Imus in the Hot Seat

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(05_SilverPri @ Apr 13 2007, 09:58 AM) [snapback]422550[/snapback]</div>

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselect...-23-clear_x.htm

http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/rep...239&sid=200

Actually, that's exactly what the FCC has done. Under Bush. Just as an FYI...

Weird that they didn't find this offensive enough. I guess "love sponges" are just too much...jigaboos and hos aren't that bad...

There is no censorship here, at least from the gummint. They didn't do diddly that I've read about in this case. So, gimme a break. It's not censorship, it's not chilling...it's American capitalism at it's best. Imus is a financial liability, and he broke the rules of his company, so he's gone. I didn't think it warranted him getting fired, but it did...not at the gummint's bequest.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ Apr 10 2007, 08:52 AM) [snapback]420778[/snapback]</div>

I agree that the remarks are in poor taste, but so are Al Sharpton's and other radicals. Do we halt free speach or simply change the channel? Free speach - free choice - sounds better to me than mass censorship.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Apr 13 2007, 09:04 AM) [snapback]422555[/snapback]</div>

Note that i specifically said it wasn't the governments place to do this - All of those places you mentioned the government controls (or controlled) speech.

If you actually read what i wrote (doubtful, given your response), you would see that I advocate for the public to decide - decide with their wallets. It's something that everyone already does. When you drive past McDonald's and Wendy's and all other fast food restaurants because you know it's bad for you, you're deciding. You're making the conscious decision to avoid an unhealthy life style - If enough people did this, we would get to a tipping point where the unhealthy alternatives don't make money and go out of business, thus promoting a healthy life style for everyone.

The same is true with bigotry, racism, and sexism. Shows like Imus's are supported two ways - first by listening to them, and second by supporting the companies that sponsor such shows. By listening to them, you allow them to have a voice and to influence your way of thought. You also provide a listener base, the size of which can help attract sponsors. By supporting the companies that sponsor such shows, you are indirectly providing money to keep those shows running. Indirectly, you are supporting the crap that spews forth from their mouths.

It's up to every individual to make their own decision on who and what to support. This type of a decision is peaceful and doesn't infringe on anyone's freedoms or liberties. The first amendment stays intact. Other decisions over moral viewpoints have, in the past, led to civil war - this method allows us to make a similar impact on society without the bloodshed and violence, something i hope everyone could support.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Apr 13 2007, 09:18 AM) [snapback]422560[/snapback]</div>

Read and understand. Don't just spout nonsense. I support the first amendment (and all of them, for that matter). I believe Imus had every right to say what he said, and that he shouldn't be punished (criminally) for it. However, i also believe that it's up to the people of this great nation to decide what moral values they want to embrace. In this situation, those people rose up and said that bigotry, racism, and sexism aren't acceptable - the sponsors for the show saw this starting to happen and pulled their sponsor ship.

This is the most powerful form of democracy there is. Rule of the people, by the people, and for the people.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Apr 13 2007, 07:28 AM) [snapback]422566[/snapback]</div>

In my opinion, we should be looking out for more than democracy. We should be looking out for protecting the minority from the majority.

What you're describing is a good way to have unpopular speech suppressed. I'm against that, whether it's by the government or by blacklisting by a majority.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Apr 13 2007, 09:28 AM) [snapback]422566[/snapback]</div>

Where is your outrage at the rap songs playing day in and day out calling women MFin Ho's and Btchs?

Every radio station that plays this should have the programming manager fired.

 

I don't listen to those songs or stations. To the best of my knowledge, i don't support any company that chooses to affiliate themselves with such rappers. As far as i'm concerned, i'm doing my part - eventually enough people will find that type of talk repulsive, and with any luck rapping about that stuff will go out of style.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Apr 13 2007, 09:28 AM) [snapback]422566[/snapback]</div>

This wasn't rule by the people. This was a few media elites who decided they didn't like Imus anymore so they decided to have the clip played over and over again. After hearing it and seeing it so many times the Al Sharpton's and Jesse Jackson saw a wounded duck and went for blood. So now is every media type who calls someone a whore or who' or who says knappy-headed going to get the same treatment? What if someone is called a prostitute? Or is it just offensive if it is used as slang?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Apr 13 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]422580[/snapback]</div>

What fantasyland are you from? Do you ever watch TV or listen to the radio(just npr?) I rarely watch tv anymore, but when I do that talk and attitude is almost everywhere. Do you think Toyota ever advertises on stations that play rap and hip hop? Has Toyota ever advertised on MTV. All kinds of things you buy are underwriting this, so stop being a hypocrit and acting like it is just a problem in some far off land.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Apr 13 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]422580[/snapback]</div>

So, don't listen to Imus. Easy enough, but not enough.

