I don't think we should be invalidating the feelings of any black person that were hurt by saying disqualifying things like "it's just a word". It was completely up to old Bill to want to apologize or not, he has that right and others have the right to not give their audience to his shows.

In my personal opinion, he deserves the backlash. As a side note, I don't think it's possible for Bill (anyone really) to piece together house and nigger so effortlessly in a conversation unless they frequently use it or are surrounded by people that use it. At the end of the day Bill does what he does for his own profit and not for some superior moralistic reasons.

(June 10, 2017 at 2:10 pm)pool the matey Wrote: I don't think we should be invalidating the feelings of any black person that were hurt by saying disqualifying things like "it's just a word". It was completely up to old Bill to want to apologize or not, he has that right and others have the right to not give their audience to his shows.

In my personal opinion, he deserves the backlash. As a side note, I don't think it's possible for Bill (anyone really) to piece together house and nigger so effortlessly in a conversation unless they frequently use it or are surrounded by people that use it. At the end of the day Bill does what he does for his own profit and not for some superior moralistic reasons.

I'm going to take the side of people should grow the fuck up. We need to start invalidating derogatory terms and start treating them like words that have no meaning. 
No one takes offense to these words anymore Gadzooks, Bejabbers, Dad-Sizzle, Tunderation, Consarn it!, G. Rover Cripes!, By the double  barreled Jumping Jimiinetty.
See these swear words are hilarious does anyone find them offensive no because they are just words hilarious words. And consarn it im gonna have a muckspouting good time 
using them.

Yeah 400 years of slavery says that word isn't going to be invalidated.

If the worst thing Bill Maher has to do is let black people fucking talk for a half an hour, then he made out just fine. To his credit, he let them talk.

(June 10, 2017 at 5:09 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Yeah 400 years of slavery says that word isn't going to be invalidated.

If the worst thing Bill Maher has to do is let black people fucking talk for a half an hour, then he made out just fine. To his credit, he let them talk.

Bill didn't "Let" them talk, that implies some absolute power, and on a social level he is compassionate so there was no "letting" going on. He said something stupid, he had no legal obligation no, but when people responded his compassion kicked in.

It does not even matter that I get the context he meant it in, some things go over well and others don't. 

Why is it the big Afro's in the spoof of Star Wars "Spaceballs" got a pass and South Park or Dave Shapel get a pass? Timing and context. 

I really do understand the objections, and it does matter that words you use in close company with people you know vs a general public. 

Even atheists know this. I have had religious friends tease me about being an atheist and call me a heathen. And even here we use stereotypes as jokes to poke fun of the far right bigots. Bill was wrong, not because of his intent, but his context and timing. 

Same with Kathy, everyone knew she wasn't literally calling for the death of the President, but still, that was not the way to make a statement.

Oh for rods sake

1. He was referring to himself

2. He already apologized

(June 10, 2017 at 2:10 pm)pool the matey Wrote: I don't think we should be invalidating the feelings of any black person that were hurt by saying disqualifying things like "it's just a word". It was completely up to old Bill to want to apologize or not, he has that right and others have the right to not give their audience to his shows.

In my personal opinion, he deserves the backlash. As a side note, I don't think it's possible for Bill (anyone really) to piece together house and nigger so effortlessly in a conversation unless they frequently use it or are surrounded by people that use it. At the end of the day Bill does what he does for his own profit and not for some superior moralistic reasons.

I agree, it is not just a word, in the same way atheists know when the word "atheist" is used just as a description between us, or sarcasm between us to make fun of religious bigots, and the difference when a bigot uses the same word aimed at us.

Any word can become a pejorative over time. Those whom are the target over long periods of time and have been persecuted over long periods can still feel the effects of that word even when times change.

He got the backlash yes, but he does not deserve any long term punishment. 

If you are going to claim that Bill is solely out for profit then the same can be said for Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter and between the three it would be an absolute absurdity to claim between them Bill is racist or even close to the other two.

I have no problem with liberals being blunt or using sarcasm or humor, Bill simply wasn't thinking, but he is not a racist.

if he would not have eaten all the shit last night he would no longer be on the air. Let's face it. Good thing for us fans he did.

manowar

The simple fact is that the word nigger is offensive.
It has no other meaning or context.
Maher shouldn't have used it and I'm glad he apologised even though he clearly didn't mean it in an insulting manner.
But for someone who has made literally millions from songs featuring the regular use of the word nigger to tell him he can't use it because he's the wrong colour is beyond hypocrisy.

(June 10, 2017 at 7:24 pm)Zen Badger Wrote: The simple fact is that the word nigger is offensive.
It has no other meaning or context.
Maher shouldn't have used it and I'm glad he apologised even though he clearly didn't mean it in an insulting manner.
But for someone who has made literally millions from songs featuring the regular use of the word nigger to tell him he can't use it because he's the wrong colour is beyond hypocrisy.

If it's offensive even in the context of you using it now and no context is not offensive then are you going to appologise for being offensive now?

If just the word is offensive and you know it to be so then you must be trying to offend someone by using it.

---

Ice Cube is going to talk to Bill Maher about his using this word anyway and how it's offensive.

I'm in the mood to listen to some Ice Cube right now actually............






Lyrics
No stringy haired, blonde
hair, blue eyed, pale skinned buttermilk complexion. Grafted, recessive,
depressive, ironing board backside straight up and straight down. No
frills, no thrills, Miss six o'clock, subject to have the itch, mutanoid,
caucazoid, white cave bitch.

(June 10, 2017 at 7:28 pm)paulpablo Wrote:

(June 10, 2017 at 7:24 pm)Zen Badger Wrote: The simple fact is that the word nigger is offensive.
It has no other meaning or context.
Maher shouldn't have used it and I'm glad he apologised even though he clearly didn't mean it in an insulting manner.
But for someone who has made literally millions from songs featuring the regular use of the word nigger to tell him he can't use it because he's the wrong colour is beyond hypocrisy.

If it's offensive even in the context of you using it now and no context is not offensive then are you going to appologise for being offensive now?

If I had typed the word as ni**er would that have made it less offensive?
if I had referred to it as the N word would that make it acceptable?
That it is an offensive word doesnt mean I can't spell it out in an adult fashion.

If just the word is offensive and you know it to be so then you must be trying to offend someone by using it.

---

Ice Cube is going to talk to Bill Maher about his using this word anyway and how it's offensive.

I'm in the mood to listen to some Ice Cube right now actually............






Lyrics
No stringy haired, blonde
hair, blue eyed, pale skinned buttermilk complexion. Grafted, recessive,
depressive, ironing board backside straight up and straight down. No
frills, no thrills, Miss six o'clock, subject to have the itch, mutanoid,
caucazoid, white cave bitch.