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geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 03:42 PM Jun 2017

Kathy Griffin and Bill Maher say offensive stuff in order to get attention for themselves.

This seems like an obvious point, but their entire schtick is to offend people and go beyond what's considered appropriate.

They've gotten rich doing so, despite their lack of other talents. (Griffin was a wannabe Joan Rivers who's now a wannabe Amy Schumer).

They are victims of no one but themselves when they go so far as to find themselves criticized on all sides because the attention they sought is not positive.

They're not worth defending.

Is the scalp-taking ugly and unseemly? Of course.

But, we do it all the time. If those are the rules we're gonna live by, then professional trolls on the nominal left are going to have to deal with it.

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bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
1. Please expand on "the professional trolls of the nominal left"
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 03:45 PM
Jun 2017

I can't tell if you mean people defending this shit or pivoting to economic discussions or those who are genuinely bothered by the slurs?

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)
2. A consistent metric
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 03:50 PM
Jun 2017

if it would be offensive if Rush Limbaugh used the N-word, it's offensive when anyone on the left does it as well. If hideously violent imagery is offensive when the right does it, it's offensive coming from the left.
I think there are some things that are just generally unacceptable in terms of civility and common decency.

BeyondGeography

(39,284 posts)
3. Two different people
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 03:53 PM
Jun 2017

Bill Maher is worth defending IMO because there's a lot more to his act than offending people. Watch any one of his shows and you'd know that (which I suspect you do anyway). Kathy Griffin is an uninteresting mediocrity in comparison.

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)
4. Everyone does. But you can only use the word if it applies to yourself, too. That's the rule.
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 03:56 PM
Jun 2017

So a female comedian could call Clinton a "c word" in 2008. And a Black comedian can use the "N word". If you are not a member of the slurred group, you use an euphemism like "N word". Otherwise every hater out their will seize the opportunity to use the slur on the grounds that so and so on TV used it.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
7. yeah, especially Griffin, who somehow managed to be the less sympathetic figure
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 04:01 PM
Jun 2017

in a p.r. battle with the Tr*mp family. I guess maybe she does have a talent, as that's quite a rare feat.

gulliver

(13,142 posts)
12. Let those without sin cast the first stone.
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 04:24 PM
Jun 2017

Poor liberalism is ill served by what Maher's critics are demonstrating. Priggishness + inhumanity + humorlessness. There are two sides to that human flaw. One is that when we liberals show it, we disgrace liberalism and set back its causes. The other is that it opens the door a crack to Pol Pot style boneheadedness and cruelty.

Maher has apologized. Now it is time for all those who criticized him to apologize too.

gulliver

(13,142 posts)
14. A lot of people who owe apologies think they don't.
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 05:26 PM
Jun 2017

There's a huge apology deficit in the world. It's better to overpay when it comes to apologies.

applegrove

(118,022 posts)
15. I would put comedians up there with health care aides in terms of
Sat Jun 3, 2017, 06:04 PM
Jun 2017

the most important jobs in the country.

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