TVSquad

I haven't seen the video (not for lack of trying), but my take on racial name calling such as this is much as yours - they are looking for the ultimate hurt, it doesn't matter if you mean it, you just want to do what you can to hurt someone and you know that's the dealbreaker. Sad that it comes to that, but I think it happens with words in many different varieties, not only racial. When someone is conscious of the insecurities of another (even perceived insecurities), heated arguments can cause them to eagerly dig into that pocket of pain to toss a few out (think fat, ugly, bald, short, etc., as other options to race). Doesn't make it right, but I think more people fall into that trap than will put themselves into Michael Richard's currently ugly shoes.

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In the Good Book, Jesus says, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."

The wisdom of Dwacon® says, "The true test of your character is when you stub your toe in the middle of the night."

Regardless of whether Richards was being heckled (which is simply an occupational hazard in stand-up), what he said (using the "N-Word"), and how he said it (repeatedly, adding that the heckler should be hung up and sodomized with a fork) displays his true character.

In the comics, Snuffy Smith said, "Nuff said."

--
dwacon
http://www.dwacon.com
http://dwacon.blogspot.com

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I also agree w/ you that he obviously used something as lethal as that to try to deter or basically "shut up" his "hecklers". But the honest truth that hurts me is WHY DOES IT HAVE TO COME TO THAT? He could have used so many other adjectives/ expletives or just put down their intelligence (as many comics have done during their comedy shows), but to use something that will only add more fuel to the fire (was he really that stupid enough to think calling them niggers would shut them up??!!) & I know them calling him "a cracker-ass" would not be as powerful, so he's damn lucky they nor any of the audience decided NOT to use fists, but just left. I can damn well tell you he's not apologizing b/c he regrets it, he's apologizing b/c he's damn well scared ppl will get him. Black or otherwise. I can't believe such a thing happened. Labelling needs to stop, people. It hurts.

P.S. What if the hecklers were white? Is he implying that if you're colored & you speak out, you will be condone b/c you're black, hispanic or asian?? Thanks for adding on to the hate now, Michael Richards. I started this comment level-headed & now you got me all fired up. It's also pitiful that other people (powerful people) are trying to rationize this, no rationing (except what Adam bought up) is needed, b/c what he did was plain wrong- no ifs, buts, about it. Damn!

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I think there's a difference between saying "You F-ing N" at someone and his rant. I think at that point he was saying it mockingly, joking about how worthless the conversation was.

I think the worst part was the fork up the rear comment personally, like he was lamenting the loss of the lynching days or something.

Regardless of whether he actually cares if people have black skin or not, I think the most embarrassing thing has got to be that he got heckled, and all he could come up with was the N word. That's weak sauce.

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He's a lazy artist. Pulling out a racial or ethnic slur is not difficult. Its for small-minded people with no proper thought processes. If he was truly a good comic, he could have mocked that man in such a way that all the audience would turn on the heckler, since they did presumably want to see Michael Richards. But instead he went for the laziest, most offensive route of insulting and is paying the price. Also, you simply simply do not pull that stuff out that easily if you're not truly a rascist at heart.

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If he had simply dropped the N-bomb on them, then I might agree with you, Adam. It's that initial line--his first response to the hecklers, before he'd even entered the rage spiral--that was just so horrific. And I find it difficult to believe that someone would pull out an image like that (I'm referring to the line that includes forks and upside down people) at random.

Added to that the utterly tone-deaf use of "Afro-Americans" in his Letterman apologia...well, sorry. I'm white, I'm middle-class, and I think the guy's a stone racist. He's using rage the same way Gibson used alcohol--as if these are entities that cause people to say things they don't mean. In reality, people tend to say exactly what they mean when the standard veneer of civilization is peeled back by anger or drunkenness.

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I agree with Karen. It is one thing if it was blurted out in anger, wrong, but people say stupid things when they lose control, but he didn't stop there. He said it like he had Tourette's and then brought up the whole stringing them up bit, evoking pre civil rights memories.

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Somewhere, Andy Kaufman is laughing.

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I do think he lost his control, and what the other people were saying didnt help. I dont think hes a stone-cold racist, yes, he might have a slight problem, but thats his problem. as long as he buries those feelings, there should be no problem. hes old, he comes from a different time. plus, when the people were saying he was washed up, and the only thing he ever did was seinfeld, no movies etc, theyre wrong. I saw him in an old movie (war i think). I'm not racist in the least and do not discriminate, but i do think Richards should be forgiven. Hell, if the jewish 'community' can forgive Mel gibson (which they sooooo shouldnt have), then give michael another chance at least. He wasn't drunk, he was forced over the edge by fans and lost control of himself. Im not saying it wasnt wrong, but still, forgive him. and if he is, truly racist, if he can hide it back (like a loT of famous people probably do *COUGHmelCOUGH*), then there shouldnt be a problem. Hell, its not like he goes to nazi rallies that we know of. and maybe hes bipolar....insanely unlikely, but a good excuse XD

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What scared me about his rant wasn't what he said, but how he said it. What bothered me about his "apology" was what he said AND how he said it.

If you were going on national TV to "save your reputation," wouldn't you *prepare* a statement and avoid using terms like "Afro-Americans" and "blacks?" I think Richards made a bad situation worse.

Honestly, the whole thing looks and smells like "Man On The Moon" to me. If it's a hoax, it's unfortunate that Seinfeld and Letterman were dragged into it.

Richards' career is over, unless he wants to start wrestling women.

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I'm all for free speech, but if you're a public figure and your first response when heckled by a black audience member is to come out with "I miss the days when I could have just had you lynched", you don't get to be a public figure anymore. His career should be over right about now, and good riddance.

Disgusting.

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"See, I do listen to people"

I never doubted it for a moment, Adam!

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if he had been an afro-american and said the same thing this wouldn't have been a story...first they were called niggers, then as time went by they were called negroes, then blacks, then colored, then afro americans, and now african-american...what will they like to be called in 5 yrs? and why is it ok for them to call themselves niggers but not other races? any why hasn't anyone mentioned about them calling Richards a "cracker"...why is it ok for them to insult whites but everyone has a fir when it's reversed?

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truth is jw, it doesn't matter. American mainstream does not care about that. They care about what he did, which is too bad, but cant be helped

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