NationStates Jolt Archive

I got sick of watching CNN, and nothing else was on, so I decided to watch Oprah. They were discussing Imus.

Well I believe Imus should not have been fired.

Secondly: They were all blaming music for causing racism.

Yep. We all know Imus loves his hiphop. :rolleyes:

I hear the KKK has rap blaring 24/7 in their compounds.

I got sick of watching CNN, and nothing else was on, so I decided to watch Oprah. They were discussing Imus.

Well I believe Imus should not have been fired.

Secondly: They were all blaming music for causing racism.

Yep. We all know Imus loves his hiphop. :rolleyes:
He had bad ratings to begin with and his comments forced most of his advertising contracts to disappear. It would not be financially intelligent to keep him around. Why shouldn't they have fired him?

I quickly read up on this on wikipedia, especially the offending dialog


IMUS: That's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos and --

McGUIRK: Some hard-core hos.

IMUS: That's some nappy-headed hos there. I'm gonna tell you that now, man, that's some -- woo. And the girls from Tennessee, they all look cute, you know, so, like -- kinda like -- I don't know.

McGUIRK: A Spike Lee thing.

IMUS: Yeah.

McGUIRK: The Jigaboos vs. the Wannabes -- that movie that he had.


, but I fail to know the background info, obviously. I can spot sexism easily, but it seems to be racism that is the main concern here, how so?

(Note this is not me taking a stance on the subject, rather me being too tired to think for myself :rolleyes: )

I quickly read up on this on wikipedia, especially the offending dialog



, but I fail to know the background info, obviously. I can spot sexism easily, but it seems to be racism that is the main concern here, how so?

(Note this is not me taking a stance on the subject, rather me being too tired to think for myself :rolleyes: )

The main portion of the team was black. But everyone forgot about the two or three white girls on there. Thats I stick to my guns in saying that this was a sexist saying, rather than a racist one.

The main portion of the team was black. But everyone forgot about the two or three white girls on there. Thats I stick to my guns in saying that this was a sexist saying, rather than a racist one.

Ah, this makes sense. Wikipedia said 'There were African-American players on both the Rutgers and Tennessee teams', which just didn't sound like 'almost all'. I'll go with you and call it sexist rather than racist, then.

The main portion of the team was black. But everyone forgot about the two or three white girls on there. Thats I stick to my guns in saying that this was a sexist saying, rather than a racist one.

*sigh*

Imus was clearly being both racist and sexist.

"nappy-headed" is derogatory slang for black people.

"Jigaboo" is also coarse, offensive slang for a black person.

I got sick of watching CNN, and nothing else was on, so I decided to watch Oprah. They were discussing Imus.

Well I believe Imus should not have been fired.

Secondly: They were all blaming music for causing racism.

Yep. We all know Imus loves his hiphop. :rolleyes:

i turned on oprah because you said you watched it.

wow, that guy from the new york times (i think) had some very harsh things to say about gangsta rappers.

**edit**

hes from the new york daily news.

*sigh*

Imus was clearly being both racist and sexist.

"nappy-headed" is derogatory slang for black people.

"Jigaboo" is also coarse, offensive slang for a black person.

Nappy headed is a term used for someone with nasty hair. I've used it on several of my pals before.


I'll admit though, that the jigaboo vs wannabe thing was semi racist.

i turned on oprah because you said you watched it.

wow, that guy from the new york times (i think) had some very harsh things to say about gangsta rappers.


Which really, does it make sense to blame music? Why not blame bad parenting? or a negative society? Why blame something like music, or tv, or anything else? This is not about gangsta rappers, its about a society that doesn't give a shit about anyone else.

Nappy headed is a term used for someone with nasty hair. I've used it on several of my pals before.

Um. Check your Oxford English Dictionary. I've quoted it several times on this subject.

"Nappy" can refer to hair, but usually as to that of black people and is frequently derogatory.

"Nappy-headed" is a derogatory slur for black people.


I'll admit though, that the jigaboo vs wannabe thing was semi racist.

Semi-racist? Wow, that's mighty white of you to admit.

Which really, does it make sense to blame music? Why not blame bad parenting? or a negative society? Why blame something like music, or tv, or anything else? This is not about gangsta rappers, its about a society that doesn't give a shit about anyone else.

when you see young men of all races acting like ganstas, you can start blaming these rappers.

its not the whole story by any means but it does contribute to the problem.

He wasn't advocating violence towards anyone. The kind of racism and sexism he exhibited wasn't dangerous, just a little stupid. No disciplinary action should have been taken against him. However, if his ratings did indeed drop, the network was perfectly justified in firing his ass.

