Don Imus - What was he thinking?

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Hello Pelicans,

I searched the off-topic to see if anyone had something to say about Don Imus and his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. He is known for being shocking and raw, racial jokes and stabs at homosexuals and remarks about jews, etc.

What was he thinking? Who was he trying to entertain? David Duke is probably the only person in America who still thinks it is funny to launch a racial epithet like that.

Those are teenage girls he was talking about. They are someone's daughter, sister and friend. Is national television a forum to insult humanity? That kind of comment is not even appropriate in a bar full of Tennessee fans. If he said that same comment in my car, he would have to get out and walk.

I tuned in this morning just to see if he would still be on the air. He was sorry about his comments. A few years ago, he called Gwen Ifill of the News Hour a "cleaning lady", and was sorry about it after a storm of disapproval. I feel angry and insulted and I have nothing in common with the target of his insults, except that I am human. Can God's children be treated so badly and we have nothing to say about it?

[legion]

Never heard of the guy.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

For those who don't know, Don Imus is a morning radio talk show character who does commentary on sports, politics and other topics of the day. He has been on the air for thirty years. He started out when Archie Bunker was funny. He obviously did not get the memo that says making fun of people who are different is not cool.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/07/arts/television/07imus.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fI%2f Imus%2c%20Don&oref=slogin

[RallyJon]

Wow, you're clearly very bent out of shape over this.

I read the article and it's certainly rude and inappropriate, but I'm not sure how this is worse than the millions of other insensitive, rude, off color jokes and comments about race, gender, sexual orientation and disability that morning jocks like Imus and Howard Stern have made for years.

[Neilk]

Comment was stupid, but like John said nothing to get all bent out of shape in my opinion.

The funniest thing though is that Howard Stern was playing and commenting on Imus' apology... Wow that was worst than his initial comment.. He made excuses that he helps african/americans and even eats with them and lets them stay in his house, so he's not racist...

[Nostril Cheese]

Imus sucks. who cares?

[bt1211]

The comment was tastless but I dont get all the hoopla.....and I am nappyheaded.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Originally posted by RallyJon
Wow, you're clearly very bent out of shape over this.

I read the article and it's certainly rude and inappropriate, but I'm not sure how this is worse than the millions of other insensitive, rude, off color jokes and comments about race, gender, sexual orientation and disability that morning jocks like Imus and Howard Stern have made for years.

Maybe it is the cumulative effect of years of hearing this type of stuff... but this should just stop sometime. Now is as good a time as any. It should be enough already. It should have been enough when Kramer went bizerk at the comedy club.

I stopped going to a barber who cut my hair for years because he said he didn't want anyone "ethnic" to be served in his business. He was talking about why he chose to stop offering manicure services. Too many of "those" people wanted their nails done. His shop recently went out of business, and I wonder if it has anything to do with his general contempt for non-white, non-christian, non-heterosexuals.

I just wish that America would grow up and realize that it is ok to be different. It makes me sad and angry when another human being is degraded for someone else's entertainment.

[Nostril Cheese]

"Looking back on when I was a little nappy headed boy"

[M.D. Holloway]

The guy was better when he was with 66 WNBC and coked up. Clearly he doesn't feel he has any boundries. Wouldn't it be a nice twist if these various celebs were respectful? Then again, maybe they would get the airtime and listener-ship that the shockers get. Look at Pam, Nicole, Britney, Paris and the like. People like the gross and obscene. Nice is boring.

Tell you what, if that was my daughter he called a ho, I would make sure the news caught my requesting a meet'n with Mr. Imus and settle it behind some closed doors.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by JeffreyNMemphis
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/07/arts/television/07imus.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fI%2f Imus%2c%20Don&oref=slogin

“That’s some rough girls from Rutgers,” Mr. Imus said on Wednesday. “Man, they got tattoos ...” The program’s executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, agreed: “Some hardcore ho’s,” he said. Imus continued, “That’s some nappy-headed ho’s there, I’m going to tell you that.”

Later in the show, Mr. McGuirk characterized the women’s collegiate basketball championship Tuesday night, between Rutgers and the University of Tennessee, as “the Jigaboos versus the Wannabes.””

Pretty bad, I don't watch or listen to their program (since the war on Iraq), lots of ugly and mean stuff being said all the time.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by JeffreyNMemphis
If he said that same comment in my car, he would have to get out and walk.

+1

However, I think people have a right to express themselves, even if what they say is abhorrent. Free speech allows people to expose themselves for what they are.

[Moneyguy1]

"Billy Saul Hargus of the 'First Church of the Gooey Death and Discount House of Worship' in Del Rio, Texas".

How does Imus differ from other "opiners" and shock jocks? At least he doesn't claim to be a "newsman".

[VincentVega]

Anyone else hear what Howard said about him today? If true, if makes sense he's still saying this kind of stuff.

Idiot

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Nostril Cheese
Imus sucks. who cares?

Agreed...ditto many others in the media. I figure that why there are other stations to listen to or watch, and there is always the off switch. Out of curiosity, I listened to air america for about 15 minutes...some (female dog) liberal giving an "I hate Bush and he's sooo stupid" rant. I never went back....but I didn't think she should be fired or anything.

[berettafan]

I listened to him some time ago but quickly got tired of hearing him talk about what a cokehead he was. It's like he's proud of it.

But really, he's not paid with my tax money so i don't care what he says.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by JeffreyNMemphis
It makes me sad and angry when another human being is degraded for someone else's entertainment.

Do you think Jeff Foxworthy is funny?

[berettafan]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Do you think Jeff Foxworthy is funny?

Not even remotely. And i shoot ducks, drive a pickup and know the difference between IC, Mod and Full.

Bill Cosby is edgier than that moron.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

I agree with the concept of free speech. And all of the people who shock jock have an audience who appreciates there views or listens cause they don't like their views and feel compelled to listen anyway.

However, the Don Imus show is not really free speech. His advertisers pay for it, and when we buy a ticket from Orbitz, or one of the other advertisers we pay for it. I am not a huge fan of Mr. Imus, but I did watch him some mornings. Berating politicians for not funding cancer research or other opinions about substantive issues didn't bother me. For some reason, this incident is just different from the usual "anyone famous is fairgame" poking. The players that he freely felt like insulting are teenage girls, and somehow the jab and his particular choice of words felt worse to me than if he used the "N" word.

I lived in Europe for a year and it changed me. I left the daily climate of intolerance that is tolerated so easily here in the USA. When I came back, it hit me with a nasty odor. I don't think that arabs are "rag heads" or any of the other nasty things that people here say about someone who is different from the majority in Vermont.

Maybe because I am now forty-something, but I feel degraded when I hear someone disparage a whole race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. for essentially trying to live and enjoy life. I regret listening to off color jokes and not saying something for fear of losing my own sense of comfort among my peers or co-workers.

[rammstein]

Who listens to talk shows anyhow? Its like listening to another person's inferior processing of information that itself is of questionable accuracy. Its like walking by the breakroom at work and hearing people talk about the news. Horrible. I know- lets selectively reveal information in a manner that proves a point I am trying to make, while ignoring data that may put doubt on it.

As for this guy- yeah, he sounds like a douche. But he should be allowed to say anything. And for those who have a problem, ante-up and refuse to patronize the sponsors until they drop him or he apologizes for whatever pissed you off in the first place.

Just don't ask someone to 'regulate' him. Speak with your wallet- money is what makes the world go around.