otb,

You're losing your grip. Come one - you left
out Fabians, Progressives, Greens, Laborites, Leftists,
Socialists, Multiculturalism, Immigration, Refugees,
Muslims, Emily Listers, the Handbag Hit Squad,
and many, many, more. And it's all their fault.
Those poor long-suffering men.

Feel the lurve, Feel the lurve!

Good on ya Foxy, you beat me to it. Beach almost always responds to any discussion thread I start with an attack on the Greens.Its a long list.

On the subject of Gayle, I agree it was a throwaway piece from the bloke, as I said the $10k went to a good cause, 'The Mcgrath Foundation', which is set up to fight breast cancer, no more worthy cause can there be. $10k is not going to hurt Gayle, given his earning capacity, and in fact it raises his profile, and may end up a positive for his career.

In a political context I was disappointed with Luke Foley's response to the Jamie Clements affair. Again it shows that there is still very much an underlying belief from many, men and women, that sexual harassment of women is "not all that serious a matter", and its really only a bit of harmless fun, particularly if nothing really happens. In Clements case the Labor Party was very slow to act, and that in itself reflects badly on its leadership.

Dear Paul,

Thanks for your comments.

There are many cases where things could have been handled
better. Take the Jamie Briggs case. There's a big difference
between kissing a female staffer on the cheek and on the
neck, especially for a married man.

Each case should be taken on an individual basis.
There are individual differences.

There are ample state and federal legislation in place to
protect employees from discriminating or intimidating
behaviour.

Mel McLaughlin by all accounts is an experienced
journalist and as such according to "The Courier Mail,"
would have encountered all sort of situations in her line
of work. She should have stuck to talking about cricket
with Chris Gayle and brought the interview back into the
box, so to speak as Leigh Sales would have probably done.
I wonder what Mel McLaughlin thinks about being portrayed
as a victim? She accepted Mr Gayle's apology and has moved
on.

Mr Gayle on the other hand despite his apology has taken
to signing autographs for his fans with the words,
"Don't Blush Baby!" Which goes to show that his apology was
not sincere.

Paul1405:

“On the subject of Gayle, I agree it was a throwaway piece from the bloke, as I said the $10k went to a good cause, 'The Mcgrath Foundation', which is set up to fight breast cancer, no more worthy cause can there be. $10k is not going to hurt Gayle, given his earning capacity, and in fact it raises his profile, and may end up a positive for his career.”

Should someone be fined $10k for a throwaway piece? How many throwaway pieces are said throughout the country every day? Should they all be fined the same amount? Either he did something wrong according to some law or agreed code of conduct or he did not. If he did then he should be punished and if he did not then he should be left alone. What does it matter whether he is able to easily pay or not? That is not justice for all people as equals? Punishment is according to the crime not your bank balance.

Why are you trying to ease the punishment by saying it could be positive for his career? Either he is guilty or not guilty – there is no in between? Whatever else happens after the judgement is irrelevant. It is like saying we will charge this homeless person with murder and put him in jail because he will get a nice warm bed and three meals a day.

The McGrath Foundation have shown a complete lack of integrity by accepting this money. It is ‘blood money’ resulting from an unjust case judged by an unscrupulous administration who they need to appease for their own ends.

OTB:

"The punishment handed out to Gayle - the demand for a humiliating public apology and the fines - will have a lasting effect on his earning form sponsorships as well and his playing and representational future inside and outside of his sport."

One wonders what the cricketer's players union is doing. Why don't they stand up for their members when they are so blatantly mistreated?

This is not the first time Chris Gayle has
put female TV presenters in terribly difficult
situations. Hopefully he will be able to see
the error of his ways writes James Maasdorp.

By resorting to the cheap flirt time and time
again, Gayles cheapens not only himself but the
sport as well. He should instead focus on
what he does best.

As James Maaddorp writes - this is not the first
time Gayle's been called out for his sexist behaviour
but now he's gone and done it on free to air TV.
Where the evidence is more accessible and the
blow back more evident.

Maasdorp's article is worth a read:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-05/maasdorp-that's-just-chris-gayle-for-you-doesn't-cut-it/7067904