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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 4:07 pm
apparently he took himself a little too seriously
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 5:57 pm
I'd say the discussion does belong here because you cannot separate history into only the good things anyway and you cannot discuss history without discussion topics like racism and here it is in our faces. Racism, or racial slurs: part of history.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 7:18 pm
even though I thought he seemed sincere last nite I dont condone what he did. I agree that the lynching comment was the most appaling, normal people dont have those thoughts even deep deep down inside
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 8:10 pm
All of the clips I found start with the outburst. I couldn't find any clips of what lead up to it. I am curious as to exactly what brought that on. I believe that a person cannot spew forth that type of filth if it is not in their heart in the first place. Possibly it was something he had buried deep and it finally came out as he lost control but it had to have been there already to come out like that. I watched the Letterman apology and something seemed off to me but I can't put my finger on it. Parts of it sounded incredibly sincere and parts of it sounded scripted. It's hard to say how sincere he is without knowing him more personally. He can apologize all he wants, it will never erase what he said.
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 8:41 pm
I haven't been able to follow this discussion all day, so I'm catching up. I don't see how anyone can distinguish between making racist comments and being a racist, "Heat of the moment" notwithstanding. Based on what I heard, some black men were talking while Richards was doing his act (and if you listen to the whole thing, that's what he even says happened). That isn't heckling. That's, "The show isn't funny enough to keep our attention." But who cares what started it? So what if they were shouting, "You stink!" at him? His *FIRST* instinct was to shout vile, racial epithets, saying 50 years ago, the mob would have KILLED them! How is that NOT racism? And this *is* black history. This is what blacks have faced for generations. Now, thanks to video cell phones and Youtube, we can all see it almost first hand.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 8:53 pm
Usually today racism is such a subtle demeaning thing and most people tend to ignore it. Now here is someone like Richards who screams these horrible remarks and shows it for the vile thing it is. Prisoner is right, this is what people we know and love have had to live with just because their skin is darker.
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Chewpito
Member
01-04-2004
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 10:24 pm
In a comidy show, the audiance is a big part of the show.. Hecklers have been testing the wits of comedians for ever and this is expected allmost.. The comedian can build on the critisim because its his/her job to "handle" the audiance and if he/she cant then its the wrong buisness to be in.. He is def in the wrong buisness.. I felt that his apoligy was sincere but then all day, I have been re-thinking those words, about the linching and the fork and I cant except his apoligy..that was just sickening. He does have alot of work to do to make this right... If he wants he may be able to build from this and maybe move forward... But I fear that in a couple weeks this will fade away, Just like Mel Gibson, It may be just a little glitch in his life.. but we have an opportunity to change ourselves.. We dont have to watch,admire,pay their wages and feed their big heads.... I wont watch Mel Gibson any more, could care less about Tom Cruise, and saddly-- even though I found Sienfeld to be a great sitcom, its been soured for me... I do not want to sopport thease creeps. This whole week I was sickened by the "fairy tale" wedding of Tom and Katie...who gives a crap..(I know,hes not racist but his High and mighty views about depression and medications turned me off permanetly)....People are starving, suffering from illness, the money that was waisted by that circus could have helped more people than most of us could ever emagine.... Then the cherry on top is this fiasco with Richards... Im very sad. We are adults here and it is our job to change things... I really hope that he can get help and that this is not forgotten... But for me to believe that he is truly sorry, then I will have to see it with actions... If he fades away I will know, That he did nothing!
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 11:23 pm
What I'm getting from all of this comedy show thing is that hecklers are the norm and that no matter what they want to do and say, the comedian is supposed to just deal with it the best they can and get on with the show. Is that it? You gotta be kidding me! While I in no way condone Richards' behavior and speach, I am floored that the comedian is supposed to take abuse for performing. While one action does not excuse another action, the audience should have to behave considerately or be asked to leave.
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 3:54 am
I can't believe what I'm reading here and in the Letterman thread. Richards spewed vile, hateful racial epithets, suggested that the so-called heckler would have been KILLED BY A MOB 50 years ago, and people are saying somehow the other guy started it? In his tirade, Richards said they had been "talking, talking, talking." That's not heckling. Even if it was, IT'S NO EXCUSE! Heckling goes on a comedy shows. Anyone who goes to comedy show knows to expect it. It isn't interrupting the act, a good comedian makes it part of the act. But who cares if it was heckling or not! Some black man pissed this guy off, and the first thing Richards goes for is racial insults. You don't insult someone about their race unless you think race is something to be insulted about, and that's racism. You can't apologize for that, you can't say the other guy started it, and make it OK. I don't know what makes me angrier, Richards' racial rant or people's justifications of it.
