[Cricket] Ollie Robinson suspended by ECB

[KeegansHairPiece]

Apologies, I thought you were still talking about Robinson.

In fairness maybe I'm being overly harsh with Overton, because I don't like him and I think he said it. There was a lot of corroborative evidence, and he was punished for it.

I don't like him, and I don't want him to play for England, but I recognise that's only my opionion.

He says that he didn't do it, he says thats not who he is, and he says that its wrong. Is that very different from Robinson? I do think people should get second chances if they change or are sorry, and they have been sanctioned for the initial action. I guess it would be hypocritical to say he should have a life time ban. He has recieved a punishment and codemns racist behaviour now. Under those circumstances should he have the opportunity to play for England again? Yes. Do I like him? No.

I didn't ask whether you liked him. I suggested the principles of the ECB's campaign of education, learning and inclusivity must mean that a player can be rehabilitated, call it what you will. Overton was sanctioned and available for selection again, therefore his inclusion is still part of their over-arching policy aims. Let us remember Overton's comments were actually 6 years ago made on the field of play while a professional cricketer.

Ollie Robinson made what I can see as 4 tweets, 2 racist in nature, 2 sexist in nature, 9 years ago before playing professional cricket. I would have thought the papers would have dug out a lot more if there was more to dig, so would think that's it on his copy book.

I'd therefore conclude he's been harshly treated because as I've said above if something from 9 years ago would come up as relevant, the ECB should have flagged it with Robinson BEFORE selection. This is an ECB f*ck up, I can commit various crimes, I could slander someone, be negligent etc. and be outside statutes of limitations at 9 years. ECB are covering their arses after messing up, OR is the 'look at us we're acting on this' which is really translated to 'we haven't been doing our job properly'.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

Whilst I partially agree with your comments, what he wrote when he was 18, and let’s not forget an adult, was wrong. The response to this therefore needs to include a punitive element. Otherwise other 18 year olds will think they can behave in a similar manner and get away with it.

The alternative view is 18 year olds see the ECB as an ageing institution with it's own institutional problems on equality changing up the rules as it suits them to correct omissions and failures on their own part.

The problem here is missing the lesson on what OR got wrong. To most it will be 'don't get caught', keep it to private whatsapp groups or whatever else so authority figures can't jump on 2012s poor taste humour being 2021s crime against humanity.

The news story here isn't Ollie Robinson, it's the ECB launching an anti-racism campaign when they have literally nothing in place to educate / monitor / instruct their players as this case highlights. Ollie Robinson is caught up in an institution being institutionally clueless.

 

[Pavilionaire]

It's very easy for the ECB to say they have a zero tolerance policy on racism but this example shows how ridiculous that is when applied literally.

The fact the PM has commented and the CMS Minister has personally intervened have made this a political issue, and that is not fair on Robinson.

He made some mistakes, he has apologised and shown genuine contrition yet he has been hung out to dry. Sussex gave England a bowler at the top of his game and he has been handed back downcast, forever branded as a racist troublemaker. Thanks a lot, ECB!

 

[Bry Nylon]

I think using the N word is signficant enough

edit: I don't think you've seen all of them

Certainly not asking or advocating people reproduce them on here, but is that a fact? I have seen the 4 tweets that are in the public domain but nothing that comes close to the content you suggest here. So there are definitely more than the 4 tweets then?

 

[Braggfan]

Certainly not asking or advocating people reproduce them on here, but is that a fact? I have seen the 4 tweets that are in the public domain but nothing that comes close to the content you suggest here. So there are definitely more than the 4 tweets then?

There was a post that was widely doing the rounds, and that only had 4 tweets on it. But there are about 14 tweets in total.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Certainly not asking or advocating people reproduce them on here, but is that a fact? I have seen the 4 tweets that are in the public domain but nothing that comes close to the content you suggest here. So there are definitely more than the 4 tweets then?

Having been corrected by BF I have checked a little further and seen reference to two other tweets, but only seen one (another lame teenager joke in a similar vein to the other two).
Apparently there is one that uses the N word.

Going by the previous tweets, I'm guessing it's a similarly lame joke, made by an immature young man, trying to look "edgy" in front of his peers, and failing.
But without seeing the content, that is a guess and may, in fact, be one of the vile racist tweets, to which I have heard reference, but as yet have seen little in the way of evidence.


Edit: Found them - as suspected, lame joke.
Fairly standard tweet fare. Use of the n-word - but not in a racial context. Could easily have written "Real-men" instead of the N-word and the joke would have been the same.
The misogynistic tweets are far far worse than the racist ones in my view.

 

[Braggfan]

Having been corrected by BF I have checked a little further and seen reference to two other tweets, but only seen one (another lame teenager joke in a similar vein to the other two).
Apparently there is one that uses the N word.

Going by the previous tweets, I'm guessing it's a similarly lame joke, made by an immature young man, trying to look "edgy" in front of his peers, and failing.
But without seeing the content, that is a guess and may, in fact, be one of the vile racist tweets, to which I have heard reference, but as yet have seen little in the way of evidence.

