Daily Telecrap at their lowest - Rugby league is not a sport, it's an atrocity

[Karl]

Von, I never said anything about Bogan comments, those are your words, not mine and I did not use or imply the term. I do think the reaction has been unnecessarily vitriolic however. At least from some quarters. It's not like a automotive journo has any credibility on League and it's so obviouslty biased it can only be seen as satire. I thought when I read it that mentioning ze War was sailing close to the wind, even for that style of article, but it's not like he accused anyone of being complicit with the Nazi's - which was the retaliation. It's clearly not meant to be taken seriously and if you lack the perspective to see that, nothing I can say will change your mind. It's like a speech from a Celebrity Roast where League is the guest of honour. You could easily write something like that about every code on the planet. God, Rugby would be ripe for it, and imagine what you could do to the AFL? So what? over-reacting just makes people look insecure and over-sensitive. If I was Gallop I would have got around a table with a good journo and written a response piece in the same vein taking Rugby, AFL and Soccer all to the cleaners then submitted it as an Apology by League for being an Atrocity. Back-handed and leavened with sarcasm, but clearly well humoured and self depracatory. THAT would have been the best way to respond.

And "any reaction" is not branded irrational (remembering I never used or implied the B word) - just humourless over-reactions.

Always Green - I don't know why you'd want to know my view on Rednecks, but since you ask - I think Redneck is an intolerant and arrogant generalisation usually used by people who think having more money makes them more worthwhile human beings or for whom a lack of airs and graces is an easy way to mark someone as inferior thereby making themselves feel better without actually having to do anything more energetic than glance down their noses or take the time to get to know them. It's an attitude that cuts both ways.

And no Canard, I am not Paul Pottinger. I am just me, Karl. And it's not rubbish to say it's satirical. In fact the opposite is true. It's rubbish to say it was a serious article that was meant to be taken seriously.

 

[RL1908]

All sport, including RL, RU & VFL, continued in Australia in WW2, and that was even when the continent was under direct threat of invasion.

 

[BunniesMan]

Poorly written piece of crap article. I do appreciate at least the DT doing away with their silly facade of pretending to be neutral and writing this hitjob of an article as they're being forced out of the game they tried to ruin in the 90s.

But you guys do realise that the amount of buzz and opinion the article has generated means it's done it's job? Generated a shitload of mouseclicks on a slow news day.

 

[adamkungl]

t's not like he accused anyone of being complicit with the Nazi's - which was the retaliation.

That's not a wild accusation, it's a fact.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Jesus, Karl lighten up.

 

[Karl]

That's not a wild accusation, it's a fact.

Thats not my point.

Pot, meet Kettle.

 

[Canard]

So its satire to suggest that a sport somehow "disrespected" our men at war? And to maintain/perpetuate a lie that Union didn't?

Thats not satire its mean spirited bile.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

And no Canard, I am not Paul Pottinger. I am just me, Karl. And it's not rubbish to say it's satirical. In fact the opposite is true. It's rubbish to say it was a serious article that was meant to be taken seriously.

bzzzzzzzzz

Of course it was a serious article and it was designed, as has previously been pointed out, to take the place of the "missing" player's mucking up articles that the Telegraph seemingly exists to print.

I doubt that the bloke who's name is on it actually wrote it. I mean, deputy editor of carsguide? Who'd want that on their resume?

 

[Karl]

Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the Graphic and Performing Arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.

A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm - "in satire, irony is militant" —but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This "militant" irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to attack.

I think the article is textbook satire, not just of the game and players, but the fans (or a certain stereotype of a fan) and even the media itself and how it reports/feeds on the game and how society reacts to that.

 

[docbrown]

It's not like a automotive journo has any credibility on League and it's so obviouslty biased it can only be seen as satire.

The whole point of satire is to get the subject to reflect upon its own shortcomings. How is rugby league meant to do that with World War I? Honestly, it's just a pathetic argument.

Pottinger's dislike for Rugby League is solely that it exists.
He doesn't want it to be improved - he wants it gone completely.

Do not mistake his snide remarks of hatred for anything resembling satire. That's an insult to the intelligence of satirists everywhere.

