F1 Drivers barred from making political statements.

I think this is a good idea, I'm so sick of celebs/athletes etc offering up political views constantly. The job is to entertain, not abuse the great big soap box that's available to you.

https://torontosun.com/sports/auto-racing/f1-drivers-barred-from-political-statements-unless-approved

Murf the Surf wrote

I think this is a good idea, I'm so sick of celebs/athletes etc offering up political views constantly. The job is to entertain, not abuse the great big soap box that's available to you.

Entertainment isn’t done in a vacuum. Entertainment is tied with everything else. Athletes have feelings, experiences, they sense what’s going on. This is yet another move by the dominant class to keep the lesser classes without a voice. Shame on F1.

Well this is sad. Agree or disagree, athletes are people with an opinion just like anyone else and I don’t see a reason they should not be allowed to use their fame and platform to speak about issues of importance to them.

Marcoose wrote

Entertainment isn’t done in a vacuum. Entertainment is tied with everything else. Athletes have feelings, experiences, they sense what’s going on. This is yet another move by the dominant class to keep the lesser classes without a voice. Shame on F1.

identify the "dominant class" and "lesser classes" here, as Youtube as far as I can tell everyone with a smartphone, internet connection has a voice. The dominant class is against antisemitic statements even when that comment is from a prominent member of entertainment- some(I) would say a very big member of the dominant class, far more dominant voice than I(we) have.

Ah yes, another thread that will certainly remain civil and respectful.

I certainly see some reasoning for appropriate attire during race days (although may not necessarily agree), but what about outside of F1 events? Does this mean that drivers now need prior authorization to post on their own social media accounts, like Instagram and Twitter? Is it considered a political statement to attend rallies or volunteer for, say, soup kitchens that assist under-served communities?

Practically speaking, it just sounds like the Saudis are pissed that Hamilton and Vettel are pro-LGBT and want the drivers to stfu lol

If the drivers felt some kind of way about certain issues and would like to make a stand
They'd still speak their minds and support the issue
Even if it means being fined, losing sponsors and or their jobs
That's what the real activists did , fighting actual oppression
I have a wee feeling that they don't really give a rat's bum about any of the issues and just wanted woke brownie points

hihowareyougood wrote

I certainly see some reasoning for appropriate attire during race days (although may not necessarily agree), but what about outside of F1 events? Does this mean that drivers now need prior authorization to post on their own social media accounts, like Instagram and Twitter? Is it considered a political statement to attend rallies or volunteer for, say, soup kitchens that assist under-served communities?

This only pertains to statements made during race weekends.

Marcoose wrote

Entertainment isn’t done in a vacuum. Entertainment is tied with everything else. Athletes have feelings, experiences, they sense what’s going on. This is yet another move by the dominant class to keep the lesser classes without a voice. Shame on F1.

OK, but is their opinion more important than yours or mine? Should their fame make their opinion more important? I don't think so, if they want to make a change quit the sport and go into politics, other than that I don't care about their opinion, and frankly I think it drives a lot of people away from them, not just F1. I am so sick of attending a concert only to be lectured by the performer about their view on the world. Even if I happen to agree with them, that's not what I'm paying for.

Murf the Surf wrote

I think this is a good idea, I'm so sick of celebs/athletes etc offering up political views constantly. The job is to entertain, not abuse the great big soap box that's available to you.

https://torontosun.com/sports/auto-racing/f1-drivers-barred-from-political-statements-unless-approved

So does this mean no more kneeling or establishment narrative virtue signaling then in F1?
.

.
https://news.sky.com/story/lewis-hamilton-takes-a-knee-as-f1-returns-but-some-drivers-choose-not-to-join-him-12021797

DrFerry wrote

So does this mean no more kneeling or establishment narrative virtue signaling then in F1?
.

.
https://news.sky.com/story/lewis-hamilton-takes-a-knee-as-f1-returns-but-some-drivers-choose-not-to-join-him-12021797

I hope so.

DrFerry wrote

So does this mean no more kneeling or establishment narrative virtue signaling then in F1?

I think it's nice to be able to enjoy sporting events without being dragged into the drama of a polarized world.