I think all of the tweets are in the same stupid jokey vein. But I don't think there's a debate to be had on whether there is a right or wrong time to use that language.

 

[Sid in the Sharknado]

I think all of the tweets are in the same stupid jokey vein. But I don't think there's a debate to be had on whether there is a right or wrong time to use that language.

Clearly never played any Grand Theft Auto games. Or made the dreadful mistake of turning voice chat on while playing a game online.

Unfortunately the internet's full of absolute cretins making awful jokes using that sort of language. Most of them wouldn't use it off the Internet, and grow up to be reasonably "normal" people, whatever that means.

 

[BLOCK F]

Nine years ago, when he was an immature teenager....
For heavens sake, will these witch hunts ever stop?

 

[LamieRobertson]

I think all of the tweets are in the same stupid jokey vein. But I don't think there's a debate to be had on whether there is a right or wrong time to use that language.

Is anyone saying there is a right or wrong time to say those things ..but they are saying that it was years ago in someone’s youth ..and I’ll speak for myself here by saying I said a lot of things that I wouldn’t say now which judging by today’s ’media court’ would result in me being hung drawn and quartered

 

[albionalex]

Surprised the Sussex Social Media team had missed this. You would think all professional teams. regardless of sport, would have someone go through the accounts of all of their players. Not like it is hard to find.

The Sussex Social Media team is probably just a 18 year old intern for the summer. I don't lay any blame at Sussex for not catching this.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I think all of the tweets are in the same stupid jokey vein. But I don't think there's a debate to be had on whether there is a right or wrong time to use that language.

There certainly isn't today.

I would suggest that the use of that word (certainly in the context he used it) would have been seen differently even just ten years ago.
White guys using that word in a jokey wannabe rap star/gang member style, has been pretty common for much of this century.
It's always been very cringe-worthy, but today it is deemed a more serious offence.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Never had you down as one of the "hang 'em and flog 'em" brigade.

I’m not and I feel my post shows this?

 

[Uh_huh_him]

To try and clarify my position on all of this.

I strongly believe that a great many organisations fail massively with their anti-discriminatory policies.

"Zero-tolerance" gets translated to excessively punitive measures for anything borderline offensive and worse.
There is a massive difference between offensive jokes and racism.
I have no problem with committed racists being punished to the full extent of the law.

Punishing everyone for making bad jokes, just leads to the real racists, becoming ever more entrenched in their positions.

Ollie's crime here, is to make a range of "sick" jokes which has been the preserve of the teenage male for all of my life-time (and probably) beyond.
A half-hour Jimmy Carr/Frankie Boyle set, contains much more offensive material. (but much better jokes.)

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

A cricketer is suspended from the England team for something very stupid he wrote a long time ago yet a footballer drives his car (probably) drunk, crashes it, runs away while abusing lockdown rules yet he is welcomed into the England team - so the pen is mightier than the sword

I know what you mean but delete the bit about being drunk (he was not found to have been drunk, even if he may well have been), and add that there were no lockdown rules, just some very jolly well strong advice, then it becomes less effective as a bit of whaboutery.

What exactly are people complaining about here? That it was 'all a long time ago', that 'he was only 18', that 'he never did it again', that 'it was only banter' or 'that the punishment is intrinsically harsh'?

For me the only issue is whether the punishment is excessively harsh. Apparently he has been suspended pending an investigation. Sounds right to me. He was actually 19 when he last tweeted in his chosen style, and on tour with England at the time

 

[Sid in the Sharknado]

What exactly are people complaining about here? That it was 'all a long time ago', that 'he was only 18', that 'he never did it again', that 'it was only banter' or 'that the punishment is intrinsically harsh'?

For me the only issue is whether the punishment is excessively harsh. Apparently he has been suspended pending an investigation. Sounds right to me. He was actually 19 when he last tweeted in his chosen style, and on tour with England at the time

I agree with everything else here, but I'm not sure which England tour is being referred to?

 

[Brovion]

I’m not and I feel my post shows this?

You said "The response to this therefore needs to include a punitive element". You sound like you're lecturing your servants after you've found out that one of them had written a rude word on the staff toilet wall.

 

[Sid in the Sharknado]

The Sussex Social Media team is probably just a 18 year old intern for the summer. I don't lay any blame at Sussex for not catching this.

That may well have been the case about 10years ago, but it would be an entirely ridiculous way for a professional club to carry on now. Both from a commercial angle and given the duty of care they have to the players, many of whom are still teenagers.

I note that the Social Media Manager position is currently advertised on the club website, which is probably for the best:
https://sussexcricket.co.uk/current-vacancies

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

You said "The response to this therefore needs to include a punitive element". You sound like you're lecturing your servants after you've found out that one of them had written a rude word on the staff toilet wall.

Okay, but this wasn’t my intention. I merely suggested there needs to be “some” punitive element which is quite different to hang ‘em and flag ‘em??

 

[DJ NOBO]

I think using the N word is signficant enough

edit: I don't think you've seen all of them

I’ve seen them all.
They are clearly on the side of complete dickhead (at the time), rather than hateful racist IMO.