It's threads like this that means Duchatelet is going to be at Charlton for a while still.
Anyone can see that this was a clever idea by CARD to hit Charton on their most profitable club shop day by 'asking' casual fans who probably arn't aware of the bigger picture of hitting Roland financially to please not buy things from the club shop for the good of the club's future.
FFS if we had the sort of fans that were going to bully and intimidate others to not go into the shop we probably would have been rid of Roland months ago! Please for progress sake let's leave this alone now otherwise I can see counter threads to every protest going forward. The omelettes and eggs analogy from earlier was bang on, think long-term people!
Spot on. I was on that picket line. I am a 61 year old grandfather (though still devastatingly handsome ). There were lots of people like me, women and kids. Hard to believe that anyone was truly intimidated.
Cyber warriors are out in force. In terms of how many pregnant were threatened read back and you will see there was one and that's one to many regardless if the lady is pregnant. Men going in with their children and grandchildren. No doubt if one had fronted any of the pathetic excuses of men outside the shop they would have run a mile
A lot of those picketing were women and children. Were you there?
No but my mate walked past them and was told not to buy anything. A picket line is also if you are part of a union or socialist group against an employer. So what are you an employee or a socialist in which then is boardering on left wing anarchy in which one of the voices of CARD has left wing views therefore for that person to bring their own political agenda as a protest is even worse.
Name them and shame them then, although I suspect your idea of "left-wing views" is a bit widely drawn.
You are the Jeremy Corbyn of CARD?
And yet I'm not a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn. You do realise that about 9m people voted Labour last year, rather more than half a dozen of whom support Charlton? Are they all to be excluded from having an opinion because in your simplistic worldview they are "left-wing"?
I didn't say I didn't want people to protest, I do, I just want people to be mindful of others, whether people want to believe it or not there are a handful of protesting supporters giving others grief just like there are a handful of sympathisers given CARD volunteers grief for just handing out flyers. Neither is on, NOONE should feel uncomfortable at Charlton except the regime.
F@ck me if the club had done a similar thing and a pregnant woman and someone forgive me if I'm wrong grandpa in their 70 s had been involved this place would of gone into meltdown.
F@ck me if the club had done a similar thing and a pregnant woman and someone forgive me if I'm wrong grandpa in their 70 s had been involved this place would of gone into meltdown.
F@ck me if the club had done a similar thing and a pregnant woman and someone forgive me if I'm wrong grandpa in their 70 s had been involved this place would of gone into meltdown.
Only because of everything else they have done. All of this is because of them. Never forget that.
BEDSADDICK and many others, if there are signs of fractures amongst supporters, is that not exactly what I am warning against ? Protesters such as the one I have highlighted are damaging our cause, let's have some intelligent thinking please.
Does it matter . No doubt RH had his boy with him as well. No right to say or do it.
Yes, it matters. A protester has every right to ask someone not to buy from the shop and no right to tell them not to.
Picketing a club shop and asking fans not to buy from the club shop is pathetic. Is there no end to your sad miserable life's going up to men with kids and pregnant women.
That's your (predictable) opinion, but earlier you said they didn't have the right. They do. Incidentally, just how many pregnant women were threatened on the day?
Isn't one too many?
Of course it is. I was objecting to the ridiculous tabloidification of CARD targeting children and pregnant women.
Just for the record I am well educated and if I was you I would take them blinkers off as it is becoming embarrassing with opening statements such as that.
I support CARD and everything they stand for, every forum I post on I make that clear and really appreciate their efforts and ideas.
However, on this occasion I kind of agree with the opening post as my friend who is pregnant was given some mouth and made to feel scared and uncomfortable when going into the club shop.
I agree that people shouldn't buy from the club AT ALL at the moment and the picket line and protesting is great, but please respect other people's rights not to protest if that's what they want, right or wrong they should have the choice.
All protestors all the time, myself included when I'm there, need to be careful to remember who the enemy is here, my fear is that there are some that get too carried away and are quite nasty to other supporters at times, this reflects badly on the rest of the cause. Can we all just please be a bit more tactful in the future?