Examples of stupid racism.
Jews have hooked noses.
Blacks have nappy hair and they dress stupid.

Examples of dangerous racism.
Jews are taking our money and jobs, and we should get rid of them.
Black people are stupid and we should enact laws to keep them from voting or getting into good schools.

when you see young men of all races acting like ganstas, you can start blaming these rappers.

its not the whole story by any means but it does contribute to the problem.

You should see some of the idiots at my school. They're white, but they act all ghetto.

Um. Check your Oxford English Dictionary. I've quoted it several times on this subject.

"Nappy" can refer to hair, but usually as to that of black people and is frequently derogatory.

"Nappy-headed" is a derogatory slur for black people.
I'm sorry, I am using what knowledge I have from personal experience. I don't run to the dictionary every time something like this comes up.




Semi-racist? Wow, that's mighty white of you to admit.
Go figure. Bring in the "white" thing. Isn't that being racist? I mean, you are making a judgment about my attitude based on perceived skin color. What if i were to say "You slap yo hoes? Mighty black of you to admit"?

Speaking of skin color, i am probably one of the darker skinned people here, I mean not as dark as say a black man, but I am most certainly not white.

Why is this still such a big issue? First Anna Nicole Smith clogs up the damn airwaves, then this guy. What next? Tom Cruise insults Christians?

Sheesh.

You should see some of the idiots at my school. They're white, but they act all ghetto.

Maybe they are from the ghetto.

Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences. I think that firing Imus went a little too far, the man was a dumbass and (I'll give him credit here) he admitted to being a dumbass, and he's paying the consequences for being a dumbass. And again, he's admitted to being an idiot, and he's willing to bear the consequences. Good on him for it. I've noticed that getting people to seriously admit they've been stupid is probably the hardest thing to do.

You should see some of the idiots at my school. They're white, but they act all ghetto.

know what you mean

when you see young men of all races acting like ganstas, you can start blaming these rappers.

its not the whole story by any means but it does contribute to the problem.

I don't know if it does. I mean, I listen to gangsta rap all the time, but I'm not going around calling women hoes, or anything like that. At the same time, if I listen to music that is depressing, I am not going to start feeling sad. I mean, listening to music is enjoyable, but it doesn't completely alter people's lives to do stupid things, such as being a sexist, racist, or any other "ist".

Why is this still such a big issue? First Anna Nicole Smith clogs up the damn airwaves, then this guy. What next? Tom Cruise insults Christians?

Sheesh.

Wait, Tom Cruise insulted me? Oh, Larry King, here I come! Time to get Jerry Falthwell and Pat Robertson*!



*please note, I would never communicate with these bastards....Ever.

I don't know if it does. I mean, I listen to gangsta rap all the time, but I'm not going around calling women hoes, or anything like that. At the same time, if I listen to music that is depressing, I am not going to start feeling sad. I mean, listening to music is enjoyable, but it doesn't completely alter people's lives to do stupid things, such as being a sexist, racist, or any other "ist".

i dont thinnk you should use yourself as a prime example.

take a look around. dont you see lots of teens of whatever ethnicity acting "black", calling their friends "my niggas", dressing like gangsters, and sometimes even calling women bad names?

You should see some of the idiots at my school. They're white, but they act all ghetto.

thank you for helping me make my point. rap/hiphip is very influential with many people.

I'm sorry, I am using what knowledge I have from personal experience. I don't run to the dictionary every time something like this comes up.

When the subject is the meaning of certain words, then dictionaries are more than a tad relevant.

Go figure. Bring in the "white" thing. Isn't that being racist? I mean, you are making a judgment about my attitude based on perceived skin color. What if i were to say "You slap yo hoes? Mighty black of you to admit"?

Speaking of skin color, i am probably one of the darker skinned people here, I mean not as dark as say a black man, but I am most certainly not white.

Look up "irony." Oh, I forgot you don't use dictionaries.

i dont thinnk you should use yourself as a prime example.

take a look around. dont you see lots of teens of whatever ethnicity acting "black", calling their friends "my niggas", dressing like gangsters, and sometimes even calling women bad names?

Around here? Actually not so many. And what is acting black? There are many type of black people. I mean, acting like bill cosby, or like ludacris? I think the gangsta thug society is more than a black thing, as we see hispanics, asians, and whites doing it. I believe its a society based on poor up bringing, meaning both in poverty and in not having a stable house hold, or the alternative being a person that sees this society, and feels apart from his/her normal social upbringing, and does a rebellious type of thing, hence you get the rich white kids, driving around in flashy cars playing hip hop music because its cool or something.

