You had to have really been trying your best to have been offended by Sam Thaiday’s joke after State of Origin 1. But plenty did.
I should probably preface this by saying I think political correctness is a good thing, because it’s simply about not being a jerk, and considering how your words can hurt other people.
Which raises the question, who was Thaiday hurting last night? Who the hell are we protecting?
If you haven’t seen it, Sam Thaiday made this joke after Queensland ground out a sloppy, fumbling win against New South Wales:
“It was a bit like losing your virginity – it wasn’t very nice but we got the job done.”
I thought it was funny, others did not – that tends to happen with jokes.
But the screeching, outraged think-pieces that spread like wildfire this morning were insufferable, nauseating and patently wrong.
Let’s start with Anthony Sharwood’s spicy hot take in the Huffington Post:
‘Sam Thaiday’s Origin line about virginity was the most tasteless sport thing ever’, the headline reads – sadly, unironically.
The most tasteless sports thing ever?
He says this, despite seemingly being aware of Chris Gayle’s continued and unfortunate existence as an interview subject, the ritualistic vilification of Adam Goodes, and the fact that Bernard Tomic is still a thing.
But click-bait headlines aside, comb through Sharwood’s article and you’ll find he doesn’t even attempt to offer up a reason as to why anything Thaiday said was out-of-line.
That’s because there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.
The only point the joke was making was that the first time you have sex, it’s generally pretty average – but at least you did it.
And maybe I don’t speak for everyone, but in my experience, that is an entirely accurate observation.
Bras are way harder than you think to get off, and the transition from years of exclusively using your wrist, to mobilising the whole bottom half of your body is tragically clumsy, and surprisingly tiring.
More from State of Origin 1:
» Five talking points
» The big issues examined
» The Liebke Ratings
» Laurie Daley drops a post-Origin bombshell
» State of Origin Game 1 full time: Queensland hold on to win
» All the action in our live blog
Who could possibly take offence to this?
The only group I can think of is: people who have recently lost their virginity and don’t want to be pigeon-holed as sub-par lovers.
But maybe it’s not about offence, maybe it’s about appropriateness.
Maybe referring to the fact that people have sex is just too much for our precious ears, and worse, what if the children find out that they weren’t actually delivered by a crane!?
Surely in 2016, we’ve evolved beyond the Victorian-era notions of sexuality where we pretend penises and vaginas don’t exist.
Surely we’re not so repressed that at 10:30pm on a Wednesday night after watching 36 men bash the living hell out of each other for 80 minutes we can hear the tamest of sex references and not collectively explode in rage.
I guess not.
At Sydney Airport, a Channel 7 reporter tried to get Thaiday to apologise.
A Channel Seven reporter pressed him to reveal contrition at Sydney airport.
“Do you regret your comments from last night?”
“No.”
“You don’t think they’re inappropriate at all?”
“Nah.”
“You’re a professional athlete and you’re referring to winning a game like losing your virginity.”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t think that’s inappropriate?”
“No, not at all.”
He didn’t.
And nor should he.
“But aren’t you a family man?” she pressed him.
Yeah, and how do you think he became one of those?
Red Dog
Guest
Sticks and stones is a far better and more effective concept .... In other words toughen up .
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
People like wearing uniforms. And thinking they weaved them themselves...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Charming, but if your beef is with an oligarchy, you are wasting your time targeting 'do-gooders'.
Riordan Lee
Editor
Someone saying "you shouldn't call a black person a n****"" or don't call a young, gay teen a f***** is far less dangerous than allowing it to go on - but I think this is probably a discussion for another forum at another time.
The Barry
Roar Guru
"Bras are way harder than you think to get off, and the transition from years of exclusively using your wrist, to mobilising the whole bottom half of your body is tragically clumsy, and surprisingly tiring" That's one paragraph I never expected to read on the roar but one of the funniest and most accurate...well done!!
Red Dog
Guest
Telling people they aren't allowed to have an opinion on the list you have supplied , unless it is in agreeance with those who see themselves as "right" is extremely dangerous and is allowing certain groups in society to thrive unchallenged .
Riordan Lee
Editor
Telling people they shouldn't make homophobic, sexist and racist slurs is more divisive than slavery, Nazism, Fascism, racial segregation, religion... *intense eye roll*
pete bloor
Guest
But isn't that the same with any social construct - attempt to go binary and its a disaster because well interactions aren't uniform enough for a uniform policy.
Red Dog
Guest
ALA my friend ALA.
Agent11
Guest
Political correctness has basically become like religious doctrine from the middle ages. Its used to control the masses and what people say and do in public. Everything then gets turned into a black and white, us vs them situation. You're either racist or a knight of social justice, nothing in between. The media loves it and loves speaking on behalf of everyone without knowing the truth or facts.
pete bloor
Guest
I think it was genius - Sammy's manager is right now on the phone to those clinics/institutes with the "last longer" bill boards. Sam Thaiday, a one man wrecking ball against premature ejaculation.
pete bloor
Guest
Yep 100% agree. The punch line is a dig at virtually everybody, maybe you think it's a bit crass but I think it probably reflects on how well the outraged parties first partner lied to them.
Antoni
Guest
The one that just got beaten by 16 points?
Red Dog
Guest
Isn't that exactly what we have ? And these do gooders are their puppets that howl like air raid sirens all day and night until people believe there is an eminent disaster but the planes never come .
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Images. Seared. Brain. Forever unclean.
Griffo
Guest
Huff-and-puffingtion post more like it!
TheANDY
Roar Rookie
Its a joke and those who were offended should be ashamed he's said similar after a bronco's match the reason why no one had a sook then cause it wasn't NSW getting beaten I can fix the problem for those of you offended. BLOCK YOUR EARS
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
More so than an oligarchal democracy?
Red Dog
Guest
Political correctness is the most devisive and socially destructive concept in the history of the human race and this is just another example of these thin skinned ,pathetic ,whinging , whining do gooders attempting to control all and sundry into fostering their self determined version of what is right . It shiiits me to tears .
spruce moose
Guest
I 110% agree with him.