Even more Wankery that we find acceptable...

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

While I generally disagree with his politics I think Mr. Savage raises an excellent point.

Now consider this...

Bill Maher and NYT's David Carr the "Middle Places" and "Low-Sloping Foreheads".

I apologise for linking as I seem to be having trouble embedding the video.

Now I would assume that both men in the second video consider themselves to be reasonably intelligent and enlightened men. If accused of being racist or bigoted I would imagine that they would be properly offended.

Which is why I'm going to ask an uncomfortable question, why is it ok to disparage one socio-political/ethnic class as stupid, dangerous, useless, ect... but not another. Would his comments have been more or less offensive had he been talking about "Fags" "Twats" "Spics" "Wops" "Chinks" or *Gasp* "N*ggers"?

Discuss.

Comments

[surferelf.livejournal.com]

White privilege is no myth, it was the law of the land for centuries until living memory. Lois C.K. recently pointed out on the Tonight Show that an African American person with gray hair probably knows what it's like to have to use a separate bathroom. The whole society in the U.S. was designed from the ground up to lift up white men and push everybody else down. Everyone alive in the U.S. today directly benefits from or is harmed by the inertia of institutionalized brutality and oppression. To hand-wave this away as "context" is to ignore reality. To claim that everyone is now equal when we are clearly not, is to perpetuate inequality.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

People who live in the MidLands are not a protected class, nor are they a specific class. They are homogeneous.

Carr was using that term to reflect a simpler life (which, compared to living in a large city, IS simpler) and a simpler APPROACH to life.

Mahr, a comedian, made a joke about how "his" state is "smarter" than "another state". Yes...and...?

Carr joked about people who live in a particular state. His words were funny, (except to Slope). Oh BooHoo. Tell me a Texas Joke.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

I love those interviews. Brings out the truth in people.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Which is why I'm going to ask an uncomfortable question, why is it ok to but not another. Would his comments have been more or less offensive had he been talking about..

Answer: It is not OK to do such things. In this case, the question is moot. In this case, no one disparage any particular socio-political/ethnic class as stupid, dangerous, useless, ect... someone goofed on a region of the US that moves at a slower tempo than they are used to (Living in Atlanta and living in Ponca City is two different speeds, and that is NOT a disparage it is a fact).

It would most definitely been more offensive to any group mentioned, unless they had a magnificent sense of humor.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

So your solution would be to tell people to shut up an conform?

Likewise, are you saying that if it were advantagous for me to pretend to be jewish (to gain access to a scolarship for example) it would be permitable for me to do so?

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Aside from being popular in inner city niehborhoods? nothing.

Kind of like how there isn't anything "redneck" about American football aside from the fact that it is most often played in rural areas.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

More like "Rural white = stupid and inbred" but yes.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Including yours.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Oh, its not PC.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Of course, the core question is "is it ok to disparage broad catagories of people?" Why/Why not?

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

And I would actually agree with you.

But as Mr. Savage points out, we seem to be willing to let a lot of shit slide when it's someone who is ostensibly on our side. Conservative's let Rush Limbaugh practically get away with murder but throw them selves into a tizzy if Bill Maher calls Sarah Palin a "Stupid Cunt". Likewise many liberals seem to tie themselves in knots over the supposed racism of the Tea Party but see nothing wrong with classifying the entire population of the midwest and inbred hicks and neanderthals.

It's Bullshit in either case.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgRGpbVYZz0

[rasilio.livejournal.com]

Not really, this way of thinking has been prevalent in the South for several generations. At least since the late 60's.

[rasilio.livejournal.com]

No it is not and I can prove it.

I challenge you to believe that the opposite of what your current beliefs regarding the existence of a diety for 30 minutes.

Not to think about it, to to say you believe it, but to actually believe it.

The fact we we do not have very much if any conscious control over what we believe and to the extent that we can control it generally takes years to decades of "faking" it before we really change our thought processes with no guarantee during that time that we will ultimately be successful

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Broad category? Mouthbreakers aren't a 'broad category of people'

When you abstract it to the point where it could mean anyone then it is not offensive to any particular subset of people.

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

No, you are misreading just about everything so far.

[bikinisquad3000.livejournal.com]

Oh my, no, that's not how it works. One's beliefs aren't changed simply by deciding to change them; you need some new information from an outside source to convince you that you were incorrect earlier. Asking someone to change their beliefs by sheer act of will, without any info they didn't have before you asked, only proves that that's not the way to do it.

We absolutely have conscious control over whether we willingly risk challenging our beliefs by seeking out more information on Subject X and considering it seriously, or decide instead to ignore or reject anything that might shake our current convictions.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Ah, so you believe in the intelligent design of society rather than the scientific consensus of evolution. Interesting.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

And it's ok to make fun of them for that?

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Since it's every person on earth, I'd say it's pretty broad.

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

yes.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

Regarding Dan Savage's comments, it's one thing to say "don't give them a platform" but then when you do, that's infringing on someone's right of free speech. I don't like or agree with what the Westboro Baptist Church has to say, but it's their right as citizens of this country to say it.
If you don't like someone's message, you're not required to listen but discounting what they have to say because YOU disagree with it is you trying to force your beliefs onto them and the world at large. Counterpoints make the world go 'round.

[surferelf.livejournal.com]

Society is artificial. Like the computer I'm typing on, it is a by-product of evolution, but it was designed by people. It's not that I think the founding fathers were menacingly twirling their mustaches. It's just that the people in power make decisions based upon their self-interest.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

That's sad.