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Please Stop Apologizing by Bill Maher (NYT Editorial)
- Thread starter Black Mamba
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RustyNails
Member
That last line from Maher is hilarious
Neuromancer
Member
I don't get it.
The outrage in this country has reached a point where, many times, it's difficult to sperate truly outlandish and terrible things against comments that should be brushed off.
If somebody says something that actually offends you, I get the anger. But, most times, I just see people bitching to pretend they're offended rather than actually being hurt by a phrase or comment.
If somebody says something that actually offends you, I get the anger. But, most times, I just see people bitching to pretend they're offended rather than actually being hurt by a phrase or comment.
I enjoyed the article. Then again, I think Maher is pretty funny and I watch his show regularly.
I definitely agree that political factions have become far too comfortable manufacturing rage and offense at the slightest "inappropriate" comment or action.
Our culture is so fragmented now that it's pretty easy to turn off self-righteous blowhards like Rush Limbaugh or Hannity and find something else to occupy your time. Life's too short to be constantly angry about the fact that not everyone agrees with your point of view.
I definitely agree that political factions have become far too comfortable manufacturing rage and offense at the slightest "inappropriate" comment or action.
Our culture is so fragmented now that it's pretty easy to turn off self-righteous blowhards like Rush Limbaugh or Hannity and find something else to occupy your time. Life's too short to be constantly angry about the fact that not everyone agrees with your point of view.
Invisible_Insane
Member
Jason's Ultimatum
Member
Poor baby America.
bu...bu...but my point of view is the correct one...
you broke the article.
.
The fake outrage makes me roll my eyes a lot on here. At least I'm hoping it's fake and these people don't have the thinnest skin on earth.
But it's a big problem I have with the rest of the country too. Everyone's such a whiny bitch now about every little thing. It's sad really.
Invisible_Insane
Member
hahaha
Maleficence
Member
De'Niro should apologise for making a terribly unfunny joke.
No you can't ... at all.
Well I suppose one could, but it would be entirely disingenuous.
Black Mamba
Member
While people in the political spectrum are "offended" for political gain most of the time, it's definitely true that people in all walks of life seem to be walking around waiting to be offended just so they can hear themselves talk.
it's quite annoying. Happens online, in the work place, among acquaintances, etc all the time. I mostly try to ignore them, but they can get damn annoying.
these are the type of people who stop allowing our children to play tag or win sporting events.
methinks you missed the point.
it's quite annoying. Happens online, in the work place, among acquaintances, etc all the time. I mostly try to ignore them, but they can get damn annoying.
these are the type of people who stop allowing our children to play tag or win sporting events.
methinks you missed the point.
teruterubozu
Member
Bill Maher said:
LOL. He'd have no show if that happened. How insincere.
nVidiot_Whore
Banned
Can't really agree with this.. nobody walks around wearing a Bill Maher t-shirt (ditto-heads were popular in the 90's), the Democratic Party didn't name him an honorary member of congress, and he simply isn't anywhere near as popular with anyone compared to how popular Rush has been at times on the Right, for an actual Political opinion.
I really don't think it's a great comparison.
Rush Limbaugh has truly been a part of Republican politics for 2 decades.. Bill Maher is just a guy who has been on HBO.. and who generally leans left. He isn't a spokesperson for anyone, whereas many in the past have claimed Limbaugh is a spokesperson for them.
PhoenixDark
Banned
It's a Colbert-esque sarcastic play on the situation. Previously there was the question of whether America was ready for a black first lady, now the question is whether we're ready for a white first lady.
Well Bill absolutely disagrees with anyone saying that. Currently listening to last weeks show.
He said he didn't understand how he was the "leader/voice" of the Democratic party. For one, he wasn't a democrat. And two, if he was the leader of the Democratic party pot would be legal by now.
But anyhow, who would you say is a better antithesis of Rush?
I think that donation really putt a mark on him. So yeah while Bill is "representative" of liberals, it's not exactly the same way. For one the Republican candidates seem completely afraid of disparaging Rush. Dems..I don't think they would care either way.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
lol Maher always manages to rib canada somewhere.
dave is ok
aztek is ok
If comment could be considered racist or sexist: Outrage from liberals
If comment could be considered anti-religious or morally depraved: Outrage from conservatives
If comment could be considered anti-religious or morally depraved: Outrage from conservatives
They're seriously almost as bad as Chuck Norris jokes.
This is definitely a major factor. We have too many news stations and not enough news.
Well we do have more than enough news, just not exciting news you can summarize in 2 minutes and doesn't require more than a few brain cells to process. So they have make up shit out of the most meaningless events.
nVidiot_Whore
Banned
I think it's one of the differences between the left and the right.. dems and republicans.
