Adam Proteau: Shaw's saga shows technology making positive impact, more inclusionary NHL Pens star Sidney Crosby said this week the increase in technology covering the game has changed the way NHL players trash-talk their opponents. But that's not a bad thing. As the suspension of Andrew Shaw demonstrates, technology's role in ensuring a greater degree of accountability for players' words and actions on the ice can only help make a better, more inclusive sport.

Big deal. He called someone a pheyg. LGBT community are a bunch of whiney punks.

This socio-liberal crap has to end.

Big deal. He called someone a pheyg. LGBT community are a bunch of whiney punks.

This socio-liberal crap has to end.
- jtuzyk

And if this was 60 years ago, you would have said the SAME. EXACT. THING. about someone using the N-word. Remember the good 'ol days when it was ok to hate black people? Then "socio-liberal crap" (whatever that is) had to ruin everything! Make America great again!

Pierre Edouard Bellemare almost kill someone 1 game
Andrew Shaw naughty word 1 game

Big deal. He called someone a pheyg. LGBT community are a bunch of whiney punks.

This socio-liberal crap has to end.
- jtuzyk

policing speech is anti-liberal.. people on the far left have lost thier minds.. policing speech is what dictators, theocracies, tryranical governments do.. the far left has become what they hate in the far right telling everyone what they can and can't say and do.. it's disgraceful to people who actually believe in liberal ideals and discussion with the best ideas winning out.. the new easily offended, shouting down or stopping speech is disgusting and anti-liberal.. the getting people fired and stopping speeches from happening doesn't solve anything that's how children react. i think the shaw thing was a good example of a teaching moment handled well by the nhl.. at least nobody lost their job which happens in other types of business. hopefully other companies learn from the nhl.. and maybe some anti-gay people will learn to try not to be afraid of people who are different, in the end were all just people trying to be happy.. both sides far left and right should just live and let live, instead of telling people how to live which they both do now unfortunately.. it used to only be the far right

IMO if someone is clearly attacking gays when they use that language, then its okay to react this way.

However, when it(the slur) is clearly just being used in place of "idiot/moron", the gay community should learn to brush it aside and move on. It really isn't a big deal.

There should be a clear difference between making fun of/attacking gays, and calling someone a (frank)ing idiot/moron.

Pierre Edouard Bellemare almost kill someone 1 game
Andrew Shaw naughty word 1 game
- mattmoulson

Letang tries to cut someones head off, nothing.
The NHL is a fvckin joke
Oh yea, and I'm sure this new "more inclusionary NHL" will have the LGBT crowd flocking to rinks everywhere in North America, they've been so persecuted till now

So, when is Bettman coming out of the closet? It very obvious who Shaw offended.
(You heard it here first, Bettman and David Stern are a couple)

Great article Adam. I knew as soon as I read it the comments would be insensitive and frankly ignorant. Tough message to a crowd perhaps not ready to hear it and in a forum (sports blog) not familiar to sensitive topics. Doesn't mean you shouldn't write it. The world is a better place when we respect every one with our actions AND our words.
Thanks for the great article!

policing speech is anti-liberal.. people on the far left have lost thier minds.. policing speech is what dictators, theocracies, tryranical governments do.. the far left has become what they hate in the far right telling everyone what they can and can't say and do.. it's disgraceful to people who actually believe in liberal ideals and discussion with the best ideas winning out.. the new easily offended, shouting down or stopping speech is disgusting and anti-liberal.. the getting people fired and stopping speeches from happening doesn't solve anything that's how children react. i think the shaw thing was a good example of a teaching moment handled well by the nhl.. at least nobody lost their job which happens in other types of business. hopefully other companies learn from the nhl.. and maybe some anti-gay people will learn to try not to be afraid of people who are different, in the end were all just people trying to be happy.. both sides far left and right should just live and let live, instead of telling people how to live which they both do now unfortunately.. it used to only be the far right
- gopherwildfan

So much of this is just BS. Its been this way for decades now. Liberals want an all powerful government that dictate everything in everyones lives. And conservatives want no government and everyone to have the freedom to go around and discriminate against people for being different. Extremists are stupid no matter the side they are on.

Big deal. He called someone a pheyg. LGBT community are a bunch of whiney punks.

This socio-liberal crap has to end.
- jtuzyk

This coming from a privileged heterosexual male living in Canada?

And if this was 60 years ago, you would have said the SAME. EXACT. THING. about someone using the N-word. Remember the good 'ol days when it was ok to hate black people? Then "socio-liberal crap" (whatever that is) had to ruin everything! Make America great again!
- gypsypunk01

Don't compare the n-word to what shaw said that's ridiculous.

Don't compare the n-word to what shaw said that's ridiculous.
- MLeafs81

A derogatory racial slur towards someone who cannot change their skin color
VS
a derogatory homophobic slur towards someone who cannot change their sexual orientation.

Neither word should be used, ever.

IMO if someone is clearly attacking gays when they use that language, then its okay to react this way.

However, when it(the slur) is clearly just being used in place of "idiot/moron", the gay community should learn to brush it aside and move on. It really isn't a big deal.

There should be a clear difference between making fun of/attacking gays, and calling someone a (frank)ing idiot/moron.
- SimpleJack

Agree 100%

A derogatory racial slur towards someone who cannot change their skin color
VS
a derogatory homophobic slur towards someone who cannot change their sexual orientation.

Neither word should be used, ever.
- Codes1087

Well according to many idiots on the james tanner blog homosexuality is a choice. Because people enjoy choosing to be discriminated against I guess.

Agree 100%
- MLeafs81

So if I stub my toe while walking, and scream "ahhh Ni**** that hurt" it is perfectly acceptable, and if a black person happen to hear it, they should brush it off because it was not meant as a direct insult towards them?

Well according to many idiots on the james tanner blog homosexuality is a choice. Because people enjoy choosing to be discriminated against I guess.
- Zac_O

its 2016, I don't understand how people don't get it. I understand that heterosexual males living privileged lives in North America will always gripe about how they are 'so hard done by' because they are not technically allowed to use the word "fag" as a term in their everyday vocabulary. It's just very sad that people are still willing to use a word, in a negative fashion, regardless of how someone may take it. Not only that, it really makes people sound stupid when they say "that is sooooo gay" or "that is sooo retarded".

So if I stub my toe while walking, and scream "ahhh Ni**** that hurt" it is perfectly acceptable, and if a black person happen to hear it, they should brush it off because it was not meant as a direct insult towards them?
- Codes1087

No because the n-word has never been used in that context where some homophobic slurs have. The sensitivity in this world is scary

No because the n-word has never been used in that context where some homophobic slurs have. The sensitivity in this world is scary
- MLeafs81

Isn't it easier to just avoid using words that MAY offend people, rather than fight for your right to use words that you know will?

I am not black, gay, or mentally handicapped, and my day is not ruined knowing I cannot use words that will offend those specific people.

No because the n-word has never been used in that context where some homophobic slurs have. The ignorance in this world is scary
- MLeafs81

fixed

fixed
- Codes1087

Easy there Dr. Phil.....

Easy there Dr. Phil.....
- MLeafs81

Surely you can come up with 1 legitimate reason as to why you feel entitled to use these words in your day to day vocabulary... This response is terrible.