And so it begins, the "moral cleansing"

[Muscletang]

Two New York radio hosts fired for Asian slur

NEW YORK (AFP) - The CBS network has fired two "shock jocks" over an on-air slur against Asians, US media reported Monday, weeks after another radio host was sacked for making a racist remark.

The hosts of "The Dog House with JV and Elvis," Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay, had been suspended earlier as the broadcaster decided their fate.

The show was permanently canceled after the two placed an on-air order to a Chinese restaurant for "slimp flied lice" and compared food items to certain parts of the body on April 5.

"'The Dog House with JV and Elvis' will no longer be broadcast," CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo told the New York Daily News.

After the prank call was broadcast, the Organization of Chinese Americans, an advocacy group, had blasted the network and demanded CBS fire the hosts.

The move came after Don Imus, who had enjoyed a large national audience for his radio and television program, was fired after he called the Rutgers university women's basketball team "nappy-headed ho's," nappy referring to the tight hair of many African-Americans and ho, as street talk for "whore."

"In the wake of the Imus case, it would have been maddening to the community if these idiots did not get fired," Queens City Councilman John Liu told the New York daily.

So whose next? I'm guessing the ragheads or gays. Jews, I think you have a little bit of waiting.

NOTE: To the hippy liberal douches, that was a joke. Wouldn't want to "offend" anybody

[TexasF355F1]

It's getting totally ridiculous.

Apparently George Lopez made a comment after his show got canned saying ABC "is going white again".

Now what would have happened if a Jim Belushi said that? All pandemonium.

[03cavPA]

I agree with Kyle: once the airwaves have been cleansed, who's next? Whose version of acceptable speech will become the law of the land?

Why stop at speech? We know what all you people are thinking, so we'll punish you for that as well. Crimethink is double plus ungood. The thinkpol are watching you.

[taranaki]

Good job CBS. It's about time! If an Hispanic or African American radio station jock routinely broadcasted ignorant generalisations about 'stupid fat whitey', I can see at least three people in this thread who would be crying foul and demanding that something be done.

Shock jocks appeal to those who have never emotionally matured sufficiently to cope with adult life. The rest of us treat them with the same tolerance and discreet humour that we reserve for the loudmouthed moron at work who thinks he's a hell of a lot funnier than he really is. We're glad when jerks like him get fired,it makes work a nicer place to be.

We don't need 'shock jocks'. They are the dregs of the broadcasting gene pool. given the choice, most people would probably prefer less 'wacky' and more music.

[lv_sinnerz]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Good job CBS. It's about time! If an Hispanic or African American radio station jock routinely broadcasted ignorant generalisations about 'stupid fat whitey', I can see at least three people in this thread who would be crying foul and demanding that something be done.

Shock jocks appeal to those who have never emotionally matured sufficiently to cope with adult life. The rest of us treat them with the same tolerance and discreet humour that we reserve for the loudmouthed moron at work who thinks he's a hell of a lot funnier than he really is. We're glad when jerks like him get fired,it makes work a nicer place to be.

We don't need 'shock jocks'. They are the dregs of the broadcasting gene pool. given the choice, most people would probably prefer less 'wacky' and more music.

I actually agree with this. Too much BULL on the airwaves. Enough to the point I rarely listen to radio at all. If it's not commercials, it's talk, and too much of it. Satellite radio isn't much better, but it's a marginal improvement over AM and FM.

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Good job CBS. It's about time! If an Hispanic or African American radio station jock routinely broadcasted ignorant generalisations about 'stupid fat whitey', I can see at least three people in this thread who would be crying foul and demanding that something be done. .

And why not? What's good for one is good for all. False/double standards do nothing to address the problem. That kind of speech is ignorant no matter where it comes from, but it's still not a crime to talk like that .... not yet, but they're working on it.

I don't particularly care for shock jocks, never have, but if they're going to come under fire now, then ALL of them need to.

Still, once shock jocks have been cleared off, who goes next?
opcorn:

[drunken monkey]

Does freedom of speech = freedom to be offensive?
Does freedom of speech = freedom to be an arse and not get some sort of punishment?
Does punishing "shock jocks" = clamp down on all free media?

As far as you know, once the "bad" broadcasters have been removed, the general quality of broadcasting might go up as instead of trying to be new and innovative and entertaining, they might move to make more informed and factually accurate and unbiased shows.
Getting rid of a twat on radio doesn't mean they're going to censor everything.
Being on radio, whether or not it is open access or subscription still means that you have an audience and as such means you are in a postion of power, as it were. To not think about what you are saying is just plain stupid. Perhaps that's the real problem here; that too many stupid people in the media are being rewarded for the wrong reasons in the first place.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by taranaki

If an Hispanic or African American radio station jock routinely broadcasted ignorant generalisations about 'stupid fat whitey', I can see at least three people in this thread who would be crying foul and demanding that something be done.

Why? You think I care if a Jungle Bunny or Wetback calls me Cracker or Honky?

Oh no! I'm a racist! I should be put in jail for such language! It's not racism, it's double standards. Also, you put me in the spotlight for it, I might do it again. Why? Well why do you think shock jocks do it?

Now as for shock jocks, don't care for them. Same goes for the modern art world. Stuff that's made to piss me or others off usually isn't good or funny. Now sometimes in a shot in the dark they'll hit the nail on the head but that's very unusual. If people wouldn't listen or give them attention when they do this, then this wouldn't be happening.

[taranaki]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

If people wouldn't listen or give them attention when they do this, then this wouldn't be happening.

Agreed.And the best way to cut off their game is to deny them access to the airwaves.

Drunken monkey is right - freedom of speech is a very important concept, far too valuable to the ordinary citizen to waste on guttermouthed morons who want to make money out of acting the dick in public. Save free speech for what it was intended for - not to protect assholes and their cheap shots.

[Gohan Ryu]

"Selective" free speech isn't free speech at all. Might as well be living in the former Soviet Union if we're going to be practicing that kind of censorship and still try to call it free speech. Americans also have to freedom to choose what radio stations to listen to...don't like what you hear on one station? CHANGE THE FREAKING CHANNEL! Just because you don't like something you hear doesn't mean everyone feels the same way. Quit trying to change the US to conform to your ideal - your ideal is BORING.

The real problem here: those asians who are insulted by this can't take a joke. Granted, it is not a very funny joke - it's more like a prank a 15 year old might pull with his friends. For two "professional entertainers" to do it is kind of sad. But it is just a sad joke that got blown way out of proportion by a group of whining maggots whose feathers get ruffled by the slightest breeze.

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Agreed.And the best way to cut off their game is to deny them access to the airwaves.

Today, it's shock jocks, tomorrow, who knows? Which group decides who gets banned from the airwaves? Standards and mores change with the generations.

I think we all agree that the shock jocks' antics are getting old, but it's still a slippery slope for "selective free speech", as Gohan put it. Speech is either free, or it isn't. Taking some "higher ground" stance won't change the fact that we are talking about censorship.

Everyone takes offense at something. Soon, no one will be granted access to the airwaves under that premise.

[drunken monkey]

Does freedom of speech allow you to be racist or make racist jokes?

Bear in mind that if you asked me, to my face instead of over the safety net of a radio mike, for a "slimp flied lice" I'd break your legs.
Can I take a joke?
Sure but why does that joke have to involve potentially racially offensive material?

The one thing that no one's mentioned here is that the situation isn't totally equal.
In this case, name me at least five of the following

chinese radio broadcaster
chinese television host
chinese journalist
chinese reporter

Sure, I agree that there is a validity in the "let the people decide" ideal of democracy but when the number of voices between the various groups of people aren't equal, is it a true democracy?
Put it this way, if you want a proper democratic vote; let's ask all 1.3 (give or take the odd 100,000) billion people in china if they'd like the DJs sacked and then asked all of the U.S the same question.
Let the majority decide.


ignoring the fact that China isn't exactly the most democratic of places.....

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Agreed.And the best way to cut off their game is to deny them access to the airwaves.

You mean like this?



Yet, they were able to show this.



Here is how it is people. It is all fair game. That's free speech, deal with it.

Now it's easy for you to sit on your high horse and say, "this is wrong" and "that is wrong" but when the finger comes back around to you it's all "oh, I didn't mean that" or "it was just a small joke".

Either
A. Grow a pair
B. Move to China where there is no free speech

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

Does freedom of speech allow you to be racist or make racist jokes?

Bear in mind that if you asked me, to my face instead of over the safety net of a radio mike, for a "slimp flied lice" I'd break your legs.
Can I take a joke?
Sure but why does that joke have to involve potentially racially offensive material?

Yes, freedom of speech allows you to be as ignorant and as offensive as you'd like, without fear of arrest and jail time. Stupidity often knows no bounds.

Reprisals from offended parties is quite another thing. Bear in mind, though, breaking said offender's legs will no doubt net YOU some jail time, while the jokester gets away with it.

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

Put it this way, if you want a proper democratic vote; let's ask all 1.3 (give or take the odd 100,000) billion people in china if they'd like the DJs sacked and then asked all of the U.S the same question.
Let the majority decide.

ignoring the fact that China isn't exactly the most democratic of places.....

The opinion of the population of China regarding free speech in the US is hardly relevant here, especially since they've not known free speech as we know it in their lifetime. We're not talkng about whether or not the DJs exercised poor judgement; I think we all agree they did.

Some of us are simply talking about censorship and the curtailment of free speech.

[drunken monkey]

feh... when's the last time you heard about a chinese triad member getting arrested in london?

moving on....
Y'see, I think freedom of speech is important but I don't think it equates to having the right to
i) be offensive
ii) make ignorant/stupid statements/comments

If you are offensive then there are actually laws about that (obsenity, hate, libel etc etc)
If you are ignorant/stupid then you should keep your mouth shut; if only for your own good.

To me, free speech is about giving all people a little bit of responsibilty to the society in which you belong. If you choose to not exercise that responsibilty correctly then you are abusing your right to free speech. If you are abusing that right, I don't think you deserve that right (or the use of your legs).
oversimplified but you get what I mean?