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Originally posted by JRutledge
Quote:
Originally posted by rwest
Suppose a similar incident happened at our place of employment. Suppose someone threw a beer in my face and then I mistakenly attacked the wrong person. What would happen? I would probably be arrested and fired.
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Why do people keep comparing apples and oranges? This is not your job we are talking about. This is not my job we are talking about. I do not know of any job other than a sporting event where you can be insulted in every way imaged and no one would be dragged out by the police. Better yet, do you know any jobs outside of a bar drink beer excessively? I know in an office job, you would not be dealing with individuals that can drink and call you all kind of names and that is accepted.
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Originally posted by rwest
JR, you say you don't care that the wrong fan was attacked. I do! That fan did nothing to deserve being hit.
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Did I say he did? Stop putting your own narrow minded point of view on what I am saying. Artest has already been punished and could face charges. He will get what is coming to him, but the fan started the chaos.
Quote:
Originally posted by rwest
I don't condone what the fans did. It was a disgrace and criminal. Charges should be as severe as the law allows. However, our society has gotten more violent. In our culture today, if someone disrespects you, people take that as a right to fight. When I was growing up, I was taught to walk away from a conflict before it broke nto a fight. Don't get me wrong. I believe you have a right to defend yourself. But Artest should never have gone up into the stands.
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This is not about being disrespected. This is about having something thrown at you and being hit in the face, which is assault by the way. I think I would not expect anyone to just take being assaulted lying down (no pun intended). This was not the first time and it will not be the last time a fight will happen at a sporting event. The other incidents that happen in the past were fans putting themselves into the mix with players. I agree that Artest crossed a line, but it was not like he just went up into the stands without provocation.
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Originally posted by rwest
JR, just because someone says something to you that you don't like, does not give you the license to beat the snot out of him. Nor does being hit by a cup of beer. The reponse must be proportional. Beer in the face = Fists in the face. I don't think so. Artest went way overboard.
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This is not about what fits the action, this is about what other action do you expect. If I throw something like a beer in anyone's face, I do not expect they are going to walk away. Maybe that is the reason I have never thrown a liquid at anyone. It does not matter if their behavior is right or wrong, I just know not to go there. I know that action will bring either violence to me or someone around me. I also know that if I say certain things to people, I might have to defend myself as well. I have never said that Artest did not cross a line, but the fan crossed one as well. I at least understand the actions of Artest. I have no idea why anyone would throw something sitting in the stands.
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Originally posted by rwest
Just my opinion.
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This is not just about an opinion, this is about reality. We might want people to behave in a certain way, but I know not to do things that will provoke a fight. I cannot say and do anything to someone at expect they are just going to sit there and do nothing. If that is what you expect, tell me how it goes the time you throw a beer in someone's face. Call me from the hospital or jail when that happens.
Peace
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JR, I seemed to have offended you in some way. For that I apologize.
My previous analogy about the work place, in my opinion, was appropriate. What I was attempting to express is that there seems to be a double standard. If you or I did the same thing we would be punished more severly. We see it all the time. I can't remember her name or the olympic sport she was playing in(I believe it was synchronized swimming) but an athlete for this past summer olympics was found guilty of vehicle homicide and was allowed to defer her punishment until after the olympics. If it was you or I we would be serving our time right after sentencing. I couldn't get a delay due to a project I was working on. All I want is for athletes to be held to the same standard as you or I. I don't mind the amount of money they make. That's the capitalist system at work. They are being paid what the market supports. I just want them to be accountable just like you or I.
Maybe this analogy will be more to your liking. Sprewell got suspended for a year for choking his coach (P.J. Carlisimo). It then got bumped down to 68 games. I think what Artest did deserved as stiff a penalty.
Forgive me if you've answered this already in one of the numberous posts on this topic, but do you disagree with the
length of Artest's suspension? If so, what do you think would be fair?
And I agree with you that the fan crossed the line and should be punished. Did you see him on Fox News last night? He seemed somewhat smug. In my opinion he's guilty of assault. Not for throwing the beer. I can't see that as an assault. But the punches he threw to the back of Artest's head while Artest was being held, was cowardly.
Respectfully,
Randall
[Edited by rwest on Nov 24th, 2004 at 07:47 AM]