Nope, South Park and Comedy Central won’t be apologizing for last week’s fag-filled episode, despite GLAAD’s demand they do so. Because South Park is a television show that traffics in stereotypes and bigotry — to point out how ridiculous they are, rather than endorse them — and believes its viewers to be smart enough to recognize its M.O. Which means rather than a “We’re sorry,” they issued this statement: “South Park is famous for tackling controversial subject matter in thoughtful and hilarious ways. This particular episode of the show has been both criticized and applauded within the gay and lesbian community. With all of that in mind, we will let this South Park episode speak for itself.”
Oooh, but did you read between the lines there? They said the ep was “both criticized and applauded within the gay and lesbian community,” which is basically akin to saying, “You are not the entire gay community, GLAAD!” Bitch. Slap!
Mr. Enemabag Jones
With all of that in mind, we will let this South Park episode speak for itself.
And it has–gays are an easy target that gets support from less than half of the het population.
I say next time a het calls one of us a fag, we should beat the shit out of them. What this country needs is a lot more het-bashings. Until they fear us, we will never get any equality, or respect.
hardmannyc
Good for them for standing up to GLAAD. This is why it’s such a great show — it’s an equal-opportuniy offender.
hardmannyc
“I say next time a het calls one of us a fag, we should beat the shit out of them.”
I’m assuming you live in West Los Angeles or are willing to pay for a plane ticket for said takedown.
Big talker.
J.P.
After reading about this episode on AfterElton.com, I thought I got what was going on and that GLAAD was being a bunch of douches, but then, upon further reading, I thought, “Well, I don’t see South Park trying to change the use of N word.” So, I got angry again and thought that maybe GLAAD had a point.
Chicagojimmy
If you don’t like South Park’s brand of satire, then I suggest not watching it. When I was in college, gay campus groups started using the word queer as a self description. Some people didn’t get that either, yet here we are on this blog site. It’s a word in need of a new meaning, bravo South Park.
And yes, the did the same thing with the word nigger.
terrwill
GLADD: stop being the Al Sharpton of Gay issues. Every time someone says “fag” it is not an attack on the Gays. Sourh Park is the most equal opportunity offender out there, save the ammunition for the real haters……………..
...
I didn’t like the episode either, but I think GLADD made the wrong move. It’s obvious they were trolling for a response and GLADD walked right into it. I also don’t buy the whole “equal opportunity offender” thing.
FakeName
“Equal opportunity offender” is just another way of saying “asshole”. Episodes like this one are pretty much the reason I quit watching South Park. For every genuinely witty and clever episode there are a half-dozen where Trey and Matt think that having 4th graders say naughty words is the height of hilarity. It’s unfunny and boring as hell.
FakeName
And Queerty? I don’t think GLAAD has ever made the claim that it is the entire gay community, so the “Bitch. Slap!” is pretty much without basis in reality.
Attmay
The more it pisses off the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Advocating Despotism, the more I start to like it. GLAAD supported the stereotypical heterosexist trash of “Philadelphia,” “Will & Grace,” “Queer As Folk,” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” and gave lavish rubber chicken dinners for breeder celebs who belched out the right generic platitudes, while doing nothing to demand that the battle for our rights receive greater coverage in the news media.
Heil GLAAD!
Mr. Enemabag Jones
We spent years trying to get the Matthew Shepard Act passed, and it finally passed this year giving LGBTQ Americans some federal protections.
Stone and Prker have gone on record as opposing hate crimes laws, even doing an episode where Cartman is charged with a hate crime.
If I were a good lawyer and my client was in court charged with a hate crime for uttering an anti-gay slur, I’d just trot out this episode as proof that the words fag and faggot have changed over the years and no longer means anything anti-gay–it’s just the way kids talk and it only means douchebag.
And when this happens and Stone, Parker, Brian Grazer and all the house gays defend themselves and their being useful idiots in the culture war against us, I hope I’m there to see it all unfold
cgd
10: Bingo. South Park is know for the timeliness of their episodes. What just happened? The Shepard/Byrd act just got passed.
cgd
11: South Park is known for the timeliness…
Mr. Enemabag Jones
hardmannyc
I’m assuming you live in West Los Angeles
Nope.
or are willing to pay for a plane ticket for said takedown.
Why should I have to fly anywhere? Shouldn’t there be queers around to defend eachother without my help?
Big talker.
Lot of gay bashings in NY, Manny. How many have you witnessed that you’ve done nothing about? You’re the big, bad gym queen–what are those muscles good for?
Landon Bryce
South Park does do a good job of advancing discussion of free speech issues. I am not going to watch the episode, so I hope someone who has seen it will correct what is wrong in the following. The concept that straight kids get to redefine anti-gay epithets is offensive and wrong. At root, it really is not okay to use “gay” as a synonym for “stupid” or “bad.” I don’t care how often straight people claim that they don’t even think about sexual orientation when they use the word “fag.” I don’t care how often Dan Savage tells us that only the uncool gays are offended by “that’s so gay.” GLAAD is right to protest, even though I find Comedy Central’s response absolutely appropriate.
YCKTR
No. 4 · J.P.
