only expect it to come from the lips of an imbecile in this day and age. I'm holding out a bit of hope that there'll be an apology yet.

The term "queer" has been reclaimed, but it can of course still possess very derogatory connotations when used by someone outside the LGBTQ community.

I wanted to see if the FAI had an anti-homophobia programme/policy or anything and had a Google search. Came across this: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tXKsAgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA62&ots=DkAWnBgnlV&dq=fai%20homophobia&pg=PA62#v=onepage&q&f=false

It states that the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) withdrew from the FAI's intercultural advisory group win 2010 after just one meeting when the FAI could not agree that homophobia in the game would be addressed by the programme. GLEN had been nominated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and SARI to join the group.

I did also come across this (https://www.fai.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/FAI%20Best%20Practice%20A5%206p%2088831.pdf), which is a document outlining "best practice" for the intercultural programme. For dealing with "inappropriate behaviour and language", it advises:


1. Challenge the individual directly
2. Report the incident to the authority or person who is charged with dealing with it. The route you pursue depends on your role in football, how confident and skilled you are at dealing with the issue and negotiating conflict, and the circumstances in which the incident occurred. If you pursue the first route, and it is not successful, you can subsequently pursue the second.

Challenging Behaviour Directly

As officials within your club or organisation you all have a responsibility to challenge racist, provocative or abusive behaviour or language.

For example:

• A club official or manager may object in their official capacity to a homophobic remark directly with the person who makes it.
• A committee member may directly challenge another committee member for mimicking disabled people or foreign nationals.
• Individuals may challenge inappropriate remarks and behaviours informally amongst the team, club or organisation members.

Challenging behaviour directly with the person or people responsible can be a daunting experience. It is even more daunting if the person you are challenging is in a senior or powerful position, or part of a dominant group which denies the behaviour is inappropriate or colludes with it. However, as with all potential abuse situations, taking action to stop the behaviour escalating is crucial.

Not sure when the latter document was published, mind.

[MeathDrog]

Total overreaction both by The Times and on here.

[paul_oshea]

MeathDrog i am far from one to take the moral high ground or be self-righeous like most of the regulars on here. I laughed at most things everyone else laughs at, but when you alienate a certain section of "your" public with these kinda jokes then

I hold my hand up and say I have definitely laughed at some stage at jokes like that, and then thought about it afterwards, hence why i say he feels at home with the audience, but I was amongst a few people, who were all minding their own business and not hurting anyone directly. Martin is in the public eye, and whether you or I agree with what he said or not, it will have upset some people.

And I dont think there is an over-reaction on here. TCM has a reason to feel agrieved, and its been pointed out by a few, hasn't been overblown. But perhaps its time to move on.

[DannyInvincible]

i dont know why you are expecting an apology, he hasnt even thought about the comment himself, because to him there probably wasn't anything wrong with it.

and i would say most have moved on. I was told everyone at the event found it funny, or at least those who didnt stayed silent.

Today FM cut it from their broadcast and Balls.ie reported (http://www.balls.ie/football/martin-oneill-courts-controversy-with-ill-advised-remark-during-night-at-cork-opera-house/335463) that "it appears his quip on Wednesday had no one laughing, especially Matt Cooper who apparently quickly moved on to the next subject".

[Stuttgart88]

i am far from one to take the moral high ground or be self-righeous like most of the regulars on here. Says Paul self-righteously.

[tetsujin1979]

Today FM cut it from their broadcast and Balls.ie reported (http://www.balls.ie/football/martin-oneill-courts-controversy-with-ill-advised-remark-during-night-at-cork-opera-house/335463) that "it appears his quip on Wednesday had no one laughing, especially Matt Cooper who apparently quickly moved on to the next subject".

The Sunday Times reported it, balls just parroted it

[paul_oshea]

Today FM cut it from their broadcast and Balls.ie reported (http://www.balls.ie/football/martin-oneill-courts-controversy-with-ill-advised-remark-during-night-at-cork-opera-house/335463) that "it appears his quip on Wednesday had no one laughing, especially Matt Cooper who apparently quickly moved on to the next subject".

Well I got it from two different lads at it, said people were laughing and found it funny, but some a bit uncomfortably.

