Sterling display of moronic idiocy.

Sorry to be blunt, I don't think your other points are relevant.

All we are talking about is an International footballer, who some youngsters look up to and is very much in the public eye, appearing to support gun violence. This is newsworthy. A national paper would not be doing it's job if it turned a blind eye.

People have a right to know if a player wants to make a public statement over his beliefs when it's controversial. When you tattoo something on your body, it tends to mean something very personal to you. It's a statement to the world.

When you are a footballer, going into a World Cup especially, you will be photo'd endlessly. He knows this and was happy to be photo'd with his socks down. He knew the sh1tstorm this would cause and he deserves everything that's coming to him.

 

As soon as any player puts on an England shirt the press are obsessed to try and make any England player look bad.

 

I don't believe him because the gun was complete. It didn't look too recent in the fact it wasn't all patched up. If something was going to added, why just stop at the gun? I've seen things like this, with some type of scroll included with a personal message. That would be fine, as it would be a clear tribute, but it's just an assault rifle with nothing else added.

He knew he was going to a World Cup and that it was going to be spotted. He was happy to be photographed with small socks on.

I think he wants to cause some trouble and be controversial. I hope this backfires and he gets the stick he deserves over it. I'd be delighted if England dropped him from the squad, although I think that would be unlikely.

 

Looks like a major resurgence of secular nutbags is on the cards.

 

At least the shirt covers up the tatts.

 

Liz, your last contribution or LAST contribution?

If the latter, it's a Ziggy Stardust Hammersmith Odeon July 73 moment for the forum.

 

You don’t know the gun is complete. Please show a picture on here where you can see the COMPLETE tattoo as it is right now?

Because you can take him at his word that it’s unfinished? He could have more than one artist doing it? He could be booked in with some high-profile artists for which the bookings could be months in advance? There are literally loads of reasons as to why it is unfinished. It doesn’t need to be ‘all patched up’. Cling film can come off after a few hours and it can be treated with moisture cream. I don’t need to give you all the various reasons why it could be incomplete - they are obvious.

As for dropping him from the WC Cup squad? Probably time you came back down to planet earth.

 

By the same token you don't know he's not lying and supports terrorism. Show me the proof he's not?

When it comes to something like this, you have to ask yourself what is likely. Is it likely that a tattoo, which runs the length of his lower leg, is just at an unfortunate point in its construction. They completed an entire assault rifle, but there was not enough time to add anything more? Again, if you believe that then you're extremely gullible.

I think what's more likely is he wanted to show it off, and cause a big commotion. He seems to like being controversial, so it fits his profile. I think the story about his father is just a backstory to stop him from getting into real trouble, as officially it would be difficult to disprove.

Personally, I find it quite shameful as I think he's just trying to be provocative.

As for being dropped from the England squad, it's being called for by certain groups. These things tend to escalate, and if that did happen, he's only got himself to blame.

 

He's already explained himself - that's relevant.
The way The Sun chose to pitch the non-story to stir up a moral panic - that's relevant.
The real and far more influential causes of gun/knife crime being ignored in favour of media-manufactured fury over a bit of ink - that's relevant.
The preposterous conclusion that a footballer with a gun tattoo will cause someone to pick up a gun and use it - that's relevant.
The naive gullibility of those who choose to ignore the above points - that's definitely relevant.

 

You forgot to mention Fred West and Hitler.

 

They are on this other leg.

 

It’s being called for by certain groups - yes. An Anti-Gun group which is led by a woman who’s comment was made in advance of Sterling’s statement. She and him have both lost loved ones to gun crime so it would be interesting if she would now like to re-think her position - seems to me that she’s been lead down the garden path by The S*n. I have no doubt in my mind that it was never put to her that his dad had died from being shot and they actually share a sad similar backstory.