After reading about this episode on AfterElton.com, I thought I got what was going on and that GLAAD was being a bunch of douches, but then, upon further reading, I thought, “Well, I don’t see South Park trying to change the use of N word.” So, I got angry again and thought that maybe GLAAD had a point.
—-snip—-
Um…yes they did…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_Apologies_to_Jesse_Jackson
Mr. Enemabag Jones
Landon Bryce
Yeah, Landon, you have it correct.
The kids did a bit where they examine the etymology of the word fag and use that as an excuse to redefine it on their own terms. And of course, Parker and Stone trot out their gay characters (voiced by hets) to defend the kids use of fag.
In the spirit of Dan Savage selcetively being offended, I say we take a page from his book and as he redefined Santorum, we should redefine South Park–from now on anyone who is gay bashed and their attacker goes free, gets a light sentence, or uses the gay panic defense, that gay bashing victim has been “South Parked”
Mr. Enemabag Jones
cgd
What just happened?
What just happened is that Parker and Stone once again proved that thay believe people should be able to attack us without any penalties. They did it with the Boy Scouts episode; the Hate Crime episode; and the Museum of Tolerance episode.
People like Parker and Stone believe that they should decide what rights and equality we should have and if we get uppity, it’s their right to smack us down.
scott ny'er
what? they aren’t? shocking!!!
in other news, the sky is blue and the grass is green.
Brian
GLAAD is just looking for something to justify their waste of $30 million a year. We don’t need GLAAD anymore. It’s a waste of money and counterproductive.
During this SP-GLAAD “publicity” endeavor they have again succeeded in painting us as “victims.” That’s not helpful.
Willard in Ohio
“it’s an equal-opportuniy offender.”
If you actually watch the show and pay attention you’ll quickly that this isn’t true.
Cam
I always thought it was fairly well known that Parker and Stone were gay.
pantherq
I can see gladds point.
SP is clearly satire but the ones we have the most to fear from are not going to interpret the episode as such.
Do we need to have everything brought down to the lowest common denominator?
Republican
Willard in Ohio,
Really?
Yes, the show takes sides on certain issues, but every group gets made fun of at some time or the other. Christians, atheists, gays, straights, democrats, republicans, pedophiles, moms who worry so much about pedophiles that they overreact and do stupid things, and the list goes on.
The Swimmer
Clearly you have all missed the many episodes making fun of Christians, Evangelicals, Catholics, Mormons, anti-gay marriage enthusiasts, and the extreme shit-filled colon movement that is the Christian Right.
AustinAbomination
My favorite memory of Trey and Matt is from Baseketball, where they proceed to make out, on film, for about half a minute. These guys aren’t trying to offend you, they’re trying to point out the absurdity of “fag fag fag” on the playground. Please see the ‘shit’ episode or the lovely episode where they show GWB getting diarrhea all over the American flag b/c Viacom wouldn’t let them show a cartoon of Muhammed. SP is and has always been a very vulgar, sarcastic way of pointing out the foibles of our society. If you don’t get it, that’s fine. If you want to be pissed off about it, go watch their archives. There’s something in there to piss off everyone.
As a side note: did you like the Fishsticks episode?
DeAnimator
South Park makes fun of everyone. Get over it.
lol@ufags
GLAAD has joined sides with the Church of Scientology, the Mormon church and the Catholic Church. Even the NAACP didn’t whine about the “n!gger” episode.
Willard in Ohio
‘Yes, the show takes sides on certain issues, but every group gets made fun of at some time or the other. ”
But for every slam at the right there’s a dozen, a hundred, aimed at the left. Who are their big targets, Barbara Streisand, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Rosie O’Donnel etc. all lefties. How many times have we seen similar nastiness aimed at prominent right-wingers? Ever? Other than organized religion they leave the right pretty much alone, and it certainly isn’t in balance with their attacks on the left.
So, no they aren’t equal opportunity offenders, not even close.
cgd
26, You know, “fag, fag, fag” isn’t absurd, it’s terrorizing.
http://tinyurl.com/y9vfr4t
Nov 1, 2009
The
openly gay student, who was wearing
a dress and carrying baby dolls
for Halloween, was possibly targeted
for the implications of his outfit.
…
the student was attacked
by a group of four middle-aged men
who were drunk and wearing masks.
The group of men at first giggled
among themselves. The men
then started to shove the student
around, asking, “Why are you wearing
a dress?” and
“Are you a FAG?”
The student got hit in the back
and in the face. When the student
started yelling for help, the men ran
away laughing.
The student did not realize how
quickly the incident would escalate.
“At first I thought they were just
being d-bags, but then they hit me,”
he said.
Peter
“You are not the entire gay community, GLAAD!”
And thankfully neither are you, Queerty.
hardmannyc
“Lot of gay bashings in NY, Manny. How many have you witnessed that you’ve done nothing about? You’re the big, bad gym queen–what are those muscles good for”
I actually believe in the rule of law, not vigilante justice. But if I did, I’d probably go out and actually, you know, do it, instead of posting on the Internet.
Chris
“During this SP-GLAAD ‘publicity’ endeavor they have again succeeded in painting us as ‘victims.’ That’s not helpful.”
