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11-23-2006, 05:31 PM | #41 (permalink) |
Crazy
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I just want to add that I can understand how Mr. Richards can make those comments and not be racist. If I'm trying to get back at a man for pissing me off on stage, I would use words that I know will hurt. The most hurtful words I know are of racist connotation.
While I don't condone it, I totally believe when he says he not racist. |
11-24-2006, 12:23 PM | #42 (permalink) |
Easy Rider
Location: Moscow on the Ohio
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Richards (Kramer) probably remembers the Seinfeld episode where Jerry was heckled at the comedy club then went to the person's office to get even and heckle them at their job?
If the comedy clubs try to censure racially offensive language I guess guys like Mencia, etc.. will have to get new joke writers. |
11-24-2006, 01:59 PM | #43 (permalink) | |
Walking is Still Honest
Location: Seattle, WA
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I wonder if we're stuck in Rome. |
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11-24-2006, 11:53 PM | #44 (permalink) |
Crazy
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Heckling is rude, obnoxious, and can be considered somewhat harrassing. I NEVER have sympathy for hecklers. I go through life pretty much with the attitude that we are supposed to follow here. If you don't like what you see, leave.
That said, the measure of a man is how well he deals with stressful situations. Apparantly Richard is not a very nice man. oh well. I think hecklers ought to be tossed out of comedy clubs because they do tend to take the jokes away from the comedian that I paid to see. If I wanted to see some two bit, thinks he's funny, wannabe comedian I could stay home and listen to my 4 year old. If you pick a fight with someone you don't really get much sympathy from me when that person hurts your feelings right back. As a white person that KNOWS I will forever be a racist if I even think the *n* word to hard, I do find it offensive that the very same word is said by the people who are supposedly finding it offensive for me to say. See I'm coming off sounding like I support the way Richard handled this situation, and that is not true. I don't. In fact if the lawsuite hadn't been brought up I would very much up in arms about a perfomer abusing his customers and not performing. Racism is not illegal. Discrimination is, but even then only in specific areas, and only when federal money is involved. People in this country are allowed to say whatever the hell they want to unless such words could reasonably be expected to lead to harm of another. It wouldn't surprise me if this heckler had baited Richard on purpose to cause just this reaction just so he could sue. Things happened pretty fast to be a coincidence I think.
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~~^~<@Xera @>~^~~ "A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing." ~Erno Philips
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11-25-2006, 12:27 AM | #45 (permalink) |
Crazy
Location: Music City burbs
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Stand up comedians must be immune to heckling if they want to succeed in their line of work - it's no different for Michael Richards than it is for any other comedian, just because he was on a popular sitcom. He's not Kramer anymore, he's Michael Richards, stand up comedian, and he has to earn laughs just like every other standup has done.
Therefore, if he chooses to sabotage his career by shouting racial slurs to hecklers instead of overcoming the taunts of these same hecklers, then he will not be successful. This is the mark of a good comedian - the ability to deal with hecklers, and fire off the funny comments that will diffuse a heckler situation. And it doesn't matter how much PR Jerry Seinfeld does or Dave Letterman does, Michael Richards will not recover from this immense blunder. As for using the "N" word over and over again - we all know that it is only acceptable for black comedians to use this term in comedy, don't we? It is so much a part of our history here in America that those of us who are white and have black friends would NEVER ever call them the "N" word, even if they call themselves or their friends that. There is too much history behind the term for it to be any different. Michael Richards should not be sued - he has the right of free speech, just as every one of us has. But his career may well indeed suffer for it. And perhaps, that would be the best revenge. The right of free speech has a responsibility attached to it - a person is responsible for the things they say, and must bear the consequences of it.
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(none yet, still thinkin') |
11-25-2006, 01:55 AM | #46 (permalink) |
Tilted
Location: Washington
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The double standard is getting old. It's all ok or none of it's ok. If someone can say cracker or jew or whop or zipper head or whatever and it's ok; I can say nigger anyway I want and so can Richards. Any whining from the man suing Richards is a great display of hypocrisy.
People calling Richards a racist on you tube is so funny. What's even more funny is these people calling him ignorant OH THE IRONY.
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11-25-2006, 06:10 AM | #47 (permalink) | ||
Lennonite Priest
Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA
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LINK: http://www.popmatters.com/film/featu...ardpryor.shtml Quote:
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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?" Last edited by pan6467; 11-25-2006 at 06:30 AM.. |
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11-25-2006, 07:32 AM | #48 (permalink) |
Big & Brassy
Location: The "Canyon"
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Great article.
