Imus Still in Hot Water

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

Don't worry about why black people/females use that language. Just know that you can't. Leave that other issue for the black people to deal with.

Yeah, definitely - and while we're at it, we can leave poverty issues to the poor, hunger issues to the starving, etc. We're definitely not all in this together, when it comes to fighting off century-old stereotypes and embedded racial issues.

It's not so much that I want to be able to call black women "nappy hoes" - honestly, it should be readily apparent that I already can, should I so choose to deal with the consequences - and I couldn't care less about "double standard" issues, as I think it's a semiotic crutch for avoiding the conversation (for the most part).

However, framing the point like you did is just bizarre - it's almost insulting to any intelligent adult who actually wants to go beyond the surface of racial issues in America. To say "just know you can't" is akin to throwing your hands up and quitting, to my mind.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

However, framing the point like you did is just bizarre - it's almost insulting to any intelligent adult who actually wants to go beyond the surface of racial issues in America. To say "just know you can't" is akin to throwing your hands up and quitting, to my mind.

Most adults aren't that intelligent and certainly not intelligent enough to discuss racism in America as more than "hurt feelings" and "bad people saying bad things." Americans generally have a kindergartener's understanding of social issues. They still believe that the "isms" aren't about structure and power but are about diversity training and educating against bigotry. Then they wonder why the "isms" still exist eventhough so many people "seem so nice and tolerant of others."

So saying "just know you can't" is the most that many of us will say when we're faced with people who won't get it no matter how much we say. Then we move on to focus on the issue of structure and power that goes beyond the actions of individuals who may or may not be bigots.

Originally Posted by AGDee

I agree that what he said was rude and out of line, but I've heard worse from others.

As most of us have. But just because people are murdered doesn't mean that violent crimes like rape and assault should be ignored.

The "nappyheaded hoe" part was bad enough but he had to go the extra mile with his "jiggaboo vs. wannabe" reference. That shows that he not only knows what he was saying but that he wanted to make sure it was controversial enough to make some people laugh and others cringe.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

As most of us have. But just because people are murdered doesn't mean that violent crimes like rape and assault should be ignored.

The "nappyheaded hoe" part was bad enough but he had to go the extra mile with his "jiggaboo vs. wannabe" reference. That shows that he not only knows what he was saying but that he wanted to make sure it was controversial enough to make some people laugh and others cringe.

I wasn't saying that we should ignore this. I think we need to apply the same standard across the board.

I personally haven't listed to Imus in well over a decade and didn't realize that he wasn't still in the "shock jock" business, because he very much was a "shock jock" when he was being carried by a local Detroit radio station. I think that all shock jocks have said things this bad or worse. His business was offending people for a long time. There are a lot of shock jocks who are making a living by being offensive. If one is fired for it, then all of them should be.

It was his producer that made the "jiggaboo vs. wannabe" reference and who, in fact, started the conversation, but nobody is slamming him at all. I find that odd too. Shouldn't they be equally responsible here? Held to the same standard? I hope that he has been fired also.

From what I've read, particularly on Wikipedia, he has been an equal opportunity offender. Some excerpts:
Don Imus’ behavior has often drawn the attention of the press. He famously called Rush Limbaugh "a fat, pill-popping loser" and Lesley Stahl a "gutless, lying weasel." His exchange of insults ("fat pig") regarding his show’s former news reader, Contessa Brewer, made news as did Brewer's response ("cantankerous old fool"). When Tucker Carlson brought up Brewer on the program in 2005, Imus hung up on him, calling him "a bowtie-wearing pussy." Some of his targets have not been so prominent, and his attacks often display a more vindictive quality; see Controversies.

Imus has repeatedly referred to Arabs as "ragheads."[8] He has berated many female newsreaders, most recently Contessa Brewer, which caused her to leave the show. After she left the show, Imus went on a tirade, saying, “With that fat ass she’s got, she wouldn’t be one of ‘em,” (a beautiful woman). Imus said on the air, "That skank has to spend three hours with makeup in the morning." The tirade was also tied to comments that were overheard of Contessa's calling Imus “a cantankerous old fool” at a dinner in a restaurant in 2005, when she was still newsreader.[9]

It goes on and on. He probably should have been fired a long time ago.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It was his producer that made the "jiggaboo vs. wannabe" reference and who, in fact, started the conversation, but nobody is slamming him at all. I find that odd too. Shouldn't they be equally responsible here? Held to the same standard? I hope that he has been fired also.