When the subject is the meaning of certain words, then dictionaries are more than a tad relevant.



Look up "irony." Oh, I forgot you don't use dictionaries.

What exactly is ironic about my post?

take a look around. dont you see lots of teens of whatever ethnicity acting "black", calling their friends "my niggas", dressing like gangsters, and sometimes even calling women bad names?

No. And If I did, I think I'd collapse in a heap on the floor, from gut laughing too much.

Around here? Actually not so many. And what is acting black? There are many type of black people. I mean, acting like bill cosby, or like ludacris? I think the gangsta thug society is more than a black thing, as we see hispanics, asians, and whites doing it. I believe its a society based on poor up bringing, meaning both in poverty and in not having a stable house hold, or the alternative being a person that sees this society, and feels apart from his/her normal social upbringing, and does a rebellious type of thing, hence you get the rich white kids, driving around in flashy cars playing hip hop music because its cool or something.

thats why i put black in quotation marks (ya ya i know i use too many quotation marks). its an assumption about what being black IS and how cool it is to act that way.

thats why i put black in quotation marks (ya ya i know i use too many quotation marks). its an assumption about what being black IS and how cool it is to act that way.

Well, I do know what you were saying. I just felt like being a smart ass about it :)

thats why i put black in quotation marks (ya ya i know i use too many quotation marks). its an assumption about what being black IS and how cool it is to act that way.

Look, we all know what happens when people get the idea into their head that acting 'black' is cool.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/history/images/minstrels200.jpg


It ain't.

thank you for helping me make my point. rap/hiphip is very influential with many people.

I was trying to help make your point.

know what you mean

My sympathies to ya.

Maybe they are from the ghetto.

I live in the deepest pits of suburban suburbia.

THERE IS NO GHETTO!

I was trying to help make your point.


thats why i said thank you.

thats why i said thank you.

Amazing how easily I get blindsided by the direct approach. I thought you were being sarcastic.

1. He didn't even start it.
2. People get so overworked about nothing. If you get annoyed, that's all the insulter wants. He was just trying to be funny like everyone else.

I'll admit though, that the jigaboo vs wannabe thing was semi racist.

Semi racist?????

I would challenge you to head to Detroit and start using it.........

Amazing how easily I get blindsided by the direct approach. I thought you were being sarcastic.

i knew you might. *shrug* its the internet. sarcasm is more common than gratitude.

Semi-racist? Wow, that's mighty white of you to admit.

Can we ever have a discussion like this without every single racist crawling out of the woodwork to bash black people, bash white people, bash Mexicans, or bash any other ethnic group?

I'm sorry, I am using what knowledge I have from personal experience. I don't run to the dictionary every time something like this comes up.

Well Zilam, you'll get no points for ignorance around here. But you already know that, which makes me wonder why you tried that tack.


Go figure. Bring in the "white" thing. Isn't that being racist? I mean, you are making a judgment about my attitude based on perceived skin color. What if i were to say "You slap yo hoes? Mighty black of you to admit"?

What if you did? You'd fail. And deservedly so. What the Cat-Tribe said was clever, as it played on an antiquated, popular expression. Your comeback is comparitively weak, and runs along the same general lines of, "oh yeah?".

Speaking of skin color, i am probably one of the darker skinned people here, I mean not as dark as say a black man, but I am most certainly not white.

Irrelevant. I'm frankly disappointed.

Well Zilam, you'll get no points for ignorance around here. But you already know that, which makes me wonder why you tried that tack.

Well, i was trying to say that sometimes having book knowledge, which NS is all about, is not the same as having street knowledge.




What if you did? You'd fail. And deservedly so. What the Cat-Tribe said was clever, as it played on an antiquated, popular expression. Your comeback is comparitively weak, and runs along the same general lines of, "oh yeah?".

:rolleyes: So, he can say because I am white, that I automatically think in a racist way, and get away with it? Thats cool. I was just trying to show that color of skin has nothing to do with anything in my view. But hey whatever, people here are so self righteous, that only their way is the correct way, and any other way is the way of bigotry or some stupid shit


Irrelevant. I'm frankly disappointed.
How so? He brought up my skin color, saying I was white. So I was simply telling him that I wasn't white, as he accused me of being.

Semi racist?????

I would challenge you to head to Detroit and start using it.........

Or I could just say it to one of the many African Americans on my floor that I am friends with?

Or I could just say it to one of the many African Americans on my floor that I am friends with?

