some posters on this site seem to think that describing harry redknapp as "twitchy" is clever and amusing.

so I was wondering whether they think the fact that redknapp's involuntary facial tics are a result of a car crash in which five people were killed is what makes it amusing, or whether it is merely the fact that he can't control it that is funny?

is it the frisson of exploring something as taboo as a fatal car crash, or merely because his face looks a bit funny?

I think we'll never know for sure.

when I started this thread, I did think that to describe redknapp as "twitchy" was at best reductive and certainly a bit embarrassing given the people doing so are adults and therefore should perhaps have been a bit more thoughtful.

but that is what I thought a minute ago. now I've given it the thought it deserves, and I must admit, when I think of the months of rehabilitation and surgery ol' twitchy must have gone through in an attempt to repair his damaged nerve endings, when I think of the psychological damage done by witnessing five people in the car die alongside him, I must admit, I find myself really struggling to suppress a smile.

Have you considered that some posters may not know the ins and outs of his past?

It would have perhaps been more grown up (as you say, we're all adults) to discreetly message those people you feel are showing the upmost disrespect and convey your concerns with them privately.

Edited July 19, 201113 yr by Gem

No hes right Gem, next time I see a nickname for someone famous on a web site and decide to use it elsewhere I should read his or her entire history and make sure it wont upset someone. Its the right thing to do.

I once had a rabbit called 'twitchy' because of the way he twitched his nose. He wasn't offended.

I once had a rabbit called 'twitchy' because of the way he twitched his nose. He wasn't offended.

Had he been in a car accident? Did you check if he had before you called him twitchy? Gotta be real careful nowadays.

Had he been in a car accident? Did you check if he had before you called him twitchy? Gotta be real careful nowadays.

I got him to sign a disclaimer before I named him. Sad really because the day after we received a visit from one of those "have you been involved in an accident that wasn't your fault?" firms. Missed out on a sizeable claim as a result.

I got him to sign a disclaimer before I named him. Sad really because the day after we received a visit from one of those "have you been involved in an accident that wasn't your fault?" firms. Missed out on a sizeable claim as a result.

Oohh, now thats bad luck. Ironic really, considering you had some rabbits feet nearby.

Oohh, now thats bad luck. Ironic really, considering you had some rabbits feet nearby.

We got our revenge and cured the twitch in one go. We had him for Sunday dinner!

I will report you two to the League of Lapin Lovers - they are very active you know.

Indeed that might explain the twitchiness - post- orgasmic twitching is a common occurrence in randy rabbits.

We got our revenge and cured the twitch in one go. We had him for Sunday dinner!

Now thats brilliant veterinary work. You missed your calling mate.

Now thats brilliant veterinary work. You missed your calling mate.

I'm not sure the local sheep would agree with you

I'm not sure the local sheep would agree with you

Never even knew you were part Welsh. Well you live and learn. Unless your twitchy the rabbit of course.

Never even knew you were part Welsh. Well you live and learn. Unless your twitchy the rabbit of course.

I'm part Scottish not Welsh. We Scots are far more discreet by wearing kilts so the sheep don't hear the sound of a zip being undone. Come to think of it maybe that explains the twitch in the rabbit

I'm part Scottish not Welsh. We Scots are far more discreet by wearing kilts so the sheep don't hear the sound of a zip being undone. Come to think of it maybe that explains the twitch in the rabbit

And the circle is complete. Sounds like you did twitchy a favour making a stew of him.

Edited July 19, 201113 yr by dkw

I thought it would be better to start a discussion about it (hopefully that will happen), because first of all, it is not one person or two people who refer to him as twitchy, so it goes beyond you both. and it isn't just the person who puts it in writing who is necessarily acting in poor taste (shall we say). if I make a racist joke and people laugh then I think they are complicit to some extent.

also, in your case gem, I wouldn't pm you because you have more than once gone out of your way to say you 'have me on ignore'. I didn't think you'd be eager to receive or read anything I send you, nor was I sure you'd open (or see) this thread. in the past there have been incredibly aggressive posters who would verbally abuse others for pages, and then once the thread has inevitably been ruined, would continue the harassment via private messaging. I have no interest in this kind of aggressive pursuit. if people don't want to read something I hope I wouldn't be the type to force it upon them. with dkw,

let me say I thought the car crash and his injuries were pretty well known and I (clearly wrongly) thought people who know english football as well as you both do would be aware of that.