I don't condone the behaviour of the protester, but what a strange choice for a pregnant women to make. A picket line is by its very nature intimidating and if she felt scared and uncomfortable, that is kinda the idea! We all know a football crowd has a cross section of people and when people are passionate about something their behaviour can be out of character. Add a large group/crowd and behaviour can be unpredictable.
You only have to read posts above to see that some supporters are saying "try and stop me and see what happens ". You can immagine the puffed out chest and macho purposeful stride through the protesters looking for a reaction and it all kicks off. Really not worth risking an unborn child for a bit of shopping.
The title is a "message to CARD". I am not sure what you expect them to do about it? They can and do ask for good behaviour and we can all do our best to help. Pehaps advise others that pushing your right to pass through a picket line is not the nicest thing to do to your fellow supporters? If you think behaviour is unacceptable you should ask the police for assistance.
Pehaps in future she could be a bit more tactful?
So you're blaming the victim? That's class.
Victim? Come on, get real.
Perhaps not victim, but saying she should be more tactful and basically it was her own fault for basically walking through protestors when she should not put herself and baby at risk, is pretty crappy. Why shouldn't a pregnant woman go to a football match? Why should she need to feel scared walking into the club shop?
Also said that the protestors were meant to be intimidating and that was the point, well I'm sorry but I've never protested to intimidate anyone and if that is really the aim then I'd rather not be part of it, of course I think that this particular poster @Redrobo is just immature and irresponsible in what he posts and I doubt the rest of the protestors want to intimidate pregnant women.
I only mentioned it in the first place because although I am in the side of the protestors I feel some do get a bit too aggressive and abusive to other fans and these give the others a bad name, I know CARD promote peaceful protests but I do feel that a lot of people that get involved are in it for the trouble aspect and want to cause it. i want to win this war against douchebag but I want to do it without hurting or distressing any fan that has the God given right not to protest.
The "tactful" comment reflected the original posters comments that the protesters should be more tactful and was made to make the point that all should be respecting each other. Sorry you misunderstood.
I did not, nor would I ever suggest that women, pregnant or not, should not attend a football match.
At no point did I say that she needed to be scared walking into the shop.
I did not say that protesters were meant to be intimidating. I said that picket lines by there very nature were.
You say that some protesters can be a bit too aggressive and abusive. A bit like you are being to me then?
That was not my intention but what you said really peed me off, I attended all matches home and away whilst pregnant with my first right up until she was born, I done so because Charlton is a family friendly club and I felt safe and comfortable to do so, I feel bad that someone else hasn't been given the same sense of security.
Yes protestors should be more tactful and mindful of other fans, particularly more vulnerable ones such as pregnant, elderly or disabled. Some fans also have special educational needs to, they are being taken to a football match they wouldn't necessarily understand the meanings behind the reason why people are so angry they will just see angry people, must be scary for them, I would love to take my son to a match one day as he would enjoy the clapping and singing as but it's much too hostile at the moment.
I agree.
I was with my son.
However, I am street wise enough to know that where there is a protest there are angry and emotional people about with potential for violence to erupt. The best way I can protect him is to steer clear and believe that this would be the sensible thing for a responsible person looking after anyone to do.
You clearly see the danger, but are you not a bit surprised that they did not? My own and limited experience of pregnant women is that they have a hightened awareness of any danger to their unborn baby, but maybe that was just my wife?
BEDSADDICK and many others, if there are signs of fractures amongst supporters, is that not exactly what I am warning against ? Protesters such as the one I have highlighted are damaging our cause, let's have some intelligent thinking please.
No one is ever going to agree on everything. The vast majority of posters on here seem to agree with the form the protest took on Saturday. You don't and that's fine. Let us hear your suggestion for a protest that you think most people will agree on?
Like I said, All of this is because of them. Never forget that.
I support CARD and everything they stand for, every forum I post on I make that clear and really appreciate their efforts and ideas.
However, on this occasion I kind of agree with the opening post as my friend who is pregnant was given some mouth and made to feel scared and uncomfortable when going into the club shop.
I agree that people shouldn't buy from the club AT ALL at the moment and the picket line and protesting is great, but please respect other people's rights not to protest if that's what they want, right or wrong they should have the choice.
All protestors all the time, myself included when I'm there, need to be careful to remember who the enemy is here, my fear is that there are some that get too carried away and are quite nasty to other supporters at times, this reflects badly on the rest of the cause. Can we all just please be a bit more tactful in the future?
