For once, someone says the n-word and black people aren't overracting to it. Probably just circumstantial, though.

Anyway, as stupid as it was for him to say that, it reminds me of how tired I am of the fact that there is a word I can't say but other people can. I really don't care if I can say it or not, since I don't really ever use it verbally or in writing, but I have little tolerance for the double standard grade school bullshit behind it all. If the word evokes such negativity, then no one should use it. You don't see Jews jokingly calling each other Hitler, do you? Maybe that's because it would actually be offensive. Nobody else has a word that they pretend to be offended by so that only they can use their special word. Grow the fuck up already.

Try turning on the news. It's all people are talking about, apparently.

Yeah, but from what I saw, the reaction is sort of understandable. You could have put the Grand Wizard of the KKK on stage and he would have been less offensive.


Actually what really bothers me about this is not that some B-list actor may be a bigot, but what he did, unfortunately is going to reflect badly on a cultural icon. It's kind of like he committed "crimes against culture" or something.

Minion, you've never taken a class on gender, race and language have you? There's this whole thing where eventually a sub-group will absorb a word, change it, and take away the power it has. Nigger is in the last throes of that. It will either go the way of Pryor, which is stop using it all together because he realised its very usage has a certain undercurrent of subjugation, or the way of Chris Rock, which is throw it around all the time, make it funny, and then it isn't hurtful. You're wrong about the jewish community, by the way. They took nazi germany and made it a part of their belief of the chosen people being tested constantly. They put it in the same compartment as enslavement in egypt (whether it really happened isn't important, they believe it did) and the current strife in Israel. They don't throw around Hitler, but you best believe jewish comics make JOKES about Hitler. Or about how jews are all controlling the media. Or about how jews are Mel Gibson's personal satan. Every culture does this, mate.

Not to mention the instant YTMND and internet-in-general infamy that its earned him.

It could have been handled a lot more gracefully. Shit, you can hear on a CD when someone was making too much noise and heckling Dane Cook, he didn't totally flip out. He very calmly called the guy out and threatened to have security remove him because he was ruining the show for everyone else around him. It was actually kinda cool.

The major difference is that Dane Cook is never, ever funny.

George Carlin memorablity ripped a heckler apart during one of this stand-up acts, screaming that he would kick the guy's ass, fuck his mom in the ass and hope his kids died in a car fire. Yet NOW or children's rights advocates didn't flip their shit over this in the 70s.

Know why? Just like those guys in the balcony - they deserved what they got. The only stigma is that Richards called them EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE, sadly. "You're a nigger" is a terrible thing to say - but BLACK PEOPLE who are in CHEAP SEATS and TALKING SHIT is pretty goddamned stereotypical of NIGGERS just like BEING HORRIFIED about a racial slur not pointed at them is stereotypical WHITE.

God help us. A jew berates a black man. At this pace, dogs and cats will be living together in no time.

Agreed. The reason he calmly told the guy security would escort him out is that he lacks the wit to shoot the man down. Infantile noises and generally being a jerk-off usually won't silence a heckler.

With all due respect, that sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo. But if the beast is in it's "last throes" as you say, that implies it's death is at least inevitable, if not warranted. I'm just hoping that happens within my lifetime (or next week maybe).

No, it doesn't mean it's death is inevitable. What it means is that the culture has taken the word and toyed with it. Either it will become accepted and part of the social dialogue, or it will be rejected and put on a shelf to never be used again. The point is that we can converse about the word nigger. We can have dialogue about it. We couldn't do that a while back. Not a real discussion, at any rate. The problem is that there are still people who treat words as if they have no power, which is false, or they treat words as if they're the only source of power, which is also false. And sometimes people say things like black people use nigger amongst themselves as a way to personally spite them, as a white man, because you can't use it and they can. That's a whole different sort of animal.

Everything sounds like mumbo-jumbo when summarized in a few lines. I'm seconding the above two posts and telling you to fucking school more. You should not be so proud of your own ignorance.

The two guys who Richards called out were on the Today show this morning. Apparently, they're attempting legal action against him, using a screaming hatchet-faced female lawyer that looks so lesbian she could chase most lesbians away.

Matt Lauer, who I find entertaining but pretty cloying, brought up the point that as terrible as Richard's outburst was - wasn't it free speech. And one of the two guys said "I think free speech needs to have a limit".

I find that infinitely more offensive than someone screaming racial slurs.

Offensive (kind of racist in playful manner):

You would take any opportunity to denigrate me anyway, so your opinion couldn't be less relevant.

Under whose authority is this curriculum being developed? Have you even been to college? If my college experience (which is very similar to everyone else's that I've spoken too) is any indication of the quality of this kind of class, then it is probably a lot of bullshit. You can't teach a thing like this in a classroom. It's something you have to know from experience. When people try to make a study of it, that's when it becomes bullshit. But you go ahead and believe that learning something in a classroom a) makes you understand it and b) confers to you any useful knowledge in the first place and enjoy your smug self satisfaction for mastering the intricacies of "gender, race and language" from a sum total of approximately 14 hour long lectures.