[Stuttgart88]

O'Neill apologises according to Dion Fanning on Twitter

[DeLorean]

Strange apology... (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2016/martin-oneill-apologies-over-queers-remark-at-the-cork-opera-house-34776614.html)


Yes I was going to address this, if I have made inappropriate comments in the Opera House in Cork on Wednesday evening. I obviously apologise for it and I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments.

Come on Martin, there is no 'if'. I'm going to assume that just his way of wording it though without meaning it too literally. Anyway, apology made, I agree we should/can just move on now.

[paul_oshea]

I knew he didn't realise, as i said above, and I also knew that he wouldn't take too kindly to this. This is just another nail in the already mentioned trust coffin by kimmage. He sees this as another reason to be closed, and probably wont appear in public at these Q&As again.

"For the rest of my time here"...

But lets move on.

[DannyInvincible]

The Sunday Times reported it, balls just parroted it

Indeed! Sorry, my bad. :)

[DannyInvincible]

I knew he didn't realise, as i said above, and I also knew that he wouldn't take too kindly to this. This is just another nail in the already mentioned trust coffin by kimmage. He sees this as another reason to be closed, and probably wont appear in public at these Q&As again.

I dunno. The media have been exceptionally quiet on this. It happened last Wednesday and we only really started hearing murmurs yesterday, if I'm not mistaken. It's the sort of thing that could brew up a storm in the UK or if he was the adversary or political opponent of someone with power in the media. I'm a fan of Martin and I'm still a fan, but he's better than this. You can still be a fan but take issue with something he says. As I said, I don't think he's actually homophobic, but he's a public representative/ambassador for Irish football. He's a public face, or a voice even. I think it's important that Irish football shows that homophobic sentiment isn't a laugh and a joke. It's for our own betterment as a footballing fraternity - indeed, as a country - and it's also important insofar as our international standing and relations are concerned. Anyway, his apology - albeit qualified (using "if" in an apology so often undermines it) - is welcome as he at least acknowledges the comment wasn't appropriate.

[Charlie Darwin]

O'Neill is gone down in my estimation to be honest
Me too. He's back to Martin O Neil for me now.

[SkStu]

"Martin O'Neill to apologised gays"

[Stuttgart88]

Strange apology... (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2016/martin-oneill-apologies-over-queers-remark-at-the-cork-opera-house-34776614.html)



Come on Martin, there is no 'if'. I'm going to assume that just his way of wording it though without meaning it too literally. Anyway, apology made, I agree we should/can just move on now.
You're right, there is no if, but I believe it's a genuine apology badly worded. In words there's not much between saying sorry for offending anyone and saying sorry if I offended anyone. In semantics there's a big difference.

[DeLorean]

I think the same more or less but, Jesus, how hard is it to get the wording right? I think he might have been playing the whole "I didn't realise it was inappropriate when I said it but accept it must have been" card, as in, playing a little bit dumb. I just saw the apology on Sky Sports News though, he looked pretty uncomfortable but did add that he "genuinely apologises" again, after the sentence about trying not to make inappropriate comments again, which hasn't been reported in any of the quotes I've seen. I think that's a little unfortunate because it gave the apology a bit more substance I thought.

[DannyInvincible]

Total overreaction both by The Times and on here.

Not just Emmet Malone and on here though, in fairness. The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and prominent gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell also took issue with the comment and sought a retraction/apology.

Emmet Malone also tweeted earlier that the apology seemed very sincere and Martin was genuinely embarrassed with further quotes to be published tomorrow.

[tricky_colour]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/fai-maintains-silence-on-martin-o-neill-s-use-of-word-queers-1.2673651


Well... at least he didn't say faggots!!!

What is wrong with the word queers?

[Charlie Darwin]

Oh tricky :(

[TrapAPony]

The likes of David McSavage says it regularly on RTE in his skit as Mick The Bull, people know exactly what he is referring to and there is nothing said. All the PC lads should really get a grip. Nothing can be said nowadays without someone taking offence over this, that or the other. The world has gone to hell.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't know about David McSavage because I can't stand him, but quare has always had a different meaning to the slur 'queer,' even if they do come from the same word. Same as 'cute hoor' has a completely different meaning to a prostitute. Everybody knows that quare doesn't refer to gay people, whereas MON was unambiguous in what he said.