And the more I hear about the whole situation makes me beleive the whole thing was in fact staged. It's sad, really. What people will do to make a few bucks in DVD sales.
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If you have any poo... fling it NOW! |
11-25-2006, 08:04 AM | #49 (permalink) |
has all her shots.
Location: Florida
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I think it's a pretty unfortunate situation. I do believe in the sincerity of Richards' apology and his assertion that he just "flipped out."
Then again, I always leave room for a little skepticism when it comes to celebrity "scandals." As to whether he should be sued, I don't think that question is relevant. People can sue anyone they want when they feel they have been wronged and deserve restitution. I don't have an opinion on that.
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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce |
11-25-2006, 11:37 AM | #50 (permalink) | |
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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as far as the hecklers are concerned, you don't go to see live stand up and NOT expect to get heckled. If you want to see a comedian and not get heckled go to a large venue and sit way in the back, not a small comedy club that seats a couple hundred people.
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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. |
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11-25-2006, 11:57 AM | #51 (permalink) |
All important elusive independent swing voter...
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
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Absolutely, clearly Kramer lost his professionalism. I would like to see the original heckle that allegedly started the whole tirade response. But so far it appears that Kramer went overboard with some racial taunts and the audience responded and then Kramer went completely nuts and psycho.
Ah, well, give a man enough rope...... |
11-25-2006, 12:55 PM | #52 (permalink) | |
Mulletproof
Location: Some nucking fut house.
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Had Richards denied anyone a job, housing, healthcare, etc due to race, the victim should feel free to use our taxpayer supported judicial system to the fullest extent. In this case, Richards called someone a name that many find offensive. In this situation, let it go and move on.
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Don't always trust the opinions of experts. |
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11-25-2006, 01:14 PM | #53 (permalink) | |
has all her shots.
Location: Florida
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Quote:
__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce |
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11-25-2006, 07:52 PM | #54 (permalink) |
Browncoat
Location: California
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I think it was racist, but I don't think he should be sued because of it.
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"I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice." - Friedrich Hayek |
11-25-2006, 08:04 PM | #55 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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To me, this is a non-issue.
People do this sort of stupid shit all the time. Sure it's wrong. Sure it's tasteless and offensive. The fact that it was caught on video and broadcast to the world and the fact that he is someone moderately rich and famous are the only reason why this is even being talked about. I am choosing to not to give a damn. I think we waste too many brain cells being titillated by things that really don't matter.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
11-26-2006, 12:01 PM | #56 (permalink) | |
Addict
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Maybe then one day we will all see ourselves as equal rather than those who have an agenda to profit in whatever way possible. Maybe then racism will go away and we will only be left with words. |
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11-26-2006, 03:09 PM | #57 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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Percy, if this were just about racism I would agree with you.
This isn't about righting a wrong or looking at the underlying or even the surface causes of racism. All this is is more celebrity titillation. This whole event isn't much different from Lindsay Lohan getting caught on tape calling Paris Hilton a cunt. If I felt that taking Michael Richards to task was going to do anything to stop racism, I'd take the opportunity to discuss this. I just don't see it.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
11-26-2006, 06:08 PM | #58 (permalink) | |
Addict
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If that were the case then why did half the Catholic world have to apologize to Jews for Mel Gibson right down to the holocaust. Even the archibishop in the city I live apologized for Mel Gibson. Or is it just racism when the right culture and religion gets offended? And if your not a racist for saying out loud racist statements, can you be a racist and not say racists statements outwardly in a public manner? And if so or not, how could one tell either way? |
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11-26-2006, 08:28 PM | #59 (permalink) | |
pigglet pigglet
Location: Locash
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percy,
charlatan isn't disagreeing with you. he's simply not going to get into a serious discussion of kramer being a racist. i think he's just saying its irrelevant and (now I'm adding words) completely indeterminant based on what we know via the media. simmer down a touch. To paraphrase: Quote:
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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style |
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11-27-2006, 08:16 PM | #61 (permalink) | |
Addict
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And when did Charlatan make you his nigger? Just kidding Just being a cunt you know, no harm, no foul. |
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11-27-2006, 08:53 PM | #62 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Tobacco Road
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The only role this guy is gonna get now is something from a Mel Gibson flick
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11-27-2006, 11:11 PM | #63 (permalink) | |
Banned
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11-28-2006, 06:02 PM | #64 (permalink) |
Psycho
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Watching it, at first it does seem like hes trying to be funny, and its a part of his routine. (Im keeping in mind the fact that the video starts after he goes batty.) So I think they were waiting for the punchline or the end of the bit. They also might have been laughing because the hecklers won and he was driven off the stage.