Can I just ask - how much do you know about tattoo’s and fairly large pieces in particular? Because you are passing quite a few comments that show you don’t really have an understanding of them, their composition etc but are using those comments as somehow saying that Sterling is lying and that I’m gullible, even though it would appear I have greater understanding of it than yourself judging on the knowledge you’ve shown thus far.

The proof you ask for is right in front of you - he has come out and said what it’s for. His dad has died from being brutally shot. If his dad wasn’t shot and killed, I think that would have come out by now. So I don’t have to prove that he ‘supports terrorism’ as he’s given the reasoning and it’s quite sound. Frankly the insinuation that he is openly supporting terrorism is propsterous and I think easily the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said on here.

 

If you saw that tattoo what would your first thought be? Oh, it's a shame, his father must have been murdered......or this guy supports gun violence?

Maybe he lives in a bubble, but with the horrors in the world today, it's particularly controversial and insensitive.

I don't have any comment to make whether it's true or not about his father, this is not why I'm saying he's lying. I think he's lying over the meaning of the symbol.

It could well turn out to have a cross and message above in time, but I think he just wanted to be a **** about it. Cause as much commotion as possible in the first place.

Someone with an assault rifle is far more likely to be a terrorist sympathiser, supports gang culture, gun crime etc, than not. It certainly alludes to it and he certainly knows how the media works as he's been at top footballer long enough. He knew the reaction this would cause.

A silly cartoon with a gun in it, or something along those lines is far more defendable, but an assault rifle on it's own, leaves no interpretation at all.

I don't understand why you are so supportive this sort of thing. Do you really not see the offense it causes to a lot of people?

 

Please tell me where I have shown that I’m ‘so for it’? I have told you previously that through my job I have done a lot of work against gang culture, gun/knife crime etc.

Defending his right to honour his dad how he see’s fit, isn’t the same as me defending gun culture or promoting it.

Honestly, my first thought if I saw it or was was shown it, would be to say ‘what the bloody hell have you done that for?’ And then listen to his plausible reasoning and accept it. Because it rings true. Would I honour my dad in the same way? Probably not but then I don’t know how having my dad shot and killed as a child would do to me and it would be poor of me to suggest otherwise.

It’s an ill-judged attempt on his part and I agree perhaps more thought should have gone into it. But that’s as far as criticism of Sterling should go.

 

Yes, defend his right, but it's obviously done to be as provocative as possible. If you cannot see that, and believe it's just a coincidence the tattoo stopped just when the gun was complete and nothing else added, before going to the World Cup, then I suspect you'd believe anything.

He knew photographers were about, he's even smiling for the photo. He choose to stand there with small socks, knowing full well it would be spotted. He's done this deliberately to cause a big issue, for reasons known only to himself.

 

RB1's hero Lionel Messi has a tattoo of a sword on his leg. Clearly he's a fan of stabbing people. And ISIS.

 

You forgot to change your account......oooops

Don't think it does bananaboy.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2148314/lionel-messi-tattoo-meaning-barcelona/

 

He posted the first picture. He wasn't trying to hide it. He's explained his reasons for having it, if you don't accept that it's your choice. The Sun are trying to bring him down for reasons known only their slime ball editors.

Did you read the article I posted? I suggest you do

 

You’ve linked another article from that rag that proves nothing yet again.

Messi has had a sword tattooed on his leg, they have been used by ISIS. He’s now covered it up, for reasons unbeknown it seems. Can you show us proof that he isn’t glamourising swords/knives specifically with that tattoo?

 

He covered it up because it sent out the wrong message. It wasn't just a sword on it's own either with nothing around it. There were a lot of other things going on in many tattoos.

Had it just had one big assault rifle on his leg, with nothing else, then I think there would have been a major inquiry about it.

Here's a photo that will help you in your next reply.

 

But here’s the thing you are totally not grasping or are being purposefully obstructive of - You have failed to acknowledge that tattoo’s can take a period of time to do and build until they really eventually finished. It will be up to the artist with which part of that tattoo will be put down first.