I don't condone the behaviour of the protester, but what a strange choice for a pregnant women to make. A picket line is by its very nature intimidating and if she felt scared and uncomfortable, that is kinda the idea! We all know a football crowd has a cross section of people and when people are passionate about something their behaviour can be out of character. Add a large group/crowd and behaviour can be unpredictable.
You only have to read posts above to see that some supporters are saying "try and stop me and see what happens ". You can immagine the puffed out chest and macho purposeful stride through the protesters looking for a reaction and it all kicks off. Really not worth risking an unborn child for a bit of shopping.
The title is a "message to CARD". I am not sure what you expect them to do about it? They can and do ask for good behaviour and we can all do our best to help. Pehaps advise others that pushing your right to pass through a picket line is not the nicest thing to do to your fellow supporters? If you think behaviour is unacceptable you should ask the police for assistance.
Pehaps in future she could be a bit more tactful?
So you're blaming the victim? That's class.
Victim? Come on, get real.
Perhaps not victim, but saying she should be more tactful and basically it was her own fault for basically walking through protestors when she should not put herself and baby at risk, is pretty crappy. Why shouldn't a pregnant woman go to a football match? Why should she need to feel scared walking into the club shop?
Also said that the protestors were meant to be intimidating and that was the point, well I'm sorry but I've never protested to intimidate anyone and if that is really the aim then I'd rather not be part of it, of course I think that this particular poster @Redrobo is just immature and irresponsible in what he posts and I doubt the rest of the protestors want to intimidate pregnant women.
I only mentioned it in the first place because although I am in the side of the protestors I feel some do get a bit too aggressive and abusive to other fans and these give the others a bad name, I know CARD promote peaceful protests but I do feel that a lot of people that get involved are in it for the trouble aspect and want to cause it. i want to win this war against douchebag but I want to do it without hurting or distressing any fan that has the God given right not to protest.
The "tactful" comment reflected the original posters comments that the protesters should be more tactful and was made to make the point that all should be respecting each other. Sorry you misunderstood.
I did not, nor would I ever suggest that women, pregnant or not, should not attend a football match.
At no point did I say that she needed to be scared walking into the shop.
I did not say that protesters were meant to be intimidating. I said that picket lines by there very nature were.
You say that some protesters can be a bit too aggressive and abusive. A bit like you are being to me then?
That was not my intention but what you said really peed me off, I attended all matches home and away whilst pregnant with my first right up until she was born, I done so because Charlton is a family friendly club and I felt safe and comfortable to do so, I feel bad that someone else hasn't been given the same sense of security.
Yes protestors should be more tactful and mindful of other fans, particularly more vulnerable ones such as pregnant, elderly or disabled. Some fans also have special educational needs to, they are being taken to a football match they wouldn't necessarily understand the meanings behind the reason why people are so angry they will just see angry people, must be scary for them, I would love to take my son to a match one day as he would enjoy the clapping and singing as but it's much too hostile at the moment.
I agree.
I was with my son.
However, I am street wise enough to know that where there is a protest there are angry and emotional people about with potential for violence to erupt. The best way I can protect him is to steer clear and believe that this would be the sensible thing for a responsible person looking after anyone to do.
You clearly see the danger, but are you not a bit surprised that they did not? My own and limited experience of pregnant women is that they have a hightened awareness of any danger to their unborn baby, but maybe that was just my wife?
I don't dispute that, but what I was getting at is that there shouldn't be a risk or danger in the first place. She shouldn't have to feel the need to avoid the ground or the shop.
When people are physically threatening protesters and saying that if any protester approaches them they'll "knock their block off", then your basically saying no form of protest is going to be acceptable. RD is a cancer on this club, but so are those that would violently oppose those looking to protest against him, and to a lesser extent, those that apologise for his and KM's actions.
I support CARD and everything they stand for, every forum I post on I make that clear and really appreciate their efforts and ideas.
However, on this occasion I kind of agree with the opening post as my friend who is pregnant was given some mouth and made to feel scared and uncomfortable when going into the club shop.
I agree that people shouldn't buy from the club AT ALL at the moment and the picket line and protesting is great, but please respect other people's rights not to protest if that's what they want, right or wrong they should have the choice.
