It seems to me as though we are constantly looking for things to be offended about. Imus says something stupid, let's get him fired. Kerry makes a stupid joke, let's lynch him.
Have we become so overly sensitive that every little thing is offensive to us? Where does this need to complain, bitch, moan and argue come from?
Sometimes I see some of the complaints that come up on blogs around the Internet, and I wonder if these people woke up, got their coffee, and sat down on the computer to search out phrases and sayings that they can complain about.
And because of how easily offended people are, the rest of us are stuck walking on eggshells.
For a country that is centered on Freedom of Speech, it seems as though we really mean "Freedom of Speech as long as you don't say [insert your biggest pet peeve here]... or say that they have a right to say [insert your biggest pet peeve here]..."
Why, oh why, are we allowing ourselves to be turned into a nation of Tolerant Fakes? I knew there was a problem in the 1980s when they began banning cigarette companies from advertising. Later I noticed that television shows couldn't show the brand names of things like sodas and beers (even though we all knew what they were).
We have steadily begun taking away Freedom of Speech from companies, and we are trying to take it away from politicians and media; the very people who should be upholding Freedom of Speech.
This is unacceptable. Don't like a certain word? Don't say it and don't associate with people who say it. But don't put a gag over their mouths because you don't like what they're saying...
self deprivation.
a lot of people would rather worry about themselves getting all hurt and bothered, then to just say hey.....you might be right :o
also, since there was a thing called depression, people have made it seem super bad for others to say certain things to them, or they would go into to a depressed mode. they then pass it on their kids by treating them as if they are kings and queens of this planet, and that nothing wrong should ever be said to them.
I learned a huge thing from my step mom.....sometimes, something that is said may hurt, but a lot of the times the person saying it, only cares enough to say it because it needs to be said....and sometimes what was said actually helps you in the long wrong.
sensitive a** kids nowadays....im fat, im black, im blond, im not rich, so ima kill myself because people keep making fun of me :-(
"All people are smart,
but it is up to them to figure that out."
-ME
"This is unacceptable. Don't like a certain word? Don't say it and don't associate with people who say it. But don't put a gag over their mouths because you don't like what they're saying..."
THANK YOU!!! FINALLY someone who isn't stupid!
"Dancers are instruments, like a piano the choreographer plays." ~George Balanchine
*Tatiana Romanov
I believe that Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska had their principal suspended for a while due to the paper coming out with a center spread on how the 'N' word affects today's society and covering all angles. That incident shows how people get offended over something like that. Sure it is offensive, but the journalists at the highschool thought that it would be a way to inform people about the issue, and Benson is one of the most diverse schools in that state. People didn't like it and tried to get rid of the person who allowed the paper to publish or in other words "put a gag over their [the journalists'] mouths."
Freedom of speech belongs to citizens- not corporations.
I think Imus' firing was stupid, but I also think that a private business has a right to fire or hire an employee for whatever reason as long as it doesn't violate equal opportunity laws or their contract.
If a network does not agree with what an anchor is saying, they have every right to fire him. If he wants he can go to the streets and hold up signs saying that the Rutgers basketball players are nappy headed and hos... He has every right. If the network doesn't think his views coincide with theirs, they should fire him. If he had said that off the set, in his house, or in a restaurant or talking with his friends at the park... it would be okay. But it was on national TV and he was being paid to talk.
He's there to make money. Period.
I believe in freedom of speech more powerfully than any other freedom. I believe I have freedom of speech in this country, and so do lots of other people. Everyone forgets about Fred Phelps and godhatesfags.com. He is very well known and expresses his views fervently. He's wrong. He's a bigot and and a sick man... but he is allowed to say what he likes.
So is Imus. He can say whatever the hell he wants- he just can't say it on company time.
It's not up to the media to be champions of freedom of speech. They are businesses designed to make profit, not to create freedom. We, the citizens of this nation, should uphold freedom of speech. No one is saying Imus should be jailed or otherwise punished by the state. We are just practicing our right in saying that what he said was awful. Those women are athletes, and admirable ones too- and it's just not fair that he took their successes away from them by drawing them into this controversy.