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Adven
Member
02-06-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 4:55 am
Years ago my brother was in a racially mixed musical group. One night, two members of the band, one white, the other black, got in a fist fight over a woman. Among other things, they insulted each other's race, family and just about anything else they could thing of while they pummeled each other. Does the language they used make them both racists? Maybe. I do know they were friends before the fight and, after a cooling off period, were friends again after it. I lost track of them about 10 years ago, but they were still friends up to that time. The point to me is not whether Richards is or isn't a racist. I just get uncomfortable when we turn into morality cops and condemn people out of hand with simple labels as though our own closets are free of skeletons.
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Grooch
Member
06-16-2006
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 5:01 am
For anyone on the west coast, on the Today show this morning, Matt Lauer interviewed the 2 men that were the target of the tirade. It was in the 7:30 1/2 hour segment, I believe.
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Moondance
Member
07-30-2000
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 5:17 am
This is all very sad to me but this is also the perfect time for healing. I hope from here on out Richards' actions will be productive. What he did was so disturbing and I was so very angry when I heard about this but when things like this happens it should allow us all to go inside and ask ourselves tough questions and come out better people.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 7:31 am
Well I get very uncomfortable when in 2006 someone still wants to lynch us. So yeah I'm damn sure gonna start labeling them and my closet doesn't have anything to do with it.
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 7:37 am
There is even a Seinfeld eppy where he is heckled, he then goes to the girl's work and starts heckling her. It's a pretty funny ep. My point is, heckling is a big part of the standup and that is why Jerry made an ep about it years ago. The thing I have noticed in clubs is that the really funny guys dont usually get heckled
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 7:50 am
Adven, IA. Do things we say in anger make us who we are or do things we do in love make us who we are? I would be very surprised if anyone here hand's were clean of a racial remark made in anger. (Maybe not to the extent Richard's went, though) Maybe it's that person who cut you off, the lady who cut in front of you in line, the man who took the last bagel that you like, your parking spot, the elderly person driving too slow in front of you, the group of kids hanging out on the corner that doesn't look friendly, the quickie mart clerk that you can't understand what they are saying and they count you back the wrong change...... Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 7:55 am
Lol for some reason I thought your post was funny Escapee. I have already stated how I respond to being pissed off.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 7:57 am
Of course what if's, to me, really have nothing to do with the topic at hand but I'm curious Adven so I'm gonna throw out a what if. What if Richard's comments were directed at your sister? Would you condem? Psychoanalyze? Or just want to beat the <77> down? 
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:09 am
Two of the men from the audience were on with Matt. They said that they were in a group of about 20 people and that they interrupted the performance just by getting to their seats and getting served drinks. They said that Richards was upset by their lateness and noise while getting settled. One of the guys told Richards that he wasn't funny and Richards went off. They went back and forth a bit and then this group of 20 got up to leave. Richards got louder and nastier. Other people,not with this group, got up to leave also. Gloria Allred is representing the two men. (this is just my pp of what I heard)
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:10 am
Morning Mocha!
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:11 am
Here is the interview with two of the people who were the focus of this racist tirade. Apparently, it all started when there large group came in and made too much noise getting their seats and ordering drinks. It started off with Richards saying a stupid bunch of blacks and Mexicans just came in. One of them said, "Hey, you're not funny." Then Richards flipped him off and said, "F--- y--, n-----!" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/ This is backed up by what Tom Dreesen, who was actually there as well, said happened. Watch it and tell me they somehow started the whole thing.
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Native_texan
Member
08-24-2004
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:30 am
I'm sorry but my understanding of their refusal of the men to accept Richard's apology did a total about face when the money talk started.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:35 am
Hola Rosie!
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:36 am
Prisoner I can't find the interview in the link. Lil help please and thank you.
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:41 am
Mocha, there's a link in the middle of the page under the word Video that says "Michael Richards' apology for his tirade isn't enough" That should take you to a page where you can find the video. I had to listen to the apology first, and then I found the link for the interview with those two gentlemen.
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Adven
Member
02-06-2001
| Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 8:51 am
I'm not defending Richards. What he said was vile and he will pay a price for it. I'm just not convinced that what someone says - one time -under duress or when they are in a rage necessarily defines them or makes them a racist. The venom behind the remarks makes me cringe, but I have seen many people who can't control their rage who compulsively reach for the most hateful things they can think of to vent. It's not excusable, but it seems to me to be more a problem with rage than an indicator of what they truly feel. It's a way of unloading. I'd find it a lot more telling if he was calm when he said it. As for my sister, I'll raffle off tickets if anyone wants to insult her. I might even be first in line.
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