OT - Avoid Confrontation or Call the Person/Group Out

Submitted by Bo Harbaugh on September 4th, 2022 at 2:37 PM

This is a bit off topic but want to get the opinion of the board - assuming a bunch or most of you have been to games and watched games in public places.

I was at a bar yesterday in Miami watching college football games. It was a generally pleasant experience with a bunch of TV's, good food (burgers, wings), and a nice staff.

However, there was one group of loud, obnoxious folks who showed up (which can often happen with liquor flowing), and the language being thrown around was pretty awful/disgusting imo.

For reference the group was about 5 deep, all male - looked like 4 whites and maybe a Latino.

The N-bombs were flowing non-stop, and not even in the yay go team (nice play bro) way.  During the Florida game they were calling players c*nts and the N-bomb non stop along with monkey references and generally all the gross shit you could imagine.

I've been at football and basketball games as well where fans do the same to both the opposing and and home team.  I've said stfu in those situation often, as most fans are generally just as annoyed by this behavior.

Question for the board - I know it's free speech and all, but how do you handle the situation when it gets pretty disgusting.  I'm not one for confrontation, but this pretty much ruined my Saturday CFB day and was upsetting to my gf and other friend and wife that were with us.  We simply told the management and moved on to another bar.

TLDR:  How do you all handle assholes (often drunk, racist, or simply moronic) at a game or in a bar setting when the language gets really offensive?

MGoBoard

harmon40

September 4th, 2022 at 10:31 PM ^

I think you did the right thing. Tell management and move on.

If they were being that brazen, it is possible they were looking for someone to fight with. Direct confrontation has highly unpredictable ramifications. Definitely not worth it. 

You took action without risking an ugly brawl. I can’t think of anything you could have done better
 

 

Joined: 05/02/2009

MGoPoints: 5743

Yo_Blue

September 4th, 2022 at 10:44 PM ^

This topic fits the jerks outside the stadium selling the "Ann Arbor Fucking Michigan" and "Shut the Fuck Up Bitches" t-shirts that yell their slogans regardless whether there are children around (and there always is). These clowns need to go away.

Joined: 08/24/2010

MGoPoints: 102616

bluewings

September 5th, 2022 at 1:27 AM ^

Do not risk getting severely injured or killed. I see too many deaths because of pride. Tell management and walk out. If anyone else might get hurt, help if you can do so safely but always call the police 

Joined: 11/17/2010

MGoPoints: 22888

Dailysportseditor

September 5th, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^

'Fighting words' are not protected by the 1st amendment.  Take a video of the offensive speech, then complain to the management and show your video, and if they don't take action, call 911 for the cops to deal with the disturbance.  Innocent bar patrons shouldn't be the ones to leave; the disruptive patrons should be kicked out instead.

Joined: 01/14/2012

MGoPoints: 447

MGoOhNo

September 5th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^

This all sounds like a “woulda, shoulda, coulda” internal issue for you especially because women were present. I’d give it “the Ilsa” treatment (let it go). 

Quite recently an 8-time world ju jitsu champion took matters into his own hands and quickly submitted an off duty cop. Said cop recovered, drew a pistol and shot said ju jitsu champion in the face and killed him. In short, nobody “won” but a couple of people totally lost.

Also, it’s the South, and that nonsense is not uncommon. Assuming “management” cares isn’t a given. The best message is to leave mid meal, tip the server as if you completed the meal, but let the establishment know you couldn’t stomach the buffoonery and aren’t paying. 

Joined: 08/12/2014

MGoPoints: 9029