The only thing that pissed me off yesterday was that minute's applause

[Brovion]

I NEVER join in with the minute's applause, it's a complete cop-out between feeling that you ought to pay a tribute to someone and being scared that a few lunkheads will embarrass themselves and everybody else by not respecting the traditional minute's silence. A good rule of thumb - if you don't think people will respect the memory enough of the deceased to observe a minute's silence then they probably weren't worth remembering. And because it IS a hard thing to achieve when you do get a silence that's observed by 99.9% of the people it's quite moving, whereas people clapping is just, well, people clapping like they do at football.

 

[clapham_gull]

I think each has it's place and also don't like the minutes applause thing when it's used as a cop out thinking that people can't stay silent.

Point is, that in the case of someone like Bobby Robson, I feel that everyone clapping and singing "One Bobby Robson..." is far far more fitting.

I think football has been a bit uncreative in the past in the way it deals with a death.

Bobby Robson passing away wasn't a tragedy. It was a man being released from a long period of illness and pain. The family had a quiet funeral and now that has passed, I think it is wholly appropriate to celebrate his life in the way in a football way knows best.

By cheering, clapping and singing.

Anyone remember Graham Chapmans memorial service ? Perfectly fitting for the man rather than everyone sitting round singing dreary hymns.

 

[Frutos]

I much prefer silences.

The way I see it is that football grounds, generally speaking, are noisy places. All a minute's applause is is more noise, just blends in to whatever's going on either side of it.

However, if you take the noise away, and make the period of respect stand out by removing an inherent part of the football experience for that comparitively brief time, you have a far more dignified tribute as far as I'm concerned.

What's next, a minute's applause on November 11th?

 

[Brovion]

I think each has it's place and also don't like the minutes applause thing when it's used as a cop out thinking that people can't stay silent.

Point is, that in the case of someone like Bobby Robson, I feel that everyone clapping and singing "One Bobby Robson..." is far far more fitting.

I think football has been a bit uncreative in the past in the way it deals with a death.

Bobby Robson passing away wasn't a tragedy. It was a man being released from a long period of illness and pain. The family had a quiet funeral and now that has passed, I think it is wholly appropriate to celebrate his life in the way in a football way knows best.

By cheering, clapping and singing.

Anyone remember Graham Chapmans memorial service ? Perfectly fitting for the man rather than everyone sitting round singing dreary hymns.

Yes, it WAS good ("Can I be the first person to say 'f***'?") but I don't think you can equate a memorial service (which is usually attended by people who knew the deceased presonally) with a general tribute from the public at large. And as you say clapping and cheering is what football fans do, so there's nothing special about it.

One thing I will say though, there are FAR too may tributes, either silences or applause, at football these days. In the past they were a rare event, now we seem to have about half a dozen a season which has inevitably cheapened and thus strained the 'silence' tributes. On of the reasons is because clubs DO tend to have tributes almost whenever an ex-player carks it, and as you say these deaths are very rarely 'tragedies' but simply lives drawing to a close.

 

[The Oldman]

When I pass on to the great football stadium in the clouds I would be delighted if you would all applaud my memory. Somehow I don't think so!
Anyway tis funny but only this evening I told the missus I don't care what else you have in mind but at my funeral "Sussex by the Sea" must be played very loud on the organ as they carry my coffin out of the chuch on it's way to the Crem.

 

[Acker79]

I'm largely indifferent.

The way I see it though, the applause is intended as a celebration of the individual.

The minutes silence is intended as a moment of reflection, and a time to think about the situation, for instance if someone dies in a car accident it's a time to think "what if that happened to me or my son or my wife etc?"


So, was the expected death of an older gentleman something that required reflection? Perhaps the fact it was due to cancer deserved a moment for people to think about things? Or was the long distinguished and highly successful career something to be celebrated?

Both views have merits.

I don't think minute silences were regularly being interrupted, especially when the subject of them were 'neutral'. (i.e. a minutes silence at our ground for, say, a former turnstile operator would be more likely to be interrupted by opponents, than bobby robson's minute silence would since it is both sides paying their respects and not one side paying their respects the other being polite). I remember the first minutes applause was a request from the family (I want to say George Best's family, but am not entirely sure) and I think it is more to do with trends than fear of bad behaviour.

