“Come On Aussie C’mon”….How Precious Are We?

Has our larrikin and fun loving reputation gone forever? Light hearted banter between Aussie men and women has been going on for years, but now is fast becoming a ‘no-go zone’ and a potential legal minefield.

It has been part of our Australian culture to have both sexes interact together and have a ‘bit of a laugh’, but it appears the fun police are on the warpath and every public comment and gesture is up for scrutiny and dissection, and now it seems…. punishment.

Will this new wave of ‘word wowserism’ spread to our pubs and clubs, where poorly executed alcohol fuelled banter is rampant, and may result in men receiving a fine in the mail and some demerit points?

Cricketer Chris Gayle copped a $10,000 fine for a poorly executed and very embarrassing flirt attempt…you can’t be serious! He made a ‘tool’ of himself on national tv, and the social media roasting should be punishment enough. His pickup line was pathetic, cheesy and ill timed, but as a nation are we really becoming this sensitive?

Is there a rule that says ‘cricketers must not flirt with the media?’ I think not. So why should Gayle get a fine for breaking a rule that is not in place?

I am sure the old chestnut “bringing the game into disrepute’ will be the rule of choice (from sporting bodies) used to punish’ social etiquette’ offenders, as it is wide open and can cover just about anything and everything.

We love our characters like Warnie, who I might add ‘steps over the bowling crease’ regularly when it comes to the ladies, but how come he keeps being forgiven? Are we now racist?

Hamish McLachlan has now come under fire for hugging our Australian Miss Universe entrant live on air, once again the social media scrum will be judge and jury and dish out the appropriate spray for this pathetic media beat-up.

Political correctness has gone mad people and we need to get a “grip of ourselves”,or is that comment now deemed sexist?

Hmmm…something to think about ladies and gentlemen.

Late News:

The following article by Jessica Leo was published in The Advertiser this week. Her take on the situation is very similar to mine.