So Messi has a provocative tattoo and takes time to cover it up - and it’s okay, even though you don’t know the meaning behind the tattoo.

Sterling has a provocative tattoo which he gives reasoning to which is sound and believable - but based on no evidence whatsoever you decide he’s lying and any attempts to further the tattoo will prove your point.

Don’t you see how you contradict yourself?

The England training camp has had photographers every day - it’s all documented on their Instagram page. He’s smiling probably because he’s going to the WC and is excited - better than looking moody and unmotivated. The socks are clearly standard issue kit. All the players are wearing them in the released photos of the squad training. Yet he’s supposed to single himself out and wear longer ones just in case The S*n want to write another baseless story or people like you want to label him a terrorist sympathiser.

I’m not really sure you realise just how stupid you’re sounding.

 

This one is very practical:



What better way to recognise people if they are walking the opposite way down the beach than by tattoos of themselves on their backs?

This is indeed the Leroy Sane.

It's lucky these Man City lads are good at football.

 

Only a child would accept his version of events. The Sun want a story of course they do, but they didn't take a picture and photoshop it. He really does only have one tattoo on his leg and it really is an assault rifle. There are no other tattoos around for it to blend in with or diffuse it.

It's loud and clear so everyone can see it. I don't believe it's half finished as it's too convenient to say that. If you're drawing an image you do the entire thing, or part of it. You don't just do the gun first, then go to the biggest event on the planet, and get the rest done when you get back and expect nothing to be mentioned about it.

He wanted to be controversial and cause an issue. It's the only logical or believable explanation.

 

Also useful for the glorious summer game as he can signal a wide without the effort of raising his arms.

 

I have time and time again tried to tell you how tattoo artists work. If you don’t wish to listen, that’s fine. But it makes your version of reality even less likely.

 

So the rule for a tattoo artist is, first draw the assault rifle, then at a later date, do the rest? I've looked it up and cannot find anything to support that. Can you provide a link?

 

No, the rule would be that if the assault rifle is the main part of the tattoo design then that would go down first. Obvious really.

 

How he would signal the free hit is less obvious.

Maybe he has a raised hand tattooed on a spare buttock which he could gyrate?

Would also be useful for hailing a cab.

Likewise, for fishing.

 

As I said, you should make more use of that photo I sent you.

 

This is getting tiresome guys......can you just agree to disagree.

 

Ahh I apologise for anyone who has been tired with the debate.

I must admit I do like debating with him and get carried away! It’s all good-natured.

 

3 pages discussing somebody none of us actually knows in real life getting a tattoo in the free society that we live in?!

Lol can’t wait for the tournament to start so we have some actual football to discuss

 

Personally I think it deserves discussion. It's a point of what does society accept these days.

Is it ok for an International football star to promote guns in such a way? Even though it's only Sterling, there will be youngsters who see him as a role model. I think it sends out the wrong message, but some others think it's ok.

 

But whatever opinion people have can’t and won’t change the situation!

If one of us started a thread along the lines of ‘hey guys I was thinking of getting a tattoo of this, what do you all think?’, we could maybe help the poster make up his mind as to whether to do it or not.

But all that seems to have happened here today is people posting their views one way or the other, often very eloquently and thoughtfully, but inevitably with a few arguments too. Then we will all sign out tonight and go to bed and the world will still be turning and the footballer in question will still have his tattoo.

It’s just today’s talking point in the media, until the next one comes along.

 

It should also be noted that Sterling has been noted for his community work specifically against kids turning to violence...
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...m-sterling-police-charity-ambassador-11325451

Has contributed significantly to the Grenfell Tower survivors trust...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40297310

There are also many, many stories of him spending a lot of what he earn's on looking after his family. He is a dad himself.
I would suggest he's actually a better role model than most and certain people are just happy to read and accept whatever that ghastly 'newspaper' tells them.