All protestors all the time, myself included when I'm there, need to be careful to remember who the enemy is here, my fear is that there are some that get too carried away and are quite nasty to other supporters at times, this reflects badly on the rest of the cause. Can we all just please be a bit more tactful in the future?
I don't condone the behaviour of the protester, but what a strange choice for a pregnant women to make. A picket line is by its very nature intimidating and if she felt scared and uncomfortable, that is kinda the idea! We all know a football crowd has a cross section of people and when people are passionate about something their behaviour can be out of character. Add a large group/crowd and behaviour can be unpredictable.
You only have to read posts above to see that some supporters are saying "try and stop me and see what happens ". You can immagine the puffed out chest and macho purposeful stride through the protesters looking for a reaction and it all kicks off. Really not worth risking an unborn child for a bit of shopping.
The title is a "message to CARD". I am not sure what you expect them to do about it? They can and do ask for good behaviour and we can all do our best to help. Pehaps advise others that pushing your right to pass through a picket line is not the nicest thing to do to your fellow supporters? If you think behaviour is unacceptable you should ask the police for assistance.
Pehaps in future she could be a bit more tactful?
So you're blaming the victim? That's class.
Victim? Come on, get real.
Perhaps not victim, but saying she should be more tactful and basically it was her own fault for basically walking through protestors when she should not put herself and baby at risk, is pretty crappy. Why shouldn't a pregnant woman go to a football match? Why should she need to feel scared walking into the club shop?
Also said that the protestors were meant to be intimidating and that was the point, well I'm sorry but I've never protested to intimidate anyone and if that is really the aim then I'd rather not be part of it, of course I think that this particular poster @Redrobo is just immature and irresponsible in what he posts and I doubt the rest of the protestors want to intimidate pregnant women.
I only mentioned it in the first place because although I am in the side of the protestors I feel some do get a bit too aggressive and abusive to other fans and these give the others a bad name, I know CARD promote peaceful protests but I do feel that a lot of people that get involved are in it for the trouble aspect and want to cause it. i want to win this war against douchebag but I want to do it without hurting or distressing any fan that has the God given right not to protest.
The "tactful" comment reflected the original posters comments that the protesters should be more tactful and was made to make the point that all should be respecting each other. Sorry you misunderstood.
I did not, nor would I ever suggest that women, pregnant or not, should not attend a football match.
At no point did I say that she needed to be scared walking into the shop.
I did not say that protesters were meant to be intimidating. I said that picket lines by there very nature were.
You say that some protesters can be a bit too aggressive and abusive. A bit like you are being to me then?
That was not my intention but what you said really peed me off, I attended all matches home and away whilst pregnant with my first right up until she was born, I done so because Charlton is a family friendly club and I felt safe and comfortable to do so, I feel bad that someone else hasn't been given the same sense of security.
Yes protestors should be more tactful and mindful of other fans, particularly more vulnerable ones such as pregnant, elderly or disabled. Some fans also have special educational needs to, they are being taken to a football match they wouldn't necessarily understand the meanings behind the reason why people are so angry they will just see angry people, must be scary for them, I would love to take my son to a match one day as he would enjoy the clapping and singing as but it's much too hostile at the moment.
I agree.
I was with my son.
However, I am street wise enough to know that where there is a protest there are angry and emotional people about with potential for violence to erupt. The best way I can protect him is to steer clear and believe that this would be the sensible thing for a responsible person looking after anyone to do.
You clearly see the danger, but are you not a bit surprised that they did not? My own and limited experience of pregnant women is that they have a hightened awareness of any danger to their unborn baby, but maybe that was just my wife?
but surely a Charlton fan shouldn't look at a group of Charlton fans and think/see danger?
Personally, I think more blame should be given to the Whigs than the Socialists, although the Social Democrats can't escape some responsibility! Bol****ks, I forgot what we were talking about!
The ironic thing for me is that I suspect quite a lot of those who are "against" the more fluffy protests such as pickets, leaflets, signs etc would be well up for something a bit more aggressive (whatever that means).
The ironic thing for me is that I suspect quite a lot of those who are "against" the more fluffy protests such as pickets, leaflets, signs etc would be well up for something a bit more aggressive (whatever that means).
