[Albion] Banter or Hate?

[CovJet]

Dear Seagulls,

I’m a Wolves fan – I’m coming in peace and hoping you can help me out…

I’m a senior Lecturer at Birmingham City University, writing academic papers as part of my PhD portfolio (Koln University). My research has a focus on the language used by football fans at games – for some people it’s ‘banter’ and for others, it has become a ‘hate crime’. It is a complex, emotive issue and one in which Wolverhampton Wanderers have recently incurred a £100,000 fine from the FA, due to chants aimed at Chelsea fans during the Wolves vs Chelsea game earlier this year. We also have had a number of arrests at games involving Brighton, so the issue is very relevant to both of our clubs.

I want to find out what you think of the language used – I want you to be honest. I've had a fantastic response so far (heading towards 1,500 replies) and some lively debate.

The questionnaire is entirely voluntary and completely anonymous. I will only use the data I obtain for academic papers and once complete I will share the data with you on this forum. I have ethical approval granted from Koln University.

I will be comparing your answers with those from supporters of Arsenal, Watford, Plymouth, Ipswich Chelsea, Swansea, Bolton, Cardiff and Newcastle.

The questionnaire should only take you a couple of minutes and I would like to thank you in advance. Here is the link:

Hate Crime | Hate Crime - Web Survey Tools

Hate Crime - Web Survey Tools

questionpro.com

Kind regards,

Peter Evans

 

[Eric the meek]

The link doesn't give the option of being a Brighton supporter.

I would have thought that this is rather fundamental....

 

[Hugo Rune]

Thanks for posting.

Completed.

I found the questions and juxtaposition of the the chants very interesting. It made me think.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Done, I put banter, but can also see the harm it can do.
The reason I chose banter was, your question below
Do you consider this chant to be 'banter' or homophobic?
"We can see you, we can see you, we can see you holding hands"

We get this all the time, and our retort is
"Your too ugly to be gay"

Now, that could offend people, could it not ?

If you sing that back to the opposite fans, then you are engaging in banter.

Where it crosses the line, is vile hate fuelled aggressive Neanderthals rushing down the front, shouting and abusing as other fans, or as happened to nearly every Albion fan walking to the ground or home, and passing a group of opposition fans of mixed ages to be honest and they call you a "poof" "rent boy" "faggot" or worse, that is common place from opposing fans
Now that is crossing the line and fans should be arrested.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I'll only respond if you call it "bantz"

 

[Hamilton]

As Eric says, you'll be unable to compare results as there's no option to select Brighton as a team.

I'm also unclear how far this is going to help you with an academic paper as you have no idea why I picked the answers that I did. I assume you are doing qualitative research to explore the answers and that you'll be seeking to understand the root cause for the answers?

 

[Farehamseagull]

Done but as above, I think there should a Brighton supporter option especially as some of the chants quoted have been aimed at us for years.

 

[Brovion]

The link doesn't give the option of being a Brighton supporter.

I would have thought that this is rather fundamental....

Indeed. And without wishing to claim that we're 'special' we do have the issue of homophobic abuse aimed with us, probably more so than any other club.

 

[Titanic]

Done.

 

[Icy Gull]

As an entitled fan of a top six club I am OFFENDED that Albion is not one of the teams listed so won’t be completing this survey until we are added

I am taking Other as an insult in fact, there are a few quite tinpot clubs listed too (I did tell you that I am now entitled)

 

[CovJet]

Sorry guys I have fixed it!

As an entitled fan of a top six club I am OFFENDED that Albion is not one of the teams listed so won’t be completing this survey until we are added

All fixed now

 

[CovJet]

The link doesn't give the option of being a Brighton supporter.

I would have thought that this is rather fundamental....

Fixed sorry

 

[Icy Gull]

:b

Sorry guys I have fixed it!

All fixed now

Done, I confess to sitting on the fence re the banter/homophobia questions as I can’t be offended even if I don’t like it. I totally get why some people feel strongly about it though.

 

[CovJet]

Done, I put banter, but can also see the harm it can do.
The reason I chose banter was, your question below
Do you consider this chant to be 'banter' or homophobic?
"We can see you, we can see you, we can see you holding hands"

We get this all the time, and our retort is
"Your too ugly to be gay"

Now that could be offend people, could it not ?

If you sing that back to the opposite fans, then you are engaging in banter.

Where it crosses the line, is vile hate fuelled aggressive Neanderthals rushing down the front, shouting and abusing as other fans, or as happened to nearly every Albion fan walking to the ground or home, and passing a group of opposition fans of mixed ages to be honest and they call you a "poof" "rent boy" "faggot" or worse, that is common place from opposing fans
Now that is crossing the line and fans should be arrested.

Thank you for the feedback

 

[CovJet]

The link doesn't give the option of being a Brighton supporter.

I would have thought that this is rather fundamental....

All fixed, sorry

 

[Brok]

The link doesn't give the option of being a Brighton supporter.

I would have thought that this is rather fundamental....

It does now, must have added it.

 

[CovJet]

As Eric says, you'll be unable to compare results as there's no option to select Brighton as a team.

I'm also unclear how far this is going to help you with an academic paper as you have no idea why I picked the answers that I did. I assume you are doing qualitative research to explore the answers and that you'll be seeking to understand the root cause for the answers?

I have corrected that sorry. The data will be supported by the interviews I have done with the Police and LGBT+ groups

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

All fixed, sorry

Re done mine, Gotta get it right, yeah

 

[Stephen Seagull]

Anything that can be considered as "abusive" should be dealt with. IMO not with prosecution unless it is a repeat offender, entry into the stadium is now registered so we know who is gaining access.
kick them out if they do it and if they don't learn then a harsher punishment should be sought.

Banter is only banter if all parties are getting involved. If the person/group that is on the "receiving end" of the chants is not including themselves then it is actually down to their perception of the chants, not those that are doing the chanting

 

[Hamilton]

Done, I put banter, but can also see the harm it can do.
The reason I chose banter was, your question below
Do you consider this chant to be 'banter' or homophobic?
"We can see you, we can see you, we can see you holding hands"

We get this all the time, and our retort is
"Your too ugly to be gay"

Now that could be offend people, could it not ?

If you sing that back to the opposite fans, then you are engaging in banter.

Where it crosses the line, is vile hate fuelled aggressive Neanderthals rushing down the front, shouting and abusing as other fans, or as happened to nearly every Albion fan walking to the ground or home, and passing a group of opposition fans of mixed ages to be honest and they call you a "poof" "rent boy" "faggot" or worse, that is common place from opposing fans
Now that is crossing the line and fans should be arrested.

I see your reasoning there.

Would you agree that it's quite tiresome bantering? For example, when you hear that chant - and I rarely do now - how do you feel? Is it a weary response or one that you look forward to? My guess is the former.

If I do hear it I always despair, even though there is a 'bantering' response. I'm always left wondering why people are so fearful of people who are gay.

There's another 'bantering' response that I know we have all occasionally heard: "You're just too curious." I prefer that response, because we know that a significant number of the other set of fans will also be 'holding hands.'