• Welcome to the new Internet Infidels Discussion Board, formerly Talk Freethought.

Bill Maher and the n-word

Don2 (Don1 Revised)

Don2 (Don1 Revised)

Contributor
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
13,450
Location
USA
Basic Beliefs
non-practicing agnostic
Well, politically incorrect Bill Maher has done it again. He's said something politically incorrect. And he does that all the time.

Use of the n-word is also offensive and insensitive.

However, look at the context:

His guest on the show was Senator Ben Sasse, who asked the host, “Would you like to come work in the field with us?" Maher responded, “Work in the fields? Senator, I am a house n—.”
Click to expand...

The point isn't to degrade anyone, and there's a point about consciousness of class in there.

There are people who are calling for his job.

Is that too much?
 
I was expecting the worst when I first read about this, but after seeing the video yesterday, I think people are way over-reacting. The context matters. It was actually kind of a funny joke he made. The left-wing authoritarians progressives need to chillax a bit and stop trying to destroy peoples' lives because they got offended by a silly joke or a slip of the tongue.

There was similar situation with Larry Elmore and Pres Obama, where he called him "my nigga". It was a joke, not a pejorative insult.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzMgCeVmQ-4[/YOUTUBE]
 
thebeave said:
I was expecting the worst when I first read about this, but after seeing the video yesterday, I think people are way over-reacting. The context matters. It was actually kind of a funny joke he made. The left-wing authoritarians progressives need to chillax a bit and stop trying to destroy peoples' lives because they got offended by a silly joke or a slip of the tongue.

There was similar situation with Larry Elmore and Pres Obama, where he called him "my nigga". It was a joke, not a pejorative insult.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzMgCeVmQ-4[/YOUTUBE]
Click to expand...

Yeah, this. ^ Let Maher keep his job.
 
"...progressives..."

"...left..."

A lot of the outrage is also attacking the "left" for not being outraged.

...and also "Jews."
 
Isn't the idea of there being words that only people with a certain skin color are privileged enough to say, racist by the very definition?
 
Derec said:
Isn't the idea of there being words that only people with a certain skin color are privileged enough to say, racist by the very definition?
Click to expand...

This is one of the only times I agree with you.

The N-word is horribly offensive, and I might be fine with people suffering great consequences for using the word if there wasn't this double standard. But there is this double standard and it's even more offensive.
 
Derec said:
Isn't the idea of there being words that only people with a certain skin color are privileged enough to say, racist by the very definition?
Click to expand...

Sure but what are you getting at? I have used the word nigger regularly, and what really matters is context. It's one thing to call someone your nigger when he's a close friend. It's another thing to shout it at a total stranger because he cut in front of you at the dairy queen.

Nigger is actually an interesting word because of its dual nature. It can represent close kinship and bitter racial loathing all at the same time. Who knows where the next few decades will take it from there.
 
Don2 (Don1 Revised) said:
Well, politically incorrect Bill Maher has done it again. He's said something politically incorrect. And he does that all the time.

Use of the n-word is also offensive and insensitive.

However, look at the context:

His guest on the show was Senator Ben Sasse, who asked the host, “Would you like to come work in the field with us?" Maher responded, “Work in the fields? Senator, I am a house n—.”
Click to expand...

The point isn't to degrade anyone, and there's a point about consciousness of class in there.

There are people who are calling for his job.

Is that too much?
Click to expand...

It's way to much.
When there is no intent of saying it as an insulting racial slur, but to use the word to make some other valid point, then saying "N-word" is actually worse than saying "nigger". "N-word" puts the word into every listeners mind, so has an identical effect, but tries to evade responsibility for doing so. Louis C.K. made this very valid point in a stand-up routine, and it applies here.
IOW, its no worse to say it, than for all those talking about him saying it, replacing the word with "N-word".
 
I think context matters. Even more so, who says it matters as well. There's a big difference between Bill Maher saying this and Strom Thurmond saying the same thing. If you cannot see why this is so (looking at Derec) it may be because you're part of the problem.

Nothing much to see here in my opinion.
 
zorq said:
Derec said:
Isn't the idea of there being words that only people with a certain skin color are privileged enough to say, racist by the very definition?
Click to expand...

This is one of the only times I agree with you.

The N-word is horribly offensive, and I might be fine with people suffering great consequences for using the word if there wasn't this double standard. But there is this double standard and it's even more offensive.
Click to expand...

According to ronburgundy, your post is even worse because you used the word "n-word." Agree or disagree?
 
Don2 (Don1 Revised) said:
zorq said:
This is one of the only times I agree with you.

The N-word is horribly offensive, and I might be fine with people suffering great consequences for using the word if there wasn't this double standard. But there is this double standard and it's even more offensive.
Click to expand...

According to ronburgundy, your post is even worse because you used the word "n-word." Agree or disagree?
Click to expand...

Disagree. I haven't seen Louis C.K's material on this so I can't speak to his point in deeper context but I have some thoughts. Using the uncensored word unapologetically in contexts that ought be legitimate and unoffensive speaks more to the confidence of the speaker about a theoretical position that this word has legitimate uses. While I agree with this hypothetical speaker, I am torn by the rules of etiquette I was raised with which compel me to avoid causing offence even if that offence may be irrational and unwarranted.

If I have a choice to refer to a concept that I know may be repulsive in the extreme to some of my audience whom I do not want to offend, I WILL seek cover and try to avoid that offence if I can while conveying the concept in a way that does not cause confusion. Why not? It isn't cowardly, it's courtesy.
 
This is much ado about absolutely nothing.

On a live show Maher called HIMSELF a house (you know what).

As a joke.

He did not call some other person a dirty (you know what) as an insult.

Maher has had many African Americans on his show. He's not perfect but trying to make him out to be some big racist is insane.
 
When did the left become the censors and the right become the free speech advocates? I'm still confused by that switch. I remember not too long ago when it was the left pushing the boundaries and pushing for free speech. Now the worst of anti-free-speech is on the left.
 
Jolly_Penguin said:
When did the left become the censors and the right become the free speech advocates? I'm still confused by that switch. I remember not too long ago when it was the left pushing the boundaries and pushing for free speech. Now the worst of anti-free-speech is on the left.
Click to expand...

Who knows who is behind all this alleged outrage?

People are calling and writing to HBO.

Maybe nothing but right wingers.
 
This was an unscripted off-the-cuff attempt by Bill Maher to say something "politically incorrect" that he thought would get a laugh. He crossed the line and now realizes that. He apologized. This kind of thing happens a lot these days as comedians try to push the envelope on what they can get away with. Donald Trump is an erstwhile entertainer who thinks he is a comedian. He gets away with far worse and has even bragged repeatedly that he could literally shoot someone and not lose supporters. So I think we need to cut real comedians like Bill Maher, Kathy Griffin, and Stephen Colbert some slack when they make these blunders, especially if they apologize. Trump never apologizes, so I don't think we ought to cut him any slack. The real comedians, at least, have the decency to appear contrite.
 
I would be interested to know if there's a particular affiliation that dominates the complaining about this. I used to feel repulsed at just conservatives but lately am feeling it more and more towards liberals as well, so I'm keeping score at which nincomp**ps say what.
 
Jolly_Penguin said:
When did the left become the censors and the right become the free speech advocates? I'm still confused by that switch. I remember not too long ago when it was the left pushing the boundaries and pushing for free speech. Now the worst of anti-free-speech is on the left.
Click to expand...

The right aren't for free speech. They claim they are, but they aren't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom