Kelsey (first, yes, lol, that is my position), I notice when any such maligning terms are used, but I would guess it also depends upon what shows each of us watches as to how much of that stuff (and which terms are used) we're exposed to. You know what I mean? I cringe when I hear derogatory terms towards gays and lesbians myself, but I might not be hearing it as much simply because I'm watching different programs. But I do tend to think that "retard" is less recognized as an offensible term than other terms simply because it's challenged less often than other terms.

 

Anyway, I think if they can bleep "fuck", they can bleep those things as well. Their  selective bleeping seems to me that they're giving tacit approval to the things they let viewers hear. We hear all the rukus about ratings and v-chips and all that crap, but in the end, little children are hearing these terms used openly and freely and the message is "it's ok to say those things," hence the current mystified stares of many young people when you point out how these things are so hurtful.

 

As for scripted television....ugh, don't get me started, lol.

 

I guess I agree that I would rather children or anyone don't hear these comments, However, it is the reality of life and I would rather explain to my child why that is WRONG than have them be completely ignorant that it happens. (Not that I'm saying you are saying you want them to be ignorant...that was my position not my understanding of your position...does that make sense? ha.) 

 

I wish all people would learn to phase all derogatory comments out of their vocabulary. The world would be a happier place. 

 

It's all sunshine and rainbows in my perfect world. :P

I do find CBS to be at some fault-- they didn't have to air that particular segment, unless it was absolutely crucial to some "plot". However, they did not put those words in this moron's mouth. I hope he gets his ass canned ASAP.

 

I wish no one uttered such words either. But, the more I think about it, the last few times I heard words like "queer/fag/fairy" they were uttered by a gay person on TV. I have yet to hear anyone mentally challenged however, call themselves "a retard". I guess my point is, people will consider it OK to use those words until those who "are" them stop using them themselves. It's like when a black person says it's OK for "them" to use the N-word... but no one else.

 

Does that make any sense?

Big Brother booted Jill Goody from BB UK last season for uttering racist terms against Shilpa Shetty, who is a Bollywood actress. So yes, they have booted someone for racial slurs.

I agree that CBS does a great deal of editing and chose to show that. If their purpose was to show that it's wrong, perhaps the one protesting shouldn't be another contestant that people seem to dislike at least as much as the crudball who uttered the slur. It may only serve to imply a sense of nothing more than an over-reaction by some relic that nobody wants to see, and the inference from that is a tacit approval of the use of the term. It's not necessary for a responsible network to air something like that if it has no bearing on the outcome of the game. Is this not the same network that had a shit fit over Janet Jackson's covered nipple?

 

I also agree that it is a "reality" of life that people say these things and could serve as an opportunity to explain to your children why it's "bad". But what is the response when those children ask "what did they bleep?" when those opportunities come up? If you attempt to explain they bleeped "bad" words, how to the kids then reconcile that the "bad" word they were allowed to hear is just as "bad"? That's just confusing. Am I suggesting they simply not bleep words like "fuck"? Well, the practical and short answer is, no. But perhaps it's actually time to start bleeping more words again (yes, anti-censorship Smig just said that, lol). (I have an issue with them deciding, gradually, which "bad" words are now acceptable, and I realize it's just a matter of time before "fuck" and "cocksucker" et al join the ranks of "shit", "bitch", "bastard" and several other terms that in very recent years were never allowed outside of premium channels. I would prefer an all-or-nothing situation personally, the best option being what's for the greater good, which would be 'nothing'...but that's another topic perhaps, lol)

 

The point that most use of terms like "fag" on television are uttered by gays, and not disparagingly by 'haters', is valid as well and I agree with SL's comments on that. Any disenfranchised group can empower themselves by owning derogatory terms that the PC police have made into pariah-makers, and that's an excellent response - if that disenfranchised group understands that concept. The developmentally disabled community is not, unfortunately, in any position to comprehend such empowerment and are unable to embrace that idea. Which means it's up to the corporate world and their consumer base to take responsibility for the necessary considerations.

 

The last few times I hard fag uttered on television was by straight actors pretending to be gay....which doesn't make it okay.  Just because they are acting gay doesn't mean it's okay.  I certainly don't call my friends by those names, nor do I refer to my friends as carpet munchers or dykes. And some straight actor who's playing it gay doesn't get a free pass b/c it was in the script and he's playing a gay person(although that is on the script writer not the actor).  It's hate speech no matter who uses it. 

 

Just liek the N word, just because some people are ignorant enough to think that they can use it just because they are black doesn't mean it's right. 

 

Words like the N word, retard, fag, and dyke are hate speech that only an ignorant person would use to refer to themselves.

 

/end rant.

 

However, I realize that this is never going to happen and so I've resigned myself to it being on television b/c it's how the REAL world is.  Ignorance and all. 

 

'k, that was just a funny typo, lol.

 

But I agree. It is hate speech. But it's also protected under the first amendment, which is why I struggle so. I guess the only consolation is that because of the first amendment, we have the right to speak out against it as well.

 

It's hard though, when they use "retard" so much - scripted as well as reality - and my brother has to hear it. He can't reason the way other disenfranchised groups do, and it's impossible now to tell ahead of time what shows he shouldn't be exposed to.

 

It's his money - he can do what he wants with it. There are plenty of autism charities or he could start his own. I can't say I would be too excited about donating to the place that fired me either. People make mistakes. I never saw him say anything else like that the rest of the season.

 

 

Isnt Adam a retard himself?

I guess I look at it as Lita said, its his money and he said he would just donate the money to another charity.  Lord knows there are plenty of deserving ones out there.

This was a horrible season...the summer one had better be better!!!