I know I'm safe in saying this here...

[bliss_eternal]

...but anyone that doesn't see Maher as misogynistic is in denial. Seriously. Or their issues with women are such that, they don't recognize what constitutes hatred of the female gender. I'm especially taken aback by the women that feel the need to apologize while making light of the issue.

Here's a few of Maher's prior comments:

“If you were on a sinking ship and yelled, "Women and children first!" how much feminist opposition do you think you'd get? . . .

"Women want to fight men for equal pay, but how often do they fight a man for the check?"

". . . And any man who questions a woman's physical capabilities gets branded a sexist -- but who do they call when there's a spider to be killed?"

"Convenient feminism -- crackpot theory or dangerous lunacy?”

Fact--the man admitted he voted for Schwarzennegger on his show. I know, because it's the last show of his I viewed. This AFTER Arnie had twice been caught making sexist, racist slurs against women. :eyes:

Fact--the man has referred to Ann Coulter as a close, personal friend. We all know Ann Coulter is no friend to women, in spite of her gender.

What the hell do people need, for him to wear a "I hate women" t-shirt?

:banghead::rant:

I can see why so many here don't visit GD much. The need of so many to apologize for their race, gender, sexual status, etc. as a means to align themselves with those that oppress them, baffles and disturbs me.

[atommom]

1. I don't think the T-shirt would be enough.

He also needs a neon "I hate women" sign on his forehead, and needs to be shouting it repeatedly with a megaphone 24/7 for at least 6 months. And even then, you know, he's a comedian, he's really on our side, and he probably didn't even mean it.

BTW, Bill, I'm in charge of taking care of the spiders at my house. Be afraid.

[bliss_eternal]

2. LOL! I couldn't find it...

...but I've heard he made a comment about women wanting diamonds more than books. :puke:

Considering that I have far more books than diamonds, and have actively pursued knowledge over material things I'd say maybe Bill should shut the fuck up. :eyes: Given he spends so much time at the Playboy mansion, clearly he's only interested in seeing women one way.

[atommom]

3. Don't think I heard that one, but I heard the one where he told a

diamond-wearing woman all about the horrors of the diamond trade, and how diamond miners had their hands cut off by their bosses for not digging enough diamonds, and all she had to say was, "Both hands?" If he hadn't gone on to generalize from her to all women, it could have been a good joke, I guess.

He's got no motivation to change his mind, so I'm not expecting him to become enlightened any time soon.

[bliss_eternal]

4. Yikes.

I hadn't heard that one, thanks for sharing. Probably what influenced the comments I'd heard about.

He found a way to defend Imus the same way we see Maher defended on DU,"...he's a comedian. The world is becoming too pc. Of course his comments were inappropriate, but he didn't mean them that way."

You're right. He's not going to change. Why should he? He makes a great living bashing us, and then gets to go to Hefner's paradise where some unenlightened, gorgeous creature tells him how great and smart she thinks he is. :eyes:

[efhmc]

5. I can not tell you the number of times I have written about his

horrible comments and general nasty attitude toward women and said that no true liberal talks this way. I can not stand this person.

[Chovexani]

17. Bill is not a liberal, he's a libertarian

Despite some superficial similarities and some "enemy of my enemy" common ground, the two philosophies are very much at odds when you get to the heart of it.

I liked to watch his show for the guests, and New Rules is funny, but I always turn him off when he starts in with misogyny. It's disgusting and the man clearly has very deep seated issues with women (black women in particular).

[bliss_eternal]

18. Glad you brought it up...

...his black woman "thing" is REALLY disturbing. :scared:
I don't even know where to start.

OK first of all, he's been very vocal about his admiration for rap--ESPECIALLY the lyrics. He said he likes the honesty of rap. He appreciates the way rappers just come right out and say to "back that thing up" (his words, not mine). :eyes:

Now, let's look at the type of black women he pursues.

There's Karine Stefans, former rap video model/dancer turned best selling author--famous for her *cough* "fellatio" talents (she was nicknamed Superhead). There's the Playboy Playmate he dumped by letter. There's been several other video dancers, strippers and porn actresses--most if not all black, young and very attractive women.

I would NOT be mad at him if he was merely a guy that digs women of color. It happens. But when you toss in the highly sexualized nature of the women's backgrounds AND his vocal admiration for lyrics that portray women as "ho's"...well. :grr::mad::(
Dude has obviously fetishized black women, based on some weird, exotic bullshit--some "sexay rap partay" playing in his head. Just beyond gross!


p.s. ...Chovexani! :hi:

[Chovexani]

20. Heh, tell me about it

It's creepy.