No, saying it to a friend misses the point. Say it to a black guy that you don't know at all, and don't be afraid to say it to a black guy that is much bigger than you.

1. He didn't even start it.
2. People get so overworked about nothing. If you get annoyed, that's all the insulter wants. He was just trying to be funny like everyone else.

A fair point in conclusion, if not in method. Comparatively, the continuing adventures of Don Imus should not get the airplay they have gotten considering that 1) The United States is at war, 2) the United States is losing that war, 3) the President of the United States insists that we must fight a different war in order to win the war we're losing, 4) The President of the United States is torturing people to prosecute that other war to win the first war, 5) The President of the United States is monitoring our phones in prosecution of that first war (but don't worry, only if you make a call out of country), 6) The President of the United States would rather give millionaires a tax break than actually pay for either of the wars he's waging, and 7) the American people have to drag both political parties kicking and screaming to actually do something popular about the other war and try to stop it.

And that's just the tip of the foreign policy iceberg; let's not start with problems domestically or global collective action problems.

Just to be clear, however, I don't really see how you can be funny by referring to another person in the manner that Don Imus did. If it is humorous in intent, it clearly isn't in actuality, and I for one am glad I've never listened to him. Insofar as the market agents no longer support his brand of humor or feel it sells, bully for them. But seriously, I hope I'm not the only the one who looks at this and thinks "Eyes on the prize, morons!"

:rolleyes: So, he can say because I am white, that I automatically think in a racist way, and get away with it? Thats cool. I was just trying to show that color of skin has nothing to do with anything in my view. But hey whatever, people here are so self righteous, that only their way is the correct way, and any other way is the way of bigotry or some stupid shit

nah. he was just zinging you.

the proper response is probably "OUCH"

No, saying it to a friend misses the point. Say it to a black guy that you don't know at all, and don't be afraid to say it to a black guy that is much bigger than you.

I won't have a problem with it. i can tell you right now, that I can go out there and meet some black dude in a bar, have a few drinks, and say that, and walk away unharmed, and even more, having shared a joke with the dude. Its all about how you handle the situation. if you say it in a mean hurtful way, hell yah anyone will get mad. I mean if i say "Mom, you are a nappy head hoe, now shut da hell up" Ill get an ass beating the size of texas. But, If i jokingly say, man your hair is all nappy, she'll laugh. Its the same with most anyone. if you make it known that your just messing around, its cool.

I don't know if it does. I mean, I listen to gangsta rap all the time, but I'm not going around calling women hoes, or anything like that. At the same time, if I listen to music that is depressing, I am not going to start feeling sad. I mean, listening to music is enjoyable, but it doesn't completely alter people's lives to do stupid things, such as being a sexist, racist, or any other "ist".

However, it does occasionally cause *insert genre here*head/rocker/er to become your title. Or some similar label.

Zarakon becomes Zarakon the Punk Rocker, or Zarakon the Metalhead, for example.

I got sick of watching CNN, and nothing else was on, so I decided to watch Oprah. They were discussing Imus.

Well I believe Imus should not have been fired.

Secondly: They were all blaming music for causing racism.

Yep. We all know Imus loves his hiphop. :rolleyes:

Do we need another thread on this? NO WE DON'T!!!!

nah. he was just zinging you.

the proper response is probably "OUCH"

Well, I hate stupid double standards. Automatically, I get labeled a racist, if i were to ever say anything negative about any one of any other color, but flip it around, and that person is standing up for them self. It bugs me that people are trying to rid the rid of racism and all, but then still make exceptions for it in certain cases. I say we gt rid of it all period.

However, it does occasionally cause *insert genre here*head/rocker/er to become your title.

Zarakon becomes Zarakon the Punk Rocker, or Zarakon the Metalhead, for example.

Why can't you just be Zarakon?

no really, he was just zinging you. like reaching over and giving you a smack upside the head because you accidentally said something stupid. i doubt he was seriously calling you racist. (not that i know for sure)

Wait, what did i say that was stupid? :p

Well, I hate stupid double standards. Automatically, I get labeled a racist, if i were to ever say anything negative about any one of any other color, but flip it around, and that person is standing up for them self. It bugs me that people are trying to rid the rid of racism and all, but then still make exceptions for it in certain cases. I say we gt rid of it all period.

no really, he was just zinging you. like reaching over and giving you a smack upside the head because you accidentally said something stupid. i doubt he was seriously calling you racist. (not that i know for sure)

Why can't you just be Zarakon?

Because people like labels. I'm not sure why, but people seem to like labels, because I figure otherwise people wouldn't label each other.