I also think actually it isn't all that relevant. the man has a disability, and yet it seems to be fine to mock him for that. so what I am wondering is whether you mock the disabled equally, or do you discriminate based on factors?

would you mock someone in a wheelchair the same way? maybe more depending on the level of their fame? maybe less because the disability is arguably more severe? perhaps how the individual lost his ability to walk is a factor? falling off a bouncy castle - okay, gunshot would in a war - less so? is laughing at nick griffin's glass eye acceptable because he's a racist?

Welcome to the World of Football. I personally refrain from calling him that (I prefer 'Arry or Wobble Chops) but as someone stated not everybody is aware of his past, ignorance is bliss.

I would argue the Wenger chant (started by Spurs fans) and calling him a paedophile is far more heinous than the nickname used to insult Redknapp. It's just the way of life.

Rafa will always be known as a Fat Spanish Waiter, Ferguson will always be known as baconface/Old Whiskey/Rednose etc.

Your comparing not knowing about his car crash and taking the piss out of an opposing teams manager to racism, gunshot wounds in a war etc? Dont be so ridiculous and get of your moralising high horse. As Myles says is it any worse than Fergie, FSW, Wenger etc getting grief over the way they look and act? Jesus, of all the things to take offence at you bring up this. Well done you. I`m sure you`ll sleep like a log tonight knowing youve made the world a slightly less horrible place by putting us terrible people in our places....

Edited July 19, 201113 yr by dkw

I get called Jacuzzi when it rains because I'm epileptic.

Naaah, but could you imagine? Would be quit witty actually, after all we are not all drones.

Edited July 19, 201113 yr by Gem

Welcome to the World of Football. I personally refrain from calling him that (I prefer 'Arry or Wobble Chops) but as someone stated not everybody is aware of his past, ignorance is bliss.

I would argue the Wenger chant (started by Spurs fans) and calling him a paedophile is far more heinous than the nickname used to insult Redknapp. It's just the way of life.

Rafa will always be known as a Fat Spanish Waiter, Ferguson will always be known as baconface/Old Whiskey/Rednose etc.

the wenger chant is atrocious I totally agree. there is an incredible double standard where you'd struggle to find people talking about dave jones in the way that many still talk about wenger.

there are two points here:

1- as much as you might dislike a public figure, this dislike should not become dehumanising. ultimately we are talking about a human being. this relates to the car crash etc

2- mocking a person's disability is wrong, regardless of who they are and what their disability is.

one more thing- there is no such thing as the "world of football". phrases like "the world of football" or the "culture of football" are phrases often used by people stuck in time (though I'm not saying you are, your point about wenger very much suggests you are not). when jimmy hill said ron atkinson calling marcel a 'ni**er' was no worse than calling hill 'chinny', he said that it was part of the culture of football.

andy gray and richard keys existed in this fictional world, a world where women should get back in the kitchen and leave the football to us blokes, eh? no sport exists in a vacuum, going to the football can no longer be a metaphorical sanctuary for these sorts of backward views.

Your comparing not knowing about his car crash and taking the piss out of an opposing teams manager to racism, gunshot wounds in a war etc? Dont be so ridiculous and get of your moralising high horse. As Myles says is it any worse than Fergie, FSW, Wenger etc getting grief over the way they look and act? Jesus, of all the things to take offence at you bring up this. Well done you. I`m sure you`ll sleep like a log tonight knowing youve made the world a slightly less horrible place by putting us terrible people in our places....

what I am saying is that you have chosen to target someone's disability and seem to think it is okay because they are famous and because you didn't know how the disability came about. it is a lamentably feeble excuse.

what I am saying is that you have chosen to target someone's disability and seem to think it is okay because they are famous and because you didn't know how the disability came about. it is a lamentably feeble excuse.

