Now that Isaiah Washington‘s getting all proactive and shit, meeting with GLAAD and GLSEN to come to terms with his not so latent homophobia, our country’s again considering the appropriateness of newsworthy epithets. You may recall during the Michael Richards scandal that news organizations bleeped out the word nigger, referring to it as “The N-Word”.
Well, it seems the same’s happening with Washington’s flippant use of “faggot”. Via Americablog comes word that The New York Times has refused to print the word “faggot”. Discussing their editorial decision, CNN’s Glenn Beck and radio talk show host Dave Glover had an interesting exchange…
Transcript from yesterday’s show:
BECK: Dave, what is the — what is the controversy? One of the guys called another guy a naughty name.
GLOVER: Yes. Basically you have Isaiah Washington, who’s one of the stars of the show, who referred to one of his co-stars during a heated argument as a derogatory term for a gay man that starts with “F”, rhymes with maggot. Did it a couple more times after that. And do you like how I did that?
BECK: Yes.
GLOVER: And…
BECK: Do you know that The New York Times wouldn’t even print — I mean, we can say the word. We`re having an adult conversation here. Wouldn’t even print the word “fagot [sic].”
GLOVER: Right.
BECK: Wouldn’t print it. I find that amazing.
The kids at AmericaBlog insist Beck’s deflating faggot’s defamatory content and seems to think they’re courting a boycott.
CNN and ABC are fooling themselves if they don’t think there’s going to be a massive advertiser boycott of both networks very soon. And as a veteran of such boycotts, I can’t imagine any advertiser is going to want to stick with a show, or a network, that uses and tries to diminish the abhorrent nature of slurs like “faggot.”
Yes, we agree that “faggot” inflicts loads of harm, but it seems to us that it’s better to get it out there rather than using euphemisms and code. Children won’t know what the “F-word” is anymore than they’ll know what “the N-word” is unless we tell them and explain why it’s so bad. It’s sort of like sex – once you dismantle the mystery, it’s just bodily fluids and a whole lot of clean-up.
It’s interesting to note, however, that Beck refuses to say nigger later in the conversation. This censoring, we think, softens his message. And, of course, makes him a total hypocritical pussy. If he’s going to use “faggot”, he might as well say “nigger”, “kike”, “spic” etc.. Equal opportunity and all that…
Bryan
That cartoon is hilarious.
I also like this:
“It’s sort of like sex – once you dismantle the mystery, it’s just bodily fluids and a whole lot of clean-up.”
Alan
Saying the F-Word is too confusing for most Americans who think that that is F*CK. Faggot would have to be F-Word #2
ATL Ryan
I’m torn on this debate. On one hand I enjoy referring to myself as a “dirty liberal jew faggot.” If, however, someone outside my circle of friends called me that I’d flip out as quickly as Naomi Campbell on housekeeper! If neutering the word faggot means I can no longer use it, I’m not sure I ready for that.
dustin
who say’s you’d have too? look at hip-hop music. look at the african american youth. they use the “n-word” constantly. they’re part of the club.
it just so happens i’m part of a different club. the faggot club. i’m allowed to say it. glen beck and issiah washington. are not.
Joe
It’s a matter of context. Discussing the topic and using the word in that context is NOT the same as using the word to defame someone. But then again you people wouldn’t know that since you’re so caught up in being offended to notice the difference in usage and context.
ellipse
**gg**
Fill in the blanks. It’s avoidable either way.
Paul Raposo
So Joe, why did Beck say, “..the “N” word…” rather than actually use the word “nigger” later in the segment? But then again you wouldn’t understand that since you’re so caught up in maintaining the status quo to notice the difference in usage and context.
StraightDave
I actually find it strange that any news outlet (e.g. AP) is using the word “faggot” in their reports on this issue, since it seems that Washington is in hot water for using it in context, i.e. “I did not call T.R. a faggot”. I understand that he supposedly really did use the word on the set in an offensive way, but at the Golden Globes, he was using it in the context of a denial. And it is that latter usage that seems to have gotten him in so much trouble.
Oh well. At least we know he is going to “look into his soul” and talk with the leaders of the offended community so that he can “heal the wounds he has opened” a la Keith Richards and Mel Gibson.
-Dave (White, straight, half-kike)
p.s. you DO seem to hear gay people using the F-word a lot less than blacks use the N-word, if that means anything.
chris
First off I don’t think it’s approprate to use the slur word faggot. Why not call them exactly what they are, queer ( strange or unusual) because the act is totally against nature and for that much society itself. They want to call themselves gay. Sorry but look it up in the dictionary and gay means happiness. They’re not happy not when they’re costantly defending a life style that God Himself calls an abomination. If you think that the so called Gay Activists are realy a peaceful bunch and worthy of your consideration then go watch them at their Annual Gay Pride Parade inL.A. and find out what they’re really all about. They’re a bunch off perverts who if they were any other group would be thrown in jail for the acts they’ve done in public.
The whole movement needs to be shut down and the bleeding heart liberals who side with them need to be kicked out of office. As for those who have voted for those in office who support the Gay Agenda, you should be totally ashamed of yourselves.
As for Washington, he’s been backed into a corner by the QUEERS by his career being put in jeopardy, a mark for the FAGGOTS. I think if enough of us that feel enough is enough would stick together against this rediculousness we could put an end to the QQQQQQQQQQQQUEERRRRR movement. Besides Washington can’t change his color, he was born that way. Everyone was born with a sex except for a few freaks of nature( no offense intended) that have both sexes, and you’re required by God to maintain the dignity that sex requires. Or face destruction like Sodom and Gomorah.
al
Whoa chris, I think you’re preaching to the wrong group of people, here.
Or maybe you really do like to cruise Queerty on a daily basis. I can’t blame you; I’m here every day for the “articles” (read: morning goods), just like you.
Also, I seem to have lost my copy of the Gay Agenda in the bathroom at Splash. Next time you’ve got your mouth up to a gloryhole, can you just check behind the toilets for me? That’d be grand, thanks!