Player Watch: Rodrigo Bentancur

[Locotoro]

The world has changed. Rodrigo should have learned that. We all should adapt to the new normal.

Things are inferred that were never intended. Back in the 80s, I played for one of the Jamaican teams in South Florida where it was 13 Jamaicans, me and an English guy. One practice there was all kinds of banter and a couple of them made a similar comment about the English guy and myself. In their accent it was riotously funny. After feigning pain, I jokingly demanded to be called obeah man (white magic witch doctor) which made them laugh all the more as an American, my skillsets were limited when compared to my Carib brothers. It's hard to describe but the differences were part of the banter and were a reason to celebrate this crazy gift called life. Now this is different in that Sonny wasn't there but it is hard to imagine that Sonny makes any kind of issue out of it.

Even though I agree with you that the world has changed and not excusing racist jokes or banter. We didnt all grow up in the same world. I've been subject to enough racist abuse in my life to know the difference between someone being aggressive, malicious and discriminatory and someone trying to get a cheap laugh who is ignorant to the impact their joke has on the subject of their joke. By your post it looks like you understand the difference too.

Unfortunately, when you're exposed to social media and complete strangers with the tendency to default to shock and outrage the answer is always "he's vile and should never breathe again".

There's a lack of education and awareness that comes with making those types of jokes that cancelling someone won't help with. Ideally you'll want to educate people who don't know better and cancel the people trying to hurt others.

 

[Locotoro]

I've read the last last 4 page and not a single post advocates selling him due to this.

How many pages do you suggest I read back?

If you keep reading back to probably the start of the season I'm sure you'll find it

I saw a couple just after his apology post

 

[muppetman]

Loads of bored people on here I see!

 

[mil1lion]

Guy is an absolute idiot

Is he or did he just say something stupid?

 

[TPdYID]

Would everyone be on VdV nuts if he said what Bentancur said? Or do we have some indirect performance related frustration also at play here?

I think too many are looking to take offense, was ignorant at best. Racist? Not for me.

 

[Toast]

 

[Whazam]

Would everyone be on VdV nuts if he said what Bentancur said? Or do we have some indirect performance related frustration also at play here?

Don't think so. I think most people here really like Bentancur both as a player and a person, and are possibly slightly more disappointed in him for that reason.

Either way, apart from a few posts going a bit far with it in both directions, I think the reaction of the majority on here is quite healthy and on point.

Most posts seem to boil down to:
- Annoyance that he said something so stupid and ignorant.
- Appreciation that he was so quick to apologize and owning up to it.
- Hoping that he will be held accountable by making sure he learns from this.

At least that's where I'm at. And it feels reasonable to me. (I'll continue to be disappointed for a while longer though.)

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

You all must be new to South American humour

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

You all must be new to South American humour

Its a "joke" that has been made around the world.

It's inappropriate - but, as others have noted, not malicious. It won't be an issue once the season starts - and there is a decent chance Bentancur misses the Asia trip, so its unlikely to be an issue there either.

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

Its a "joke" that has been made around the world.

It's inappropriate - but, as others have noted, not malicious. It won't be an issue once the season starts - and there is a decent chance Bentancur misses the Asia trip, so its unlikely to be an issue there either.

Like I said, you must be new to South American humour. If you think any race or country is safe from torment and racial jokes in a Latin country then you are going to have a hard time

 

[olliec]

To be honest only Sonny can diffuse the situation from here. If he’s offended than it’s probably best we do sell Rodrigo. If they are laughing and joking together going forward than it’s water under the bridge, so let’s see what happens.

 

[JSpurs1]

This was stupid but was it actually racist?

I thought racism was treating somebody differently due to skin colour, race, beliefs etc and generally suggesting or indicating their race is inferior.

I don’t feel like he did any of the above - just made a lazy trope.

Fortunately I’ve never had to experience racism and I admit to not being the most knowledgeable on it so the above is just a question.

If Son is offended then it’s not acceptable but does feel like one of those situations where people are getting offended on his behalf?

 

[dontcallme]

This was stupid but was it actually racist?

I thought racism was treating somebody differently due to skin colour, race, beliefs etc and generally suggesting or indicating their race is inferior.

I don’t feel like he did any of the above - just made a lazy trope.

Fortunately I’ve never had to experience racism and I admit to not being the most knowledgeable on it so the above is just a question.

If Son is offended then it’s not acceptable but does feel like one of those situations where people are getting offended on his behalf?

The phrase "getting offended on others behalf" needs to be deleted from our vocabulary. It's perfectly normal to think and say something is wrong even if the word or action isn't aimed at whatever group of people I am in.

Like almost every conversation, being offended has nothing to do with it.

Saying all Korean people look the same is a racist comment. How we interpret his meaning, whether it was malicious or not and if there are to be punishments or repercussions are all fair game and open to analysis.

Dumbing conversations down to whether people are offended just needs to stop. The "offended generation" isn't a generation of people who are constantly offended. It's a generation of people calling people with a different view offended in order to not discuss the point.

 

[McFlash]

The phrase "getting offended on others behalf" needs to be deleted from our vocabulary. It's perfectly normal to think and say something is wrong even if the word or action isn't aimed at whatever group of people I am in.

Like almost every conversation, being offended has nothing to do with it.

Saying all Korean people look the same is a racist comment. How we interpret his meaning, whether it was malicious or not and if there are to be punishments or repercussions are all fair game and open to analysis.

Dumbing conversations down to whether people are offended just needs to stop. The "offended generation" isn't a generation of people who are constantly offended. It's a generation of people calling people with a different view offended in order to not discuss the point.

Did you just get offended?

 

[dontcallme]

Did you just get offended?

Yeah but on your behalf.

 

[JSpurs1]

The phrase "getting offended on others behalf" needs to be deleted from our vocabulary. It's perfectly normal to think and say something is wrong even if the word or action isn't aimed at whatever group of people I am in.

Like almost every conversation, being offended has nothing to do with it.

Saying all Korean people look the same is a racist comment. How we interpret his meaning, whether it was malicious or not and if there are to be punishments or repercussions are all fair game and open to analysis.

Dumbing conversations down to whether people are offended just needs to stop. The "offended generation" isn't a generation of people who are constantly offended. It's a generation of people calling people with a different view offended in order to not discuss the point.

Why is it racist?

 

[dontcallme]

Why is it racist?

Are you aware that racist stereotypes and thoughts exist? If you genuinely don't understand why saying Asian or black people all look the same is an issue then I don't think you're worth talking to.

 

[JSpurs1]

Are you aware that racist stereotypes and thoughts exist? If you genuinely don't understand why saying Asian or black people all look the same then I don't think you're worth talking to.

Of course I do. I am just asking you questions and trying to learn.

Don’t worry mate. An internet forum probably not the right place.

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

Are you aware that racist stereotypes and thoughts exist? If you genuinely don't understand why saying Asian or black people all look the same then I don't think you're worth talking to.

What about white people?

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

Of course I do. I am just asking you questions and trying to learn.

Don’t worry mate. An internet forum probably not the right place.

If you’re genuinely interested I can recommend some books for further reading, DM if you want.