The media vs Raheem Sterling

HarryVegas

Well-known member
Saw this meme earlier, a comment by him presumably from before the tournament and it got me thinking. I seriously think that the papers' obscene and long-term targeting of Sterling in particular has kind of seeped into the national consciousness, and is almost accepted as fact. I have friends who are good people and who don't have a racist bone in their body, who normally hate racism, but dislike him for the smallest, silliest reasons. It's a form of unconscious bias. It's just become common parlance that he is somehow too flash/unintelligent/almost untrustworthy. That's the power of the print media and it's absolutely shameful.Raheem.jpg
 
I seriously think that the papers' obscene and long-term targeting of Sterling in particular has kind of seeped into the national consciousness, and is almost accepted as fact. I have friends who are good people and who don't have a racist bone in their body, who normally hate racism, but dislike him for the smallest, silliest reasons. It's a form of unconscious bias. It's just become common parlance that he is somehow too flash/unintelligent/almost untrustworthy. That's the power of the print media and it's absolutely shameful.
I follow and discuss F1 quite a bit and I have this reaction from people constantly about Hamilton. They say he's an ass, he acts up all the time and they hate him. Ask for examples or offer things other drivers have done exactly the same, you get nothing back. There is only one reason left as to why they really hate him in my opinion.....................
 
It's absolutely ridiculous some of the stuff Sterling has put up with from the tabloids. It's also pretty fair to say if he was white he wouldn't have had half the nonsense written about him. The lad is a leader and inspiration to loads of young kids growing up in circumstances less than ideal.
 
or put another way, young man buys house with money he has earned due to his immense skill levels

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It's absolutely ridiculous some of the stuff Sterling has put up with from the tabloids. It's also pretty fair to say if he was white he wouldn't have had half the nonsense written about him. The lad is a leader and inspiration to loads of young kids growing up in circumstances less than ideal.
He is, my 13 year old lad loves him. And he talks more about his personal life with his dad and his tattoos and how the press treated him as much as his football. I'm hopeful as the generations roll on we'll get to a place where a more liberal and kinder generation won't tolerate this or are in high enough editorial positions that it is stamped out completely.

Before any of the usual suspects start, I know George Floyd was a criminal, all lives matter and statues of slave traders are part of our history and totally fine 👀 .
 
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A good chunk of the blame lies with the people who buy these papers, without them the story wouldn't be written. I used to work with a plastic Liverpool fan who bought the sun every day, when I said how can you buy that after what they wrote about hillsborough his reply yeah but I like page 3 and the sport
 
If the media told me the sky was blue I would go outside and check. I refuse to acknowledge any kind of MSM apart from sporting news.
 
or put another way, young man buys house with money he has earned due to his immense skill levels

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'modest' family home..... 5 times the size of the one I grew up in😂

I just don't the whole agenda about how footballers should spend money. I got sick of people saying they should donate to the NHS etc. They pay more into the NHS in a month than most keyboard warriors will ever pay.

I couldn't care less that Haaland sp*nked 500k euros on a p*ss up. It's his money. Do what you want with it.
 
It's absolutely ridiculous some of the stuff Sterling has put up with from the tabloids. It's also pretty fair to say if he was white he wouldn't have had half the nonsense written about him. The lad is a leader and inspiration to loads of young kids growing up in circumstances less than ideal.

To be fair, there’s people from all over the entertainment world that have been the target of media abuse bordering on criminality at times. People of all colours. I mean, Caroline Flack basically killed herself over it.

it’s hard to say the targeting of Sterling was racially motivated because there’s plenty of other black England players that never got targeting like he did.

I think there’s a lot of bitter and jealous people in this country they don’t like to see young successful people who are not ashamed of their success and proud of it. being a young successful black guy also rubs some people the wrong way too though, no doubt. I believe it pretty much started when pics of his house with a barbers inside it was put online, or something like that.

Anyway his story of where he come from to where is now should be an inspiration for anyone. He has every right to be proud of it. Seems a good lad who just wants to look after his family.

some sections of the media and public are just abhorrent, especially online , and that’s why you have TV presenters killing themselves, or a young successful footballer that probably still has some doubts about just being himself over fears of further abuse.

Ever read the comments sections on newspaper sites or Twitter? I wouldn’t advise it. Yesterday they were slaughtering the 10 year old kid that got Mason Mount’s shirt just because she comes from a bit of money. Grown adults ripping into a 10 year old girl. That’s really what you’re dealing with.
 
or put another way, young man buys house with money he has earned due to his immense skill levels

View attachment 21045

That's really the issue for me, young black lads are fine if they're delivering your Uber Eats or washing your car. If they are much richer than you and buying things you feel you should be entitled to too, it becomes more of an issue and the stories about 'bling' and 'excess wealth' come in to play.
 
That's really the issue for me, young black lads are fine if they're delivering your Uber Eats or washing your car. If they are much richer than you and buying things you feel you should be entitled to too, it becomes more of an issue and the stories about 'bling' and 'excess wealth' come in to play.

It's viewed as a more acceptable way of saying "people like Sterling and Hamilton should know their place"
 
That's really the issue for me, young black lads are fine if they're delivering your Uber Eats or washing your car. If they are much richer than you and buying things you feel you should be entitled to too, it becomes more of an issue and the stories about 'bling' and 'excess wealth' come in to play.
I don't think it's a racial thing it's more of them just being ****. thing.
 
I think he’s both a great person and player. Man City haven’t been too kind to him - especially the season just ended. In and out of the side- never heard him complain.

He is a role model for the youth of the country. Thinks of others and appears to be very generous. Hasn’t forgotten his roots and does return to his former school.

Frankly, the lad needs praising - and not sniped at.
 
My missus said to me at the beginning of the tournament who’s that! — with reference to the little fella Sterling. I said he’s England’s best player. I suppose there’s arguments all round whether he is or not but after his performance against Spain where he was simply incredible in the 3-2 win on their soil I just think he grew a further metre in strength, resilience and confidence and Gareth (perhaps) is the one who probably made that happen.
 
Not sure why some people are jumping straight to racism as motivation. Look at the crap Beckham had to put up with.

Sterling seems like a lovely bloke good luck to him. He seems level headed enough to ignore bad press.
 
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