[TrapAPony]

I don't know about David McSavage because I can't stand him, but quare has always had a different meaning to the slur 'queer,....Everybody knows that quare doesn't refer to gay people, whereas MON was unambiguous in what he said.

It is fairly obvious what he is referring to and does so on a regular basis yet nobody kicks up a fuss about it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3T56BXSpBc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3T56BXSpBc)



In any case, I think the criticism of Martin O'Neill by the PC people is ridiculous.

[tricky_colour]

Oh tricky :(


Well I think it is all a bit much, he is a football manager not a political correctness expert, it is clear it
was not his intention to offend anyone, otherwise he owuld not have said it.

Anyhow if it was offensive, then so was this


Heather Love - Queer Method and the Postwar History of Sexuality Studies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkkZV6GkkKo&list=PLG3k_1SBdm5kUx4vzAi4pXju h3rW6GgmC&index=3

[tricky_colour]

It is a storm in a teacup, he would have been better off avoiding using the word but it was not his intention to offend.

[DannyInvincible]

The likes of David McSavage refers to it regularly on RTE in his skit as The Bull and there is nothing said. The world has gone to hell. All these PC lads should really get a grip. Can say nothing nowadays without someone taking offence over this, that or the other.

Everyone has taboos; not just "PC lads". Is there absolutely nothing someone could say that could offend you or of which you would be critical? If I started advocating murdering new-born babies, you wouldn't take issue with that? Or if I started ridiculing or besmirching loved ones? (I wouldn't dare do either of those things, but I'm just making the point that we all draw a line somewhere; we just tend to differ on where.)

People have always taken offence at things or been on the suffering end of marginalisation/stigmatisation. It's just that racism, homophobia and such sentiments still exist, but the people who are at the butt of those have stronger voices now. That's a good thing. Words have meaning and consequences. It's good to scrutinise them. I find "political correctness" is just a term, most often used by right-wingers, to discredit critics of reactionary, insulting or ill-informed ideas. People are as entitled to take offence at something as someone else is to assert something.

James O'Brien challenged a caller on LBC recently about his claim that some people's critical reaction to the Japanese couple who left (and lost) their son in a forest for six days as a punishment was "political correctness gone mad": http://www.lbc.co.uk/political-correctness-gone-mad-comment-gets-james-obrien-going-131647

In doing so, he challenged the whole concept of "political correctness". Well worth a watch/listen.

[DannyInvincible]

It is fairly obvious what he is referring to and nobody kicks up a fuss about it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3T56BXSpBc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3T56BXSpBc)



In any case, I think the criticism of Martin O'Neill by the PC crowd is ridiculous.

I don't think that's all that funny, but it's an attempt at satire, obviously parodying and lampooning perceived traditionalist, conservative or elder-generation views on homosexuality rather than parroting them (although you could argue it does kind of play on gay stereotypes too in the process, albeit presumably well-intentioned). As I say, not hugely funny.

[tricky_colour]

Reclamation Beginning in the late-1980s, the label queer began to be reclaimed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reappropriation) from its pejorative use as a neutral or positive self-identifier by LGBT people.[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer#cite_note-oed-2) An early example of this usage by the LGBT community was by an organisation called Queer Nation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_Nation), which was formed in March 1990 and circulated an anonymous flier at the New York Gay Pride Parade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Pride_Parade_%28New_York_City%29) in June 1990 titled "Queers Read This".[8] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer#cite_note-9) The flier included a passage explaining their adoption of the label queer:

Ah, do we really have to use that word? It's trouble. Every gay person has his or her own take on it. For some it means strange and eccentric and kind of mysterious [...] And for others "queer" conjures up those awful memories of adolescent suffering [...] Well, yes, "gay" is great. It has its place. But when a lot of lesbians and gay men wake up in the morning we feel angry and disgusted, not gay. So we've chosen to call ourselves queer. Using "queer" is a way of reminding us how we are perceived by the rest of the world.
Queer people, particularly queer people of color, began to reclaim queer in response to a perceived shift in the gay community toward liberal conservatism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_conservatism), catalyzed by Andrew Sullivan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Sullivan)'s 1989 piece in The New Republic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Republic), titled Here Comes the Groom: The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage.[9] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer#cite_note-duggan-10) The queer movement rejected causes viewed as assimilationist (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_assimilation), such as marriage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage), military inclusion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation_and_military_service) and adoption.[10] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer#cite_note-11)
The term may be capitalized when referring to an identity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_%28social_science%29) or community, rather than as an objective fact describing a person's desires, in a construction similar to the capitalized use of Deaf (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_culture).[11] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer#cite_note-12)