While I agree that GLAAD doesn’t speak for all gays and that asking for an apology was pointless, I don’t see why you think that disagreeing with South Park is hurtful to our community. Do you think good people are going to think “I WOULD support pro-gay legislation, but they whined about South Park!”?
I personally disagree with the South Park episode. I don’t deny their right to make it. I don’t claim that they were trying to bash gays. What I don’t buy into is that all or even most of the straights using that word don’t make the connotation with homosexuality.
People keep repeating that one way to take the connotation of homosexuality out of the word is to increase its use. To me, at least, it seems obvious that that has an equal chance of decreasing the respect given to homosexuals in society if the connotation doesn’t disappear as quickly as the optimists expect it to. Isn’t another more valid solution to stop using that word altogether? Not because you don’t have the right to use it, but because you have the decency not to insult one person with a slur against millions of others.
TomEM
In case you forget South Park DID do an episode where the characters repeatedly used “the N word.”
HOWEVER, that episode ended with Stan apologizing to Token for not understanding why Black people still find that – “the N word” – offensive.
Apples and oranges…
Robert, NYC
The next time a gay male gets bashed or killed, maybe some of you will stop apologizing for the so called humorous side of “fag” in a specific satirical context. I wonder how Judy Shepard would feel knowing that its ok to find humor in the terminology? Not everybody is sophisticated enough to understand satire and to think that everyone who watches South Park does, then that’s just naive. Why is it that school yard bullies think its ok to say “fag”? Why is it that so many LGBT school children end up committing suicide or take drugs because of the “fag” taunt? Walk in their shoes, even Judy’s shoes and see how it feels. Next we’ll have homophobic hate crime offenders claiming it was just a joke just as they do with the panic defense in gay bashings or murders. This is a very fine line to walk when we start saying its ok to say fag in a “humorous” context. Tomorrow’s unsophisticated gay bashers will be watching too and will use the “humor” as a green light to go out and commit these heinous crimes. I’m sorry, I totally disagree with those of you who find it amusing in some instances. A slur is a slur, no matter how you may want to skew it or worse yet, justify it.
Sydney
South Park isn’t even fucking real.
Do we really need to debate this crap?
Keith Kimmel
No. 1 · Mr. Enemabag Jones
“I say next time a het calls one of us a fag, we should beat the shit out of them. What this country needs is a lot more het-bashings.”
This almost happened here night before last at Wal-Mart, when a trio of young wannabe red necks (must have seen me on TV) was walking out of the store near me and one of them said real loudly “That guy’s a fucking fag!”. When I looked at them, one of them threw a bottle at me and shouted “FAG!!”. I guess they were expecting me to run away or get scared or something, cause when I marched right up to the three of them and asked them if they had anything else to say or throw at me in a manner that implied if they did, I was going to do some throwing and speaking of my own, they suddenly had nothing more to say. One of them kept looking at the bed of his pickup, which was stacked full of lumber. I said “Go ahead, I promise you’ll be the only one who gets hurt over that.”
But the incident got my attention. I am going to a gun show this weekend and then I am gonna start the process to get a concealed carry permit. Because this fag isn’t gonna be bashed or become a statistic.
Joey
@Chicagojimmy and @YCKTR: Um… no they didn’t. In the ‘With Apologies to Jesse Jackson’ episode, they defended the use of the N-word as hate speech. In ‘The F Word’, they do the exact opposite and try to use fag as a regular everyday word.
South Park sez: Saying fag is cool. Saying nigger is not.
lola
while i dont use that word, personally, i did watch the episode and thought it was clever/funny. i guess that makes me sort of hypocritical? in any case, usage of the f-word and other deratory terms seems to be hypocritical all over american culture.
i think with these sorts of word it becomes sort of empowering over time for whatever group to take the word back and give it a new meaning–for example, feminists calling themselves bitches or the n-word being used pretty frequently in hip hop and rap.
even then, it gets sort of tricky–i’ll jokingly say “you bitch!” to a female friend but if a guy ever called me a bitch or i’m sure if i (me, being a white female) called an african-american the n-word, it would be offensive, and rightly so. i also have some gay friends who throw the f-word out there often enough.
it’s never going to be a clearly defined issue. you can’t make everyone agree to be offended or not.
Johnny
when we all stop letting words hurt us maybe we will all be better for it.
jason
I’m gay but I personally don’t care about the gay community. I don’t belong to the collective. I’m an independent person, thanks.
Chris
“South Park isn’t even fucking real.
Do we really need to debate this crap?”
It’s not about South Park at all, it’s the opinions and values being expressed by its creators and repeated by some of its viewers that’s being debated here. It comes down to whether or not bi- and homosexuals are remaining second class citizens by the promotion of what’s considered a slur.
Superficial (and cliched) comments like yours aren’t as intelligent as you think they are. The fact that a television show like South Park sparked a discussion about the F word doesn’t mean we should ignore it, because it does have social relevance.
kollegekid
Although the word can be offensive to the homosexual community I think we all use it frequently. Just as the word nigger, it is still heard around and such. yes making fun of one because of there sexual orientation isn’t needed, but we do it all the time. It is just a show and is “stupid humor” so I am not that upset about it being a gay person and all, but when someone uses it toward me in a hateful way then yes I get angry, but let it be, its freedom of speech and when we have things like this happen it ruins the idea’s for pushing for equality. GLADD is trying to stop people from expressing there views, but south park isn’t trying to stop anything being published by them.
jimmy
I finally watched the episode last night and I thought it was funny as hale.