Maybe it's just me.
I'm not against the fluffy protests I like almost all the ideas from CARD, just want supporters to be more considerate and friendly towards each other, respect others rights and be aware of more vulnerable supporters. Remember who the enemy really is.
I didn't say I didn't want people to protest, I do, I just want people to be mindful of others, whether people want to believe it or not there are a handful of protesting supporters giving others grief just like there are a handful of sympathisers given CARD volunteers grief for just handing out flyers. Neither is on, NOONE should feel uncomfortable at Charlton except the regime.
Agree with SJ absolutely,
and The Lone Gunman has raised this matter in the most recent issue of VOTV arguing that the Charlton family is being split asunder by the divisions resulting from what has become a terribly confused scenario with Kyle Andrews in the same issue summing up the dilemma very succinctly: "The support the team not the regime manta is the ideal way to behave in theory, but very hard to commit to in practice."
Surely, the fall-out (perhaps in both senses) between the more active and vociferous protesters and those less inclined to participate (or even take offence at some forms of protest) is only likely to escalate the longer that Duchatelet and his truly appalling henchwoman treat Charlton Athletic as a 'holding' with 'ownership' granting them carte blance to do as they like, rather than as guardians of a Club where the supporters at least represent an important voice and have respect if not the kind of official representation so detested by Meire.
In order to unite the fans (as surely most would like to see RD sell up to a regime with defined ambitions and more in tune with the fan base) perhaps CARD would consider a protest at the next home game which has a focus purely on the 'Support the team...' part of the mantra which everyone by definition could get behind. Show Katrien Meire that we are there for the team not her (or the regime) and audibly demonstrate the distance that now exists between her and the majority of the fans.
Perhaps a bit trite- but a chant on the lines of the following might find support from all?
We're here for the team We're here for the team Katrien Meire we're here for the team
We're here for the team We're here for the team Katrien Meire we're here for the team
We're here for the team We're here for the team Katrien Meire - YOU'RE NOT ONE OF US
I support CARD and everything they stand for, every forum I post on I make that clear and really appreciate their efforts and ideas.
However, on this occasion I kind of agree with the opening post as my friend who is pregnant was given some mouth and made to feel scared and uncomfortable when going into the club shop.
I agree that people shouldn't buy from the club AT ALL at the moment and the picket line and protesting is great, but please respect other people's rights not to protest if that's what they want, right or wrong they should have the choice.
All protestors all the time, myself included when I'm there, need to be careful to remember who the enemy is here, my fear is that there are some that get too carried away and are quite nasty to other supporters at times, this reflects badly on the rest of the cause. Can we all just please be a bit more tactful in the future?
I don't condone the behaviour of the protester, but what a strange choice for a pregnant women to make. A picket line is by its very nature intimidating and if she felt scared and uncomfortable, that is kinda the idea! We all know a football crowd has a cross section of people and when people are passionate about something their behaviour can be out of character. Add a large group/crowd and behaviour can be unpredictable.
You only have to read posts above to see that some supporters are saying "try and stop me and see what happens ". You can immagine the puffed out chest and macho purposeful stride through the protesters looking for a reaction and it all kicks off. Really not worth risking an unborn child for a bit of shopping.
The title is a "message to CARD". I am not sure what you expect them to do about it? They can and do ask for good behaviour and we can all do our best to help. Pehaps advise others that pushing your right to pass through a picket line is not the nicest thing to do to your fellow supporters? If you think behaviour is unacceptable you should ask the police for assistance.
Pehaps in future she could be a bit more tactful?
So you're blaming the victim? That's class.
Victim? Come on, get real.
Perhaps not victim, but saying she should be more tactful and basically it was her own fault for basically walking through protestors when she should not put herself and baby at risk, is pretty crappy. Why shouldn't a pregnant woman go to a football match? Why should she need to feel scared walking into the club shop?
Also said that the protestors were meant to be intimidating and that was the point, well I'm sorry but I've never protested to intimidate anyone and if that is really the aim then I'd rather not be part of it, of course I think that this particular poster @Redrobo is just immature and irresponsible in what he posts and I doubt the rest of the protestors want to intimidate pregnant women.
