Was Dr Laura Schlessinger treated fairly?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Socialite

No, but the point remains that the "n word" is much more an emotional bomb that "redneck."

The same is true with calling a woman a "chick" or a "c***" Neither are respectful, one evokes an appropriate slap in the face though.

Nobody said it was equal, yet it's OK to call someone a redneck or just use that term.

Also if the word...the so called N word is that bad, then everyone should stop using it

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Nobody said it was equal, yet it's OK to call someone a redneck or just use that term.

Also if the word...the so called N word is that bad, then everyone should stop using it

Well, so far, "redneck" doesn't cause people to get enraged. And it's also a term used quite affectionally, and in humor. I guess if caucasian society decided it was a sensitive word, and that sentiment grew, it would be a hot button. As it is, no one seems concerned. And there's not really any history behind the word, much like there is for the N-word.

[OnTheFritz]

I love it when "straight talkers", (aka rude, annoying loudmouths) get in hot water. Makes my day whether they are conservatives or liberals.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Socialite

That little one letter nuance sort of changes the whole word.

Point being, Dr. Laura shouldn't have said it, and she has already publicly apologized and admitted her regret. If we want to insist on the double-standard, go for it, I got your back. More importantly, I strongly encourage the Black Community to quit using it. Many in the BC already feel that way.

I doubt that had she used a Z it would have been ok. It is a double standard. However the point is she was not using the word to be hateful or derogatory. A couple posters posted the word here and nobody blinked..If I quoted a black man using the word on national TV...do you think someone would complain?

If a kid is reading from Tom Sawyer outloud in class does he say "N word" or does he actually say the word? It's gotten so absurd. Race relations in America is not just bad because there are racists but because of people who use race for political clout...which is sometimes exercised by getting a white man fired from his job while allowing another white man to pass because he is a democrat

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Well, so far, "redneck" doesn't cause people to get enraged. And it's also a term used quite affectionally, and in humor. I guess if caucasian society decided it was a sensitive word, and that sentiment grew, it would be a hot button. As it is, no one seems concerned. And there's not really any history behind the word, much like there is for the N-word.

You call me a red neck and you can be any color of the rainbow, Im not gonna be happy but Im also not gonna burn down the city.

You USE the word red neck in a sentence not intended to be hateful, as you just did, again I don't care what color you are it would not upset me at all. But it's really NOT about the word...it's about white people using the word even if it's to talk about how bad the word is to blacks...it can never come out of a white persons mouth

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I doubt that had she used a Z it would have been ok. It is a double standard. However the point is she was not using the word to be hateful or derogatory. A couple posters posted the word here and nobody blinked..If I quoted a black man using the word on national TV...do you think someone would complain?

If a kid is reading from Tom Sawyer outloud in class does he say "N word" or does he actually say the word? It's gotten so absurd. Race relations in America is not just bad because there are racists but because of people who use race for political clout...which is sometimes exercised by getting a white man fired from his job while allowing another white man to pass because he is a democrat

I doubt that had she used a Z it would have been ok.

Forget if it would've been okay, it would've been downright unnatural and awkward. Like watching your mom and dad trying to do the Running Man back in the late 80's. Like seeing your grandpa decide to take up raving on the weekends. Weird...

I think the way she insisted on repeating it carelessly made things worse. I agree with, Dr. Laura, and she regrets saying it. I also see your point that she wasn't saying it with malice -- however, neither was she saying it in any academic fashion. She was repeating it over and over in a rather childish way.

No, no one would complain if a black man said "nigger" -- we know that. It's kind of like the Teeny Bopper code: I can talk about my momma, but when you talk about my momma the gloves are coming off.

This wasn't an incident with Dr. Laura just innocently using the word. I get her intentions were evil and that she's not a racist woman (I don't think she is, don't really know her), but it was in poor taste. Firing her for it? A little harsh.... wait, was she fired or did she resign?

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

You call me a red neck and you can be any color of the rainbow, Im not gonna be happy but Im also not gonna burn down the city.

You USE the word red neck in a sentence not intended to be hateful, as you just did, again I don't care what color you are it would not upset me at all. But it's really NOT about the word...it's about white people using the word even if it's to talk about how bad the word is to blacks...it can never come out of a white persons mouth

Prax, I've never heard that sort of emotional reaction from a white guy being called a redneck. Never. Ever. I lived in Redneck-ville, the Hood and Preppyville.

No, white people, who had one time had exclusive rights to the word, no longer have exclusive rights and it's not considered proper to even use. It's a bad word in our society.

Again............... I AGREE that the word needs to be buried. But I also get how a black person would have more liberty with such a word than a white person.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Prax, I've never heard that sort of emotional reaction from a white guy being called a redneck. Never. Ever. I lived in Redneck-ville, the Hood and Preppyville.

No, white people, who had one time had exclusive rights to the word, no longer have exclusive rights and it's not considered proper to even use. It's a bad word in our society.

Again............... I AGREE that the word needs to be buried. But I also get how a black person would have more liberty with such a word than a white person.

I never attributed an emotional reaction to being called a red neck.

[drummerboy_dave]

No one got fired that I'm aware of. According to her website, her contract to do the radio program is ending and she has no interest in renewing it, prefering to do other forms of media. Oh, I almost forgot, a couple of her sponsors, one of which is predominately owned by the federal governent, pulled their advertising slots from her show.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Maximilian

To each his own. For some, she speaks their language, for others she rubs the wrong way. Her ideas are great, though, no matter the medium of style.

I have an incredible wife, and she goes on and on about how much of her ideas about marriage were shapped by DL. So I suppose I have some indebted gratitude toward her.

The Proper Care and Feeding of a Husband was the book my wife raves about. I don't complain: i'm property cared for and fed, and in return I like to think I do a pretty decent job keeping her happy.

My experience as well.