NoblesseOblige
Banned
Maybe singing along to a rap song and letting it slip would be a mistake. Saying it completely casually to somebody else for no apparent reason goes well beyond that.
Bill Maher apologizes for N-word. HBO/Sasse also comment
- Thread starter xDUMPWEEDx
- Start date
Maybe singing along to a rap song and letting it slip would be a mistake. Saying it completely casually to somebody else for no apparent reason goes well beyond that.
His bigotry comes across the spectrum
FUNKNOWN iXi
Member
Idk man, he's a comedian, in the entertainment industry, etc., so it's not some leap of rationale to think that lol.
Django is a popular movie.
Boy Wander
Member
Not sure why some people thinking He's excusing his error because of tiredness. He's saying he stays up on a weekly basis thinking about any faux pas that he commits on his show and this week he stayed up extra late and couldn't sleep because he fucked up big time.
lightskintwin
Banned
There's nothing in the joke that references Django. The only thing pointing to that reference is your limited knowledge.
Slavery was popular in America. That's a leap, dude.
celljean89
Neo Member
Did you just source MLK, so people can forgive Bill Maher for saying a house nigger joke? Oh man, how low you can be?
So only colored people claim to be offended by what Maher said?
Okay, so if because I am not offended by something I am no longer a colored person.
I have lost my identity. My heritage. My image. :'(
Where did you get this wacky ass theory?
So only colored people claim to be offended by what Maher said?
Okay, so if because I am not offended by something I am no longer a colored person.
I have lost my identity. My heritage. My image. :'(
So you're upset that a fellow black person didn't include you?
I don't think he is that ignorant
astroturfing
Member
honestly i think that's a bit much..
i mean, i've never even been to an english speaking country and i don't have any non-white friends, but i could still say the n-word perfectly fluently because i've been exposed to it through American entertainment for the past 30 years or so... just the other night i saw Tarantino say it many times in Pulp Fiction. and today i listened to some Onyx because i wanted to hear some banging shit.. the n-word is in my vocabulary in my brain and is somewhat normalized. American entertainment did it.
if some day i wasn't thinking straight and the word slipped out of my mouth, it would not mean i'm racist (because i sure as fuck am not), it would just mean i was acting like an idiot because i'm not super smart or careful enough with my language all the time.. it would not be a revealing slip up of my "true nature" or anything of the sort.
thats just me and my two cents though.. i can't speak for Maher but i would bet he is not a racist either, just an unfunny idiot at times. glad to see him apologize.
did i make any sense? i'd be glad to have a PM conversation with someone who disagrees, to get a bit more in-depth.
Comedians shouldn't be responsible for how the audience reacts. It's not their job to say things that the audience isn't offended by, or that they enjoy, or that they find funny, or that they find in any way interesting or witty. That's out of their jurisdiction.
(I don't actually believe this, for the record.)
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I actually do think this comes down to just saying the n-word, not racist thinking.
If Maher had made a joke about being "the slave who stays inside", it wouldn't have registered at all. It did fit the context of the conversation. People often would think of slavery when they hear "working in the fields", especially if they're city dwellers.
But that term has the n-word in it, and that's one of our big cultural taboos (and rightfully so).
Still a 0/10 joke though, as someone said above.
If Maher had made a joke about being "the slave who stays inside", it wouldn't have registered at all. It did fit the context of the conversation. People often would think of slavery when they hear "working in the fields", especially if they're city dwellers.
But that term has the n-word in it, and that's one of our big cultural taboos (and rightfully so).
Still a 0/10 joke though, as someone said above.
Slavery and the racist culture behind it seems like a much more popular point of reference in this context than a 2010 film about it. What is even the point of your assertion? Do you think it's somewhat better to say the word nigger if you're referencing a damn Quentin Tarantino movie?
Hillary's entire campaign was about how Trump was "he's mean toward women and people without privilege." To the point where her ads were almost policy free.
What the hell are you talking about?
Darryl M R
Member
What group of people would be more likely to get offended over the word nigger?So only colored people claim to be offended by what Maher said?
Okay, so if because I am not offended by something I am no longer a colored person.
I have lost my identity. My heritage. My image. :'(
Thanks for showing your ass. You should actually get your life together since you resort to fictitious hypotheticals that are unrelated to the topic at hand when you are unable to argue any valid points.
Chaplain
Member
The context of my comment was in relation to Maher's apology. Dehumanizing someone when they apologize isn't going to help erase what they did.
the fellow black person made an assumption that was wrong and now instead of backing off decide to push farther, because they don't want to admit they assumed the race of the poster.