I only mentioned it in the first place because although I am in the side of the protestors I feel some do get a bit too aggressive and abusive to other fans and these give the others a bad name, I know CARD promote peaceful protests but I do feel that a lot of people that get involved are in it for the trouble aspect and want to cause it. i want to win this war against douchebag but I want to do it without hurting or distressing any fan that has the God given right not to protest.
The "tactful" comment reflected the original posters comments that the protesters should be more tactful and was made to make the point that all should be respecting each other. Sorry you misunderstood.
I did not, nor would I ever suggest that women, pregnant or not, should not attend a football match.
At no point did I say that she needed to be scared walking into the shop.
I did not say that protesters were meant to be intimidating. I said that picket lines by there very nature were.
You say that some protesters can be a bit too aggressive and abusive. A bit like you are being to me then?
That was not my intention but what you said really peed me off, I attended all matches home and away whilst pregnant with my first right up until she was born, I done so because Charlton is a family friendly club and I felt safe and comfortable to do so, I feel bad that someone else hasn't been given the same sense of security.
Yes protestors should be more tactful and mindful of other fans, particularly more vulnerable ones such as pregnant, elderly or disabled. Some fans also have special educational needs to, they are being taken to a football match they wouldn't necessarily understand the meanings behind the reason why people are so angry they will just see angry people, must be scary for them, I would love to take my son to a match one day as he would enjoy the clapping and singing as but it's much too hostile at the moment.
I agree.
I was with my son.
However, I am street wise enough to know that where there is a protest there are angry and emotional people about with potential for violence to erupt. The best way I can protect him is to steer clear and believe that this would be the sensible thing for a responsible person looking after anyone to do.
You clearly see the danger, but are you not a bit surprised that they did not? My own and limited experience of pregnant women is that they have a hightened awareness of any danger to their unborn baby, but maybe that was just my wife?
but surely a Charlton fan shouldn't look at a group of Charlton fans and think/see danger?
That would be nice. Makes you wonder why people giving out CARD leaflets etc have been verbally abused. Some strange people about and some of them support Charlton. Some of the strange ones will also be CARD supporters.
A football crowd is a cross section of society and we all know this. The protesters I saw all looked very nice people to be honest; most of us are.
If I had chosen to pass through them I would have fully expected one or more to try and engage with me and explain why they were asking me not to go in. No doubt I would have had a higher pulse rate than normal as I would have been aware that I was passing through a crowd of people who believed (rightly or wrongly), what I was doing was wrong and that I was confronting (oppose, resist, defy) them.
My personal assessment was that there was no risk of violence from the protesters, a minimal chance of being sworn at as there are people like Roger Johnson.(think a move to millwall would be good for everyone, they would love him as much as they did old harry cripps); and a minimal risk of a stroppy "I know my rights" chap starting a bit of pushing. There is always an element of risk when you confront people though. Even with best of friends , and even husbands and wives!
We all know one has the right to picket a retail establishment and that one also has the right to pass through it. What I can't fathom is why fellow Charlton supporters would choose to exercise the right to pass through, even if totally in support of the regime. Not asking a lot were they? The respect needs to go both ways.
Anyway, those who wanted to make their point went in. Well done. Most didn't. A CARD well played me thinks!
I didn't say I didn't want people to protest, I do, I just want people to be mindful of others, whether people want to believe it or not there are a handful of protesting supporters giving others grief just like there are a handful of sympathisers given CARD volunteers grief for just handing out flyers. Neither is on, NOONE should feel uncomfortable at Charlton except the regime.
CARD is like the Labour Party losing support at a rapid pace. Social media sites prove that. Genuine fans want to go and support their team and not have games held up and listen to chants that have nothing to do with supporting the team.
If you don't wish to attend games due to the fact that you don't agree with the club is being run that's your decision, however if fans want to kick against CARD and they will begin to don't be surprised.
I support CARD and everything they stand for, every forum I post on I make that clear and really appreciate their efforts and ideas.
However, on this occasion I kind of agree with the opening post as my friend who is pregnant was given some mouth and made to feel scared and uncomfortable when going into the club shop.
I agree that people shouldn't buy from the club AT ALL at the moment and the picket line and protesting is great, but please respect other people's rights not to protest if that's what they want, right or wrong they should have the choice.
