What happened to Micheal Richards? Saying N-word and stuff

[johnny]

I have a lovely bunch of coconuts. [img]graemlins/stonedout.gif[/img]

[ZFR]

Finished all the EDITing to the post above. Sheesh it's 2 am and I need my sleep.

[Ladyzekke]

Saw his apology today, seemed kind of lame to me. LOL, he said "Afro Americans." Afro.. LOL stick a fork in him, cause he's done.

I see a few posts saying why is it that people are typing "the N-word" rather than outright saying "■■■■■■" and why black people can say the word, but it's taboo if a white person says it.

First off, you have to have lived in America for a long time to understand. Like any situation, only those in it can experience it fully and get a mostly accurate understanding of it.

And the fact is, black people used to be slaves to white people here in America a long time ago, and called many degrading names, ■■■■■■ is only one of them, but seems to be the most popular one. And even though today there is no more slavery, prejudice and racism does still exist, and so for anyone who is white to use the N-word is highly offensive to anyone who is black. It makes sense because blacks were slaves to whites. Now I don't understand, never have, why black people began using the N-word in their own language as some sort of "homey" thing. I figure they were maybe trying to take that word and change it into something not so bad, and not so much of a reminder of hate in humans. Not sure if that worked or not, but no doubt because of this, white people I think decided it was OK to start using the N-word again, thinking that black people were using it so much in a friendly manner it was OK. But it isn't, because he's white, and it again goes back to the slavery days.

And "Kramer" as you saw didn't just use a word that was offensive, he actually brought up slavery when he talked about how this one guy (a black man I'm presuming) would be hung with a fork up his a$$ for having the gall to heckle or interrupt "the man" i.e. a white man. Again, there are a lot of people out there with ancestors who were slaves, and hung!

So I'm not surprised at the reaction Michael Richards got. He's lucky he wasn't at a comedy place in Washington, D.C., he may have been shot. I mean, sheesh it's common knowledge to not use that word.

Yes, it IS silly when anyone takes a word so offensively they get super angry and maybe act out because of it, a word. But words do affect us all in many different ways, it's the human way I reckon. [img]smile.gif[/img] It can be good or bad.

For instance, when I was growing up and a young teenager, I lived in a small town in the sticks, and if anyone were to call you a "bitch" it was a really bad thing. Really a huge offense. Fast forward years later, when I moved to the city and met my new friend Tara, who called all her favorite friends "bitch" LOL. To her it was a compliment and just a joking around endearment. I recoiled at it at first, but after a few months I was right in there with her LOL, "You bitch (Laugh)", "Oh you are SO a bigger bitch (laugh)", etc.

So I learned about words, and how they have different powers in certain situations. It's a human thing. No point in beating your head against the wall trying to figure it out. It IS what it IS.

In summary,

For crap's sake, if you are a desperate actor with no future work ahead at all and looking to make some kind of money, don't start shouting the N-word to an audience of black people, who PAID to listen to you TALK on a stage.

Blah.

[ 11-22-2006, 11:02 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ]

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Oh well... ZFR, I had hoped that we could both think critically on things, and both move to reach that elusive middle ground of understanding. But if you're going to debate the DICTIONARY, and social scientists and people in general far more educated than the both of us, there's little more I have to say to you. Cheers.

[ZFR]

Originally posted by Illumina Drathiran'ar: Oh well... ZFR, I had hoped that we could both think critically on things, and both move to reach that elusive middle ground of understanding. But if you're going to debate the DICTIONARY, and social scientists and people in general far more educated than the both of us, there's little more I have to say to you. Cheers.

Originally posted by Illumina Drathiran'ar: Does that mean you're now prepared to defend these statements?

You asked me if I'm prepared to defend my statements. Not if I'm prepared to reach middle ground.

That was the only reason I replied. I would've stopped anyway. Internet fights are futile: it's obvious none of us will convince the other and I highly doubt anyone else cares to follow it either.

On a side notice, I never really like the middle ground. If I say "eat food" and someone says "eat poison" should I think critically and reach the elsusive middle ground "let's eat a little of both"?


OK. This was my last post in this thread. I'll shut-up now.

[ 11-23-2006, 04:56 AM: Message edited by: ZFR ]

[Mozenwrathe]

okay, is anyone in this thread here Black?
anyone?
anyone?
or another kind of visibile minority?
yes, after a little consideration, I'll count women along that. (numerous reasons behind it, trust me.)

now, for the standardized "straight Caucasian males" here, are you sure there's absolutely nothing that in just one word or one sentence that doesn't call you out by your lineage (exampli gratias: "your mom's is so fat...") which wouldn't set you off? curious, as I know plenty of white guys that do have a trigger point (term used for image, not for accuracy). really and truly, however, if said comedian says something stupid on stage, and that's NOT part of his normal act, I don't see how people are going to SUE THE CLUB for "emotional distress."

I'm Black by the way, call myself Canadian or Jamaican-Canadian (as my parents were directly from Jamaica), and think that SUING THE CLUB is utter hogwash and poppycock. What the hell is that about? As for that Finnish version of Santa Claus, if his associates were originally Moors, then they SHOULD be darker skinned. They aren't slaves, they are servants who willingly help the guy get the job done. It'd be like insisting (for Americans) that every episode of The Lone Ranger that his "good friend" was a different nationality every week. What's up with THAT?

My two cents Canadian. Take it or leave it as it is.

[Larry_OHF]

Today's news: Rev. Jesse Jackson accepts the apology (surprise!) but this other guy, Rev. Al Sharpton (who?) does not.

CNN story

[ 11-23-2006, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Bithron]

Originally posted by Mozenwrathe: okay, is anyone in this thread here Black? anyone? anyone? or another kind of visibile minority?

I'm a swedish speaking finn, if that counts as a minority? (5,5% of the population)

[ZFR]

Originally posted by Mozenwrathe: okay, is anyone in this thread here Black? anyone? anyone? or another kind of visibile minority?

I'm an Arab. Don't know what you mean by "visible".

[ 11-23-2006, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: ZFR ]

[Callum]

It means you can be seen to be a member of a minority. It means that when I (a caucasian Brit) was in Malaysia, I was clearly recognisable not to be Malaysian, and so I was a member of a visible minority, but now I am in Vancouver, you can't tell, so I'm not. (Not that "British" is usually considered a minority, but you get the point, I'm sure )