[VaSteve]

Originally posted by speeder
I am going to agree w/ this up to a point, people definitely say things they don't really mean in anger. Also, none of us are perfect people and there is a little (or a lot) of bigotry and racism under the surface of most people if you scratched the surface hard enough. Like someone said above, we are civilised people which means that we keep that beast in the cage. Until it gets out..................

The problem w/ M. Richards was that the guy was merely heckling him, and after Richards started it. (The black guys were talking during his stand-up routine). It was so unproportional to whatever imagined offense occurred, just insane. To pull out the most hateful word in the english language when used directly by a white person against a black one, and scream it repeatedly w/ some lynching references thrown in, lets face it, there is no rational explanation or excuse for it. And he did not just hurt the guy(s) he was arguing with, there was a whole room full of black people there!! Un-*******-believable. (I'm assuming here, but the Laugh Factory usually has a pretty black crowd).

So under different circumstances I could understand, (if not condone), his using that word, this would not fall under that heading for me. Unless of course he was insane, in which case it all makes kooky sense.

Ever seen anyone (or yourself) get pissed at someone, maybe your girl or whatever and just unleash? Say all kinds of **** you don't mean, just to "win" the arguement? Ever been embarassed? Someone ever some to your job and tell you in front of a whole bunch of other people that you're no good at it? Repeatedly? Might be just a little frustrating, might make you really mad. Combine the these two things and this it probably what you've got happening here.

It's not like you can go through life not knowing that word and what it means and it's not supposed to be used. I could see MR getting mad and not winning against this heckler. Something snaps and stuff like this comes out. When you release the flood gates you're in it to win it, taboo/inappropriate or not.

Based on my understanding I don't think this one is like the Mel Gibson thing at all...certainly that was unprovoked and clearly didn't make sense.