Producers tend not to make off-hand comments on their own. It isn't their show--they are mostly behind the scenes for a reason. Perhaps Imus created the climate for such jokes and kept it going instead of letting it be known that such comments will not be tolerated.

Originally Posted by AGDee

From what I've read, particularly on Wikipedia, he has been an equal opportunity offender.

Not a particular good source for complete info on this topic. There is an article out now that discusses how Imus supposedly hired someone to do "N**** jokes."

So he used to be an equal opportunity offender until he went too far with some groups. Not just making fun of PEOPLE/political figures but making jokes that have the potential to target and/or offend groups of people (such as Jews, blacks, some argue even Christians). Those groups have every right to complain. Most didn't, a Christian group/viewers did, and that was their choice. That doesn't stop the ball from rolling for those who did complain.

Anyway, not much discussion is needed from here. MSNBC, CBS, and the corporations have spoken.

[Tom Earp]

Still does not give Al and Jessie Carte Blanch to make accusations and ruin peoples same rights no matter what does it?

They are back stabing idiots who preach
goodness and are phonys!

[AKA_Monet]

I am sorry, I like this:



And you can purchase T-shirts >HERE<

I know folks are very sensitive and that's cool. But, there is a reason for everything and a wrinkled up shriveled dicked balleress old dude was NEVER gonna get with any ho, nappy or otherwise...

And that's cool if some luser who cain't cum even with Cialis in the backyard bath wants to bash Athletetic or Black Women. That's the reason his wife left his ass in the first place.

But overall, Imus will be aiight. You all know this was a set up and a plant.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I am sorry, I like this:



And you can purchase T-shirts >HERE<

I know folks are very sensitive and that's cool. But, there is a reason for everything and a wrinkled up shriveled dicked balleress old dude was NEVER gonna get with any ho, nappy or otherwise...

And that's cool if some luser who cain't cum even with Cialis in the backyard bath wants to bash Athletetic or Black Women. That's the reason his wife left his ass in the first place.

But overall, Imus will be aiight. You all know this was a set up and a plant.

See, sometimes I look like that picture. Actually today when I woke up, my hair looked exactly like that. But if I got that tshirt, it'd be insensitive. I often refer to my own hair as nappy, and I hear it used alot by whites. Never thought it was a bad connotation... just thought that it meant your hair was knotted or messed up.

On everything else.... cum means something different to people. So I'd appreciate you not using that type of language. Oh and "luser" is spelled "loser". You're a scholar. You constantly brag about being one on here, so spell your words right.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I am sorry, I like this:



And you can purchase T-shirts >HERE<

I know folks are very sensitive and that's cool. But, there is a reason for everything and a wrinkled up shriveled dicked balleress old dude was NEVER gonna get with any ho, nappy or otherwise...

And that's cool if some luser who cain't cum even with Cialis in the backyard bath wants to bash Athletetic or Black Women. That's the reason his wife left his ass in the first place.

But overall, Imus will be aiight. You all know this was a set up and a plant.

Ya know, this topic is already bad enough, and if that's a real t-shirt, and someone (black or white) wears it in public, it's only going make the problem worse.

[Conskeeted7]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Yeah, definitely - and while we're at it, we can leave poverty issues to the poor, hunger issues to the starving, etc. We're definitely not all in this together, when it comes to fighting off century-old stereotypes and embedded racial issues.

These issues are not comparable at all. I still cannot believe that white people cannot understand why the connotation when they use 'racial slang' is different than when used by people of the same race. Since apparently most white people are not willing to acknowledge that difference, evidenced by their continued attempts at incorporating it into their dialogues, the best solution for white people is to just leave that language alone. This is especially true since there's such a negative outcry when it's used. Why keep trying? Why worry about it? Why all of a sudden is white America so concerned with the language that blacks use toward each other? I'm not buying the double standard crap. White people don't use that kind of language for any positive reason. Who are we really kidding here?