Nope, shit like that doesn't just slip out because an old movie or music. You say that shit because you want to. What situation could you be expericing that "Nigger" is your first reaction? Dropping a hammer on your toe? Papercut? Package is alte?
Icedburden
Member
Yes, clearly. The evidence is everywhere.
lol. Pretty sure your confusing backlash with common fucking sense there, chief.
Your memory is either very short, or very poor.
What he did shouldn't be erased.
Darryl M R
Member
Show me the assumption I made? Not once was his race implied.
And his argument of implication of the word "us" is faulty for multiple reasons.
Boy Wander
Member
He's saying that the guy only apologised because of the outcry and not because he genuinely wanted to.
Sir Alemeth
Member
Good.
Love Bill Maher.
Love Bill Maher.
CambriaRising
Member
I dont give a shit how sorry he is, personally.
Impeccable
Member
He should be fired and lose all his jobs. Just like Kathy Griffin.
I mean, if all was fair.
I mean, if all was fair.
Well, because comedians hurt feelings, while comedy critics hurt people. In Europe we had several attacks because of cartoons and because somebody's feelings were hurt. Erdogan sues comedians in Germany, imprisons comedians in Turkey. And Jan Böhmermann received death threats like Extra 3 did for a song about Erdogan. The Egypt host of the Daily Show was attacked by the Muslim Brotherhood and would probably ended in jail if it wasn't for the counter-revolution.
And look how long the solidarity with Charlie Hebdo lasted, when they published to Syrian refuge cartoon and people attacked them again. A lot of people who are now raging against Maher also were so disappointed, because they did not like it.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
Sure, there's that, there's racist voter suppression, and there's the fact that 3+ million more people voted Democrat than Republican. But not enough of those 3+ million existed in hicksville, USA, therefore are irreverent.
But yeah, Nuu, it's the Democrats who are the problem here...
And I'm saying that he didn't even get to see much outcry before HBO called him up and was like "Yo. what the fuck was that???"
Outcry. lol
That's an argument designed to put fault on others, and not the perpetrator.
Dude saw his name being put in the ledger and his dollars about to dip.
Chaplain
Member
If you wan't to keep a record of a person's moral failures when they apologize you are free to do so.
My thinking is this. We're all raised in a world where the concept of race is something that we understand and act on. We didn't choose to be born into that world, and it isn't our fault, but it's ridiculous to think that we didn't absorb racial ideas as a result of being in it. That applies regardless of what ethnicity you are or what colour your skin is. This applies regardless of how well-meaning we may be.
Because we're in this situation, we have to strive to understand that problem and fix it. We'll slip up here and there, but we have to recognize those moments, recognize that it's a part of us that caused us to slip up, and then work on improving.
If I believed Bill Maher was actually interested in improving himself and becoming a more sympathetic person I'd find it easier to accept his apology. But I don't think he is; I think he's really just concerned with avoiding the consequences of what he says, and that's why he's against political correctness until that stance bites him back.
Because we're in this situation, we have to strive to understand that problem and fix it. We'll slip up here and there, but we have to recognize those moments, recognize that it's a part of us that caused us to slip up, and then work on improving.
If I believed Bill Maher was actually interested in improving himself and becoming a more sympathetic person I'd find it easier to accept his apology. But I don't think he is; I think he's really just concerned with avoiding the consequences of what he says, and that's why he's against political correctness until that stance bites him back.
celljean89
Neo Member
You're worrying about Bill Maher being dehumanized? Well saying a house nigger joke is dehumanizing black people.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Maybe if his apology read legitimate and not as if it was forced people would be willing to accept it. But even then, why should people forget?
You Are Viewtiful
Member
It's good that he apologized, that's the proper response.
You cant be serious?
UnemployedVillain
Member
Why is it that these apologies always start off with some excuse about how they were tired or weren't in the right state of mind? It makes them come off as disingenuous and like they don't truly realize what the problem was. For once I'd like to see one of these people just own up to that shit. Say you thought you were being funny, and were actually being a fucking idiot. They knew fully what they were doing, and did with their full mental clarity
What amazes me is how many people, on every side of the issue, just assume the apology was forced and insincere. So even though the guy who said the thing, says it was wrong to say, and that he's sorry, we have jackasses in here saying it's fine to say, and he shouldn't have apologized, and then others who refuse to even consider that he made a stupid mistake that he genuinely feels bad about.
