It's nice that you can overlook these things, and thereby neuter their importance. Just because it may work for you personally doesn't mean it applies ubiquitously. Your tunnel vision is showing. Like it or not — accept it or not — Imus is an icon, and consequently everything he says and does is iconic. And within a culture that is icon-centric, that matters.<br><br>You keep saying that these people are nothing without an audience. That's quite true, except that they do have huge audiences that aren't going away anytime soon. If you personally pay them not attention, their words and deeds have little or no impact on you. But for those that do listen — or at whom such actions are directed — the impact is significant. And if nothing else, that should matter to you.<br><br>

You guys are great! I can skip my daily porn links now! <br><br>

Racists speech is going on everywhere. Making it illegal doesn't change the thoughts of those that think it before they say it. You want the thought police arresting people for thinking racist thoughts???<br><br>Someone who acts on racist thoughts is a problem, someone who speaks them is a small person who should be ignored, not elevated to a position of power.<br><br>My point is if you listen to a racist expect to hear racist comments. If you watch a superbowl you expect to see an entertaining football game (though some games have been less than entertaining lately!) But another question I have, is when do we get a break from the racist comments of the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton?!<br><br>I used to think it was terrible that life was unfair. Then I thought what if life were fair and all of the terrible things that happen came because we really deserved them? Now I take comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.

I assume that Donovan McNabb paid little attention to whatever Rush Limbo said about him - I didn't notice his game suffer - the only people I heard outraged by Rush's comment was the news media. Sure they stuffed it in McNabb's face at every interview following the incident, but I didn't notice a significant effect on his life before the comments to after the comments.<br><br>You cannot have everyone like you all of the time, so why sweat the people who don't like you - they're only important if you make them important.<br><br>I used to think it was terrible that life was unfair. Then I thought what if life were fair and all of the terrible things that happen came because we really deserved them? Now I take comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.

I'm just guessing here, so correct me if I'm wrong: Life is good for you. You have a warm and comfy cocoon. This stuff is of little consequence to you, therefore, it should be of little consequence to anyone else. "I'm ok, so you're ok." Have I got that right?<br><br>But bare tits on TV is an outrage. <br><br>(BTW, AFAIC, neither Sharpton nor Jackson nor any of their disciples get a free pass either. Racism is racism is racism, and when overlaid by opportunism is worse. They're just as guilty.)<br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>Racists speech is going on everywhere.<p><hr></blockquote><p>And so this is a reason why not to do anything about it? Screw that.<br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p> Making it illegal doesn't change the thoughts of those that think it before they say it. You want the thought police arresting people for thinking racist thoughts??? <p><hr></blockquote><p> No one is making it illegal and your hyperbole is showing with your "thought police". I could argue that your prurient rage over Janet's breast is closer to thought police than giving Imus a pink slip.<br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p><br>Someone who acts on racist thoughts is a problem, someone who speaks them is a small person who should be ignored, not elevated to a position of power. <p><hr></blockquote><p>No, someone who speaks them should not be ignored. Ignoring a problem is saying it is OK. Do you think Imus has been elevated to a position of power? He is embarrassed, remorseful, and out of a job. He is a very good example for the next shock jock who uses racist hate speech. I don't comprehend how you think calling someone on hate speech empowers them. That is the same bullsh[i][/i]it Ronald Reagan spewed. Go watch the Colbert Report. He does a great spoof on it. "I'm color blind". Which is another way of saying, "get to the back of the bus and shut up because the status quo is just fine."<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p><br>Someone who acts on racist thoughts is a problem, someone who speaks them is a small person who should be ignored,<p><hr></blockquote><p> And so Hitler's brown shirts should have been ignored until Krystalnacht? I'm afraid it was a little too late.<br><br>[color:blue]In the immediate aftermath of Krystalnacht, an anonymous German wrote to the British Consul in Cologne stating that "The German people have nothing whatsoever to do with these riots and burnings." Christopher Isherwood, a British writer living in Germany, witnessed the arrest of a Jew in a cafe by the SA where everybody simply looked away - but to create a scene would have provoked a violent response from those doing the arresting. </font color=blue><br><br>We cannot look away. And since I mentioned Hitler this thread has officially jumped the shark. It is unfortunate because there is a lot we as American citizens can learn by studying the early years of Nazi Germany. I wish that was hyperbole but it isn't.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

No life is not good to me at the moment, but that's my problem. But in my view there are far more important things in life than worrying what a small minded individual thinks about someone - there are far too many small minded individuals to worry about what they're thinking or doing today.<br><br>And no I don't mind bare body parts on TV, I just prefer them in more appropriate venues - if I want to watch porn I'll select a porn show, if I want to listen to a comedian I'll tune into a comedian, if I want to watch a sports show I'll turn into one. What I don't want is something not billed as a part of the entertainment package inflicted on me. Actually I get really annoyed (actually more than annoyed but I'll hit the filter if I express my true feelings) when they edit movies on TV for content - be that content violence, language or nekkid bits.<br><br>People are going to offend you, get used to it, and turn them off. If enough people turn them off they won't be retained as "entertainment".<br><br>I used to think it was terrible that life was unfair. Then I thought what if life were fair and all of the terrible things that happen came because we really deserved them? Now I take comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.

Its those damn Pages that keep giving Bush and Cheney Nightmares <br><br> One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is<br>because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses. <br>Dale Carnegie

You keep missing the point, Llew. Like you, I don't let these creeps ruin my day. But that doesn't make it ok that someone else's day is ruined. Because no one really has the right to ruin anyone's day by way of hate or stupidity or lack of compassion.<br><br>Janet Jackson nipple & dime show was unexpected. Imus' remarks were just part of an on-going pattern. This was just the straw that broke the camel's back (with a little help from the Rev. Sharptongue, of coure).<br><br>And, FYI, the sponsors that pulled their ads — like many major market advertisers — do not always pay as much attention to the content of a sponsored venue as to the ratings. P&G, for example may have known Imus as a provocative personality with a huge audience. That he tends to make racist and sexist remarks (out of hate or stupidity) may not have been on their radar until now.<br><br>

I think Imus has been elevated by the national coverage. How many people had never heard of the guy before this incident? If he does get another gig, how many people will now listen to him? Would you deny that Rush Limbo's power is in his audience? Take him off the national airwaves, and he goes where? Same place as Stern maybe.<br><br>The only reason that I believe Imus would be (as you say) embarrassed and remorseful is if his remark was off the cuff and without thought. If he did think about it, then removing him from the airwaves will not change his thoughts, and IMO if someone believes his thoughts then he cannot be truely remorseful or embarrassed by them. Is a paedophile truely remorseful or embarrassed by their actions - or will, given the opportunity, go right back to that same behaviour?<br><br>Imus had power over his audience, in my view, the national media has elevated that power to a larger audience, be that audience supportive or calling for his lynching (either actual or employmentwise).<br><br>One of my grandparents was, in retrospect, a racist - but outside of racist tems, he did not act on those thoughts. He had as little interaction with persons of non-white persuasion as he could, and as far as I know that is where it stopped for him. He didn't act to harm them, or prevent their legal rights - he just had nothing to do with them. Were his actions as bad as Hitler who even before his acts was planning them?<br><br>I used to think it was terrible that life was unfair. Then I thought what if life were fair and all of the terrible things that happen came because we really deserved them? Now I take comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.