 

[Jam The Man]

I disagree to be honest, but it depends on the context.

Robson had a long drawn out illness so it was hardly a shock when he eventually died.

Rather than everyone expected to be sombre and emotional, much better to thank the man for what he gave football.

In this case, the applause is 100% spot on.

Totally agree...

 

[Horsham Gull]

it appears to work like this:

Albion related person dies - minutes silence
anyoen else football related - minutes applause

 

[cjd]

Personally, I thought the whole thing about someone "of note" dying being remembered, is the opportunity to reflect on their achievements or value to life in general. I find I,m able to do this in silence..........but impossible with the racket of 7,000 people applauding. Cannot understand the "applause" thing at all.

 

[Storer68]

Surely a minute's silence would have been far more dignified?

Apart from that I thought we did okay in the 2nd half. Dodgy referee, dodgy lino's, missed chances, broken dreams, it's what the Albion's all about innit?

Highlight of the day was the seagull flying past the family stand having the longest crap known to man or beast.

Right funny.




I've been drinking.

As one who shared Sir Bobby's finest hour in Turin in 1990, I was quite happy to applaud him for a minute. We did it a bit longer in Turin

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I reckon that aslong as you have a minute dedicated to someones life, it doesn't matter if you clap, cheer or simply bow your head in silence.

That minute is meant to celebrate someones life.. Not mourn their death IMO.

 

[beorhthelm]

Point is, that in the case of someone like Bobby Robson, I feel that everyone clapping and singing "One Bobby Robson..." is far far more fitting.

exactly, its more fitting for footballers in general. anyway, i heard the family requested it be appluase rather than silence, so thats what the FL went with.

 

[keaton]

I think the appluase way of doing things is much better and less maudlin.

The only time anything like that's pissed off was when they made us do a minute's silence for George Best in a Sunday League game

 

[Acker79]

Could have been worse. His casket could have been put on the centre circle while a parade of "celebrities" come out and talk about how great he was and how he was persecuted by the tabloid media...

 

[Pavilionaire]

Personally, I thought the whole thing about someone "of note" dying being remembered, is the opportunity to reflect on their achievements or value to life in general. I find I,m able to do this in silence..........but impossible with the racket of 7,000 people applauding. Cannot understand the "applause" thing at all.

Spot on.

The applause thing is because a few tossers f*** the silence up.

 

[Porky]

It seems to be the practice these days to celebrate the deceaseds life, and not mourn their death, which I think is a good thing.

 

[Storer68]

Its a continental practice, which has been long cherished in countriess such as Italy.

 

[tedebear]

I haven't a clue which one is right or wrong or better or worse - I just know that its correct to show some form of respect for such a man, I haven't heard a bad word said about him from absolutely anyone!!

 

[The Large One]

Yes, it WAS good ("Can I be the first person to say 'f***'?") but I don't think you can equate a memorial service (which is usually attended by people who knew the deceased presonally) with a general tribute from the public at large. And as you say clapping and cheering is what football fans do, so there's nothing special about it.

One thing I will say though, there are FAR too may tributes, either silences or applause, at football these days. In the past they were a rare event, now we seem to have about half a dozen a season which has inevitably cheapened and thus strained the 'silence' tributes. On of the reasons is because clubs DO tend to have tributes almost whenever an ex-player carks it, and as you say these deaths are very rarely 'tragedies' but simply lives drawing to a close.

Ken Bigley, anyone?

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Is no-one else just uncomfortable with the whole concept of being instructed to mass-emote in public? It's all a bit too orchestrated and North Korean for my tastes.

Be honest: what's the point of synchronised clapping for a man who's dead anyway? Who on earth - or indeed anywhere else - is listening, and who really cares how an Albion crowd is performing this manufactured ritual?

(If it's for some Albion stalwart, with their friends and relatives actually present on the day, then that is very different, and a silence can be very moving indeed. )

Far better imho to pay your personal respects to someone you care about and who's passed on. Send a tribute, attend the funeral if you can... or a remembrance service if appropriate. That way you're making your own choice, rather than feeling shamed into behaving at Withdean like some embarrassed robot.

Just my opinion like...