Swearing on the ref mic

[Mikey Brown]

I just wanted to share this really.



I just think it's great the way you can't even hear what Latu says, but then you get Barnes swearing repeatedly while explaining it. It feels like the commentary team are having to apologise several times every single game for picking up bad language. I do get it as you want the game to be kid/family friendly, but it seems kind of futile. The apologies from the pundits vary in sincerity quite a lot too.

Is this actually an issue? Does it need cracking down on? It seems kind of naive to put mics everywhere and expect people to constantly be on guard about their language- whilst here Barnes himself has either forgotten or doesn't care? Obviously swearing directly at the ref is a different scenario.

[Gloskarlos]

Hadn't realised Barnes was swearing too - if so that makes a bit of a mockery of it all. I absolutely agree that swearing directly at officials should be punishable, clearly falling into the (lack of) respect principle which is a cornerstone of the game oft promoted. I referee in the same way at age grade for that exact reason and would fully expect to be refereed the same way at any senior level. I will openly admit I am in the 'older age' bracket with my view here, and 'generally' think swearing is lazy language - unnecessary most of the time. I agree it can be funny, and has its place when certain emphasis is required. Dealing with match officials is not one of those times though.

[Danno]

I'm surprised there's no delay that would have some poor schmo with his finger quivering over a censorship button.

Personally it doesn't bother me. It's high intensity professional sport; I'd worry more if there was no swearing

[Puja]

I just love the amount of emphasis that Barnes puts on it in his explanation as well. Little beat before the f-bomb, really leans into the first consonant sound, wraps his lips right around the f, no even thought of bowdlerisation - A+ swearing, would let curse again.

I don't generally have a problem with it on television, although I acknowledge that I am an unusual parent in that I don't hide words or concepts from my kids, I explain them and explain that there are right times and contexts for them. I wouldn't be clamping my hands over their precious ears at fear that they learned a bad word - they have almost certainly heard it from my lips in an unguarded moment where I've knocked something off a shelf or dropped something on my foot and reacted without thinking, so it's not 100% new (and I doubt is 100% new to most kids).

Puja

[fivepointer]

Grown men playing rugby will swear from time to time. If you dont want to hear it, turn off the mic's.

Swearing directly at the ref is obviously a no no and Barnes dealt with him in exactly the right manner.

[FKAS]

I think this incident is not really of note in that you swear at a referee then this is what happens in a rugby game. No concern whatsoever.

The Bordeaux scrum half who conceded a penalty this weekend for calling his opposite number a c*nt seemed to demonstrate more of a clamp down on bad language.

Broadcasters do the token apology thing but I've never really bothered with that personally.

[Spiffy]

I remember reading a few seasons ago that broadcasters are required to apologize for swearing as part of their contract. But all it does is bring yet more viewer attention to the cuss. Better to say nowt.

[Puja]

I remember reading a few seasons ago that broadcasters are required to apologize for swearing as part of their contract. But all it does is bring yet more viewer attention to the cuss. Better to say nowt.

I always thought that - more often that not I missed that someone was swearing until the commentator brought it up.

Puja

[Adam_P]

[Mikey Brown]

I find the phrase “cheesed off” so much more disturbing than any swearing I can think of.

[Peej]

First off, the imagination that goes into the defence of, 'he was speaking French' to a French-speaking referee that has just carded an Australian is fantastic. Chapeau for trying that one.

Secondly, I think the benefits of hearing the ref outweigh the occasional bit of bad language that's picked up, or the apology the commentators are obliged to make. The real outrage is the people that actually write in and complain to the broadcasters.

[Danno]

The real outrage is the people that actually write in and complain to the broadcasters.

I'd love to have that kind of time on my hands

[loudnconfident]

[deleted]
I wouldn't be clamping my hands over their precious ears at fear that they learned a bad word - they have almost certainly heard it from my lips in an unguarded moment where I've knocked something off a shelf or dropped something on my foot and reacted without thinking, so it's not 100% new (and I doubt is 100% new to most kids).

Puja

It's understandable that being a Tigers supporter - in the recent years prior to this season - would involve immodest language...

[Oakboy]

[deleted]
I wouldn't be clamping my hands over their precious ears at fear that they learned a bad word - they have almost certainly heard it from my lips in an unguarded moment where I've knocked something off a shelf or dropped something on my foot and reacted without thinking, so it's not 100% new (and I doubt is 100% new to most kids).

Puja

It's understandable that being a Tigers supporter - in the recent years prior to this season - would involve immodest language...

Odder still if you remember Borthwick trying to carry through traffic in an England shirt. The ref mike then would have heard some choice language from his team-mates.

[FKAS]

[deleted]
I wouldn't be clamping my hands over their precious ears at fear that they learned a bad word - they have almost certainly heard it from my lips in an unguarded moment where I've knocked something off a shelf or dropped something on my foot and reacted without thinking, so it's not 100% new (and I doubt is 100% new to most kids).

Puja

It's understandable that being a Tigers supporter - in the recent years prior to this season - would involve immodest language...

The level of invention that I brought to inflammatory linguistics to avoid swearing in front of my young daughter was pretty good if I do say so myself though the somewhat boring "for flips sake" was a staple. She was a bit to young to hear the unfiltered version.

There was certainly plenty to swear about when Tigers put out backrows like Williams, Fitzgerald and Kalamafoni.

[Raggs]

[deleted]
I wouldn't be clamping my hands over their precious ears at fear that they learned a bad word - they have almost certainly heard it from my lips in an unguarded moment where I've knocked something off a shelf or dropped something on my foot and reacted without thinking, so it's not 100% new (and I doubt is 100% new to most kids).

Puja

It's understandable that being a Tigers supporter - in the recent years prior to this season - would involve immodest language...

The level of invention that I brought to inflammatory linguistics to avoid swearing in front of my young daughter was pretty good if I do say so myself though the somewhat boring "for flips sake" was a staple. She was a bit to young to hear the unfiltered version.

There was certainly plenty to swear about when Tigers put out backrows like Williams, Fitzgerald and Kalamafoni.

I find myself yelling "Poop!" when something goes wrong whilst playing a vr team zombie shooter with 3 other adults. It's inbuilt into me now. You'd think if there's a scenario when the swearing would come out (it does to a degree), it would be a post apocolyptic zombie shooter when things are leaping out at you!

[stevedog1980]

I remember when referee mic's first came in and Jerry Flannery referring to Steve Thompson as a fat c**t being caught on the broadcast.

Anyone else remember when they thought it would be a good idea to start having the final moments in and around the changing room caught on camera? I seem to remember them opening the door to head in and see Eddie O'Sullivan and Paul O'Connell delivering the final piece of motivation and reversing very, very quickly!