Imus Still in Hot Water

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I'm sick of hearing "reporters" refer to Imus's "racist comments". Lets try "controversial" or "cruel".

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

But you know there are some people who think that "thug" has racial connotation.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

It may be racist, but if its borderline, I don't like the media asserting it as though its a known fact.

Many of the reports I have heard have phrased it along the lines of "Don Imus's comments, which some/many consider racist." I think that's a better way for the media to phrase it.

[MzJ25]

I wonder when Imus will be checking into "rehab", that seems to be the new hot thing. I'm personally sick of hearing a bunch of tired apologies that don't amount to a hill of beans. Imus is not a stupid man, he knows exactly what he was saying when he said it. Hell, he's damn near 100, he's been around the block long enough to know what's appropriate and what's not.

I personally don't think that a two weeks suspension is enough. It seems that the only way for people to really learn a lesson is to gut punch them where it hurts and for Imus, that would be in his wallet. Bravo to Target, Biglowe, Staples and Protor & Gamble for pulling their ads from this show.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Why isn't there a thread about this instead of Imus?

There are several, in the NPHC forums.

And I agree w/ KSigkid, I thought pretty much everyone knew who Don Imus is, the same as everyone knows who Howard Stern is whether they listen to him or not.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I think it's the fact that he's not obscure; Imus is pretty famous, at least along the east coast. I just assumed he was famous nationwide, but that could be my east coast bias.

Definitely east coast bias. I've seen the guy on MSNBC and he sucks. I can't imagine actually voluntarily listening to that guy on my way to work. East coast radio must be horrible if that's the best y'all have to offer... or does the personality have to be a liberal douche to be accepted?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MzJ25

I wonder when Imus will be checking into "rehab", that seems to be the new hot thing. I'm personally sick of hearing a bunch of tired apologies that don't amount to a hill of beans. Imus is not a stupid man, he knows exactly what he was saying when he said it. Hell, he's damn near 100, he's been around the block long enough to know what's appropriate and what's not.

He's making a mistake by not deflecting any "blame." If black "artists" use words like that (and worse), no one bats an eyelash... but if a white guy on the radio says it... God help him.. national crisis... This whole situations is absurd.

I personally don't think that a two weeks suspension is enough. It seems that the only way for people to really learn a lesson is to gut punch them where it hurts and for Imus, that would be in his wallet. Bravo to Target, Biglowe, Staples and Protor & Gamble for pulling their ads from this show.

Pansies. The 2-week hiatus is probably his publicist's idea though. Do you think he'll be sitting at home sipping cosmos during this time? Hell no. The guy's going to be on every talk show from Larry King to the "The View." He'll come back and his market share will have tripled.

To even think that you or Al Sharpton or whoever can teach a 70+ year-old man "a lesson" for daring to utter "insensitive" words is one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard. For some reason, America seems to be lapping that up as well.

Sans the media circus over this and the repetition of the words over and over, no one would have even heard about this thing, the Rutgers women would have been spared their humiliation, etc. Imus' show and his words would have been like that tree falling in the forest where no one was around to hear it.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Kevin

East coast radio must be horrible if that's the best y'all have to offer

East Coast radio is good. There are a lot of morning shows to listen to. Imus is simply one of them. Not one of the best, just one of them.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Sans the media circus over this and the repetition of the words over and over, no one would have even heard about this thing, the Rutgers women would have been spared their humiliation, etc. Imus' show and his words would have been like that tree falling in the forest where no one was around to hear it.

Not necessarily. Different "controversies" receive different media attention. That doesn't mean the people who were the targets of the comments wouldn't have been affected without the media attention.

And it wasn't so much the media circus as it was persistent civil rights representatives (for gender and racial equality) who kept contacting Imus' people and putting this information out there via professional organization listserves. Every professional and social organization that I am a member of has issued a formal statement either to its membership or to Imus' people.