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

These issues are not comparable at all. I still cannot believe that white people cannot understand why the connotation when they use 'racial slang' is different than when used by people of the same race. Since apparently most white people are not willing to acknowledge that difference, evidenced by their continued attempts at incorporating it into their dialogues, the best solution for white people is to just leave that language alone. This is especially true since there's such a negative outcry when it's used. Why keep trying? Why worry about it? Why all of a sudden is white America so concerned with the language that blacks use toward each other? I'm not buying the double standard crap. White people don't use that kind of language for any positive reason. Who are we really kidding here?

It is called going main stream.
I do not like, enjoy, or think very highly of the anti-women, the anti-cop, the anti-law, the pro-drug messages et al I see and hear in many of todays music. And who is making these songs????? And I am NOT talking per se about the music companies.
And where is the "good" Rev on this issue? Hummm.....

[delph998]

Imus got fired. The End.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

I personally don't believe that many, if any at all, white adults can honestly say they do not know the difference between an offensive comment and one that is not. I think it's a total cop-out for any adults to say they should be allowed to use offensive language just because others may say it.

I believe that white people who use offensive language and then use rap/black people as a reason for it are just making excuses. Don't worry about why black people/females use that language. Just know that you can't. Leave that other issue for the black people to deal with. Since when did white people become so concerned with the language that blacks use toward each other?

This 'double standard' talk is pure nonsense to me.

Then I never, ever want to hear the word honkey or camel jockey out of a black person's mouth ever again. And don't worry why they shouldn't use it. Let us white people and Arabs worry about it.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Then I never, ever want to hear the word honkey or camel jockey out of a black person's mouth ever again. And don't worry why they shouldn't use it. Let us white people and Arabs worry about it.

I agree with what you are saying. The funny thing is though....I really don't give a shit if it happens. If some random black guy wants to call me a honkey or a cracker....then so be it. Congratulations. I certainly can find better things to do than start a huge hoopla over it. Chances are the guy is some ghetto fabulous thug who I'll probably be paying to wash my car soon.

Smite me.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Then I never, ever want to hear the word honkey or camel jockey out of a black person's mouth ever again. And don't worry why they shouldn't use it. Let us white people and Arabs worry about it.

I agree with the bolded but that goes without saying for many people who think that some words are unnecessary in the first place.

Regarding the rest, nonwhites who used those words never wondered, or remotely cared about, why they shouldn't use it. If confronted with the inappropriateness of those words, they wouldn't use "well, THEY say it" as an excuse as many nonblacks tend to do with us. Instead those individuals would probably say they are paying whites back for years of oppression and/or don't give a damn and hope you choke on your hurt feelings.

Originally Posted by macallan25

The funny thing is though....I really don't give a shit if it happens. If some random black guy wants to call me a honkey or a cracker....then so be it. Congratulations. I certainly can find better things to do than start a huge hoopla over it.

Because those words don't have a history of oppression behind them. If whites were called those names while being denied service at restaurants, denied jobs or hanging from trees, you would probably feel differently or at least understand why other whites feel differently than you do.

I always found those words inappropriate but that's based on a general bigotry and humanity argument that has nothing to do with racism or discrimination. If whites want to call each other whatever, that's whites' business and doesn't mean I should do the same. The same logic applies to nonblacks trying to mock whatever they see or hear some blacks do or say to each other (I still say some things should be kept AMONGST each other, if kept at all).

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

These issues are not comparable at all. I still cannot believe that white people cannot understand why the connotation when they use 'racial slang' is different than when used by people of the same race. Since apparently most white people are not willing to acknowledge that difference, evidenced by their continued attempts at incorporating it into their dialogues, the best solution for white people is to just leave that language alone. This is especially true since there's such a negative outcry when it's used. Why keep trying? Why worry about it? Why all of a sudden is white America so concerned with the language that blacks use toward each other? I'm not buying the double standard crap. White people don't use that kind of language for any positive reason. Who are we really kidding here?

I agree, white people shouldn't use that language, any of it.