There's a certain segment of white males who are like that, though unfortunately as that kind of rap is so popular across color barriers you see it with Asian and Latino males too. They look at the videos and want the fantasy for real. :puke:

I'd be one thing if he was like, say, Robert DeNiro who is known for liking black women. You're attracted to who you're attracted to (personally I have a "thing" for Asian men). But this creepy fetishization is crazy. It's like they want a Real Doll made to their specifications instead of a partner.

[bliss_eternal]

23. I'm guessing

that getting them blow up dolls wouldn't cut it. :P

I agree about attractions, we ARE born wired a certain way (gay, straight, who we find we're attracted to, etc.) Fetish isn't about the reality of people, but a person's fantasy--which I guess is why it can seem so creepy.

It's one thing to be a willing, knowing participant in fantasy role playing. Not KNOWING someone is objectifiying you as their fetish fantasy can be crazymaking.

I dated this guy that frequently made assertions about my beliefs, thoughts and feelings. His ideas about my thoughts weren't based in anything I'd actually ever expressed. I had no idea where he got this stuff from. It's bizarre to be TOLD that you think and feel things that have never actually occured to you on any level.

Years later, AFTER learning about the concept of fetish I realized what that was about. I was just a clueless, unwilling participant in his fantasy. :eyes:

He PROJECTED his ideals of what someone that looked like me would think and feel. How dare I actually have thoughts and feelings that weren't in line with his fantasies. :sarcasm:

I wonder if Maher's fetish objects will ever figure out his "issues."

[BlueIris]

6. But, but, he's funny! He's only making JOKES about that stuff!

He doesn't really mean it! And come on, when the "sexism" is in the form of a joke--why is that offensive? :sarcasm:

[gaspee]

7. His problems with women

Are entirely of his own making. He believes women only want him for his money and all women are gold diggers - problem is, he's looking for teenage (legal) and young twenties women who look good, therefore making him look good to other men. WTF does he *think* he's going to find.

He has major issues with women and he has no clue (or is in deep denial) that they all stem from his own inadequacies and the company he chooses to keep.

I actually used to like him, but always changed the channel when he started talking about women.

Isn't it funny how men of a certain age only want to have young women on their arms? Because women are no different than any other status symbol to them. Women sure as hell aren't people in their eyes.

[ThomCat]

8. That is all truly sad, but true.

:(

So many people really do evaluate others based on "how good do you make me look." And men do this with women all the time.

I agree, BM's problems do seem to be entirely his own making.

[gaspee]

10. And of course

On the flip side *are* women who want a man with money. The two types can keep each other, IMO, but they sure as hell shouldn't bitch about it when the person is a gold digger or only wants them because of the status. Or paints all women or men with the same brush- he and other people I've known self-select for the type of behavior they say they hate. Go figure...

[bliss_eternal]

9. Thank YOU...!

:applause:
Dude spends inordinate amounts of time at the Playboy mansion, and that seems to be the type of woman he chooses to be seen with.

When Howard Stern still aired on E! I watched from time to time. Stern and his crew pumped one of his exes (a playmate/model) for information about their relationship and break-up, as somehow they'd heard they dated. She tried hard to be discreet, but they kept after her until she gave them something.

Apparently he dumped her in a letter, AFTER she moved to LA (for work, not him).

She said she was excited, thinking they would spend more time together. It seems she had literally just moved in, and invited him to go up to see her place. He said something to the effect of,"...you probably won't want me to after you read this" handing her a letter. (What kind of asshole can't tell a woman to her face he doesn't want to see her anymore?:grr::mad:)

He claimed he "did it for her" because someday she'd want children--he of course, does not. She was surprised and taken aback as it was still early in the relationship. Too early in her opinion to even know if she wanted to spend "forever" with him. She said "the letter" and break-up just seemed to come out of nowhere.

[gaspee]

11. wow

Now that says a lot about him right there!

Talk about issues...

[femrap]

12. I can't stand that ugly

creature. He looks my neighbor's dog's asshole. Seriously.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

13. And I, for one, am getting real damn tired

Of ugly-ass old fuckers like him passing judgement on how women look.

