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[rinker]

I'm assuming that if he said "No I don't want to work in the fields with you, I'm more like an indoor slave" many of you would have been equally as offended?

Many of the most popular and well regarded white American comedians have "national TV" specials using the words nigger, faggot, kike, cunt; cover topics like slavery, rape, genocide, terrorism. Several white Hollywood actors have used these same words in shows and movies, both comedic and dramatic, which also air on "national TV".

I'm sure there's several among you who happily boycott those comedians and actors - bless you and keep doing what you love, but this post isn't for you. For the rest of you who like or support these other comedians or actors, it would follow that the word and topic aren't always off limits - why so upset this time?

 

[ColdPizza]

Wow at HBO's response. Utterly spineless. Bill should be gone.

Why should he be gone?

 

[unpopularblargh]

H..he has? If that's the case then minorities are having an even worse time than I thought.

More than Oprah? More than Jon Stewart or Larry Wilmore or Ellen?

 

[RPGCrazied]

I dropped him after that Milo interview. Still though, we have a President that hasn't uttered the sorry word, probably hasn't his entire life. That is more concerning since he is leading the country to ruin.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

My wife (who is black) loves watching his show and would not have been offended by this.

She's offended when her kids use it tough.

Why is she offended when her kids (who are black) use it but not a white man?

 

[UnemployedVillain]

I'm assuming that if he said "No I don't want to work in the fields with you, I'm more like an indoor slave" many of you would have been equally as offended?

No. It would have just been another dumb, insensitive joke, instead of a incredibly stupid, incredibly insensitive joke

 

[lightskintwin]

I'm assuming that if he said "No I don't want to work in the fields with you, I'm more like an indoor slave" many of you would have been equally as offended?

Many of the most popular and well regarded white American comedians have "national TV" specials using the words nigger, faggot, kike, cunt; cover topics like slavery, rape, genocide, terrorism. Several white Hollywood actors have used these same words in shows and movies, both comedic and dramatic, which also air on "national TV".

I'm sure there's several among you who happily boycott those comedians and actors - bless you and keep doing what you love, but this post isn't for you. For the rest of you who like or support these other comedians or actors, it would follow that the word and topic aren't always off limits - why so upset this time?

For me, the offense wasn't that he used the N-word, it was that the joke didn't work and wasn't funny, therefore all you're ultimately left with is the shock value of an old White man saying the N-word to another old White man.

 

[Crossing Eden]

Why is she offended when her kids (who are black) use it but not a white man?

Because she's one of the good ones.

 

[Yado]

I'm assuming that if he said "No I don't want to work in the fields with you, I'm more like an indoor slave" many of you would have been equally as offended?

Many of the most popular and well regarded white American comedians have "national TV" specials using the words nigger, faggot, kike, cunt; cover topics like slavery, rape, genocide, terrorism. Several white Hollywood actors have used these same words in shows and movies, both comedic and dramatic, which also air on "national TV".

I'm sure there's several among you who happily boycott those comedians and actors - bless you and keep doing what you love, but this post isn't for you. For the rest of you who like or support these other comedians or actors, it would follow that the word and topic aren't always off limits - why so upset this time?

Because those are fucking characters...

 

[Blood Diamonds]

Why is she offended when her kids (who are black) use it but not a white man?

it's probably because his wife (who is black) knows that's an awful thing to say and doesn't want her kids (who are black) to use a racist term like that

 

[FinalStageBoss]

Fuck bill Maher he can shove that apology up his ass

 

[RastaMentality]

it's probably because his wife (who is black) knows that's an awful thing to say and doesn't want her kids (who are black) to use a racist term like that

Doesn't want her black kids to use a racist (towards WHO?) term like that? But is fine when white men use it? Are y'all reading your own posts?

 

[sugarman]

I'm always in favour of comedians not falling in to the trap of PC culture. Bill Maher definitely wants his ratings but he's certainly no racist.

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

If you think any reference to the Field/House slave dynamic is a reference to Django, then I have to assume you were only first introduced to this by the movie and your knowledge of slavery is limited.

Or you could make a more accurate assumption that it's a joke I've heard before referencing the dynamic between Samuel L. Jackson and Django, then figured maybe an entertainer would have done the same thing.

But whatever, guess I just didn't know what slavery is before watching Django.

 

[cartographer]

I'm always in favour of comedians not falling in to the trap of PC culture. Bill Maher definitely wants his ratings but he's certainly no racist.

Well this is convenient.

 

[Breads]

Ah. That tired feeling you get that compels you to say the n word on national television.

We've all been there.

S'all good.

 

[thefro]

I'm glad Maher apologized for this. Bad/tasteless joke in this context.

For me, the offense wasn't that he used the N-word, it was that the joke didn't work and wasn't funny, therefore all you're ultimately left with is the shock value of an old White man saying the N-word to another old White man.

Right, the joke only works if Sasse says those same words to a black person, then that response would have been funny since they would be pointing out that Sasse just said something kinda racist-sounding.

