Don Imus and Rutgers Women

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I would hardly classify what he said as "hate speech". And if you stand by your words then why did you attempt to apologize? I have no problem with you but I think that people who turn bs like this into "racism" and "hate speech" are being petty and vindictive.
I'll say again, why can people call the president of the US names and say he is stupid and a criminal and it is ok but a shock jock says that a womans basketball team is nappy and thugish during a comedy bit and it is a criminal offense? Bill Maher and Bill O'Reilly both regularly say worse than this and no one pays attention.

I think it comes down to who has more power than whom. The Pres is more powerful than anyone criticizing him (except the Dark Lord of the Sith, Dick Cheney), thus attacking him doesn't carry much opportunity to offend on that visceral level. A white, heterosexual man criticizing African-American women is coming from a more powerful position, and so it's kind of like kicking the cripple, to borrow from Molly Ivins. Which is also likely why slurs coming from someone to whom the slur could also apply don't seem as offensive to society as a whole. I think it's a power (real or perceived) thing. Bababooyee and I already had this discussion and he came up with some most excellent new phrases as a result, which I have stolen.

And hey, the Dixie Chicks said they were ashamed the Pres was from Texas and they got death threats from righies, so clearly it wasn't okay to those conservatives.

(Of course, Bush isn't from Texas; he's a Massachusetts blue blood, so I don't know why they were ashamed in the first place.)

I think Don Imus has a great face for radio.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I think it comes down to who has more power than whom. The Pres is more powerful than anyone criticizing him (except the Dark Lord of the Sith, Dick Cheney), thus attacking him doesn't carry much opportunity to offend on that visceral level. A white, heterosexual man criticizing African-American women is coming from a more powerful position, and so it's kind of like kicking the cripple, to borrow from Molly Ivins. Which is also likely why slurs coming from someone to whom the slur could also apply don't seem as offensive to society as a whole. I think it's a power (real or perceived) thing. Bababooyee and I already had this discussion and he came up with some most excellent new phrases as a result, which I have stolen.

And hey, the Dixie Chicks said they were ashamed the Pres was from Texas and they got death threats from righies, so clearly it wasn't okay to those conservatives.

(Of course, Bush isn't from Texas; he's a Massachusetts blue blood, so I don't know why they were ashamed in the first place.)

I think Don Imus has a great face for radio.

I guess what is the most annoying part of the whole process is how a story can be so affected by the media and it needs to fill the 24 hour news fix. This in itself is NOT an important story. Imus and his cronies never threatened or personally slurred anyone. They simply made a bad joke. The media grabbed the story and ran with it because sensationalistic race stories get good headlines. Sharpton and Jesse jumping in just makes it less of a real issue in most of America's view because they have virtually zero creditability in mainstream America. Jesse is a hypocrite who needs to make stories like this grow because he jumped the shark about 15 years ago when he refered to NY as "hymietown". Sharpton is as one way as one could be in regards to race relations as pointed out in other posts. Imus was guilty of nothing but poor taste which is not a crime. Making this out to be a crime against black people is a joke. Making this out to be singularly harmful to any member of the Rutgers team is laughable. Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock have said the same sort of things about "white" people and there are no reprecusions and well there should not be. Saying someone is "nappyheaded" or has tattoos or is thugish is in poor taste but these are hardly traumatic things.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I guess what is the most annoying part of the whole process is how a story can be so affected by the media and it needs to fill the 24 hour news fix. This in itself is NOT an important story. Imus and his cronies never threatened or personally slurred anyone. They simply made a bad joke. The media grabbed the story and ran with it because sensationalistic race stories get good headlines. Sharpton and Jesse jumping in just makes it less of a real issue in most of America's view because they have virtually zero creditability in mainstream America. Jesse is a hypocrite who needs to make stories like this grow because he jumped the shark about 15 years ago when he refered to NY as "hymietown". Sharpton is as one way as one could be in regards to race relations as pointed out in other posts. Imus was guilty of nothing but poor taste which is not a crime. Making this out to be a crime against black people is a joke. Making this out to be singularly harmful to any member of the Rutgers team is laughable. Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock have said the same sort of things about "white" people and there are no reprecusions and well there should not be. Saying someone is "nappyheaded" or has tattoos or is thugish is in poor taste but these are hardly traumatic things.

I agree it's news because it's entertaining to watch people scream that they've been traumatized (that tool of the Right, Bill Donohue, saying that Chocolate Jesus was one of the the most offensive attacks EVER to be made against Christianity was particularly amusing). But there's plenty of media opportunists on both left and right sides-- death threats were called into the hotel displaying Chocolate Jesus, for example, and I suspect those calls weren't made by lefties, or anyone who supports those "pigs Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi" to quote your words from earlier. So yes, I agree with you that this is a lot of yelling about a situation that probably doesn't warrant it, but you know, that happens with just about any group than can consider itself a group.

Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock have made very pointed observations about both blacks and whites, so I don't know that that comparison holds. I don't know if Imus has made any observation about whites that compares with what he has said about blacks. But I mean that when I say I don't know; if Imus has made some accurate and funny comments about his own race, please link to them.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I agree it's news because it's entertaining to watch people scream that they've been traumatized (that tool of the Right, Bill Donohue, saying that Chocolate Jesus was one of the the most offensive attacks EVER to be made against Christianity was particularly amusing). But there's plenty of media opportunists on both left and right sides-- death threats were called into the hotel displaying Chocolate Jesus, for example, and I suspect those calls weren't made by lefties, or anyone who supports those "pigs Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi" to quote your words from earlier. So yes, I agree with you that this is a lot of yelling about a situation that probably doesn't warrant it, but you know, that happens with just about any group than can consider itself a group.

Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock have made very pointed observations about both blacks and whites, so I don't know that that comparison holds. I don't know if Imus has made any observation about whites that compares with what he has said about blacks. But I mean that when I say I don't know; if Imus has made some accurate and funny comments about his own race, please link to them.

But he did not really SAY anything ABOUT blacks. He made fun of the Rutgers basketball team which does have white people on it. Imus makes fun of pretty much everyone. I would hardly say that Chappelle or Rock could be considered middle of the road.

[Grits]

This thread is now on page 7. If I've learned anything about online conversations, it is that you rarely change anyone's mind, regardless what the subject matter is, how long you discuss it, how eloquent you are, or are not.

People's notions, however perceived, are pretty much set. There is seldom any give to those long held notions.

Man, it expends a lot of energy. And all for nothing.

Yet still, people type, hit submit, gather and read. Maybe, at least, we all take something away to ponder.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

I've long considered "heated" debates on message boards to be more or less a form of masturbation. Everyone just wants to spew theirs* out, yet rarely want to touch someone else's spew because...well...that's just gross. Every now and then it goes somewhere interesting, but not too often.

Wank on!



*sorry, GR

Heelarious. You could have said "his or hers" though I think our spewing is more metaphorical. Heh heh heh.

I love these discussions. For the most part we stay reasonably civil and I am often reminded of how clever so many of the DTers are.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

Obviously, you haven't seen some of the videos I have!

I keep telling you- dairy cows don't count as porn stars.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

I've long considered "heated" debates on message boards to be more or less a form of masturbation. Everyone just wants to spew theirs* out, yet rarely want to touch someone else's spew because...well...that's just gross. Every now and then it goes somewhere interesting, but not too often.

Wank on!



*sorry, GR

Odd sort of comment coming from a guy without a fully functional d**k.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

Odd sort of comment coming from a guy without a fully functional d**k.

SPIT! LMFAO!!!

There goes my wine! Thanks, B!

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

Ha! Are you kidding? I had to test drive my junk less than 24 hours after the deal to make sure it wasn't broke. I had a British pal who used to talk about "bustin' a bloody nut"....let's just say, I took that figurative phrase and made it literal.

I jest.

Jest about what? Your friend's not really British?

[byalip]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

But he did not really SAY anything ABOUT blacks. He made fun of the Rutgers basketball team which does have white people on it. Imus makes fun of pretty much everyone. I would hardly say that Chappelle or Rock could be considered middle of the road.

Do you have a clue what nappy means?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by byalip

Do you have a clue what nappy means?

Uh yeah. In fact I know a guy who goes by the name nappyhead.

[Payson Dave]

Originally Posted by byalip

Do you have a clue what nappy means?

Apparently not a clue, I thought that it meant short and curly...could you help a poor brother with some education...

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by byalip
Do you have a clue what nappy means?
--------------

She is a FOD member.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

But he did not really SAY anything ABOUT blacks. He made fun of the Rutgers basketball team which does have white people on it. Imus makes fun of pretty much everyone. I would hardly say that Chappelle or Rock could be considered middle of the road.

I didn't say they were (if they were, they wouldn't be funny- stand-up comedy is like a knife- works best when it has a good edge. Well, okay- I think Rita Rudner's funny and she's not very edgy. Never mind. My point is Chappelle and Rock wouldn't be funny if they were middle of the road). I said they have made both blacks and whites the targets of their routines and I didn't know if Imus has done the same.

[Byebyemermaid]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

How much you wanna bet Imus has never had higher ratings than the last day or two?!?

Ironically, the big stink is gonna make such that there is no way NBC will fire the guy...higher ratings = higher ad rev.

Just a slight correction.WNBC radio is no longer in business.It's WFAN now.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

Thanks. I think his cable co-broadcast confused me, and I haven't listened to traditional radio since I got Sirius (And don't forget ATRAB on channel 124 - live from 4-7 EST! ).

ATRAB's on 126

[Byebyemermaid]

Imus will not get fired.First of all his show is a radio show that MSNBC has decided to simulcast.He's not an employee of MSNBC but of WFAN radio which is owned by CBS.He brings in more revenue in 4 hours a day than the rest of the programming does the rest of the day.If MSNBC decides to stop simulcasting his show he wouldn't care less.This will be old news by the time the derby is run.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Byebyemermaid

Imus will not get fired.First of all his show is a radio show that MSNBC has decided to simulcast.He's not an employee of MSNBC but of WFAN radio which is owned by CBS.He brings in more revenue in 4 hours a day than the rest of the programming does the rest of the day.If MSNBC decides to stop simulcasting his show he wouldn't care less.This will be old news by the time the derby is run.

This is not going away.The reason why is because there is too much similiar stuff on tape that they can show everybody.People,this is not a one time deal here.The "heavy" (Bernard) has said so much stuff like this,and Don is on tape laughing,and then saying his comment was unfortunate.Well,he knew very well what he was gunna say.These are like guys hitting a tennis ball back and forth.If you think Blacks don't care about it,you are f'n just wrong.Just today a guy is telling me about The Williams Sisters,and how these 2 guys joked about how they had a better chance of being in National Geographic(rather than Playboy.) See,this is not on here.They are gunna have so much fuel.MSNBC will be accused of turning a blind eye.The least that will have to be done is can Bernard.If they are gunna clean the show up then he really would be out of place anyways.My God,some of the stuff he has said while portraying a priest??? Oh man..If they start looking at that,this is gunna get worse n' worse.

If they get rid of Imus then i'm sure XM or Sirius will pick him up. If it were me I would've been negotiating with the sat providers years ago. F*ck the FCC.