# I'm tired of the Haka and "respect the Haka" **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 29, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660 "2019-10-29T18:04:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/21 "2019-10-30T14:03:17Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I think you’ll find most fans look forward to it. If you’ve never seen one in person then it may not have the same impact. And seriously, if that 90 seconds is so upsetting for you, maybe you could head to the loo. > > [https://www.gq.com.au/fitness/sport/should-the-haka-be-banned-its-a-no-from-us/news-story/88f7896b7d32473ceb8fb86a8496f064](https://www.gq.com.au/fitness/sport/should-the-haka-be-banned-its-a-no-from-us/news-story/88f7896b7d32473ceb8fb86a8496f064) I don’t think the time involved has anything to do with it, it’s the fact that 1) they feel entitled to shove that in the other team’s faces, and 2) they act like a bunch of pissbabies if the other team doesn’t sit there and take it to their satisfaction (and really get bent out of shape if the opposing team dares to respond.) nevermind how silly it looks to see a team which is half white (or more) trying to act like hard-ass Maori warriors. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/22 "2019-10-30T14:13:36Z")
Yeah, especially since the ancestors of most of those whites probably went _egads, the natives are doing some sort of war dance…FIRE!_ ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/23 "2019-10-30T14:40:18Z")
I agree that if the New Zealanders want to do the Haka, they can do it as they please, but they should have no expectation that the other side should have to respect it not respond in kind. That is a unilaterally entitled attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/24 "2019-10-30T14:50:27Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I don’t think the time involved has anything to do with it, it’s the fact that 1) they feel entitled to shove that in the other team’s faces, and 2) they act like a bunch of pissbabies if the other team doesn’t sit there and take it to their satisfaction (and really get bent out of shape if the opposing team dares to respond.) I only watch rugby once every 4 years or so, but [from this article](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/30/no-problem-at-all-new-zealanders-praise-englands-response-to-all-blacks-haka), it doesn’t sound like they act like pissbabies. "Numerous haka experts in New Zealand have attested that England’s move to confront the haka was in no way offensive to the All Blacks side, and did not violate Māori cultural protocol, known as tikanga. The All Blacks themselves dismissed the significance of the incident at the time, with their scrum-half Aaron Smith also revealing English captain Owen Farrell was winking at him during the performance." “Wehi said the haka was widely misunderstood and was intended as a challenge to the opponents – and any side that met the challenge deserved respect – not a fine. “A haka is laying down the challenge and they were challenging the All Blacks back – so no problem with that,” he said.” "Most Māori love it when the challenge is met – I love it,” said Wehi. “People have to understand more what the haka is about. People think what they are doing is disrespectful. But if you ask Māori, they’ll tell you that’s what it’s all about. It’s laying a challenge and if the other team want to challenge you back – then it’s all good. That’s what it is all about.” ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/25 "2019-10-31T04:05:13Z")
Try this one - after it, the authorities brought in respect rules to tone the pre-match aggro down a bit. Apparently, you are not allowed to ‘answer the challenge’ too seriously. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGCsEQ15L4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGCsEQ15L4) Anfd for some amusing comparison, this is how the All Bl;acks mdid the Haka back in the 1970s. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCpPGNDr1U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCpPGNDr1U) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/26 "2019-10-31T07:00:18Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Fully agree with the OP. I’m not aware of any recent controversy, but I remember this rearing its head in a Wales v NZ international a few years ago. IIRC, the Welsh opted to go into a huddle while the haka was performed, ignoring it completely, and there was an outcry. Why? Sure, NZ and anyone else with that tradition can go ahead and do it, but forcing the other team to watch is ridiculous. I’d draw the line at the other team actively disrespecting it, but ignoring it should be fine, not fined. The Welsh should have sung “Men of Harlech”. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/27 "2019-10-31T07:57:02Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > And for some amusing comparison, this is how the All Blacks did the Haka back in the 1970s. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCpPGNDr1U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCpPGNDr1U) … I’ve rarely come across something so cringingly White People in my life. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/28 "2019-10-31T08:21:23Z")
The English team were allowed to do whatever they wanted during the haka, _except_ cross the midfield line, which is what they were fined for. So in the end, both sides performed a centuries-old tradition: NZ did the haka, while England crossed a line and invaded someone else’s territory. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/29 "2019-10-31T08:41:44Z")
> [@Annoying\_Buzz](#): > > The English team were allowed to do whatever they wanted during the haka, _except_ cross the midfield line, which is what they were fined for. > > So in the end, both sides performed a centuries-old tradition: NZ did the haka, while England crossed a line and invaded someone else’s territory. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/30 "2019-10-31T12:37:30Z")
> [@Annoying\_Buzz](#): > > The English team were allowed to do whatever they wanted during the haka, _except_ cross the midfield line, which is what they were fined for. > > So in the end, both sides performed a centuries-old tradition: NZ did the haka, while England crossed a line and invaded someone else’s territory. English gotta English. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/31 "2019-10-31T12:41:16Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > … I’ve rarely come across something so cringingly White People in my life. I’m white, but, duuuuude, that was so akward. Some were just faking it so badly. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/32 "2019-10-31T13:17:51Z")
_White Men Can’t Haka_ Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson play street rugby hustlers in Auckland. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/33 "2019-10-31T13:23:02Z")
I am too, but the mix of half-assed unenthousiasm, being completely out of synch with each other, obvious embarrassment, looking at each other with that “are… are we really doing this, guys ?” and “ok I’m going to do it but not, you know, _do_ it” is all so very uncomfortably yikes. And yet so relatable. And then that last guy in the line who’s \*really \*into it except it still looks like he’s riverdancing just broke me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/34 "2019-10-31T14:22:37Z")
It looks like at least 2/3 of them are watching someone else and following along, as opposed to knowing the moves themselves. Has any team ever tried responding with something ridiculous, like the Macarena or the Electric Slide? Or after the recent World Series, they could do the Baby Shark. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660/35 "2019-10-31T17:36:46Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I am too, but the mix of half-assed unenthousiasm, being completely out of synch with each other, obvious embarrassment, looking at each other with that “are… are we really doing this, guys ?” and “ok I’m going to do it but not, you know, _do_ it” is all so very uncomfortably yikes. And yet so relatable. > > And then that last guy in the line who’s \*really \*into it except it still looks like he’s riverdancing just broke me 🙂 the one guy was probably preoccupied with thinking “are… are mutton chops still in style?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-the-haka-and-respect-the-haka/842660.md?page=1)