Social Question

gorillapaws's avatar

Was it a charge?

Asked by gorillapaws (30786points) October 30th, 2023

CA Governor Gavin Newsom had contact with a child in China during a pickup basketball game. Was it an offensive charge?

Also, was this better or worse than this politically?

Finally, why do politicians think it’s a good idea to play sports against children on trips abroad?

Humor welcome.

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8 Answers

smudges's avatar

I think politicians play sports with kids because they think it makes them look like a good ole regular guy, you know…an “everyman”.

Even though sports players do it all the time in some sports, he shouldn’t have patted the kid on the butt. Not because it was sexual in any way, but because it was a spanking motion, whether he intended it that way or not.

Was it offensive? depends on how you look at it and how you define offensive. ;)

JLeslie's avatar

That was so weird. I have never had anyone pat my ass except my husband or a lech when I was much younger. I see some men do it in sports and I have always thought it was so strange, but I don’t like to high five either.

I perceived Gavin as just having nervous energy and maybe embarrassed, and for whatever reason patting the kid was his response. I don’t think it was sexual, but I think for the kid it was at minimum awkward, and I do think it was inappropriate, but men do weird inappropriate things all of the time that I don’t understand.

It seems go be some sort of long standing thing for politicians to interact with children. Holding other people’s babies is the most common that I can think of. I always thought it was gross, because they were already shaking everyone’s hands.

Maybe they do it to show they like children. I have two friends (married couple) who don’t like kids and complain about kids the second they are within 50 feet. It is such a turn off to me that she dislikes children so much. I tell her, don’t say you don’t like children to strangers.

Or, they are the adult who enjoys interacting with children. My sister and I both are going to gravitate towards the children in the room when other adults are ignoring them. I would not be touching them though, and unlikely to play a sport with them. I would be interested in what they have to say or playing with them to keep them entertained. By playing I mean coloring, cards, make a tent, pretend tea service, whatever they like.

KNOWITALL's avatar

Not offensive to me, but as a visitor in another country it wouldn’t have been my reaction. Men and sports are weird sometimes though.

gorillapaws's avatar

Offensive Charge

I also think that poor kid was offended…

flutherother's avatar

The pat on the butt was the only natural and inoffensive thing in the clip. Everything else was awkward, contrived and even dangerous.

Clip 2 shows our ex Prime Minister in action. He is a blundering oaf and a liar. He should keep well away from from children’s games and from the Houses of Parliament.

filmfann's avatar

It was a balk and clipping!

I don’t know anything about basketball.

gorillapaws's avatar

@Forever_Free I was thinking of that too. That one misspelling ruined his entire political career.

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