All protestors all the time, myself included when I'm there, need to be careful to remember who the enemy is here, my fear is that there are some that get too carried away and are quite nasty to other supporters at times, this reflects badly on the rest of the cause. Can we all just please be a bit more tactful in the future?
I don't condone the behaviour of the protester, but what a strange choice for a pregnant women to make. A picket line is by its very nature intimidating and if she felt scared and uncomfortable, that is kinda the idea! We all know a football crowd has a cross section of people and when people are passionate about something their behaviour can be out of character. Add a large group/crowd and behaviour can be unpredictable.
You only have to read posts above to see that some supporters are saying "try and stop me and see what happens ". You can immagine the puffed out chest and macho purposeful stride through the protesters looking for a reaction and it all kicks off. Really not worth risking an unborn child for a bit of shopping.
The title is a "message to CARD". I am not sure what you expect them to do about it? They can and do ask for good behaviour and we can all do our best to help. Pehaps advise others that pushing your right to pass through a picket line is not the nicest thing to do to your fellow supporters? If you think behaviour is unacceptable you should ask the police for assistance.
Pehaps in future she could be a bit more tactful?
So you're blaming the victim? That's class.
Victim? Come on, get real.
Perhaps not victim, but saying she should be more tactful and basically it was her own fault for basically walking through protestors when she should not put herself and baby at risk, is pretty crappy. Why shouldn't a pregnant woman go to a football match? Why should she need to feel scared walking into the club shop?
Also said that the protestors were meant to be intimidating and that was the point, well I'm sorry but I've never protested to intimidate anyone and if that is really the aim then I'd rather not be part of it, of course I think that this particular poster @Redrobo is just immature and irresponsible in what he posts and I doubt the rest of the protestors want to intimidate pregnant women.
I only mentioned it in the first place because although I am in the side of the protestors I feel some do get a bit too aggressive and abusive to other fans and these give the others a bad name, I know CARD promote peaceful protests but I do feel that a lot of people that get involved are in it for the trouble aspect and want to cause it. i want to win this war against douchebag but I want to do it without hurting or distressing any fan that has the God given right not to protest.
The "tactful" comment reflected the original posters comments that the protesters should be more tactful and was made to make the point that all should be respecting each other. Sorry you misunderstood.
I did not, nor would I ever suggest that women, pregnant or not, should not attend a football match.
At no point did I say that she needed to be scared walking into the shop.
I did not say that protesters were meant to be intimidating. I said that picket lines by there very nature were.
You say that some protesters can be a bit too aggressive and abusive. A bit like you are being to me then?
That was not my intention but what you said really peed me off, I attended all matches home and away whilst pregnant with my first right up until she was born, I done so because Charlton is a family friendly club and I felt safe and comfortable to do so, I feel bad that someone else hasn't been given the same sense of security.
Yes protestors should be more tactful and mindful of other fans, particularly more vulnerable ones such as pregnant, elderly or disabled. Some fans also have special educational needs to, they are being taken to a football match they wouldn't necessarily understand the meanings behind the reason why people are so angry they will just see angry people, must be scary for them, I would love to take my son to a match one day as he would enjoy the clapping and singing as but it's much too hostile at the moment.
I agree.
I was with my son.
However, I am street wise enough to know that where there is a protest there are angry and emotional people about with potential for violence to erupt. The best way I can protect him is to steer clear and believe that this would be the sensible thing for a responsible person looking after anyone to do.
You clearly see the danger, but are you not a bit surprised that they did not? My own and limited experience of pregnant women is that they have a hightened awareness of any danger to their unborn baby, but maybe that was just my wife?
but surely a Charlton fan shouldn't look at a group of Charlton fans and think/see danger?
That would be nice. Makes you wonder why people giving out CARD leaflets etc have been verbally abused. Some strange people about and some of them support Charlton. Some of the strange ones will also be CARD supporters.
A football crowd is a cross section of society and we all know this. The protesters I saw all looked very nice people to be honest; most of us are.
If I had chosen to pass through them I would have fully expected one or more to try and engage with me and explain why they were asking me not to go in. No doubt I would have had a higher pulse rate than normal as I would have been aware that I was passing through a crowd of people who believed (rightly or wrongly), what I was doing was wrong and that I was confronting (oppose, resist, defy) them.