There's no such context with Maher saying that, so that joke makes no sense and he's just saying the n-word for shock value.

 

[jack_package_200]

Ah. That tired feeling you get that compels you to say the n word on national television.

We've all been there.

S'all good.

Should have had a Snickers.

You get racist when you are hungry

 

[Messofanego]

LOL at people who are actually offended by this.

This was just a (bad) joke he did.

I don't recall people freaking out at his disgusting comments and view points on Muslims, such as comparing Palestinians to battered wives who keep clinging on to their abusive husbands..

I've been "freaking out" at all the stupid shit Maher has said over the years, not just this n word moment which is just another to pile on top of the others.

 

[Volimar]

Understandable, some people just get very racist when they're tired.

Like how Mel Gibson only gets antisemitic when he's drunk.

 

[Puck Beaverton]

I'm always in favour of comedians not falling in to the trap of PC culture. Bill Maher definitely wants his ratings but he's certainly no racist.

That's cool, he's still an unfunny asshole.

 

[plagiarize]

I'm always in favour of comedians not falling in to the trap of PC culture. Bill Maher definitely wants his ratings but he's certainly no racist.

Next you'll be telling me you can't be sexist if you're married to a woman.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Like how Mel Gibson only gets antisemitic when he's drunk.

The funny/sad thing is there are people who legitimately believe this

 

[The Technomancer]

If this was the first shitty thing Maher has done that apology might count for something. After all his bullshit? Nah son

 

[lightskintwin]

Or you could make a more accurate assumption that it's a joke I've heard before referencing the dynamic between Samuel L. Jackson and Django, then figured maybe an entertainer would have done the same thing.

But whatever, guess I just didn't know what slavery is before watching Django.

But there's no reference to Django in Bill Maher's "joke". Like if he said, instead of working the field, I'd be Steven (Samuel L. Jackson) from Django then you might've had a point.

African Americans have made references to the Field/House Slave dynamic throughout their culture and media for decades.

There's nothing accurate about your assumption except extrapolating your limited references and projecting it upon it.

 

[royalan]

Chez Lindsey's new youtube video on Mel Brooks and the ethics of satire seems extremely apt here.

Maher's joke and use of the word was extremely tacky and offensive. But more of an issue for me is that it confirms that he's just another oh-those-pesky-identity-politics "progressives" who only cares about minorities and our issues as much as they are a card that he can play. Paying the requisite lipservice to minorities on occasion, in his mind, gave him permission to make that joke, because he's "proved he's down."

 

[Mifune]

Ah. That tired feeling you get that compels you to say the n word on national television.

We've all been there.

S'all good.

That's not what he was saying.

This was a fair apology, not the usual "I'm sorry if people were offended" non-apology. Does it go far enough? Of course not. Nothing can excuse what he said. But to me it shows a little bit of contrition, which is better than the alternative.

 

[D i Z]

Ah. That tired feeling you get that compels you to say the n word on national television.

We've all been there.

S'all good.

Should have had a Snickers.

You get racist when you are hungry

This exchange was worth me refreshing this thread. I can leave in peace now.

 

[lightskintwin]

Right, the joke only works if Sasse says those same words to a black person, then that response would have been funny since they would be pointing out that Sasse just said something kinda racist-sounding.

There's no such context with Maher saying that, so that joke makes no sense and he's just saying the n-word for shock value.

Exactly. Had it been Trevor Noah saying it on the Daily Show, hilarity would've ensued.

Maher saying it in that context was just weird and made no sense.

 

[TyrantII]

Glad he apologized? That "apology" was so half ass he should have kept it.

Did you read it? He accepted responsibility and unequivocally said he was wrong.

What do you want? Cut his dick off and offer it as tribute?

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Hand the keyboard to your wife then. Why are we talking to you?

Right. Also, some people are bothered but would never say anything because they privilege white comfort over human decency. Black folks have yo do that sometimes or they simply think they have to, because our feelings typically take a backseat, they occupy a space of unthought.

 

[dsp]

Did you read it? He accepted responsibility and unequivocally said he was wrong.

What do you want? Cut his dick off and offer it as tribute?

Bill needs some Skunk.

 

[ZOONAMI]

So it's an excuse apology for an inexcusable thing to do on live television.

 

[rinker]

Because those are fucking characters...

You can disregard the "scripted" uses my post refers to if you'd like, but perhaps you've missed the part of my post referring to stand up comedy specials? George Carlin, Louis CK, Bill Burr, Anthony Jeselnik, Joe Rogan, Neal Brennan aren't characters.

 

[Garlador]

Why do we expect anything will actually matter or he'll face any real consequence? We have president "Grab Em By the Pussy" in office.

 

[Vixdean]

People are reading way too much into the "way" he said it. He's a comedian folks, saying uncomfortable or even offensive shit without breaking stride is literally part of the job description.

 

[Breads]

That's not what he was saying.