That probably sums up my opinion on this when I heard about this Monday morning. I'm not a fan of Michael Richards, nor did I watch Seinfeld, so this won't affect my opinion of his as an actor because I never really had one in the first place. It was a poor choice of words on his point.

As you've pointed out, he used the words in their negative context. Very promptly after the outburst started, it became apparent that it was beyond a joke.

either way, it's funny how he tries to apologize like nothing's his fault, why can't these people just come out and say" yeah you know what I said it, and I don't deny it, so blame me as you will for my stupidity

I think the problem isn't Minion but the fact that you are all kids (and yes I'll name names here, Deni, Lehah, Lurker) and are still moved by words, like nigger. Grow up. Any sophisticated, educated person will be able to take a racial slur, and just brush it aside. You just look down on those people who have to stoop so low... that's about it. You don't take the time to make an argument of it, or to blow it up. Who gives a shit if they are close minded? It's not our job to save ever single damn person. I think Minion is coming from that perspective "above".

Words have power man, but words like this... only move idiots who can be provoked by such childishness.

And you really don't need an education for this stuff unless you grew up in a closed closed closed white town with your parents constantly reminding you of white power. It is legit to make a study of it, and to analyze outcomes of people, but it really is something you develope with personal expereince... and you know it.

But back on topic, if you were heckled by a few black guys I bet you'd have the phrase "fucking niggers" crossing your mind. Mike just had the balls to say it... it's about damn time.

I'm pretty sure that the only people on this board who are older than me are Julia, Alice and someone on staff. How old are you anyway?

As for that word, I throw racial slurs out like beads at Mardi Gras. Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to my posts in the past. I'm not moved by the words myself - but to say them is to obviously make a reaction. Thats the reason we have a spoken language - to get a point across. And if screaming "N" is one of them - then so be it.

Actually, thanks. You just made something big click for me :) You're right in the sense that word has so much image and hype, that if he threw that word out so willingly that is just asking for it. I suppose he could have just been like "GET THE FUCK OUT." Hmm... maybe I should rethink.

Not directed toward you, but in my experience with age comes wisdom... for SOME people...

It's not really age that brings about wisdom. It's more experience and a generally inquisitive mind. I know people twice my age who are absolute children and simpletons. And the "elders" of this board are hardly an example of what it is to be a grown up.

Yeah, Squirrel's about the only person worth looking up to in this sense in the bunch.

But yeah, I learned (somewhere) a while ago about black people and nigger. Like what lurker said; saying it among themselves makes it seem less, a joke. A white person saying it empowers the word and brings back old bitterness among the blacks... Even if the majority of them nowadays don't even have grandparents that went through slavery. OH BUT THE THINGS THAt WENT DOWN BEFORE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT... What about it?

Good god Reverend Al Sharpton's talking about this on CNN. I hate his fucking ass and he's an embarassment to black people everywhere. I really don't know why they keep letting him on television, representing the black community.

Anyway, apparently Kramer apologized to Al Sharpton. Why, I'm not too sure. The biggest offense I've found is that I can't really watch Seinfeld in the same light, but at the same time I don't really care. What he said didn't really offend me much, since the guys who said the shit deserved it.

I guess that's the question, isn't it? Is there really anyone ou there who actually deserves to be called a nigger? It's obviously wrong to brand an entire race with an epithet like that, but what about individuals?

A nigger is to a black man as white trash is to a white man.

There are many black people who are worthy of respect - these are people that work hard, go to their jobs every day, have the self-respect to look presentable and try to do their best.

A nigger is someone who stands in line for food stamps, who's cheap with money and generous with his dick. He's tasteless and classless. He cares more about his clothes than he does about his child support check. Similarities with white trash are very obvious.

Certainly, there are various shades of grey to this but in the end, I think everyone knows the difference between the two.

But you can call whoever you want white trash. That's the difference. No one will ever make as big a deal about ANY other racial epithet - any epithet whatsoever, really.

It's time again for Choose Your Own Response!
If you're an obnoxious pedant with no creativity, go to response 3.
If you're a caustic asshole, go to response 1.
If you want to make a ghost of a point that will be ignored anyway (in between passive-agressive racist arguments), go to response 2.

1) As a white man, I'm sure you learned all the effects of racism you need to know from off the streets.

2) You're using ancedotal evidence to back up your claim that something you never studied is bullshit.

3) "I've spoken too"? Are you even for real.

Double Post:
Aren't you the kid who taught himself classical music from the Sheet Music forum, and now bitch about every girl who dates you because they aren't as refined or cultured as you?

I would give you a better response, but you ask for ego stroking on the internet. You don't deserve better.

I'm just bitter because you're right, though. I would never countance someone saying the n word in my presence.