Anyone think football is daft?

[Roadkill]

Curiously enough, I was thinking recently whether there might be scope for rebuilding a modern temperance movement. With binge drinking, anti-social behaviour and unruly young people being at the forefront of many people's concerns, I think it could be a flier.

I find that rather difficult to believe. Not because I don't think that heavy drinking and general unpleasantness are a problem, but because I think the high moral and religious tone of the old temperance groups would just be laughed at in this day and age.

And frankly, given how much of the old temperance movement, and presumably a future one, was and would be driven by evangelical Christianity, I don't think that's a particularly bad thing.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Football was banned at my school, and good thing too.

Grammar school was it?

 

[untethered]

I think the high moral and religious tone of the old temperance groups would just be laughed at in this day and age.

Isn't that entirely the root of the problem? People's attitude that "You can't tell me what to do / I know my rights" etc.? I can see no way of escaping the problems of a society that elevates self-gratification and personal aggrandisement above all other values except by taking a high moral tone.

There will always be people that ridicule it but I believe that a clear and cogent message repeated often enough will soon gain traction.

And frankly, given how much of the old temperance movement, and presumably a future one, was and would be driven by evangelical Christianity, I don't think that's a particularly bad thing.

I would like to see such a movement transcend religious affiliations but I wouldn't mind people of faith joining people of good faith to unite for a more decent society.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Isn't that entirely the root of the problem? People's attitude that "You can't tell me what to do / I know my rights" etc.? I can see no way of escaping the problems of a society that elevates self-gratification and personal aggrandisement above all other values except by taking a high moral tone.

Another possible way would be to have a strong social ethic more deeply embedded in society's everyday workings.

Otherwise what we shall surely have is personal aggrandisement for the wealthy and moral improvement for the poor.

 

[untethered]

Another possible way would be to have a strong social ethic more deeply embedded in society's everyday workings.

Otherwise what we shall surely have is personal aggrandisement for the wealthy and moral improvement for the poor.

There seem to be two approaches: to improve individuals by the improvement of society or to improve society by the improvement of individuals.

The latter seems to be more feasible.

 

[Roadkill]

Isn't that entirely the root of the problem? People's attitude that "You can't tell me what to do / I know my rights" etc.? I can see no way of escaping the problems of a society that elevates self-gratification and personal aggrandisement above all other values except by taking a high moral tone.

There will always be people that ridicule it but I believe that a clear and cogent message repeated often enough will soon gain traction.

Well you go ahead and try, then. Given the upsurge in evangelism in this country atm, you might be onto something. But I think it pretty likely that what you would end up with is a bunch of religious bigots going round and sounding off about anyone who they deem 'sinful' and doing absolutely nothing to address the root of any social problems they claim to be tackling.

<e2a> Donna Ferentes is probably right about the hypocrisy too.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

There seem to be two approaches: to improve individuals by the improvement of society or to improve society by the improvement of individuals.

The latter seems to be more feasible.

No, the latter seems to be more likely to result in an increase in hypocrisy, and a class-based hypocrisy at that.

 

[Yossarian]

Time spent playing or watching football would be much better employed campaigning for better public morals.

You're suggesting people in the fattest country in Europe should play *less* sport?

 

[Yossarian]

but I believe that a clear and cogent message repeated often enough will soon gain traction.

A message such as 'Fuck off, morality campaigners?"

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

All sport is daft and ultimately futile if you think about it, but who cares... tis fun. Football's no dafter than rock climbing anyway.

If it's so much fun, why do you see grown men crying over it?

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Time spent playing or watching football would be much better employed campaigning for better public morals.

Which would be equally true for posting on the internet, surely.

So why are you here when you could be campaigning for better morals?

 

[Donna Ferentes]

The answer to that is likely to be that they are doing precisely that.

You may of course consider the answer specious.

 

[untethered]

The answer to that is likely to be that they are doing precisely that.

You may of course consider the answer specious.

With you as my official spokesman, I'll certainly have more time to fight the good fight elsewhere.

 

[lights.out.london]

Or is it just me? Why can't we have discussions about sensible ways of utilising your leisure time. Like climbing rocks?

climbing

football = life

 

[chieftain]

Only Gooners are daft, the rest of football in the words of the Fonz is: HEY (Lean back, tuck elbows in and stick thumbs up)

 

[Pol]

daft it is.

but tennis is dafter.

 

[lights.out.london]

cricket = insane. get help. immediately.