Reminds me of going to a cafe to order lunch and the girl making my sandwich was wearing a Let's Go Brandon shirt. I thanked her for the sandwich and then told her to go Let's herself.

Personally I'd like to eat lunch or watch a race and be able to assume all the people around me are decent human beings (though obviously not all of them will be).

Would this no-politics rule apply to End Racism shirts? I guess it depends on if racism is a political stance. If it ever became obvious that my political party was pro racism I'd have to seriously consider reevaluating my priorities.

bmwspice wrote

I think it's nice to be able to enjoy sporting events without being dragged into the drama of a polarized world.

Reminds me of going to a cafe to order lunch and the girl making my sandwich was wearing a Let's Go Brandon shirt. I thanked her for the sandwich and then told her to go Let's herself.

Personally I'd like to eat lunch or watch a race and be able to assume all the people around me are decent human beings (though obviously not all of them will be).

Would this no-politics rule apply to End Racism shirts? I guess it depends on if racism is a political stance. If it ever became obvious that my political party was pro racism I'd have to seriously consider reevaluating my priorities.

I have no problem with folks expressing a political position as long as every political position is ok, and that is where the problem arises. Some positions seem to be ok but others are not. So why don't we all keep our politics to ourselves unless we are asked.

Marcoose wrote

This is yet another move by the dominant class to keep the lesser classes without a voice. Shame on F1.

I respect you and can state that personally I do care about (in)justice. But whether it's you, me or any other forum member: no matter who you are, please no politics or politicizing on Bimmerpost: see here.

FWIW: excerpt from the referenced article:

I think it's a good thing to ban such things during the race or while they're on the paddock.
Those are work enviroments, and the drivers are at that moment at work. They are getting paid.

It's like when I'm shopping in the supermarket, or at the bank, I also don't want the employees out their political views when I'm paying the bill, as much as I might agree with the views.
When I'm at work (back in the day I used to work for a boss), or when I'm now at customers, I also don't make political or social statements by way of dressing or ortherwise. I'm there to do the job I'm paid to do.

What F1 drivers do outside F1, so outside the track limits, I couldn't care less and I endorse them to persue their political intrests and social opinions like I do with everyone.
However, athletes are usually terrible at the social or political discussion. There usually is a reason they became athletes and not politicians (or investigative journalists etc). But that usually only shows when the questions become a bit more difficult.

Artemis wrote

I respect you and can state that personally I do care about (in)justice. But whether it's you, me or any other forum member: no matter who you are, please no politics or politicizing on Bimmerpost: see here.

It’s a car forum, so the pun is befitting: you have a blind spot. A driver may want to use his platform to draw attention to important issues, like the underpayment of women in the sport. There’s no politics there. Women of all walks of life are generally underpaid for exactly the same work. All team principals and all the F1, FIA, and Liberty Media brass are men. That’s the dominant class. And the lesser class was robbed of another venue to be represented.

It takes practice to see these things.

Good, enough with the shit politics in every single thing that we eat/breathe/and sleep.

Marcoose wrote

It’s a car forum, so the pun is befitting: you have a blind spot. A driver may want to use his platform to draw attention to important issues, like the underpayment of women in the sport. There’s no politics there. Women of all walks of life are generally underpaid for exactly the same work. All team principals and all the F1, FIA, and Liberty Media brass are men. That’s the dominant class. And the lesser class was robbed of another venue to be represented.

It takes practice to see these things.

Not going to take the bait, Marcoose.

Read again my comment and especially the referenced "no politics" explanation of September 2020. There are sound reasons why Bimmerpost decided to remove the complete "Politics & Religion" section.

Discussions heading to 'Toxic Town': it takes practice to anticipate these things and to pre-emptively neutralize these.

This is not the first company or organization to ban politics at the workplace. Don't see why celebrity drivers would get special treatment or leniency in this area. They have plenty of free time to do as they wish.

Artemis wrote

Not going to take the bait, Marcoose.

Read again my comment and especially the referenced "no politics" explanation of September 2020. There are sound reasons why Bimmerpost decided to remove the complete "Politics & Religion" section.

Discussions heading to 'Toxic Town': it takes practice to anticipate these things and to pre-emptively neutralize these.

Then it may be better to close the thread. The title alone is baiting. That’s all I have to say.