Just look at how popular Conservative radio talk-shows are and have been.
There's isn't an antithesis to Rush for the Democratic party.
Makes sense considering the difference between "Conservative" and "Liberal." The latter group isn't sitting around listening to the radio for direction in droves. The TV personalities on the left also don't do as well.. it's simply not as popular to get behind someone elses opinion on the left.
It's one thing to manufacture offense for political gain. De Niro's joke was really tame, and I have a hard time imagining that anyone was actually offended by it. It's not making fun of anybody; it's playing on the "is America ready for a black President/first lady" talk of the last election, and it's obvious that there's no substantive issue being raised, even.
To the extent that a speaker is politically relevant, though, it's important to keep two things in mind:
1. You can't just ignore what they're saying while remaining informed about politics. I don't know in advance what Obama is going to say, but I have a duty as a citizen to have some idea of what he's up to, so if he says something I find offensive I can reasonably demand an apology.
2. People who speak for lots of others need to be publicly called out because, if they're saying it, lots of people are thinking it. Limbaugh's recent comments needed to be called out because Limbaugh's audience is very large and much of it would have nodded along to what he said. It's a good thing to know where the misogynists are and to know who's willing to tolerate them.
Edit: Now, part of the reason politicians are always apologizing is that frequently it's just good politics. If Obama wanted to denounce Maher for stuff he's said and which the right kept bringing up when we were all talking about Limbaugh, that would all-in-all help Obama. Maher isn't important, and Obama comes off looking centrist for denouncing someone with a leftist reputation as well as much more pro-woman than the Republican candidates who couldn't bring themselves to call out Limbaugh for fear of his influence.
I use "apologizing" loosely to mean denouncing someone who's basically on your side, politically. It gets trickier when, as with De Niro, the event was endorsed/attended by (in this case) Michelle Obama. When you're the president or the first lady, or anything like that, you're a public figure and nothing you do in public is going to be private, and you have to conduct yourself in public in a manner befitting a head of state. Yeah, that means you can't go see Louis CK perform. On the other hand, you get to be president.
To the extent that a speaker is politically relevant, though, it's important to keep two things in mind:
1. You can't just ignore what they're saying while remaining informed about politics. I don't know in advance what Obama is going to say, but I have a duty as a citizen to have some idea of what he's up to, so if he says something I find offensive I can reasonably demand an apology.
2. People who speak for lots of others need to be publicly called out because, if they're saying it, lots of people are thinking it. Limbaugh's recent comments needed to be called out because Limbaugh's audience is very large and much of it would have nodded along to what he said. It's a good thing to know where the misogynists are and to know who's willing to tolerate them.
Edit: Now, part of the reason politicians are always apologizing is that frequently it's just good politics. If Obama wanted to denounce Maher for stuff he's said and which the right kept bringing up when we were all talking about Limbaugh, that would all-in-all help Obama. Maher isn't important, and Obama comes off looking centrist for denouncing someone with a leftist reputation as well as much more pro-woman than the Republican candidates who couldn't bring themselves to call out Limbaugh for fear of his influence.
I use "apologizing" loosely to mean denouncing someone who's basically on your side, politically. It gets trickier when, as with De Niro, the event was endorsed/attended by (in this case) Michelle Obama. When you're the president or the first lady, or anything like that, you're a public figure and nothing you do in public is going to be private, and you have to conduct yourself in public in a manner befitting a head of state. Yeah, that means you can't go see Louis CK perform. On the other hand, you get to be president.
Perspicacity
Banned
Yup, as a Canadian I am totally outraged by this.
His show isn't about being offended by the right. It's about calling them out for their bullshit.
I can't remember Maher *ever* asking someone from the right who said something offensive to apologize for it. He'll make fun of them or call them an asshole for it, but he never acts offended.
thezerofire
Banned
am I the only one who doesn't get De Niro's joke?
No, I'm still lost.
nVidiot_Whore
Banned
America is now used to the idea of having a Black President/First Lady.
The joke was a reference to the pre-Obama talk of "Is America ready for a black President/First Lady?"
It's not really that funny.. and certainly not offensive... other than the knee-jerk "Oh my God, he brought up race and color.. it must be racist!"
Racial humor != racist humor. Lost on a lot of people.
Neuromancer
Member
Hmm OK. Because the potential white first ladies in question are so terrible? Seems like a really bad joke.
That's kinda true. Which is both a curse and a blessing for Liberals. Conservatives are extremely motivated people.
B_Rik_Schitthaus
Banned
Man, the amount of political chaff that the Republicans fire out (and Democrats let themselves get dazed by) is shocking, no wonder barely anything gets done.
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