The big idiots had to march on the station, have meetings with the board, and yap into the cameras to get Imus canned. Ok, if that's how this country feels about this type of content, then...

I'm asking where these same big idiots are when it comes to the 10x offensive content streaming on the airwaves day in and day out?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Apr 13 2007, 09:45 AM) [snapback]422588[/snapback]</div>

Yes, i watch TV and listen to the radio. However, i don't have never subscribed to shows that spout this sort of drivel. And as i said, it's to the best of my knowledge, based on what i read and hear from the media and other sources on the internet. I don't have perfect information, but i AM doing what i can to avoid supporting companies that support such comments.

It's not at all hypocritical to say what you believe, and back it up to the best of your abilities. What exactly is the problem that's in a "far off land"? As i said, i'm doing what i can. It's not perfect, it's not a lot, but it's what i can do.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Apr 13 2007, 09:41 AM) [snapback]422582[/snapback]</div>

If it's untrue - it's slander.

Are you advocating frivous defamation?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daronspicher @ Apr 13 2007, 09:46 AM) [snapback]422590[/snapback]</div>

Everything has to start somewhere. Looking way back, we had slaves at one point. What do you think people said when they freed the first slave? Was it "Where are they when it comes to the thousands of others"? Or was it "Thats one, lets start working on the rest now"?

Going more recent, what about breaking down the walls of segregation? or women's rights? There's a starting place for everything. Hopefully this can be a starting point that will help transform our society into a more understanding and accepting society.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sunnyvale Prius @ Apr 13 2007, 09:35 AM) [snapback]422575[/snapback]</div>

We are protecting the minority. What Imus said wouldn't even have raised an eyebrow ~40 years; it would have only gotten laughs. Heck, it probably would have gotten him elected if he'd wanted to run for office.

I don't get why people won't understand that there is, what I would call, an acceptable hypocrisy here. I am wholly happy with Caucasians being held to a stronger standard with regards to this kind of speech. Namely because we used such speech to enslave, oppress, lynch, and degrade African Americans with pretty much impunity until the 1960s. We did it for HUNDREDS of years. We lost the moral right to use phrases like "nappy headed ho's." And back when we did use those phrases, remember, we were being "moral". We were protecting the integrity of our culture, our women, our genes, from the "inferior" races.

Saying that rappers, etc., use this language, doesn't excuse any Caucasian calling a bunch of successful college girls "nappy headed hos." That context is important too. If Imus had said the same about some backup singers for a rapper we wouldn't even be discussing this. Not because it wouldn't have still been offensive, but simply because the backup singers' "ho-ness" or lack thereof would have been too uncertain/muddled an issue for unanimous outrage. The success of the Rutgers team, in contrast, is what made the Imus quote seem unusually harsh.

I myself am surprised Imus was fired, and will find it interesting to hear what the girls and he say of their meeting last night.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MegansPrius @ Apr 13 2007, 09:57 AM) [snapback]422602[/snapback]</div>

Just posted:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/13/i...tion=cnn_latest

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(livelychick @ Apr 13 2007, 09:21 AM) [snapback]422562[/snapback]</div>

My point was that Godiva was implying that the FCC should have done something and it was Bush's fault they didn't. BTW - the FCC can only respond to complaints about what occurs. This all happened at light speed compared to the usual government time frames, so even if they wanted to the FCC wouldn't have done anything for probably two years.

I agree it is not censorship, and MSNBC and CBS had every right to fire Imus for whatever reason they wanted. Notice that both originally stated he was suspended for two weeks. When the sponsors stared pulling out they changed their minds. Nothing wrong with that, but recognize it for what it is. A financial decision, pure and simple. If the sponsors were still on board, Imus would still be on board. His firing has nothing to do with “doing the right thingâ€.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Apr 13 2007, 09:51 AM) [snapback]422596[/snapback]</div>

Like what happened to the Duke Lacrosse players? No I am not.

How much tv or radio would you have to witness to find someone saying something about someone that wasn't true. What he said was 'hos'. I think in todays pop world the definition could be construed to mean a million different things besides a prostitute. I think in many instances the term 'ho' is substituted for woman or women. I am not saying that is right, but I am saying it is what is happening.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Apr 13 2007, 10:05 AM) [snapback]422613[/snapback]</div>

Then people are being way too careless about what they say.

That was only part of the problem with Imus's phrase.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Apr 13 2007, 10:09 AM) [snapback]422618[/snapback]</div>

I am not defending what he said, just defending his right to say it on the air without being censored. When will this current air waves "scare" end? So was the offensive term knappy? Or using the two terms together? Who will be the judge and jury about what is said on the airwaves now? I know the fcc is supposed to play this role, but what critieria will they use. "Knappy-headed 'ho' is not enough to get anyone thrown off the airwaves. This was censorship.