Don Imus fired by CBS over "racist/sexist" comments **Updated**

[Heifetz]

I've disagreed with what Sharpton has said so far. But now, I believe I'm wrong. Apparently, at least one member of the team isn't "nappy" or a "ho", as characterized by Imus.

See the picture in this story.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/10/imus.rutgers/index.html

/hide

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: Chris

Originally posted by: Stifko
"nappy" was coupled with "hoe." nothing is wrong with nappy by itself.

black people have nappy and kinky hair. the issue is more with hoe than nappy.

those students are not hoes, napppy headed or otherwise.

Oh please. The word "ho" is so overused it's lost any sort of meaning whatsoever. Where is Sharpton when the flavor of the month rapper is rapping about bitches and hos on prime time TRL? Oh that's right, black people are allowed call women bitches and whores, because you know, black women could only portray prostitutes on TV until recently :roll:

When did The Jeffersons air? 32 years ago?

How does that make it any more acceptable? You are so ridiculous it hurts.

Just because it gets used a lot in rap music it's suddenly mainstream slang to call a woman a ho? The two are not synonomous. You're apparently failing to realize that even though rappers use it to refer to women, doesn't mean they don't use it in a derogatory way. What did these women do to deserve being called whores? Not a single person has answered that. There is no answer. The best you could come up with in the other post is "ho doesn't mean whore".

By definition:

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source ho 2 (ho) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. hos
Slang A prostitute.


[African American Vernacular English, alteration of whore.]

Funny enough, not ONE variation of the word means simply "woman". You don't seem to understand that the setting for where it is used has a lot more to do with it than how mainstream it is. Would you go to a black tie dinner party and introduce your girlfriend as "this is my ho"? No, you wouldn't. If you were giving a speech at a wedding would you say "Look at the bridesmaids, those hos look beautiful!"? Would you walk down the hallway in an office and say "hey what's up ho?" to every female you pass? Have fun looking for a new job.

The word might be mainstream, but it doesn't make it any more acceptable to call a person. You cried in the other thread about Chris Rock calling people Crackers and stuff... but does him doing it make it right? Suddenly Chris Rock calls a person a cracker and insulting someone is perfectly acceptable because Chris did it first?

I can fully agree that the argument has blown well past what it should have been, but if you're going to sit there and say that it's perfectly acceptable to call a group of women "hos" on national broadcasts, then I don't believe you have any respect for women.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Of course, everyone has a right to be offended. Personally, I think the word "ho" has been toned down just by its sheer overuse . Call me one. I'll likely laugh and not take you serious anyway.

Was Imus right to call them that? Probably not, but the big deal that is being made out of it is even more sickening than the original statement.

You're entirely right about it being a bigger deal that it should be. Imus apoligized and kept excuses fairly minimal. Should be the end of the story, but the fact that some people can't grasp the concept that it was insulting for these women to be called whores is what is fueling this fire.

You may laugh off being call a whore, but maybe that's because you have either a really strong self image... or a really poor one. I don't know you well enough to make that conclusion. But a lady with a poor self image might not be able to shrug it off as well.

I think the biggest problem here though is that these ladies pushed hard, gave their best and did something that no one expected them to be able to do... and a prejudice comment is all that people are going to remember.

 

[Starbuck1975]

The word might be mainstream, but it doesn't make it any more acceptable to call a person. You cried in the other thread about Chris Rock calling people Crackers and stuff... but does him doing it make it right? Suddenly Chris Rock calls a person a cracker and insulting someone is perfectly acceptable because Chris did it first?

I think people get frustrated, because no one calls out or confronts Chris Rock when he uses the term "cracker" when referring to white people...because most white people accept it for what it is...outrageous, and sometimes inappropriate, humor or parody.

Substitute Chris Rock with Imus, and the term "cracker" with "nappy ho's", and it turns into a media spectacle, with the usual suspects playing the race card and leading the victim parade.

 

[fallenangel99]

I find it amusing that the Coach and Players stayed mum on the firing of Imus for 2 weeks or not mention anything bout Sharpton. I bet Al didn't know even what or where about Rutgers.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Of course, everyone has a right to be offended. Personally, I think the word "ho" has been toned down just by its sheer overuse . Call me one. I'll likely laugh and not take you serious anyway.

Was Imus right to call them that? Probably not, but the big deal that is being made out of it is even more sickening than the original statement.

You're entirely right about it being a bigger deal that it should be. Imus apoligized and kept excuses fairly minimal. Should be the end of the story, but the fact that some people can't grasp the concept that it was insulting for these women to be called whores is what is fueling this fire.

You may laugh off being call a whore, but maybe that's because you have either a really strong self image... or a really poor one. I don't know you well enough to make that conclusion. But a lady with a poor self image might not be able to shrug it off as well.

I think the biggest problem here though is that these ladies pushed hard, gave their best and did something that no one expected them to be able to do... and a prejudice comment is all that people are going to remember.

how is calling someone a "ho", or a "whore" as you've stated, prejudice?

 

[cubby1223]

My late 2 cents:

It's obvious that everyone has their own varying opinion on what's a joke, what's not a joke - what's racist, what's not racist - what's acceptable, what's not acceptable - what's being blown out of proportion, what's being under-acknowledged. Nothing out there follows any rules. There are standards, there are double standards, there are probably triple and quadruple standards for all I know. And the bottom line is that it is all extremely confusion and we don't know what's what anymore. South Park put it best in their episode that all we can know is "I don't understand." Well, that's fine if it's something I don't understand, but the next part is, how can I care about something I cannot possibly understand anymore?

My only opinion is, if the world stops every time anyone says something stupid... well, I'll leave it at that, as I don't even know how to properly finish that sentence anymore.

 

[joechaos]

Those who are "damaged" by just words suffer from self-esteme issues.

 

[LLCOOLJ]

I love it when white people get pissed and nobody gets lynched!

White Guy "Why can't they all be good Negroes like Bill Cosby"

Black Dude "Sheeet!":laugh:

 

[NFS4]

Just heard on Keith Olbermann that a lot of big name advertisers (Staples, Proctor and Gamble and a few more) have pulled advertising from Imus' show.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Just heard on Keith Olbermann that a lot of big name advertisers (Staples, Proctor and Gamble and a few more) have pulled advertising from Imus' show.

Did they pull ads to take the moral high-ground, or from fear of boycott? Only conclusion is Imus is now even more likely to be fired after the 2-week suspension.

I'd like to believe it's to take the moral high-ground, but then again, big name corporations profit from dirt cheap Asian labor, so their motives always have to be questioned.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
My late 2 cents:

It's obvious that everyone has their own varying opinion on what's a joke, what's not a joke - what's racist, what's not racist - what's acceptable, what's not acceptable - what's being blown out of proportion, what's being under-acknowledged. Nothing out there follows any rules. There are standards, there are double standards, there are probably triple and quadruple standards for all I know. And the bottom line is that it is all extremely confusion and we don't know what's what anymore. South Park put it best in their episode that all we can know is "I don't understand." Well, that's fine if it's something I don't understand, but the next part is, how can I care about something I cannot possibly understand anymore?

My only opinion is, if the world stops every time anyone says something stupid... well, I'll leave it at that, as I don't even know how to properly finish that sentence anymore.

Racist!!!

 

[JBarr]

So Sharpton & Jackson are like the kings of the blacks?

 

[Heifetz]

They can say all they want that they're doing it because of moral obligation, but the real reason why they're doing it is to avoid the bad publicity that the clowns Sharpton and Jackson are trying to generate. They've already won, and made Imus pay. I hope karma bites them in the ass.

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: NFS4
Just heard on Keith Olbermann that a lot of big name advertisers (Staples, Proctor and Gamble and a few more) have pulled advertising from Imus' show.

Did they pull ads to take the moral high-ground, or from fear of boycott? Only conclusion is Imus is now even more likely to be fired after the 2-week suspension.

I'd like to believe it's to take the moral high-ground, but then again, big name corporations profit from dirt cheap Asian labor, so their motives always have to be questioned.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: cubby1223
My late 2 cents:

It's obvious that everyone has their own varying opinion on what's a joke, what's not a joke - what's racist, what's not racist - what's acceptable, what's not acceptable - what's being blown out of proportion, what's being under-acknowledged. Nothing out there follows any rules. There are standards, there are double standards, there are probably triple and quadruple standards for all I know. And the bottom line is that it is all extremely confusion and we don't know what's what anymore. South Park put it best in their episode that all we can know is "I don't understand." Well, that's fine if it's something I don't understand, but the next part is, how can I care about something I cannot possibly understand anymore?

My only opinion is, if the world stops every time anyone says something stupid... well, I'll leave it at that, as I don't even know how to properly finish that sentence anymore.