Up to the company, yes I can agree with that. But did we leave it up to the company?
No. Because when we left it up to the company, he was suspended. That wasn't good enough. So we had to continue to complain and write and petition until he was fired.
And I never forget about the moron Phelps :)
Additionally, as a radio personality, we were not there just to make money. Commercials do that. We're there to bring listeners and get listeners to remember our names and the stations' names for when they fill out those stupid little surveys for ratings. Money can be made without the radio personalities. In fact, more money can be made without the personalities.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
Imus can be as much of an asshole as he wants to be. But keeping him on basically would have meant that CBS supports his opinions. Corporations have tp please the people if they want to make money. Denken. Nicht lesen.
This is also like people going crazy over political correctness. There is a certain point where PC because totally ridiculous. I remember watching Blue Collar Comedy and seeing Larry the Cable Guy read a "politically corrected up fairy tale" as he put it. One of the stories was about "Vertically Challenged Native American Girl" (Little Red Riding Hood). It just shows how stupid people can be while trying to not offend anybody. Don't offend people please, but also don't go out of your way to make up for other people's offensive sayings.
Okay. I just have to give my two-cents on the whole Imus thing right quick.
First: was what he said that offending? I could understand if he called them "Carpet munching Sweaty ball handlers" But "Nappy headed Ho's"?...and he was saying it jokingly.
Do you really think that the network wanted to fire him? Hell no! Imus was already a big money personality, and after the conflict he was sure to get more attention, which means more money for the network. They fired Imus because the pressure that was being put on them to fire him. You can't blame them...except for being weak.
I will never forget hearing the head coach for the basketball team having a press conference where she said something about healing. Her point was that it was time for the healing process to begin. Healing process? He didn't hurt you! All he did was make a tactless joke...Jesus Christ. Fire back and call him a cracker or something. Stop bitching that someone's words has hurt you. Sticks and stones people...Sticks and stones.
--------
"I'll be in my office...There's a lot of porn piling up on the internet...It doesn't just download itself!"
---Gregory House...My idol---
MM
"This is unacceptable. Don't like a certain word? Don't say it and don't associate with people who say it. But don't put a gag over their mouths because you don't like what they're saying..."
That's right. This is freedom of speech. Just as long as there are no derogatory terms that were meant to be said. But Don Imus is telling the truth. Those are some NAPPY-HEADED...
Seriously, and Al Sharpton going all over the country "spitting" on white people. As a black person, I'm embarassed by that man. He just can't let go of the past. He's supposed to be promoting black people, not slapping down white people along the way.
What would MLK say?
Wow, your phrase from above...speaks for itself.
jshephard.
http://sjenterprises.blogspot.com/
I usually try to watch what I say, because I know a lot of people who have severe depression and have been through very bad experiences (myself included), and when someone's that unstable, you never know what is going to set them off. Very frequently for me, little things build up until I get to a snapping point over something very trivial, usually a seemingly harmless comment. And before anyone asks, no, I'm not seeing a therapist or taking medication, because I have no insurance and can't afford it. I used to, but now my mom makes to much for us to get Title 19, but we still can't afford it, especially not with a new baby in the house. When I snap, I never know what's going to happen. I might just curl up in a ball and cry for a few hours, or I may harm myself. It all depends on how bad it is and how much self-control I have at the moment. Of course, the worst part is that I have to handle it all on my own. Because of this, I'm there for my friends whenever I can be, especially if I know they need me.
People will get offened, you can't be on guard 24/7 to watch what you say. That causes a lot of stress, in of itself and won't help your depression any.
The thing is, I feel worse about hurting someone than I do about someone hurting me. If someone insults me, I'm over it in five minutes. However, if I insult someone else, even if it's unintentional, I dwell on it and feel guilty for the rest of my life. Things I did in elementary school still bug me and make me feel bad from time to time.
Americans need to grow up I think. We are so PC nowadays I can't say shit, i mean crap, no poo, without having somone go off on you. Since when did American become Home of easily offended?
I hate having to be careful about what i say. Its a free country and I want to be able to say what I want to say, how I want to say it.
Oh, and I don't let what other people say bother me. It just isn't that important and I don't want to start drama.