Parker and Stone have managed to get everyone talking about South Park. There is no such thing as bad buzz.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
Keith Kimmel
one of them said real loudly “That guy’s a fucking fag!”. When I looked at them, one of them threw a bottle at me and shouted “FAG!!”.
But Keith, they were just being kids! Don’t you know that’s how kids talk today?
Aside from the above comment dripping with sarcasm, I’m glad you posted this story, Keith, because it does show that not everyone will see anti-gay slurs as just simple name calling. For too many, it’s a gay centric slur that they use without conscious.
One of them kept looking at the bed of his pickup, which was stacked full of lumber. I said “Go ahead, I promise you’ll be the only one who gets hurt over that.”
Love it 8^)
Normally confronting strangers can be dangerous, but your situation shows that “fag” is usually the last word a gay-bashing victim hears before being assaulted.
Usually I wouldn’t say this, considering you were alone and unarmed, but I’m glad you stood up to those bullies. It’s probably the first time in their lives that they learned actions have consequences.
But the incident got my attention. I am going to a gun show this weekend and then I am gonna start the process to get a concealed carry permit. Because this fag isn’t gonna be bashed or become a statistic.
Good for you! It’s every American citizens right to protect themselves–especially if they are a minority. Buy it, learn how to use it and carry it, Keith. And remember to educate your friends about firearm potection and safety. Until straight people feel physically afraid of us, they will never respect us.
AustinAbomination
@CGD: The use of ‘fag’ against a homosexual is terrifying, yes. The use of ‘fag’ as a derogatory word toward anyone other than a homosexual is absurd; as in saying “That’s so gay!” when someone is doing something lame or stupid, etc. They are making fun of insecure motorcyclists and people who call things gay that aren’t.
From the episode: “Gay people? We weren’t talking about gay people!” “Yeah, why would we want gay people to get out of town?” “Oooh, they think we mean _gay_ fags.” “Hey, that’s not very nice, mayor. Just because a person is gay doesn’t mean he’s a fag.” *blank stare from mayor*
Has anyone actually watched this episode? It’s a 20 minute version of Wanda Sykes’ “That’s so Gay!” commercial. It’s trying to teach kids to stop saying fag for everything. You guys should be applauding this episode.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
hardmannyc
I actually believe in the rule of law, not vigilante justice.
Are the Pink Panthers vigilantes?
But if I did, I’d probably go out and actually, you know, do it, instead of posting on the Internet.
So in other words, you’ve never done anything to help a gay bashing victim?
Juan
The word FAG has changed over time and SOUTH PARK and officially declared it so. GET OVER THE WORD, GET OVER THE HATE. Matt and Trey have been helping us for over 13 years now. They have always been at our side.
GLAAD should be thanking SOUTH PARK!!!
Thom Freeheart
More Butters please.
sal(the original)
adults watch south park??!!!really!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF
No. 45:
Take a few hits off the inhaler to restore normal breathing, then calmly walk to the nearest martial arts center and prepare to learn something about the nature of true self defense.
Start exchanging blows and grappling with other men and you’ll quickly realize how difficult it is to determine whether or not you’ll prevail in a fight beforehand. Trust me – there are guys out there who look like nothing that will fuck you up in less than 30 seconds. In a gym. With rules. You are even less capable of determining whether the said person will be ruthless, vicious and sadistic enough to physically beat you to death once you start shit with them, and that’s if they have only their fists to work with, and they’re taking you on alone.
Take the gun class and hopefully the first thing you’ll learn is how difficult it is to use a weapon effectively on an assailant that’s within twenty feet of you.
By all means, learn how to defend yourself effectively, arm yourself appropriately, and do what you have to do if you’re cornered with no way out – but do yourself a favor and drop the delusion that mindlessly escalating all confrontations with people who taunt you with slurs into violent encounters constitutes either true self-defense or a sound basis for gay men to earn “respect.”
cgd
46, sheesh, I saw the episode, a painfully tedious 22 minutes of my life that I’ll never get back. Besides being unfunny, if it was a long version of the Wanda Sykes “That’s so gay!” commercial and an attempt to teach kids to stop saying fag for everything, it was a massive satiric failure. Look at No.48 above, for example.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
No. 51–WTF
Bullshit.
I’ve seen two violent situations end peacefully when one person pulled out their gun. Unless the person you are dealing with is mentally disturbed, or on drugs, most sane people will move away from an armed person. I’ve also seen a situation end very badly, because someone wasn’t armed and after running, being cornered and attacked. I was the person in all three situations.
As far as self-defense experts who could kick my ass, I don’t doubt it. However, outside of movies most fighters will not be able to disarm someone. The purpose of a gun is to keep people away from you. If an individual decides to move in to take away your gun, no matter their fighting style, you will shoot. And black belts can’t stop bullets.
I’m not telling queers to be Bernhard Goetz, however if someone decides to invade your personal space, even after you ignore them, then all’s fair–especially in Florida where a law was recently passed that you can shoot an unarmed person if they are looking at you the wrong way.