 

[adamkungl]

It was closer to a standard Union fan dribble than it was successful satire.

 

[Karl]

docbrown, I think our above posts crossed over, but clearly we don't agree on this one - although I do take your point re the author in this case and confess I do not know him or his work or position on anything. I wouldn't characterise it as "snide remarks of hatred" though, which seems a little strong in this instance.

 

[El Diablo]

Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the Graphic and Performing Arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.

A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm - "in satire, irony is militant" —but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This "militant" irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to attack.

I think the article is textbook satire, not just of the game and players, but the fans (or a certain stereotype of a fan) and even the media itself and how it reports/feeds on the game and how society reacts to that.

is Pottunger a friend of yours?

 

[Karl]

It was closer to a standard Union fan dribble than it was successful satire.

Thats just an unhelpful, inflammatory, ad hominem attack.

 

[Godz Illa]

I think the article is textbook satire, not just of the game and players, but the fans (or a certain stereotype of a fan) and even the media itself and how it reports/feeds on the game and how society reacts to that.

Of course it is. Paul Pottingham is a reknowned master of satire, an artiste, no less. His collection of works throughout the years comprise some of the finest examples of the form seen since Kurt Vonnegut, or even Aesop. This immense gift has been the primary energy behind the metoeric rise of his literary career, reaching its apex now, with the title of deputy editor of a motor vehicle classifieds section.

 

[El Diablo]

Thats just an unhelpful, inflammatory, ad hominem attack.

yet yesterdays article wasn't?

you're a flip

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

Of course it is. Paul Pottingham is a reknowned master of satire, an artiste, no less. His collection of works throughout the years comprise some of the finest examples of the form seen since Kurt Vonnegut, or even Aesop. This immense gift has been the primary energy behind the metoeric rise of his literary career, reaching its apex now, with the title of deputy editor of a motor vehicle classifieds section.

Now that's some sweet, sweet satire right there Godz.

Care to critique it Karl? Being the satire specialist and all...

 

[Karl]

is Pottunger a friend of yours?

Honestly, I had never heard of him before this article and I have never read anything else he has written. I would have enjoyed the article just as much if it was about any other sport. I like League and Rugby, AFL less so - never could get into it, even as a kid with a step-dad who was a strong Carlton fan. Mind you, those little TV's in the 70's and 80's were useless for watching AFL. If there had been 55" plasma's back then I might have got into it more, but I was more interested in going to the beach anyway. I played Rugby on a Saturday for my School and then I pissed off to do my duty at Northcliffe SLSC and nag the senior clubbies to go out in the IRB or went scurfing with my mates in our tinnies.

I am not a one-eyed Rugby purist and I actually think there are things in both codes that are just stupid. Like scrums - but for utterly different reasons as between the codes - or the thuggish face massages in League tackles and stupid conduct at the breakdown in Rugby. I also think both codes have things to commend them - they are different games.

 

[Brutus]

Of course it is. Paul Pottingham is a reknowned master of satire, an artiste, no less. His collection of works throughout the years comprise some of the finest examples of the form seen since Kurt Vonnegut, or even Aesop. This immense gift has been the primary energy behind the metoeric rise of his literary career, reaching its apex now, with the title of deputy editor of a motor vehicle classifieds section.

Excellent way to hit the nail on the head.

Superb post.

 

[Karl]

Of course it is. Paul Pottingham is a reknowned master of satire, an artiste, no less. His collection of works throughout the years comprise some of the finest examples of the form seen since Kurt Vonnegut, or even Aesop. This immense gift has been the primary energy behind the metoeric rise of his literary career, reaching its apex now, with the title of deputy editor of a motor vehicle classifieds section.

See, that's funny stuff right there. But even a broken watch is right twice a day. Maybe Pottinger got lucky, had help, whatever. I was just saying that his article was Satirical and as such did not warrant such a massive and humourless reaction. I wasn't nominating him for a Pullitzer.

I'm no expert either - I would have just linked to wikipedia, but I'm too much of a noob to do that so I had to cut and paste.