[femrap]

14. Think I'll send him a mirror!!! lol nt

[gaspee]

19. I almost don't even notice anymore

Because every one of those ugly-ass old saggy fuckers think they have the right to comment on every woman who comes into his line of vision's appearance. Hell, all men think they have that right, don't they?

How often have you (general you), in your life heard and seen groups of men who are not what could be called attractive (or even well groomed - hell minimally groomed!) criticizing every aspect of women's appearances - it gets really old.

I don't keep my mouth shut anymore when I hear it. My typical response is to either pick apart his appearance or just to look him up and down with a sneer or a laugh and saying - "yeah, you're such a prize."

Doesn't ever do anything but make me feel better and these days, I've settled for that.

[bliss_eternal]

21. It's not restricted to the "old saggy" dudes...

...ever seen Howard Stern's show (while on E!)? I don't think he's televised anymore...

My very first encounter w/it was very late at night, while I was waiting for my migraine meds to kick in. At the time, I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating from the migraine, medication or what--because what I saw struck me as bizarre and rather surreal.

Women had lined up to be "evaluated" by Stern's crew of losers. Who the hell are they to "evaluate" anyone? I couldn't understand how or why ANY woman would subject themselves to such insanity. But through it all I was particularly disturbed by the most mean spirited and nasty of the group, Ralph. :grr::mad:

He seemed to take special joy in humiliating the women, highlighting the cellulite on their bodies with one of those red-dot pointer thingies. I cringed when he told one woman that she was lying about working out and apparently lazy--given that she had so much "cottage cheese" on her buttocks and thighs.

I'm usually not one that criticizes someone's appearance. But given the kinds of comments this guy made, I had to take a closer look. Saying he's an unfortunate looking man, is putting it mildly. Add that to his foul attitude toward women and beaten with the ugly stick doesn't even come close.

Oh and get this, after all of his nastiness--dude snuck out the back of the studio, afraid to face the women after the show. :eyes:

[ThomCat]

22. It's especially ironic that howard stern would judge women

so harshly when he has famously referred to himself as "hung like a pimple."

:shrug:

[bliss_eternal]

24. LOL!

...hung like a pimple or not, he's now rich and famous. I really hate saying this, but unfortunately there ARE women that won't care what he looks like now. ((sigh))...which bolster the arguments of asshats like Maher, that none of us is capable of looking beyond a man's wallet and status.

I disagree. Maher, Howard Stern's show, Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler alike--attract a specific female demographic.

[ismnotwasm]

15. I've never understood the attraction to him

In the first place. I don't usually watch him, but the little I've caught wasn't that great. I think so many were desperate for ANY voice to speak up against bush and co. that they took anything they could get. I've got a neighbor who is funnier and with better wit with talking about bush. And he actually likes and respects women. Go figure.

Those comments ARE anti women.

I'd rather listen to yet another version of "The Aristocrats" than listen to some so-called liberal slam women based on old worn out bullshit stereotypes that needs to be laid to rest in the compost pile. He's not even funny.

[bliss_eternal]

16. I think you figured it out...

...many WERE desperate for a voice, ANY voice speaking out.

Unfortunately, they were so grateful for the voice they didn't take the time to evaluate the message behind it.

Of course, many will NEVER recognize him as anti-woman, because it's such an accepted bigotry to possess in our society. Also, no one wants to hear anything negative about the guy they've considered their saviour and voice, during some really dark times.

To be honest, I'd only watched his show on ABC a few times. I hadn't heard him comment about women. Though, given as many shows on "The Playboy Mansion" that he's been interviewed for, I should have guessed. :crazy: I probably wouldn't have recognized anything he said then anyway.

I started watching his HBO show toward the end of the season, just prior to the '04 elections. I liked seeing guests like Belzer. :P But in the process, I became more aware of his politics (kinda' libertarian) and his sexism. :(

I don't know if this was reality or just something I imagined, but he seemed more CAREFUL about his comments involving women prior to the '04 election. :shrug:

His comments about the LaFave case (the woman that molested a hs student), were focused on how "HAWT" she was, and pushed my tolerance of him over the edge. :eyes: Saying stuff like he wished his teachers were that HAWT and MOLESTED him when he was in school, made me sick. It really gave me pause about him and his show. Not long after, he had a very anti-woman show during which he admitted he'd voted for Schwarzennegger(King of all racist--sexists in my eyes), so I was done. I haven't watched since.

What I don't understand is women that claim they are pro-woman, even feminists endorsing him.
That confuses me.