My personal assessment was that there was no risk of violence from the protesters, a minimal chance of being sworn at as there are people like Roger Johnson.(think a move to millwall would be good for everyone, they would love him as much as they did old harry cripps); and a minimal risk of a stroppy "I know my rights" chap starting a bit of pushing. There is always an element of risk when you confront people though. Even with best of friends , and even husbands and wives!
We all know one has the right to picket a retail establishment and that one also has the right to pass through it. What I can't fathom is why fellow Charlton supporters would choose to exercise the right to pass through, even if totally in support of the regime. Not asking a lot were they? The respect needs to go both ways.
Anyway, those who wanted to make their point went in. Well done. Most didn't. A CARD well played me thinks!
are you saying that because it was charlton fans outside the shop NO charlton fans should have gone in out of respect even if they disagreed?
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Anyway until we have most supporters on the same side this will be an even harder slog.
I was with my son.
However, I am street wise enough to know that where there is a protest there are angry and emotional people about with potential for violence to erupt. The best way I can protect him is to steer clear and believe that this would be the sensible thing for a responsible person looking after anyone to do.
You clearly see the danger, but are you not a bit surprised that they did not? My own and limited experience of pregnant women is that they have a hightened awareness of any danger to their unborn baby, but maybe that was just my wife?
Like I said, All of this is because of them. Never forget that.
Maybe it's just me.
and The Lone Gunman has raised this matter in the most recent issue of VOTV arguing that the Charlton family is being split asunder by the divisions resulting from what has become a terribly confused scenario with Kyle Andrews in the same
issue summing up the dilemma very succinctly: "The support the team not the regime manta is the ideal way to behave in theory, but very hard to commit to in practice."
Surely, the fall-out (perhaps in both senses) between the more active and vociferous protesters and those less inclined to participate (or even take offence at some forms of protest) is only likely to escalate the longer that Duchatelet and his truly appalling henchwoman treat Charlton Athletic as a 'holding' with 'ownership' granting them carte blance to do as they like, rather than as guardians of a Club where the supporters at least represent an important voice and have respect if not the kind of official representation so detested by Meire.
In order to unite the fans (as surely most would like to see RD sell up to a regime with defined ambitions and more in tune with the fan base) perhaps CARD would consider a protest at the next home game which has a focus purely on the 'Support the team...' part of the mantra which everyone by definition could get behind. Show Katrien Meire that we are there for the team not her (or the regime) and audibly demonstrate the distance that now exists between her and the majority of the fans.
Perhaps a bit trite- but a chant on the lines of the following might find support from all?
We're here for the team
We're here for the team
Katrien Meire we're here for the team
We're here for the team
We're here for the team
Katrien Meire we're here for the team
We're here for the team
We're here for the team
Katrien Meire - YOU'RE NOT ONE OF US
I'd have shook your hand , and asked how you are....
A football crowd is a cross section of society and we all know this. The protesters I saw all looked very nice people to be honest; most of us are.
If I had chosen to pass through them I would have fully expected one or more to try and engage with me and explain why they were asking me not to go in. No doubt I would have had a higher pulse rate than normal as I would have been aware that I was passing through a crowd of people who believed (rightly or wrongly), what I was doing was wrong and that I was confronting (oppose, resist, defy) them.
My personal assessment was that there was no risk of violence from the protesters, a minimal chance of being sworn at as there are people like Roger Johnson.(think a move to millwall would be good for everyone, they would love him as much as they did old harry cripps); and a minimal risk of a stroppy "I know my rights" chap starting a bit of pushing. There is always an element of risk when you confront people though. Even with best of friends , and even husbands and wives!
We all know one has the right to picket a retail establishment and that one also has the right to pass through it. What I can't fathom is why fellow Charlton supporters would choose to exercise the right to pass through, even if totally in support of the regime. Not asking a lot were they? The respect needs to go both ways.
Anyway, those who wanted to make their point went in. Well done. Most didn't. A CARD well played me thinks!
If you don't wish to attend games due to the fact that you don't agree with the club is being run that's your decision, however if fans want to kick against CARD and they will begin to don't be surprised.