And as far as respect, I have more respect for anyone who tries to defend themself than I do for a person who lives in a country with a right to bare arms, who does nothing to defend themself. I can feel empathy for victims of violence, but I don’t respect them.
MGinCA
The problem is that although fag is an offensive word, everyone keeps missing the most fucking important aspect of this episode: People riding around in Harleys fucking suck. They do need their own definitive name; something derogatory. Why not give them fag? Why not redefine its meaning?
Do people who have Harleys even realize how much they fuck with the peace of other people’s lives? I can just be reading a book, painting, enjoying a sunny day – whatever, then the sound… sure it only lasts around 45 seconds or so, but still it is annoying. More so than me living my private and quiet faggy life.
So yes, this episode is not about fucking fags. If anyone should be offended, it really should be bikers. Where’s their outrage? They were basically called fags for 30 minutes?
Steve
Funny, the episode didn’t offend me at all, once I got what they were doing. Maybe it was easier for me because I agreed with their take on motorcycle douchebags. (Oh no, now some woman will claim I offended her personal hygiene appliance.) Frankly, I thought the Mars Candy “stupid fairy” commercials were about a million times more offensive than anything South Park has ever done.
WTF
M.E.J:
Good luck. Keep those skills sharp!
http://www.policeone.com/police-products/firearms/articles/121328-Realistic-training-to-enhance-your-close-quarter-core-skills/
Mr. Enemabag Jones
MGinCA
Do people who have Harleys even realize how much they fuck with the peace of other people’s lives?
Yes. I worked with a guy who has a bike with a straight pipe and he said there’s nothing he liked better than going outside at 6AM and revving the hell out of it. Some people are dicks that way, but I don’t think they’re fags.
schlukitz
@ No. 53 Mr. Enemabag Jones
I completely agree that the best defense is a good offense, however…
You said: “especially in Florida where a law was recently passed that you can shoot an unarmed person if they are looking at you the wrong way.”
The law in Florida you are referring to is known as the “Stand Your Ground” law and, like a good many people, you are misinterpreting and distorting it’s actual meaning and intent.
The following link should clear-up any ambiguities concerning it.
http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/florida-self-defense-law.htm
Like you, we Floridians believe in our Constitutional right to bear arms to protect life, limb and property.
We are not, however, the cold-blooded murderers you make us out to be. If you shoot someone in the State of Florida for simply “looking at you i the wrong way”, rest assured that you WILL be tried for first degree murder, as well you should be.
stackhouse
@No.40 Johnny
“when we all stop letting words hurt us maybe we will all be better for it”
Who are you, the fucking Dalai Lama? If you want to get all quasi-Buddhist philosophy about it, the reason some words have the power to inflict psychological harm is because there they are infused with negative intention by their speaker.
Of course a young adolescent coming into their previously latent homosexuality will be hurt by someone calling them a fag/faggot/homo/queer/whatever-the-fuck. I know I was. And I’d call anyone a liar who said that they were not.
That being said, another point I’d like to make is that whether you liked the episode or not, whether you think the de-gaying/mainstreaming of “fag” is acceptable or not, there really is no need to “mainstream” the word to mean something “uncool, dickheaded, or douchey” because I dunno if anyone has noticed this besides me, BUT we have words to express those things already, LIKE uncool, dickheaded, and douchey.
Oh, and also, if I went around calling people who I thought were douchebags (and there are so, so many) “niggers”, I’d get the fucking shit beaten out of me by black people or all the white people would turn and stare and be so horrified that they would feel the need to chastise me, because, after all, they did vote for Obama.
Trey
I am a gay south park fan.
south park makes fun of EVERY POSSIBLE KIND OF PERSON. If you’re gonna complain about “fag” usage, why not stick up for everything else that is being made fun of on the show all the time (mormons, jews, christians, red heads, chinese people, etc) instead of just complaining about the things that hit close to home
Chris
No. 60 Trey – because we don’t disagree with what they were trying to say in those episodes. The mormon episode had the ending with Stan realizing that even though what the mormons believed in seemed crazy, they were still happier than his family and he shouldn’t judge them. The “gingers” were sympathetic characters. The Chinese restaurant guy may be offensive to some, but he’s a stereotype just like Mr. Slave and Big Gay Al, and I don’t think most people here were complaining about those characters. If South Park had an episode saying we should keep using the word “kyke” to redefine it, I would be speaking out against that message too.
Next time actually try to contribute something meaningful to the discussion instead of this kind of stupid, irrelevant comment.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
schlukitz
@ No. 53 Mr. Enemabag Jones
You said: “especially in Florida where a law was recently passed that you can shoot an unarmed person if they are looking at you the wrong way.”
I’m going to have to stop using sarcasm here since it clearly does not translate well when written, rather than spoken.
Keith Kimmel
No. 40 · Johnny
“when we all stop letting words hurt us maybe we will all be better for it.”
Words don’t hurt me. If people want to be ignorant, that’s up to them and I’ll even defend their right to do it. A simple “you stupid ignorant cunt” stare is sufficient punishment for such things, or in the case of corporate speech, boycotting the speaker and/or its supporters. Its when they follow it up violence that I have a problem and WILL take action. In the case I talked about, throwing a bottle is the violence. Had they just called me a fag, I wouldn’t have done anything.
