(11-12-2021, 11:15 AM)Mikey Wrote:

(11-12-2021, 10:38 AM)Bullseye Wrote: I still don't get the need for the clutching of pearls over taunting.

Taunting is pretty prevalent in society.

I can guarantee there's taunting going on in the stands.  There is taunting in sports bars, taunting in playgrounds, taunting in politics, taunting, in front of televisions over video games, between total strangers, best friends, and siblings.

Taunting was certainly not invented by football players.

Why is it so important to clamp down on it in football?

maybe so that we don't have headlines like "[tacks] fan dragged down steps in fight at Rams game"

Not saying in the least that taking the on-field encouragement away isn't going to cause fans not to be buttholes to each other, but might not hurt to remove fuel from potential conflagration.

It's also usually something that begins a cycle. One player disrespects another, and the other team has to return the favor, whether that's in the form of a cheap shot, escalated argument, punches thrown, what have you.

Let's put it this way - is the game negatively impacted by taking the chest-thumping out of the equation?