In fairness he's probably safe enough in the kind of work environment where everyone behaves professionally and there's no question of anyone having sex with anyone else, so the issue of consent doesn't come up, but maybe that's too much of an ideal scenario. Would I personally be comfortable working with him, for example if I were employed as a physio in that club? I can't be sure. Would I go on a work night out and have a few drinks in his company? I don't think so.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
From what I have read, what causes me to be concerned is whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? If there was enough evidence to ‘convict’ him in a civil case, should this not be referred back to the criminal courts? Did he think that by making a large payment, that this would just go away? That doesn’t seem right or fair. Is this what has to happen for a victim to get justice, or a possibly innocent accused either? As many posters have said, the law around these assaults needs to be looked at yet again. Ive seen differing reports that he had no previous convictions, and others, that he had convictions for violence, in which case no decent football club should have employed him. Like it or not, footballers are role models for huge numbers of young people, and given the silly money many are paid, maintaining a decent standard of behaviour on and off the pitch should be a requirement. Another concern I have is the element of trial by newspaper and social media. If I cancel my subscription or sponsorship of something, no one is going to be the wiser. If a well known personality does so, this is going to be plastered over the front pages of some of the papers. It looks as if I am as unclear as you are, @punkdoc. I do find the football club’s excuse that he is a good goal scorer, pretty pathetic. Like tv newsreaders, cut the pay by half, and find some of the decently behaved, talented footballers out there who would be delighted to take his job.
Have you not been reading or watching the news for the last few years @Ergates?
Rapists don't get prosecuted! That's why the victim went for a civil court case.
The CPS finds it all too difficult and complicated so they don't bother and, given the prevailing attitudes among a significant number of policemen who are the first port of call for a woman - or a man - traumatised by rape or sexual assault, who can blame them?
The whole system is rotten and needs updating and a major change in attitudes from coppers to courts and from law makers to law interpreters and implementers.
In this case, the perpetrator is clearly a man of no empathy for others and with a big violent streak and of whom no sigs of contrition or understanding are on record. I have no sympathy for him.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
This might offend some folk. Some young girls deliberately get pregnant so they can get financial benefits. It is their only career path. Someone that grew up in a leafy suburb might not be able to understand that. A friend of mine is a solicitor, and he told me that rape accusations are a way to make money. I don't know how the law works in England, but in Scotland a women can earn £10,000 if she can get someone convicted for rape. The money comes from something called the Criminal Injuries Fund, or something similar. He knows of a girl that has accused 4 different men of raping her in separate incidents, but each time it has been dropped.
Nobody has the right to shut down a reasonable debate by others just because the subject is difficult.
The kind of discussion that some might wish to be closed down
I just can't see how it is compassionate to warn people not to talk about a subject all over the national press.
Nobody has the right to shut down a reasonable debate by others just because the subject is difficult.
That's not what a 'trigger warning' means. It's not trying to shut anything down. It's just a notice at the beginning of a discussion, article, TV programme that the subject contains discussion of rape, suicide, child abuse or something similarly disturbing to someone who might have experienced those things. The BBC kind do this at the beginning of very violent programmes. It's to gives a heads up of what's coming. As this thread was intended as a discussion of attitudes to rape, it might politic to put Goodwillie's name in the thread title or similar.
I take no position on trigger warnings myself. I'm just trying to clarify what they mean and what they are for.
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For very different uses, the internet suggests using 'spoiler warnings' if an article, programme, discussion, threads etc talks about the plot of a new film, series etc. Noting "spoilers" as the top of the page is not trying to shut down the discussion. It's letting readers know that the content coming up goes into plot detail and revelation that you might not want to read if you haven't seen the show yet.
I think the question is whether a sponsor has the right to withdraw her sponsorship, not whether the footballer should continue to be employed by the club. The sponsor doesn't employ the players; she's clearly making her feelings known by ending her financial involvement, but it's up to the club whether they want to keep the player on their books, and that's a different question. Unless Ms McDermid signed a contract to provide the money, come what may, for a specified time, I guess she's within her rights... and if she is under contract and decided nonetheless to break that agreement, she's demonstrating the strength of her feelings, as well as inspiring debate (like this one).
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Public lynchings are the way to go. Don't bother with a criminal trial. I'm pretty sure Val will be happy to wear a pillow case with eye cut-outs, as she directs the mob to tighten the rope.
Posts
Ive seen differing reports that he had no previous convictions, and others, that he had convictions for violence, in which case no decent football club should have employed him. Like it or not, footballers are role models for huge numbers of young people, and given the silly money many are paid, maintaining a decent standard of behaviour on and off the pitch should be a requirement.
Another concern I have is the element of trial by newspaper and social media. If I cancel my subscription or sponsorship of something, no one is going to be the wiser. If a well known personality does so, this is going to be plastered over the front pages of some of the papers.
It looks as if I am as unclear as you are, @punkdoc.
I do find the football club’s excuse that he is a good goal scorer, pretty pathetic. Like tv newsreaders, cut the pay by half, and find some of the decently behaved, talented footballers out there who would be delighted to take his job.
Rapists don't get prosecuted! That's why the victim went for a civil court case.
The CPS finds it all too difficult and complicated so they don't bother and, given the prevailing attitudes among a significant number of policemen who are the first port of call for a woman - or a man - traumatised by rape or sexual assault, who can blame them?
The whole system is rotten and needs updating and a major change in attitudes from coppers to courts and from law makers to law interpreters and implementers.
In this case, the perpetrator is clearly a man of no empathy for others and with a big violent streak and of whom no sigs of contrition or understanding are on record. I have no sympathy for him.
Some young girls deliberately get pregnant so they can get financial benefits. It is their only career path. Someone that grew up in a leafy suburb might not be able to understand that.
A friend of mine is a solicitor, and he told me that rape accusations are a way to make money. I don't know how the law works in England, but in Scotland a women can earn £10,000 if she can get someone convicted for rape. The money comes from something called the Criminal Injuries Fund, or something similar. He knows of a girl that has accused 4 different men of raping her in separate incidents, but each time it has been dropped.
Don't bother with a criminal trial.
I'm pretty sure Val will be happy to wear a pillow case with eye cut-outs, as she directs the mob to tighten the rope.