No. 41 · jason
“I’m gay but I personally don’t care about the gay community. I don’t belong to the collective. I’m an independent person, thanks.”
There is a now infamous quote spoken by a one Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) from the 1930s era that applies to what you just said. Even religious folks contribute something worthwhile to the conversation on occasion.
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
No. 45 · Mr. Enemabag Jones
“Until straight people feel physically afraid of us, they will never respect us.”
As much as possible, I try to avoid making this a Homos vs. Str8s thing. It could be argued that blindly disliking str8 folks is just as ignorant as blindly disliking homos. Same goes for instilling fear, etc. There are some wonderful str8 people in this world, I met one last night under the most bizarre of circumstances. I recently got a new phone, and the person who had the number before was an interesting character. I get calls from her numerous drug dealers offering me their goods. And last night I got a text message from one of her crushes, a straight boi. He had a broken heart because when he told her he had a crush, she stopped talking to him. Yes, he is 23. So I texted him back and said she didn’t have the number anymore, but he could have a crush on me if he wanted.
He, of course, asked if I was a cute girl and I of course said no. Unlike most straight bois, he stayed around, asked lots of questions, we exchanged pics, myspaces and he wants to meet a couple of lesbian friends of mine. So here is a kid that probably has never encountered a homo before (judging by the questions he asked) and who likely wont grow up to hate, resent them or run away. I feel like something was accomplished there. I have a new friend, but whats more is Oklahoma has one less budding homophobe.
So I don’t go for the idea of just trying to instill fear in str8s. I do support sending the message that we’re not just going to be a punching bag for their frustrations in life.
“…that not everyone will see anti-gay slurs as just simple name calling.”
I think it was best summed up in The Laramie Project (or was it The Matthew Shepard Story?) by the guy who played Matts dad in the scene when they were talking about the gay joke being told at the bar. “But it wasn’t a joke, it was a little arrow of hate, shot right at him. How did he do it? They bounce off you and me Judy, but not him. How many hit him?”
—
With regard to the original question asked here, I think this is a case of GLAAD fighting an easy battle. They probably will brow-beat the producers or the network or someone into saying sorry. Then they can claim victory, shine in the lime light and justify their existence. I don’t think the South Park episode is that big of a deal. If you’re offended, turn it off. They made TVs with power buttons and channels for a reason. Was it offensive? Not in my eyes, I thought it was funny. Then again, I am quite secure about my place in the world and I don’t need constant re-validation of it in the media.
schlukitz
No. 61 Chris:
Co-sign.
schlukitz
No. 62 M.E.J.:
Were it not for the sheer number of negative, biased and hateful comments that do get posted on this site, I probably would have realized that you were being sarcastic.
And you are totally correct. Things that are easily understood when spoken face-to-face when one can read facial and body language, often get misinterpreted in writing, so I usually use something like *sarcasm font on* as I have seen other posters do, so that the meaning and intent is clear.
Thank you for clarifying your comment for me. My apologies for jumping on your back about something which was not your intent. 😉
Brian
Just like the do-nothings at GLAAD, we are all drowning in “judgement.” Grow up. It’s a cartoon.
Willard in Ohio
In case anyone still thinks the South Park guys target everyone equally, I think this quotes sums things up.
“I hate conservatives, but I really fucking hate liberals.” -Matt Stone, co-creator of South Park
jimmy
67 – Stone’s quote tells me that what he and Parker really mock is the reactionary tendencies that exist in American culture.
Willard in Ohio
68 – Really? It tells me he really fucking hates liberals, because y’know, that’s what he said.
jimmy
69 – So, he hates liberals. He also hates conservatives. Having watched a good number of episodes, I conclude that what he hates about both is their tendency towards irrational, reactionary conclusions and group-think.
Willard in Ohio
70 – No, he “really fucking hates liberals.” The quote obviously makes a decided distinction between the two groups.
I’ve watched pretty much all but the most recent episodes and I’ll stick to what I said earlier. South Park is not an equal opportunity offender and they do not treat everyone the same. Liberals and those on the left get far more nastiness thrown at them than the right does. In other words, he “really hates fucking liberals.”
Attmay
Well, I really fucking hate “liberals” (leftists) as much as they do, too. Conservatives, too. I dislike any kind of authoritarianism, and the left represents economic authoritarianism while the right represents social authoritarianism. I reject them both in favor of a call for real liberty, the freedom from excessive government.
Authoritarian douchefags like GLAAD makes me hate the illiberal “liberals” as much as they do.
Don’t get mad, get even people! If someone calls you a fag, call them a breeder. If they attack you, exercise your right to defend yourself by whatever means are at your disposal. They deserve it.
ptp
I am so tired of people being intentionally offensive with inflammatory words and insults, then further berate their target person/group when said person/group gets offended. What’s the point of this?
Kenny
Just watched it. I was apprehensive after reading these posts. And I’ve been a fan of the show for a long time, and was prepared to be disillusioned.