This was a fair apology, not the usual "I'm sorry if people were offended" non-apology. Does it go far enough? Of course not. Nothing can excuse what he said. But to me it shows a little bit of contrition, which is better than the alternative.

I disliked Maher before he said he n word on his show... which he did and can't take back with an apology.

He was a fuck before, he showed himself to be an even more monumental fuck last night, and he continues to be a fuck even now.

Putting Milo on the last straw for me.

People are reading way too much into the "way" he said it. He's a comedian folks, saying uncomfortable or even shocking shit without breaking stride is literally part of the job description

People are going to react however they're going to react. If you're a comedian and you have the n word in the chamber you better hope can ride through the quality of your work.

 

[Spoiled Milk]

Why do we expect anything will actually matter or he'll face any real consequence? We have president "Grab Em By the Pussy" in office.

HBO is a private enterprise driven entirely by profits. The only available consequence is cancellation and that would cost HBO money.

 

[Patterbits]

LOL at people who are actually offended by this.

This was just a (bad) joke he did.

I don't recall people freaking out at his disgusting comments and view points on Muslims, such as comparing Palestinians to battered wives who keep clinging on to their abusive husbands..

You don't recall as in you somehow don't see the slew of comments on his Islamophobia every time he's mentioned in this forum?

 

[lightskintwin]

You can disregard the "scripted" uses my post refers to if you'd like, but perhaps you've missed the part of my post referring to stand up comedy specials? George Carlin, Louis CK, Bill Burr, Anthony Jeselnik, Joe Rogan, Neal Brennan aren't characters.

Speaking for myself, I think the most important thing a comedian needs to be is funny, regardless if it's offensive to a certain group; preferably with some wit and cleverness. A dash of social commentary wouldn't hurt either.

In this specific case with Bill Maher, the joke didn't make sense and worst of all wasn't funny, and in that brief moment he fundamentally failed at being a comedian. It had nothing to do with him using the N-word, although I realize there would've been people outraged or offended at it regardless at it's use. I wouldn't have if the joke was better and more importantly FUNNY.

 

[What did he mean by this?]

So this is the liberal racism Ive heard so much about

Defending people like Maher who already acknowledged what he said was wrong, but excuse me while I say something about political correctness or the societal roles of comedians

 

[HiredN00bs]

I don't think he would have apologized if HBO hadn't made their statement. Maher obviously thinks it's okay to use the word in his comedy, and his apology is obviously forced.

I've liked the show because it has compelling guests and offers a venue for progressives to call out bullshit in an uncensored way. It's unfortunate that Maher himself too often shits on the little guy, and I think because of that, people are justified to boycott him.

 

[gabbo]

Ah, so it wasn't being used in an academic discussion or historical context (i had only heard he used the word, not read/scene video of it). Well then backlash expected, his apology probably won't do much, but I don't see him getting too much in the way of punishment either.

 

[DragoonKain]

Accepting an apology is up to each individual. From everything I've seen of Bill, I'm 99% sure the guy is not racist. He used a racist term, but that doesn't make one a racist. Racism to me is a mindset. It's a deep hatred and belief in your heart that a certain group of people are lesser, inferior, and you have a deep level of disgust toward them. Never got that from Bill.

He made a dumb joke, and manned up and apologized. If people don't wanna forgive him, that's their prerogative though, I'll never tell someone how to feel.

Outside of murder, rape, and molestation, I believe in forgiveness for most things.

 

[Kthulhu]

No one should apologize as it's just because of backlash.

Why not? Dude clearly wasn't thinking what he said, assuming he is genuine in his apology, he probably realized what he said was crossing the line after the backlash crossed a huge line.

 

[rinker]

Speaking for myself, I think the most important thing a comedian needs to be is funny, regardless if it's offensive to a certain group; preferably with some wit and cleverness. A dash of social commentary wouldn't hurt either.

In this specific case with Bill Maher, the joke didn't make sense and worst of all wasn't funny, and in that brief moment he fundamentally failed at being a comedian. It had nothing to do with him using the N-word, although I realize there would've been people outraged or offended at it regardless at it's use. I wouldn't have if the joke was better and more importantly FUNNY.

I think that's fair, well put.

 

[The Artisan]

is it true that he tried to defend it first?

 

[Psychoward]

Mfw a Republican congressman has a better understanding of the n word/free speech than bill "ally" maher and a lot of liberals online. Lol

 

[BosSin]

No surprise there, I've always known that Bill Maher is a cunt

 

[Yado]

You can disregard the "scripted" uses my post refers to if you'd like, but perhaps you've missed the part of my post referring to stand up comedy specials? George Carlin, Louis CK, Bill Burr, Anthony Jeselnik, Joe Rogan, Neal Brennan aren't characters.

Bill was having a conversation, he wasn't doing a stand-up special. I'd have the same response if any of those comedians sat their asses down and blurted out "no I wouldnt do that, I'm not a faggot" in the middle of an interview.