The "hip and iconic abbreviation 'Q'" has developed from common usage of queer, particularly in the United States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer

[thischarmingman]

The likes of David McSavage refers to it regularly on RTE in his skit as The Bull and there is nothing said. The world has gone to hell. All these PC lads should really get a grip. Can say nothing nowadays without someone taking offence over this, that or the other.

I kind of hoped we were at a stage where this didn't need to be explained. O’Neill’s comments are part of a wider culture which discriminates against gay people and emphasises a particular kind of masculinity. One that thinks there’s something wrong with you if you’re not straight; one that says you can’t be a guy and be too close to your male friends; one that dictates the terms under which men can show affection or emotion or love.

Comments like his just reinforce this toxic, harmful culture, and that’s something that affects all of us, gay or straight.

Worse yet, these pressures have a disproportionate effect, particular on young people and on LGBT people - especially in a country where the culture often isn't one of openness when it comes to talking about our ‘issues’. A country, after all, with ‘exceptionally high rates’ (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/ireland-has-exceptionally-high-rates-of-suicide-1.1732791)of suicide and self-harm.

The context we’re talking about was summed up by Mary McAleese just this year, when she described rates of LGBT self harm and suicide as ‘horrific’. (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/rates-of-lgbt-self-harm-suicide-are-horrific-says-mcaleese-1.2583054)

That was in reaction to the largest study to date of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Ireland, which showed gay teens experience elevated levels of suicidal behaviour and depression:


“Significant numbers of younger LGBT people experience elevated levels of suicidal behaviour and self-harm, as well as worrying levels of severe and extremely severe stress, anxiety and depression.

Compared to the wider teenage population, gay teens were two times more likely to have self-harmed, three times more likely to have attempted suicide and four times more likely to have experienced anxiety or depression.

Overall, the report finds school continues to be a very difficult place for many young LGBT people. Only one-in-five feel they belong completely in their school, while less than half feel they have received positive affirmation of their identity.’

The report also shows that LGBT people continue to experience victimisation and harassment in their day-to-day lives. Three-quarters have been verbally abused, with almost one-third reporting abuse in the past year.
Only one-in-three felt safe showing affection or holding hands with a partner in public. Some 15 per cent said they would never do either.

One-in-three have been threatened with physical violence due to their sexual identity, while one-in-five had hurtful things written about them on social media.”

Is any of that O’Neill’s fault? No, of course not. But do his comments feed into that culture? Yes, they do.

And as one of our highest profile ambassadors - and one school kids are well aware of - he should know better.

Besides, we should never forget that, even if you’re straight, that kind of toxic culture has a negative effect on you and your mental health too. Which is why it’s so important we try to change it, even in small ways.

Anyway, bring on the football please; I’m more than ready for it!

[TrapAPony]

Everyone has taboos; not just "PC lads". Is there absolutely nothing someone could say that could offend you or of which you would be critical?
Nope. I am bulletproof.;)

I understand your point of view Danny but I still think the criticism of MON is OTT.

[DannyInvincible]

Well I think it is all a bit much, he is a football manager not a political correctness expert, it is clear it
was not his intention to offend anyone, otherwise he owuld not have said it.

Anyhow if it was offensive, then so was this


Heather Love - Queer Method and the Postwar History of Sexuality Studies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkkZV6GkkKo&list=PLG3k_1SBdm5kUx4vzAi4pXju h3rW6GgmC&index=3

When the term is used in that context, it has been reclaimed or re-appropriated by the LGBTQ and/or feminist community. Context is key. Big difference between a white person using a certain word beginning with 'N' to refer to a black person and a black person using the same word to refer to a fellow black person as a reclaimed term of endearment, communal connection or affection.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXOkXDfUvGM

OK for the BBC?