'Gay' vs. 'Retarded' and suspensions

Tom Jackson wasn't fired because he was telling the truth.

 

I read about the "gay" comment from the ESPN talking head. I hadn't heard about Tom Jackson.

The person who used the "gay" comment should have been suspended. It was unprofessional before a microphone.

With the Tom Jackson comment, maybe he should have been disciplined also. I think there are a couple of mitigating circumstances. First, Tom Jackson apologized. Second, TJ made the comment in the heat of a disagreement and I presume he said it to Irvin's face. The other thing is the trash talking is part of the show - I don't like it but presumably this is done to attract the younger demographic who will go out and buy a lot of beer. The word is as bad, but the circumstances are different.

The other thing is the anchor made the comment as an individual. With the ESPN crew, it's a whole group who are trash talking so you kind of have to blame everybody.

 

I think ESPN is gay and retarded...

 

Fire everyone and start over!!!

 

The difference is, Brian Kinchen is an ESPNU peon, and Tom Jackson is Berman's buddy.

 

Also, didn't Jackson call Michael Irvin gay? That gives him a pass as far as I'm concerned...

 

Calling someone Gay is a perjorative. It fits into sterotypes about macho, manliness and that gay males are somehow less than men. They are sub-male. It is a derogatory slur. When you consider the discrimination and hate homsexuals have experienced then it is easy to see how that goes over the line.

As far as retarded, it is in poor taste and not very nice, but it isn't the same. Calling someone retarded is another way to call them stupid. Not very classy and articulate, but it is hardly a slur. It is just mean to retarded people.

And by the way when you call someone retarded, the defense is just like a libel defense, truth is an absolute.

 

FWIW, the "gay" quote in question wasn't aimed at someone, he was just talking about caressing the football when you catch it, right?

So it was inappropriate, but really not mean. More stupid.

 

I'm sforry I calledyou faggy.

 

We all are, MU. We all are.

 

I don't like either of them. There are so many other words that could be used and the words in question here have too many other negative connotations.

I was going to suggest professional journalists surely could come up with better adjectives but then I realized the thread was about ESPN.