Racist!!!

I wish. If I were racist, I'd know exactly where I stood on all issues. Instead I'm left confused, having to decide what the line is between a man I don't know keeping his job and him having his career ended.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: cubby1223
My late 2 cents:

It's obvious that everyone has their own varying opinion on what's a joke, what's not a joke - what's racist, what's not racist - what's acceptable, what's not acceptable - what's being blown out of proportion, what's being under-acknowledged. Nothing out there follows any rules. There are standards, there are double standards, there are probably triple and quadruple standards for all I know. And the bottom line is that it is all extremely confusion and we don't know what's what anymore. South Park put it best in their episode that all we can know is "I don't understand." Well, that's fine if it's something I don't understand, but the next part is, how can I care about something I cannot possibly understand anymore?

My only opinion is, if the world stops every time anyone says something stupid... well, I'll leave it at that, as I don't even know how to properly finish that sentence anymore.

Racist!!!

I wish. If I were racist, I'd know exactly where I stood on all issues. Instead I'm left confused, having to decide what the line is between a man I don't know keeping his job and him having his career ended.

I agree... fire Sharpton

 

[sd]

holy double standard! Can you imagine if a white guy said this about black people?

link

 

[FrancesBeansRevenge]

Bababooey bababooey!

I see OJ...

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Of course, everyone has a right to be offended. Personally, I think the word "ho" has been toned down just by its sheer overuse . Call me one. I'll likely laugh and not take you serious anyway.

Was Imus right to call them that? Probably not, but the big deal that is being made out of it is even more sickening than the original statement.

You're entirely right about it being a bigger deal that it should be. Imus apoligized and kept excuses fairly minimal. Should be the end of the story, but the fact that some people can't grasp the concept that it was insulting for these women to be called whores is what is fueling this fire.

You may laugh off being call a whore, but maybe that's because you have either a really strong self image... or a really poor one. I don't know you well enough to make that conclusion. But a lady with a poor self image might not be able to shrug it off as well.

I think the biggest problem here though is that these ladies pushed hard, gave their best and did something that no one expected them to be able to do... and a prejudice comment is all that people are going to remember.

how is calling someone a "ho", or a "whore" as you've stated, prejudice?

Umm... because I'm quite certain he knew NOTHING about the sexual activites these girls partake in (or lack therof).

Racism can be prejudice, but prejudice is not always race-related.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
prej·u·dice /'pr?d??d?s/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[prej-uh-dis] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -diced, -dic·ing.
?noun 1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2. any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.

 

[wkabel23]

i thought we all learned this in elementary school...

sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: joechaos
Those who are "damaged" by just words suffer from self-esteme issues.

That's quite possible. But it doesn't justify it. An over-reaction to the situation would be a lawsuit for defamation of character or something similar, and thus far I haven't heard about one.

I think it's fair that Imus apoligize directly to the girls. Not on some show attempting to save face, not in some PR-laden meeting, not apoligizing to some black figurehead... just meet up with them behind closed doors, say what he has to say, and be done with it.

 

[0roo0roo]

no this is already an overreaction. these are the same women who probably were all hopped up on "girl power"!! you go girl!!! girls are strong!!! etc, but adopt image of delicate flower when convenient. it is embarrassing bullsh*t, some were apparently teary eyed over it. come on, grow a freakin spine. I'm sure some of these people have watched shows like american idol in the past where people get truly humiliated for entertainment.

 

[dbk]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
no this is already an overreaction. these are the same women who probably were all hopped up on "girl power"!! you go girl!!! girls are strong!!! etc, but adopt image of delicate flower when convenient. it is embarrassing bullsh*t, some were apparently teary eyed over it. come on, grow a freakin spine. I'm sure some of these people have watched shows like american idol in the past where people get truly humiliated for entertainment.

Did Simon ever call anyone a Ho or Hos? Plus, how does criticizing an Idol contestant compare to criticizing the Rutgers women's bbal team who just lost in the NCAA finals?

 

[jlbenedict]

Here are a couple of interesting links pointing out Jackson & Sharpton's hypocritical ways:

http://johninnorthcarolina.blogspot.com...rev-jesse-jackson-steps-into-duke.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192277,00.html

 

[compuwiz1]

Hey, what would you get, if you could put Imus, Sharpton and Jackson in a large paper bag?

Well, what else..... a big sack of sh1t. :shocked: