The recent controversy over what Don Imus said on his radio show made me wonder if people sometimes overreact to what others say. You might or might not agree about the result of this controversy (Imus was fired), but in general do you think people are too sensitive or too eager to be offended? If everyone was worried about saying something that might be offensive to someone else, wouldn't that mean a lot of things that should be said would not be said, simply because of political correctness? Do you think some people take political correctness too far? Also, do you think Imus should not have been fired for a single mistake, even if it was a big one? Everyone makes mistakes, and he said he was sorry and that he was misunderstood--should he have been fired?
Any other comments you have on this topic would be appreciated!
A.J. Monroy (11:00)
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17 comments:
first off i like your question i always wondered the same thing. i think that the media is just looking for crazy and shocking things and then they make a big deal about it. its kind of like it starts out as a rumor and the media makes it into some big story. this question leads me to the conclusion that the American media are a bunch of high school girls. but i do not think that americans are too sensitive, i mean the people who are getting offended are probley doing so to file a lawsuit, then the media goes and sides with the victum and tells his/her story. this countrys polotics and media and everything is sooooooo fake. everyone puts on a show to get money or to get elected or to get a good story so their rattings will go up. but over all i beleive that Americans are not that sensitive and policicly correct i think the media makes it seem that way.
Isaac Mitchell
In today's society I believe that people tend to be too sensitive and are always looking for the next thing to be offended about. I think that's the reason for all of the stupid lawsuits in the country. And yes I believe being politically correct is making it so nothing can be said anymore - whatever is said will always offend AT LEAST one person. There's just no winning in these situations. When it comes to Don Imus's situation, I think him being fired was the right decision. You do not say anything that ridiculously racist/stereotypical/cruel on a nationally broadcast radio show - you shouldn't say that anywhere at ANY TIME. I don't really care how sorry the man is - that was wrong, and it was a huge deal to African Americans. People make mistakes, but sometimes mistakes are too big to be fixed. I believe in free speech, but not to that extent. People can express their opinions, but to knowingly offend someone or a group of people is unacceptable.
Nigel Knop.
I think that Americans are not as sensitive as what they may seem. Saying something that is way too insensitive makes the other person feel bad and is wrong. Like how the radio host got fired by saying something may have been wrong, but he shouldn't have been fired. Instead, he should have been punished by not being on the radio for maybe two months. Being politically correct is good and that if someone else thinks of some other way, they should let it out and say what they think.
Katrina Burkhardt
It seems to me that there is to much opportunity to be politically incorrect so what, when, how, and how our tone is taken by others is always under investigation. I really think that people are out looking for a battle instead of finding out the true explanation they jump down your throat until you really want to be politically wrong and tell them to f... off! It's alot easier I guess to fire someone because alot of people are mad at him, than to give him a second chance after apologizing. I think it's crazy because if you watch MTV those people all colors and races are continuously politically and morally inncorrect, yet they let that slide, so were is the line. I really think when it comes to race and religion we have overstepped our boundries in protecting some more than others. All that does is makes the religions and races that aren't being protected equally- the minorities. So really the tables have turned in alot of ways and by forgetting a past of racism we are builing a future of Racism.Pretty soon we wont even be able to talk to one another without a mediator to make sure we are being politically correct, and I put most of this on the medias shoulders for exaturating everything they get their grimmy hands on.Amy Marx
What Don Imus said was wrong and hurtful, bottomline. But I don't think that he should have been fired for this. There have been so many other people who have publicly said inappropriate things as well. Yes, he apologized, but I don't think that in the media we hear all the truth. The media is bias in comments and what is viewed to the public. Are people too sensitive or too eager to be offended? Yes, because I believe sometimes things are blown out of porportion and No, because if people were more sensitive, there would be less issues to get upset about and we could potentially have more harmony amongst all the people. Put yourself in their shoes kind of mentality, might help change our way of thinking. Your right in that everyone makes mistakes and but there are always consequences even if the consequences are far more severe than the mistake. That is unfortunate, but it happens all the time. Do we take political correctness too far? No, because if it used in the context it was intended, people in general would be more sensitive to the issues we all face everyday. Linda Francis
In the case of Don Imas i think it was time for him to be fired. He had also said when hearing that one of the Williams sisters were going to be in a certain adult magazine that they should be in National Geographic instead. Political correctness is becoming a big deal in our society and it can be a good thing but if we take it too far it could also be a bad thing.Pat Busey
I think people are way to eager to be offended. Sometimes people would rather take a comment out of context so that they can throw a fit about it rather than be a little forgiving and understand that a comment is not intended to be offensive. Were all human, and sometimes the things we say do not necessarily sound like the things we truly mean. Political correctness and its recent spike in importance is ridiculous. Political correctness should be a formality, not a necessity. Even if someone does say what they mean and it happens to be offensive, so what? You disagree with them. You are as wrong in their eyes as they are in yours. I do think people should be careful when saying offensive things, just out of politeness. That's not saying that they shouldn't be able to express themselves, just that they should be as nice as possible when doing so. Certain people do have to worry about political correctness because of their jobs, though. Certain jobs, especially ones that put people in the public eye such as radio hosts or politicians require a certain amount of public approval to be successful. If the offense is going to be so strong that it would put a person's work in danger, maybe they should rethink how important it really is to make that comment.