I don't like Bill Maher much. I haven't since the 90's, when he gave us exciting new talent like Ann Coulter, and made edgy gay jokes (one of the focuses on the last anti-PC push). I think he's a not particularly funny, abrasive, asshole that occasionally points his ire at the right targets, because while he's a jerk, he's not fully insane enough to get behind the modern Republican party or Trump. Beyond that, we share little in the way of political values and policy opinions. He is basically a left-libertarian and I am a democratic socialist.
All that said, he didn't have to apologize. He rarely has in the past. It's unlikely HBO was going to can him. They knew what they were buying when they bought his show. And he didn't hedge and dodge in his apology, but rather came out and acknowledged what he did was wrong and that he was sorry.
Now, maybe he's just an insincere asshole who's laughing his ass off at people accepting his apology, or maybe he's a timid coward who allowed himself into being forced to lie about being sorry. Or maybe, just maybe, he said something really stupid and inexcusable, as people talking live sometimes do, and feels bad about it. None of us can be sure.
All I really know is that when we completely ignore the response of someone who's done something bad, it reduces the value in anyone doing the right thing after they screw up. If standing up and apologizing only convinces people you're either a liar or a coward, why would anyone ever do it? If you never leave a space for people to back up, then the only way they have is forward, off the cliff.
I'm not suggesting anyone has to forgive or forget or whatever. Just suggesting that maybe people should consider that humans are fallible, and some people legitimately make mistakes and then feel bad about them.
I don't like Bill Maher much. I haven't since the 90's, when he gave us exciting new talent like Ann Coulter, and made edgy gay jokes (one of the focuses on the last anti-PC push). I think he's a not particularly funny, abrasive, asshole that occasionally points his ire at the right targets, because while he's a jerk, he's not fully insane enough to get behind the modern Republican party or Trump. Beyond that, we share little in the way of political values and policy opinions. He is basically a left-libertarian and I am a democratic socialist.
All that said, he didn't have to apologize. He rarely has in the past. It's unlikely HBO was going to can him. They knew what they were buying when they bought his show. And he didn't hedge and dodge in his apology, but rather came out and acknowledged what he did was wrong and that he was sorry.
Now, maybe he's just an insincere asshole who's laughing his ass off at people accepting his apology, or maybe he's a timid coward who allowed himself into being forced to lie about being sorry. Or maybe, just maybe, he said something really stupid and inexcusable, as people talking live sometimes do, and feels bad about it. None of us can be sure.
All I really know is that when we completely ignore the response of someone who's done something bad, it reduces the value in anyone doing the right thing after they screw up. If standing up and apologizing only convinces people you're either a liar or a coward, why would anyone ever do it? If you never leave a space for people to back up, then the only way they have is forward, off the cliff.
I'm not suggesting anyone has to forgive or forget or whatever. Just suggesting that maybe people should consider that humans are fallible, and some people legitimately make mistakes and then feel bad about them.
Cause no wants to take personal responsibility.
"Sorry, I fucked up"
Might as well be the weight of the world.
Why is it that people don't take the time to properly read or understand what someone is saying?
Sounds like "Sorry, I fucked up" to me.
he didnt excuse his saying the word with the tired comment. he said after the show he was up late and tired because of the regret of saying the word. its not hard to actually read the comment in whole before posting. its really short.
Jesus Christ. Have you people lost the ability to parse words? *REREAD THE APOLOGY*.
Not making excuses for his behavior, but it was a solid apology. Yeesh.
BrutishMrFish
Member
That's an oversimplification and you know it. There's more to a campaign than just TV ads, and the message wasn't "Trump is mean" but "Trump is unfit for office." Regardless, that has nothing to do with people shitting on Bill Maher on an internet forum because nobody here is a politician and no politician is saying anything about this aside from Sasse.
You said the negative reactions to stuff like this is what's killing the Democrats. I'm saying that if that's true, all of the times people got mad at other people who said racist things about Obama would have killed one of his campaigns.
The point is, what non-politicians say about other non-politicians isn't nearly as important as you seem to think.
Chaplain
Member
Nailed it.
FUNKNOWN iXi
Member
Samuel L. Jackson. And I'm curious what you are assuming my knowledge is limited in, but you don't have to respond.
I just don't think he should be crucified for what is clearly a poor joke, and it's not a matter of "better" lol.
I'll concede on this discussion anyway because this doesn't deserve defending.
EDIT: What besada said.
Comes across as apologizing to ease his mind. Is he regretting he said it because it was racist or because of the headache it is causing him professionally.?
GameAddict411
Member
I am boycotting HBO from now on. Bill Maher should have been fires period. He should then take history courses and see where the word came from before ever showing his face to the public. Disgusting human trash.