This is what I cannot fathom, if you don't know what you're mocking is considered a "disability" then how are you intentionally (key word here, as you are insinuating that is what we are doing) mocking them for being disabled? If they're not members of the Aryan race are we to assume there is something wrong with them and therefore be forbidden to pass comment on any oddity?

I really don't like the "rednose", etc... nicknames people give Ferguson, because it's a skin condition he's got and I've had years of a similar condition.

90% with G4 on this one. You guys may not have known he was in car crash, but even if he wasn't there is surly some medical reason for it regardless.

Additionally I would say that some do know and probably don't give a dam because.... and this is the kicker, generally football seems to exist in a world beyond racism and homophobia and any other form of social prejudice. Its the place we can let PC go to hell and say what ever we consider to be funny. Hands up who has made gay jokes about Sol Campbell...mine is up.

I have also made racist remarks while playing pro evo, I could probably go on. I am not a homophobe or a racist, Im just an ignorant idiot. My only defence is that when making these comments I was well aware of my audience. Its a week defence but i guess thats where there is a slight difference. I maintain that if there is a chance you could offend some one because you don't know who your reaching with your comments don't make it... unless of course you intend to offend and the let it go

This is what I cannot fathom, if you don't know what you're mocking is considered a "disability" then how are you intentionally (key word here, as you are insinuating that is what we are doing) mocking them for being disabled? If they're not members of the Aryan race are we to assume there is something wrong with them and therefore be forbidden to pass comment on any oddity?

I guess it is a question of how naive you are willing to pretend to be. we are talking about a disability with physical symptoms. and you are mocking the symptoms. and neither of you appear to show much regret. in this thread we've had jokes from both of you and dkw trying to deflect responsibility for his comments by:

1- saying I'm moralising and getting on a high horse. (whether people think I am too sensitive or pc gone mad or self righteous or whatever, I make no apology for starting this thread)

2- saying other things are just as bad ( even typing this out I cannot believe it was used as a defence)

3- pointing out redknapp is famous (and therefore it doesn't count?)

4- pointing out that he didn't come up with the name (and therefore repeating it is fine?)

5- arguing that he was not aware of the crash (which is like saying if you don't know how someone lost the ability to walk, mocking the disability is okay)

barak, the thing that depresses me is the response is not "I made a mistake", the response is to make jokes, to mock my objection and to generally persist with the idea that mocking a physical symptom of disability doesn't mean that they are mocking the disability. also, as I wrote in response to myles, football can no longer be seen as an anything goes zone. it doesn't make sense.

Edited July 19, 201113 yr by gullit4

I guess it is a question of how naive you are willing to pretend to be. we are talking about a disability with physical symptoms. and you are mocking the symptoms. and neither of you appear to show much regret.

barak, the thing that annoys me is the response is not "I made a mistake", the response is to make jokes, to mock my objection and to generally persist with the idea that mocking a physical symptom of disability doesn't mean that they are mocking the disability. also, as I wrote in response to myles, football can no longer be seen as an anything goes zone. it doesn't make sense.

So now you're accusing me of pretending to be naive? Glad we're back to the standard response.

What doesn't make sense is your floundering inability to consider, understand and some what accept what people have said is true (whether you agree or not) with regards to ANY argument/defence they make - no, if you can't see it they must be naive, or at least pretending to be... it has been the same for years (on this forum anyway, obviously I don't know you outside this little bubble).

I get it, you're disgusted, the sarcasm reader went into overdrive on your original post. I'm sure offering my apologies and regret now, or even in the beginning, would have made little difference. When I didn't, I get the above and if I had started by apologising I, probably would have got some cryptic response saying "apologising doesn't make up for the disgusting behavior shown by those individuals'. So damned if I do, damned I we don't. Again, pretty much the standard. Just taken me 5 or so years to accept it I guess.

You sound like someone who has never teased or mocked someone in their life - I find this highly unlikely.

In addition - Geezer and Moi also made jokes about the subject - yet you chose to single out me and dkw - may I ask why? I'll bold this, so it's highlighted.

Edited July 19, 201113 yr by Gem