Megan Qualls
I think people are offended way to easily. From what I have heard, Imus has said many worse things over the radio that never got this much press. Even if its mean, I really think people should just relax and realize that everything isn't supposed to be taken seriously. How about all the rap music that says hoes? Lord knows about half the songs say something similar to that. But for some reason people aren't offended. That is one thing that i really don't understand. Matt Linday
I like this question a lot. most people i know are politically correct they dont want to make people made so they say the things they know will make the person happy. People have to stir things up every once in a while. They have to make a decision when people will say i dont care what does on. It takes a big person to make decisons because they know some people will not like their decision and some people will, they can deal with people being mad at them. Yes Most people in the United States are politically correct and you can see where that got us.
Phillip Poppe
there are many people in the world that say things just to make other people feel good about them selves. if everyone say what they really think of others, the world would be screw up. sometimes is good to stated what you really believe or state your opinion on things the way you believe it. cristobal
i believe that americans are far to politcally correct. "free speech" is a virtue that this country does not have. look at Don Imus, Mancow Muller, and Howard Stern all three of which were kicked off the radio for things that they say. do I think that people should be able to make threats or scares, no, but do i think that Don Imus should be able to tell the public that he thinks the rutgers womens basketball team is a "bunch of knappy-headed hoes" yea i do. its a joke and thats all it is, even if it were dead serious thats Dons opinion and hes entitled to it. Americans LOOSEN UP for gods sake.
Douglas King
p.s the rutgers womens basketball tem is "a bunck of knappy-headed hoes" in my opinion, hahaha, please dont fire me.
i really think that people have reached a stage where it seems like they are embaraced by who they are. everyone gets really offended from the smallest crap. i dont think imus should have gotten fired, maybe apologize if he was misunderstood but not fired. the thing is he got fired for the people. i mean his managers must have wanted to look better by firing him otherwise they would have been blamed of being racially insensitive. i think if we keep pushing those limits and extending them there will be no honesty at all. of all the things that are wrong, is this the only thing that we are able to fix? or have we gotten so childish to actually care for worthless crap like that?
BAHAA ABU SALIM
I would have to say yes that americans today are too sensitive. Although I do believe the main cause of this sensitivity is money. Everyone in todays world seems to just be waiting for someone to say or do something awful to them so that they can sue for damages. Damaging words are a fast way to easy money. I believe that we, as a society, need to be more tolerable of some things and not allow these lawsuits to be successfull.
Now with Don Imus, this was not his first offense to someone. Anyone who has heard or seen the Don Imus show knows that his popularity is based off his offensive nature. I believe the right thing was done in firing him this time, because he did go far. As for the Rutgers women, we should be applauding them for how they took the statement and didn't turn it into a big lawsuit towards CBS or NBC.
I feel that Don Imus was wrong for saying what he did. If he wouldn't of been talking about individuals on a team, maybe he could of escaped by apologizing. I don't feel it is right what he did, and he suffered the consequences. Most celebrities feel they can say anything to and get by with a follow up apology.
After the incident, people and the media start bringing the music industry into it. I feel that the music are words, whether true or not. It isn't pinpointing any particular person. I think people overreact on different things, that should be left alone (but the Imus statement was wrong).
I think the media and politicians are making people seem sensitive and politically correct.
Cheri A
What Imus said to get fired was far from the worst thing he has said. I think he should not have been fired for this. He is just one of those people who are not afraid to speak their mind. Some people just spend to much time worring about what others think or say about them.
Kelby
I think that Americans as a whole are too sensitive and politically correct. Just say it how it is. People today are just looking for a fight in my opinion. People like to complain and not be wrong.
Josh Kaufman
Americans aren't too politically correct. As for Don Imus, he had made many statements that were just as degrading. This time he pinpointed it towards a certain group of young ladies. The sponsers were the ones that showed the disgust towards his statement. All the sponsers pulled out. That leaves the show dead in the water. It wasn't long after that that they announced his being fired. Rush Limbaugh continues to make racist comments, but his sponsers don't pull out. If the FCC can crack down on the use of bad language on the radio, why can't they crack down on these "shock jocks." I think political correctness is a way to prove our country is progressive. That we want to push forward as a knowledgeable and respectful society.
Aaron Peters
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