During his apology on Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld actually has to tell the audience to stop laughing. I think that might be the same thing - those members of the audience thought the apology was a skit of some sort or a joke. I use joke in two ways: it was meant to be funny or it was funny because he supposedly is apologetic, you know what I mean? He looks unhinged and kind of drugged (sedatives? narcotics? something else?) during that bizarre appearance. Hes all jittery and not making much sense. Talking about force fields and trailing off... And the backdrop looks like a jail or a mental hospital. (Purposefully setup that way, to visually insinuate this guy isnt in his right mind?) He definitely cracked up at some point and whether hes medicated in some way or not isnt the issue. Is he racist? Seems to be. Banned from the Laugh Factory? Good. Being sued? FOR CHRISTS SAKE! This isnt a legal matter. I wish people would stop filing lawsuits over things like this. Look, I think Michael Richards is talented. I think he is genuinely regretful, but thats probably because hes sullied his public image, to say the least. As for him being washed up - and Im talking pre-stand-up-breakdown - people said that about Julia Louis-Dreyfus (the Seinfeld curse thing) and she made a comeback. He might have been able to do the same. But he blew it with that blow out. |
11-29-2006, 04:52 AM | #65 (permalink) |
Mulletproof
Location: Some nucking fut house.
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Jesse Jackson has chimed in now calling for a boycott of the DVDs that are being released. Jackson states that Kramer shouldn't make any money off of this. And yes Jackson said Kramer, not Richards. And I guess this means that Jerry, Elaine and George shouldn't get paid for the DVDs as well the way Jackson sees it. (I'd wager Seinfeld and Larry David are the only ones making any big money from it anyway). And this was after Richards went on Jackson's show to apologize so not only did Richards real name stick, Jackson must not have accepted the apology.
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Don't always trust the opinions of experts. |
11-30-2006, 04:02 PM | #66 (permalink) | |
Psycho
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Jacksons words are bound to upset the real Kramer. *For those of you who either arent into Seinfeld or havent heard of this dude: Kramer is based on Kenny Kramer, who has been trying to capitalize on his Kramerness for years. |
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11-30-2006, 04:47 PM | #67 (permalink) |
Insane
Location: The lovely Northeast
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I just wanted to post this as an example of a way in which someone can properly deal with a heckler, and make a joke out of it, and not flip out at the crowd. This is from the Dane Cook CD, and there's a heckler you can audibly hear in the background and he replies with:
"Shut up. Seriously. shut up. Shut your fucking mouth. Don't point back at me. I'll throw you out. SHUT up." Then the crowd gets awkwardly silent after that and Dane follows with: "....great vibe in here right now. Like daddy just hit mommy at the dinner table. (in voice of mother) Just eat, mommy's ok. Daddy just got a little angry. Just eat!" Anyways, I noticed above someone said that there is a good way to deal with hecklers and it brought this to mind. |
12-01-2006, 10:24 AM | #68 (permalink) |
Pure Chewing Satisfaction
Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?
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I heard that some leaders of the black community are calling for a ban on the N-word (am i allowed to say nigger?).
This is a bad idea. All this controversy about a single word is doing something that no one wants: it's making the word more powerful. People who say that the word is so hateful and evil that it must never be said are engaging in a losing battle. You can't prevent people from saying a word. They can always use their lips to form the word, and it will be said. By getting enraged by its use, you're just handing a weapon on a silver platter to racists around the world who get their rocks off by pissing off black people. If Richards' rant pisses you off: ignore him. Don't let him on your TV shows to apologize. Don't let it get you angry. Just.... ignore it. That's the only way this problem will go away.
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12-01-2006, 10:31 AM | #69 (permalink) | |
The Death Card
Location: EH!?!?
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Feh. |
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12-01-2006, 11:32 AM | #70 (permalink) | |
Easy Rider
Location: Moscow on the Ohio
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12-01-2006, 11:44 AM | #71 (permalink) |
Lennonite Priest
Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA
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Well, so in a country of free speech they want to "ban" a word?
And they will figure a way to make sure this word is banned, that no one in public will be able to say it. Then Kike, Mick, Dego, Spic, wetback, chink.... etc will all be banned..... then cunt and prick, bitch and bastard...... then they'll start in on other words and pretty soon names themselves will be wrong because from a name someone may make the wrong guess as to your heritage and offend you.... so then we'll just become numbers.... I believed we were a free country once..... damned if our own people decided to beg the government to take those freedoms away.
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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?" |
12-10-2006, 02:50 PM | #73 (permalink) | |
has all her shots.
Location: Florida
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Quote:
__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce |
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Tags |
act, michael, racist, richards, sued |
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