On the contrary, thought it was brilliant. It was VERY CLEAR about the redefinition of “fag” that is happening today. They even spell out the changing meanings of the word “fag” over the centuries. They even wrote in the gay characters to help with the redefinition! When Big Gay Al calls the bikers “faggots” and tells them to get out of town…wow.
Hence, they are just pointing out the fact that a lot of the “kids today” really ARE using the term “fag” in a way that doesn’t really mean gay. And unfortunately some still are…but can’t we leverage the others’ usage to deflect that meaning?
So I recommend not judging South Park’s intentions until you’ve SEEN this episode. I swear half of these posters haven’t seen it. And we should support their efforts to redefine it away from us! 😉
Brian
Some people just insist on being “victims.” I agree with Kenny #74. LET GO OF THE WORD FAG. And, grow up.
Brian
Enough of GLAAD. What an incredible waste of money. $30 million a year to argue with a CARTOON?????? WTF?
facepalm
I believe, after actually watching the episode, that those of us here who are getting indignant about this show are obviously the “gay fags” mentioned in the show. Being an actual member of the 18-25 age group involved with the redefinition of the word, I can testify that it really is changing. If you watch the show from an intuitive and objective point of view, you will see that those who complain about the show are the the same idiots portrayed in it: willfully ignorant, kneejerking reactionaries with predictable responses and contrivances. Also, the people complaining about the creators disliking the left should be ashamed of themselves. Who do you think you are, criticizing entertainment for having, gasp, a viewpoint? Ever notice how every show you ever watched had a story? a plot? motivated by a viewpoint of the writers?
Think about it. why would a free society find it deplorable to broadcast a cartoon with an opinion? get off your high horse and cancel the pity party. words are words, if you can’t be strong enough to shrug them off, who gives? you’re just too sensitive to live out here in the big, mean world.
Willard in Ohio
>Also, the people complaining about the creators disliking the left should be ashamed of themselves. Who do you think you are, criticizing entertainment for having, gasp, a viewpoint?
This is a parody post isn’t it? No?
So, it’s okay for the writers of a TV show to have an opinion, but it’s wrong (and presumptuous apparently) for me to have an opinion of the show? Seriously?
Besides that, you completely missed the point of what I posted.
romeo
You know, I think Matt and Trey may be losing it. Watched the latest show last night. The opening sequence was really disturbing and not in a funny way at all, though they might have thought it was. Simpson’s ran out of steam, and I think these guys are too.
Johnnysnot
Oi, A fags a cigarette.
So when I say, “Can I bum a Fag?” I’m actually asking to borrow a cigarette, and not asking to engage in mounting some homosexual’s ass.
What’s implied is not always what’s inferred though.
See… clear as mud.
random dude
lulz, getting angry at a word that isn’t aimed at them or anyone they represent (well, maybe gay bikers)
Brian Miller
How many of the angry queens on this thread blaming South Park for Matt Shepard’s death and bashings were busy endorsing Barack Obama, Joe Biden and other anti-gay politicians?
Complaining about a cartoon that thrives on mocking idiocy (including homophobia) and blaming it for violent attitudes in society is rather silly when in another thread, the same whiner is busy making apologies for politicians who actually do real harm to LGBT Americans.
Get a grip.
Robert, NYC
Brian Miller, I cetainly didn’t endorse Obama or Biden and still don’t, in fact there are few democrats I’m comfortable with and definitely NO republicans. Voting for someone doesn’t necessarily mean one endorses them. In Obama’s case, it was the least of the two evils than having another four years of the last administration, nothing more. A lot of independent conservative straights voted for him for the same reason.
Attmay
@82 Brian Miller:
Amen to that. Of those kids who drove that 11 year old boy to suicide, how many of them watched “South Park”?
Meanwhile Obama and Biden continue to enforce DADT and DOMA while casually ignoring anti-marijuana laws. We have fewer rights than chickens and junkies.
plutosdad
No Willard in Ohio, we aren’t criticizing you for having an opinion, we’re making fun of you and your black and white world.
We’re saying you’re opinion is wrong in that you believe they don’t attack everyone, because they favor particular groups. That doesn’t mean they don’t attack everyone as vehemently as they can. They are libertarians, not conservatives. If you see the whole world as “us vs them” then I understand why you think they are so conservative.
plutosdad
Keith Kimmel
one of them said real loudly “That guy’s a fucking fag!”. When I looked at them, one of them threw a bottle at me and shouted “FAG!!”.
I’ve been assaulted before, not beaten badly, but you know what? It makes me not care about stupid crap words and what happens on tv. They obviously aren’t trying to insult gay people. They are definitely trying to make people angry and riled up, but that is different.
So I guess I learned the opposite lesson from you. When there is still real violence then there are more important things to care about than a comedian pushing buttons.
Fred A. GraGs
waaaaaaaaaaaa Stop being faggs u losers……..weak pathetic useless human beings
any time you want war fag boys you bring it assholes….
schlukitz
No. 87 · Fred A. GraGs
waaaaaaaaaaaa Stop being faggs u losers……..weak pathetic useless human beings
any time you want war fag boys you bring it assholes…?
This is precisely what South Park homophobic attitudes brings out of the woodwork.