Imus' show has already lost 3 key corporate sponsors. I liked Imus but just read a news story from my gender group that chronicled his career antics. It's no longer about risque humor, a la Southpark or other sattires. Now I'm just wondering why people besides concerned Christian groups of the past hadn't spoken out.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Definitely east coast bias. I've seen the guy on MSNBC and he sucks. I can't imagine actually voluntarily listening to that guy on my way to work. East coast radio must be horrible if that's the best y'all have to offer... or does the personality have to be a liberal douche to be accepted?

I never said he's the best we have to offer - just saying that he's famous around here. East coast has a lot of other good radio hosts, Imus is just one of the famous ones (famous does not equal good).

[poeticace]

I'm a Rutgers student and they're calling a rally today in support of the women's basketball team and against the racist/sexist attitudes in talk radio. I'll most likely be attending, but I wanted to pass this on for those of you who believe Imus should be fired - http://www.petitiononline.com/34628ppp/petition.html

[firecracker08]

Are they nappy headed? Are the players hos? If not, let it go. Life is too short

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by poeticace

I'm a Rutgers student and they're calling a rally today in support of the women's basketball team and against the racist/sexist attitudes in talk radio. I'll most likely be attending, but I wanted to pass this on for those of you who believe Imus should be fired - http://www.petitiononline.com/34628ppp/petition.html

Get a job.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

East coast radio must be horrible if that's the best y'all have to offer... or does the personality have to be a liberal douche to be accepted?

He was a Bush supporter in 2000, and he was no friend of the Clintons.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I never said he's the best we have to offer - just saying that he's famous around here. East coast has a lot of other good radio hosts, Imus is just one of the famous ones (famous does not equal good).

For the record, though, it can be noted that he has been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, and that in 2002, Talkers magazine rated him third (after Limbough and Howard Stren) in its list of the 25 Greatest Radio Talk Show Hosts of All Time. (Of course, looking at some of the other names on the list, skepticism may be in order.) He's been around a long time.

Where this will hurt him is in advertising. Some big companies have already pulled their advertising from his show, which charges some of the highest advertising rates in talk radio.

Disclaimer: I rarely listen to him, but I'll stick up for him just a little bit because of the way he lambasted Joe Barton on a daily basis for blocking funding for autism research.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Kevin

He's making a mistake by not deflecting any "blame." If black "artists" use words like that (and worse), no one bats an eyelash... but if a white guy on the radio says it... God help him.. national crisis... This whole situations is absurd.


Pansies. The 2-week hiatus is probably his publicist's idea though. Do you think he'll be sitting at home sipping cosmos during this time? Hell no. The guy's going to be on every talk show from Larry King to the "The View." He'll come back and his market share will have tripled.

To even think that you or Al Sharpton or whoever can teach a 70+ year-old man "a lesson" for daring to utter "insensitive" words is one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard. For some reason, America seems to be lapping that up as well.

Sans the media circus over this and the repetition of the words over and over, no one would have even heard about this thing, the Rutgers women would have been spared their humiliation, etc. Imus' show and his words would have been like that tree falling in the forest where no one was around to hear it.

Yeah, pretty sure you can say whatever you want....as long as you aren't a white male.

I haven't really commented on this thing....probably a good thing.....but I just can't help it. "Nappy Headed Hoes" is offensive? Furthermore.......it's racist???? People should be more offended by the fact that Tennessee and Rutgers collectively shot 37% from the field in the Championship. As for Al Sharpton....that bafoon should be kicked in the balls. If anyone listens to the Dan Patrick show on ESPN...you probably heard his recent comments. I was proud of him. He stood up for Imus and blasted Sharpton and Jessie Jackson for basically being hypocrites and ignoring the fact that black rappers have basically made it mainstream and acceptable to use words like that. Pretty ironic. Or maybe that its ok to talk like that.........so long as you are a rapper. He also pointed out that when Bill Cosby criticized rappers for calling women "bitches and hoes," he got criticized by the black community and was called an "Uncle Tom."

[jubilance1922]

The "rappers do it so I can to!" argument is idiotic.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by jubilance1922

The "rappers do it so I can to!" argument is idiotic.

That's not the argument.

The argument is that "rappers do it and aren't criticized, so I should be able to do it as well and not be criticized."

If you disagree with that argument, how exactly are you not guilty of asking for a double standard?