Wait, what did i say that was stupid? :p

i looked it up

you said that "jigaboo" is semi-racist.

now really......

i looked it up

you said that "jigaboo" is semi-racist.

now really......

No, i was refering to what Imus was semi racist. He said something about jigaboo vs wannabe, the spike lee film thing. Did he directly call the girls jigaboos?

Because people like labels. I'm not sure why, but people seem to like labels, because I figure otherwise people wouldn't label each other.

Well, i figure it people like to label themselves, then they should be willing to take any negativity that comes along with it.

No, i was refering to what Imus was semi racist. He said something about jigaboo vs wannabe, the spike lee film thing. Did he directly call the girls jigaboos?

go look at what you wrote.

i believe its "jigaboo is semi racist"

this is why i said you wrote something stupid accidentally. cattribes smacked you upside the head for it. if you read it as you wrote it, you deserved the smack. that you meant something else is why you should have said "ouch" and rephrased.

go look at what you wrote.

i believe its "jigaboo is semi racist"

this is why i said you wrote something stupid accidentally. cattribes smacked you upside the head for it. if you read it as you wrote it, you deserved the smack. that you meant something else is why you should have said "ouch" and rephrased.

Oh, well maybe i did phrase it wrong. But I was going by the dialogue, which was saying a reference to the movie

Oh, well maybe i did phrase it wrong. But I was going by the dialogue, which was saying a reference to the movie

it happens.

what you meant does not always come across on screen.

Oh, well maybe i did phrase it wrong. But I was going by the dialogue, which was saying a reference to the movie

This bugs me a bit, so this is slightly out of context.

The movie he was refering to was School Daze, which was a critique of bigotry within the black community and the terms are not positively applied even then, even among the black characters. It's a derogatory term even if it was used in the movie, and had they paid attention to the movie they would have remembered the name of it and the point that those labels are divisive even within the community.

Examples of stupid racism.
Jews have hooked noses.
Blacks have nappy hair and they dress stupid.

Examples of dangerous racism.
Jews are taking our money and jobs, and we should get rid of them.
Black people are stupid and we should enact laws to keep them from voting or getting into good schools.
That reminds me - everyone here seen "Borat" ?

That reminds me - everyone here seen "Borat" ?yes, it was funny.
extremely racist and funny..
I its fair to Fire Imus.. then we must now fire Borat.. and fire the makers/producers of Borat.

Can we ever have a discussion like this without every single racist crawling out of the woodwork to bash black people, bash white people, bash Mexicans, or bash any other ethnic group?

Well, it's not like Carlos Mencia ever posts on NSG.

Well, it's not like Carlos Mencia ever posts on NSG.


You do mean Ned, right?

Woah... I was very confused for a while there. You see I've never heard the term 'nappy head' before, but I have heard of the term 'nappy' before. The equivalent in American English is diaper. So... yeah...

Zilam: When talking about contentious issues grammar and context are very imporant. Otherwise you will have people misinterpreting your words. Even to me it came across as if you were saying - 'jigaboo is semi racist' and not 'They is kinda being racist for using the word jigaboo'. But then I also think you're not very bright for describing something as semi-racist. Something is either racist or it isn't. What it does have is degrees of offensiveness which vary from person to person and with context. But that doesn't make the term any less racist - just less or more offensive.

You do mean Ned, right?

You know how most people are with media. They can only recognize some people by their stage names or the characters they play. I'm surprised MAD TV or even Saturday Night Dead hasn't come up with a skit on the subject. Like Patrick Dempsey snapping at one more news story calling him "Dr. McDreamy" and going on a rampage.

To be honest, when I first heard the comment on the internet I couldn't contain my laughter. That said, I have no problem with Don Imus being fired. His comment was so blatantly and outrageously (perhaps this is what made it funny) derogatory on a group of women who had done him no harm, and given his history of making similar attacks on mostly women, he should go. I agree with CBS and MSNBC's decision. That said, I think rap/hip hop songs which malign women should also be kept off the airwaves. It amazes me that the American media promotes (quite aggressively) this self-destructive and unbelievably misogynistic type of music. It isn't entertaining, it is offensive. If a white person sang about "b*tches and hoes" and "pull a trigger on a n*gger" the public outrage would be defeaning. Well maybe society wouldn't care so much about the "hoes" part. But anyway, I hope you all understand what I am saying..... and I am ranting..... Anyway (already said that) there is much that I find appalling about US media (then don't listen you say? I don't. For the most part, it is broadcast here on the news and on radio stations without my approval), and removing Imus from the airwaves is one step in the right direction.