They just gave homophobia their stamp of approval and their stamp of disapproval for homosexuals.
eric
there isnt any “coming out of the woodwork,” there isn’t any problem, this is just a TV show that most people understand. this episode, like most of them, was hilarious and thought provoking. if you dont get, thats unfortunate, any issue you want to say isnt being tackled, they have or will. the glenn beck episode came out just after this one for example, and this is at tleast the third episode dealing with a specific word. cmon people, lighten up!
knightgee
“Equal-opportunity offenders” is a ridiculous term. Gays are not equal in America, they don’t enjoy the same rights, privileges or view in society as the majority do, thus you cannot attack them or mock them in a show and have it be the same as if you mocked straight white males. If you aren’t dealing with two equal groups, the offenses are not “equal”. If you offend straight people, they have enough power to screw you over in return, or likely don’t care because they know that you don’t threaten them. That isn’t true of gay people, who are still fighting for their place in society and thus do suffer when attacks are made against their image. It’s like pretending that there’s no difference between kicking a grown man and a child because you kicked both with equal force.
As for the idea that fag no longer has any connotations or associations with homosexuality, that is a ridiculous assertion that no sensible person should entertain. I’m only 20 and I and many other gay people I know still flinch at the sound of that word, so I don’t know which generation they think is changing this words definition, but it isn’t mine. Once again we have a bunch of white straight males telling minorities what they should and should not get offended by as if they are in any position to understand it. So yeah, as long as young kids are still being tormented by this word, and gay people are still being bashed as their attackers yell this word, I will not lighten up. I don’t now what fantasy world Matt, Trey and some of the people here live in, but fag is very much still a word meant to either in whole or in part reference negative feelings about gay people. This episode was nothing more than their attempt to justify it’s use without looking like ignorant homophobic assholes.
ngpainter
I’m sorry but the word fag is different than nigger. And I think that the case can be made that most people of my generation (i’m 24) use it to describe inconsiderate people, where as the term nigger has never been disassociated with black people. It’s not analogous. The creators of south park are libertarians that don’t give shit if you’re gay, they tend to just hate stupid people.
schlukitz
No. 91 · ngpainter
The creators of south park are libertarians that don’t give shit if you’re gay, they tend to just hate stupid people.
So, of course, the implication is that the creators of south park and you think you are absolutely brilliant (and superior as well)by using denigrating words to describe a class of people who have always been looked down on and make fun of them.
Only one word comes to mind for people like you and south park.
Deluded.
Tell me, when you order your “bitch” to get you a Budweiser, are they ok with that? Or do you just tell them that they are stupid if they object?
Pira
Matt and Trey deal heavily in satire, anybody who has been watching their work since South Park’s first season (like me and my dad) know this. They also like offending people, they seem like the type that get a kick out of that. GLAAD probably has them in stitches right now.
Now, I haven’t actually seen this particular episode yet, so I can’t really comment on it, but over the years they have thrown around the word fag in their work a lot in different ways. For example, in Team America, they had the Film Actors Guild (FAG) as the vocal opposition to their actions in other countries. However, they were, in part, satirizing the actions of the US around the world, and this was most likely their take on how the pro-war supporters at the time viewed the celebrity opposition to the wars. At the same time, the kids in South Park will call things gay, etc. without any clear parody or satire behind it. It’s quite possible they were satirizing their own use of it with this particular episode in question.
Personally, I try not to let stuff like this get to me. It does bother me at times, but I’m not going to make a stand with somebody over calling something gay, it’s minor and in most cases it’s futile, the only thing it will change is that they just won’t say it when I’m around. Clear hate speech, on the other hand, is more worthwhile to take a stand against, but there is a proper way to do it.
Mishelle
@J.P.:
Actually south park has used the “n word” in their episodes before. South park has pretty much touched on every taboo subject. I’d think by now people would just leave it alone.
Somepeople...
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Yes, hatred and violence is key. That’s why the civil rights movement was so successful after all. And it also did wonders for the Nazis and Japanese in WW2. I’m glad you thought out about what you were going to say before speaking.
Leo
Cry some more, it’s a word that changes with time. I say fag, I’m straight, I have plenty of gay friends. I said n**** when I was younger, I have mostly black friends. Just because it USED to be used to offend someone doesn’t mean that anyone who uses it is trying to bash someone.
You people (people who are homosexual) fuel the fire by bitching and moaning every time someone says something, you WANT to be offended so you can complain and bitch.
I know plenty of gay people who don’t bitch and are happy with who they are, aren’t bashed and love life. Get with it pussies.
Craig Buckley
Seriously, I’m a biker… straight up. I laughed my ass of, as I did for the “nigger guy episode”. I could have taken a self righteous, ” how dare you motherfuckers compare us with some fucking homos” attitude. Seriously, friends, see the point? I treat everyone with the kindness and respect which they deserve: not as a predisposed notion based on color of skin, sexual predisposition (notice not the derogatory “preference”; as it is not). Anyway, “fag” is funny: within that proper context: Jesus Christ, I run straight pipes on my bike and I find myself (now at age 50) sometimes utterly absurd. Homosexuality has nothing to do with the fact that 90% of the disposable income douche bags on Harleys are in fact “fags”. take ownership of the word, my friends. Be Proud.