The wussification continues: NJ outlaws trash talk in school sports.

They're calling it an "anit-bullying" measure.

New Jersey just passed a law outlawing trash talking in sports. I guess those big, brutish athletes just can't handle getting their poor little feelings hurt. But hey, who cares about all those real sports injuries like concussions in football and whatnot, so long as nobody's feelings get hurt.

New Jersey Bans Trash Talk In Prep Sports

Young athletes in New Jersey better start holding their tongues.

A new policy announced by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) and the state Attorney General's office this week institues harsh punishments for high school athletes who are caught talking trash during competitions.

According to the Associated Press, athletes who make the mistake of talking trash could earn penalties for their teams and even find themselves under investigation by the state Civil Rights Division.

Harassment includes statements referencing gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

The new rule goes along with the state's anti-bullying efforts.

The postgame

Trash talking is a classic method of male bonding and getting mentally prepared for the game. Everybody knows its all just good fun and no real malice is intended when putting down the opposing team or talking trash about how you're gonna crush the other players in the game.

I doubt anyone has ever suffered from PTSD because of the trash talking that happened during the game. Maybe from injuries sustained during play but not from trash talking anyway.

You have to wonder how this is gonna affect pep rallies and cheer-leading. Most cheer leading chants have to do with talking down the opposing team or how "our team" is gonna crush the other team. If trash talking is outlawed, what is gonna happen to these beloved aspects of sports culture? You also have to wonder how this is gonna affect fan led chants, such as in baseball when everybody calls for the pitcher to strike out the batter? Will they penalize the team because the fans misbehaved?

It seems to me they're trying to suck all the life out of sports with this new law.

reply to post by FortAnthem


The New Politically Correct Cheer.

Huggums, Wuggums, Lolly, Wheeeee.
We admire your,
In-di-vi-du-aliteee!

Helping, Coping, Aiding, Whoooooo.
We want to enable,
A Fragile Ego!

Global, Social, Progressive, Bliss.
Freedom of Speech,
You Will Not Miss!

Why don't you lot revolt?

That's what you keep telling us on the other side of the pond.

"How can you stand for it? We'd never let that kind of stuff happen in the states."

Fight back!

I mean it - you really don't want to be like the ultimate pussy-whipped state (Britain).

There's no fight here anymore.

People used to strike.

Now they just accept.

reply to post by FortAnthem


Ah. I expect it's only a matter of time until they prohibit keeping score and everyone gets a special medal just for participation. Won't that be precious? Then everyone can play, and that will be the end of jocks and nerds. Voila! No more bullies.

I think I'd prefer being bullied. Between the quality time with my old man teaching me to fight back, and the satisfaction of taking up for myself--and standing up for others--well ... something's lost, but I'm not sure what we all stand to gain from this....

Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by FortAnthem

 

The New Politically Correct Cheer.

Huggums, Wuggums, Lolly, Wheeeee.
We admire your,
In-di-vi-du-aliteee!

Helping, Coping, Aiding, Whoooooo.
We want to enable,
A Fragile Ego!

Global, Social, Progressive, Bliss.
Freedom of Speech,
You Will Not Miss!

Thanks, Beezzer. I owe you one good belly-laugh....

Trash talking is a classic method of male bonding and getting mentally prepared for the game.

Yeah, for the weak minded.

If they would leave it on the field and not take it to others at school. Many Jocks end up bullying others outside sports - gotta keep up that image.

Ha ha ha ha........ This reminds me of a south park episode.

But that's not unusual anymore.

reply to post by beezzer


I love your sense of humor man. It's true but still funny.

Just wait until religion and political correctness clash. It hasn't got started yet, but it's going to. Oh boy that will be an interesting fight.

Hey batta, hey batta, hey batta.... suhweeeeng!

Theres trash talk and theres insults. Can't we tell the difference anymore?

reply to post by lonewolf19792000


reply to post by Ex_CT2




Thanks guys. I think that society has gotten such a thin skin that it makes single-ply toilet paper look like a phone book.

Our country used to be filled with rugged, tough individuals.

Now? Now, harsh language is considered an assault.

reply to post by beezzer


Well, of course it's all part and parcel of a MUCH much larger and more nefarious sociological experiment; we know that. It's just that you gotta laugh to keep from crying. Sooner or later it's all going to come to a tipping point, and all these poor, unbullied, defenseless dupes are going to be caught in the middle....

reply to post by Ex_CT2


I wish I could star this 10 times! It is social engineering, isn't it!

Oh dear, American sports are going according to common laws applied to twitter posts and stadium behavior in some countries, and cases where even fans were criminally charged for "trash talking".

Goodness, raising children according to the norms of civility in a world where one is virtually under constant surveillance is just unnatural.

I mean it's not like a failure to trash talk can ruin your future.
Quite the opposite: trash talking with slurs can ruin your future.
Whether that's right or wrong isn't important, but why teach a public behavior that can end in the slammer?

Originally posted by roadgravel
Yeah, for the weak minded.

If they would leave it on the field and not take it to others at school. Many Jocks end up bullying others outside sports - gotta keep up that image.

I got bullied plenty in High School. Funny thing is, it wasn't the jocks doing the bullying, it was socially maladjusted jerks who just happened to be bigger than me who did most of the bullying.

The jocks got their confidence from their accomplishments on the field. The don't need to bully smaller kids to feel good about themselves. I think the bullying jock is just another stupid stereotype that doesn't live up to reality.

reply to post by halfoldman

Harassment includes statements referencing gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

I'm all for cutting out racial or homophobic slurs from trash talking but, they've thrown out the baby with the bathwater by outlawing trash talk all together. Its a fun part of the game that even the fans can participate in. What real harm comes from saying some player throws like a girl or "we're gonna crush your team"? It helps get the fans into the game and gets the player's hearts racing before the game to talk trash about the other team.

As far as the speech codes in other countries; all I can say is thank God I live in the USA where we still have some freedom of speech left.

reply to post by CJCrawley


Why don't you lot revolt?



because, i don't think ya could organize a circle jerk here without some one complaining about how they were left out. and then lawsuits galore would happen.

reply to post by FortAnthem

I'm actually not against it at all.

Luckily here people can trash talk in various languages, and especially Afrikaans can be quite colorful when applied to a match (also not necessarily racist or homophobic).

I'm just saying that in a culture of modern surveillance kids should learn that what they say can have long consequences.

Remember in this day and age, EVERYONE IS A WINNER....EVERYONE GETS A TROPHY...

reply to post by halfoldman


I guess accepting modern surveillance is part of the problem.

It isn't right, regardless of the justification.

reply to post by beezzer

No it isn't right - not for any age really, but we must accept that culture has changed.

If people want their kids to be sport celebrities or longer term contenders, then what they say will become as important as their talent.

Life for even minor celebrities is already a reality show, and people are waiting for other people to stuff up.

Maybe that trend will change one day, but for the moment a career can be ruined very early through social media.