@ACT-Crusader
@Rancid-Schnitzel
Fellas, Your assumptions were indeed correct and I hadn't seen all the footage of the brawl. So to go off half cocked was certainly my bad and I apologise for wasting some of your time and energy (thought you were a bit more irrascible than usual 😉 ). poor form by me.
The reaction to the elbow was indeed way way too much, and it wasn't so much of a "typical" brawl
But (yep here it comes!) I'm still certain of my position that Kickert was the touch paper that ignited this nonsense, and his actions were naieve and worthy of strong censure, but more importantly a reminder of the peril of taking sporting laws into your own hands - a lesson that losing self control in a controlled environment (official match with referees) is universall discouraged (despite provocation because all hell can break loose.
As I said on first viewing my thoughts were "fuck man don't do that in that country and in that charged atmosphere with your team being so outnumbered. You'll get a flogging and no local sympathy"
Thinking about it, my attitude comes from 20 odd years with these type of cultures. I've certainly become desensitised to this mob violence but I certainly remember all the learning I went through and my initial reactions 2 decades ago reflected the same outrage incredulity and disgust initially, only to be replaced with a strong sense of "cause and effect" explanations.
I was in the Philippines playing cricket when a similar thing happened in that a Pakistani and an Indian team and spectators got so riled up that people were grabbing bats, stumps and wood and screaming and posturing. It was fucken frightful and the only reason it didn't kick off was because no one actually crossed the line by obviously striking someone. I restrained (verbally) a yank on his high horse who was playing moral arbiter in all this and I still reckon I saved his life, and mine.
This thing couldn't really escalate in NZ or Aus because the majority of bystanders wouldn't allow it to, but in PP there is not much of that moral reasoning restraint or contemplation.
I've seen a mob kick to death a guy in Bangkok who was threatening his own baby in a suicide type scenario. Cops took 3 hours to talk him down and then couldn't stop a mob of mostly women wailing in with fists and boots till he was lifeless on the concrete. You can feel the tension in the air - it's like invisible prickles and everyone's face is anxious
Oh well, shouldn't have threatened the baby, was how everyone resolved it.
Last April I got called in to counsel (talk to) an Aussie family holidaying in Thailand. 18 year old son was having a great time in the bars, where it does feel like anything goes, and was banging his jandals on a table in time to the music. Got asked to stop by barman but him and the group didn't and next thing a local shoved a pistol to his temple. Happy ending (not intended) because, luckily, the Thai broke the first rule of brandishing a weapon in that culture - "If you pull it, you have to use it"
Countless times I've been bemused why locals haven't absolutely fucken smashed some rude Aussie tourists who to all intents and purposes were asking for a hiding in most cultures
My point?
You got to be ultra aware of your surroundings and what looks like pandering to a ridiculous and bullshit display of behaviour (and it so fucken is!) is often times the best solution.
Aussies should have left things in the refs hands (FIBA sanctioned wasn't it?), taken the win, got to the airport and then vented in safety.
Must be noted that Kickert's response has been highly commendable and I'd say lesson learned.
Highlight his shortcomings as that's fixable, the Philipinos penchant and willingness to go apeshit, not so fixable I'm afraid.
One spark ignites a forest, one punch ignites a mob
and a face palm for me...
