to be annoyed at someone being offended by this - "FEED THE MONKEY"?

[redshifter]

I thought it would be discussed on here, as it is all everyone was talking about at work. I guess not many MumsNetters are into football, but I was interested in the opinons of fellow MumsNetters about this.

Eh?!

you might need to explain if you want people to comment - I have no idea what you are on about!

oooh! x-posts with a like-minded phantom!

I had to google it tbh

From what I read I don't think he said it with any racial connotation, but I didn't hear it so could be wrong

Hi phantom

DH has just been waffling on about it. Apparently the England manager told a joke where the punchline was "feed the monkey" in relation to giving a certain player the ball more. Certain player is black. Player mentioned tweeted its something out of nothing......

DH says it's another played that's leaked this to the press.

"feed the goat!". Any fans of Shaun Goater in tonight?

OK as far as I can tell he told a perfectly reasonable, not racist, joke that mentions monkeys but did it with reference to a player. I think the joke is fine but it seems that the reference to the player may have been misjudged. Neither the player, nor anyone else in the team, seem to be complaining.

Sorry. Meant to post link. Didn't realise it would get so many responses in 5 mins. Lol

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24563131

Someone on the team is complaining

I don't know?

I remember back in the day when Hearts (edinburgh team) had their first black member and during the match many bananas were thrown on the pitch

That kind of crap is out of order

Amateurish - Shaun 'the goat' Goater. I remembervthat fondly :)

I'm annoyed that you're annoyed.

why would you associate monkey with being black?? Associating it is racist, not saying it as a joke! Have you never refered to kids as little monkeys - Worlds going crazy!

It was feed the space monkey I think. And what princess took offence at it I don't know but seriously, get a grip.

For Gods sake, you can't even tell a joke involving a monkey in the presence of a black person now.

Chusband wish there was a "like" button for comments on here =)

The player involved (Andros Townsend!) has said he didn't think it was anything to be upset about - he's said "No offence was meant and no offence was taken" and that he can't understand what the fuss is about. The Kick Racism out of Football campaign has said they are happy that no offence was meant and with Roy Hodgson's apology.
If the people at the centre of it (ie Townsend) are happy, then there really is nothing to get worked up over. A storm in a teacup and a stupid one at that.

Agree with blah that the racism was in the mind of the person who heard monkey and immediately thought "ah he means black people".

I've seen that before and it's more revealing about the person doing the complaining than anything else.

That Space Monkey joke in full:

NASA decided they’d finally send a man up in a capsule after sending only monkeys in the earlier missions.

They fire the man and the monkey into space.

The intercom crackles, "Monkey, fire the retros."

A little later, "Monkey, check the solid fuel supply."

Later still, "Monkey, check the life support systems for the man."

The astronaut takes umbrage and radioes NASA, "When do I get to do something?"

NASA replies, "In 15 minutes – feed the monkey."

I think its up to the Person it is aimed at as to whether they choose to take offence or not. Most outrageous Thing I recently read (not on here) was when something clearly Racist was said someone accused them of 'Begging Racism'. You know like you Beg Homophobia etc.

Ihatemytoes - "I'm annoyed that you are annoyed"

Why? :)

You know what, football has a history with racism.. It is worth people considering what comes out of their mouth. Is the manager racist? probably not, but I am not annoyed people question shit.

Casual racism and banana throwing and vileness about black people as "Monkeys" is not new in football. I'm annoyed you are annoyed someone thought to question it.

Oh and this "if you think someone might be racist because they said something that could be construed as racist, you are a racist" kind of thinking is so fucking stupid it hurts.

If a black person (or a white person for that matter) flinches at a "Monkey" comment . it's probably not because they are racist against black people. But are aware they live in a society that uses it as a racial slur

And if a white person doesn't.. it might because they've never been exposed to racism themselves, never heard the terms used negatively and live in a white area with other white people where you haven't got to worry about racism because you're all white.