Ed Schultz Calls Laura Ingraham a Slut

[CroMagna]

Ed Schultz suspended from MSNBC after calling Laura Ingraham a ‘right wing slut’ - The Washington Post Ed Schultz calls Laura Ingraham a slut and was only suspended for a week. In fact, that one-week suspension was at his own behest.

Feminist groups are so weak and useless that I don't even want to call myself a feminist anymore.

[Le Roi]

Wouldn't it be better that the word slut becomes a noble thing to be called?

[GeorgeMagister]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

Feminist groups are so weak and useless that I don't even want to call myself a feminist anymore.

I understand your characterizations completely and while I, too, lament their shortcomings, I implore you to not let them affect your behavior or vernacular.

Organized U.S. feminists do not own the concept of feminism and their incidental branding of the word to associate it with divisive agendas and ineffectualness does not take away the core truths or spirit of it, from any of us.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

Ed Schultz suspended from MSNBC after calling Laura Ingraham a ‘right wing slut’ - The Washington Post Ed Schultz calls Laura Ingraham a slut and was only suspended for a week. In fact, that one-week suspension was at his own behest.

Feminist groups are so weak and useless that I don't even want to call myself a feminist anymore.

Well as "horrible" as I'm sure feminist groups will portray this, I don't see why just calling someone a slut is automatically labeled as being sexist.

That is sort of like a woman calling a man an ass just because he is being masculine, but then the men gather together and cry about how the woman hates all men, when she really doesn't.

That said, I don't know who these people are, and it was probably inappropriate for that to be said. But c'mon feminists, you don't have to get your panties twisted every time anything bad is ever said about any woman ever. Men are generally expected to take insults (even untrue ones) without being babies about it; I don't see why women would hold themselves to a different standard.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Men are generally expected to take insults (even untrue ones) without being babies about it; I don't see why women would hold themselves to a different standard.

Maybe that's not a good thing!

The fact that you think that we should respond to insults the way you do, that you feel that your way is the right way to respond, leaves me a bit perplexed actually.

Have you ever considered the possibility that the expectations placed on men are just a little screwy, and the way you expect us to follow suit to also be a little screwy?

If someone insults someone, then it's perfectly normal for that person to feel insulted, and respond accordingly. To be expected to 'just suck it up and "be a man"...when we are women, is just plain stupid!

[BillyTheAdult]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Well as "horrible" as I'm sure feminist groups will portray this, I don't see why just calling someone a slut is automatically labeled as being sexist.

That is sort of like a woman calling a man an ass just because he is being masculine, but then the men gather together and cry about how the woman hates all men, when she really doesn't.

That said, I don't know who these people are, and it was probably inappropriate for that to be said. But c'mon feminists, you don't have to get your panties twisted every time anything bad is ever said about any woman ever. Men are generally expected to take insults (even untrue ones) without being babies about it; I don't see why women would hold themselves to a different standard.

I somewhat agree with this. I personally find slut to be a more offensive word than ass. I do agree though that it was probably used more as a general insult than anything and people happen to latch onto it more. I think a week voluntary suspension is fine. Everyone does dumb stuff every now and then and there is no reason that should be cause for them to be shamed for life, or cast out of society, I mean c'mon. This is what I meant about guilt being projected onto men for their sexuality as well as women in the most recent slut thread. It's like there is a stereotype of men always wanting sex and being "unenlightened" about sex and of being the perpetrators of sexual violence (so clearly that means all men are like this at all times no matter what) so they become easy targets. Ed Schultz (who I honestly don't know too much about) is in the context of this thread a person who apparently deserves eternal damnation, for using one word one time in the course of his life that women don't like, and "victimizing" some woman. The use of ,and reaction to this word has more to do with the guilt and shame one feels in their own head about sexuality than society. What if he had called Eliot Spitzer sleazy, would anyone even bat an eye. No because it has somehow become acceptable to shame men for sex but not women.

I had no idea who Laura Ingram was and had to look her up on the internet, it appears as if she is basically a hatemonger the likes of someone like Rush Limbaugh, who uses language like this and much worse on regular basis. where is her one week voluntary suspension?

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by CroMagna

Ed Schultz suspended from MSNBC after calling Laura Ingraham a right wing slut - The Washington Post Ed Schultz calls Laura Ingraham a slut and was only suspended for a week.

I find it sad that the only way an intelligent, professional man could put down this woman is by calling her a name that can basically only be used against the female gender to try to make them feel bad about their sexuality. Pretty pathetic and embarrassing for Ed.

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by BillyTheAdult

I somewhat agree with this. I personally find slut to be a more offensive word than ass. I do agree though that it was probably used more as a general insult than anything and people happen to latch onto it more. I think a week voluntary suspension is fine. Everyone does dumb stuff every now and then and there is no reason that should be cause for them to be shamed for life, or cast out of society, I mean c'mon. This is what I meant about guilt being projected onto men for their sexuality as well as women in the most recent slut thread. It's like there is a stereotype of men always wanting sex and being "unenlightened" about sex and of being the perpetrators of sexual violence (so clearly that means all men are like this at all times no matter what) so they become easy targets. Ed Schultz (who I honestly don't know too much about) is in the context of this thread a person who apparently deserves eternal damnation, for using one word one time in the course of his life that women don't like, and "victimizing" some woman. The use of ,and reaction to this word has more to do with the guilt and shame one feels in their own head about sexuality than society. What if he had called Eliot Spitzer sleazy, would anyone even bat an eye. No because it has somehow become acceptable to shame men for sex but not women.

Wait...so men are shamed for their sexuality because they're shamed for shaming women?

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by elucidate

Have you ever considered the possibility that the expectations placed on men are just a little screwy, and the way you expect us to follow suit to also be a little screwy?

If someone insults someone, then it's perfectly normal for that person to feel insulted, and respond accordingly. To be expected to 'just suck it up and "be a man"...when we are women, is just plain stupid!

Yes. But the thing is that women enforce the standards upon men, and men force the standards upon women.

And then, the sexes start to enforce the standards upon themselves. And then we all get screwed :/

Originally Posted by BillyTheAdult

No because it has somehow become acceptable to shame men for sex but not women.

I agree. It is commonly accepted that women can criticize men endlessly, but as soon as men criticize women they are called "woman-haters" and there are complaints that they are "oppressing" women, etc.

I would know.

Originally Posted by dogstar

I find it sad that the only way an intelligent, professional man could put down this woman is by calling her a name that can basically only be used against the female gender to try to make them feel bad about their sexuality. Pretty pathetic and embarrassing for Ed.

If anyone is super offended by some dude calling some lady a slut, I would simply say "take a chill pill" and chill out. Does it really matter if some random person called some other random person a bad name? Only a child would be "offended" by something that trivial.

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

Wait...so men are shamed for their sexuality because they're shamed for shaming women?

Wat?

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Wat?

My thoughts exactly. It seemed like that's what his post was saying.

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

If anyone is super offended by some dude calling some lady a slut, I would simply say "take a chill pill" and chill out. Does it really matter if some random person called some other random person a bad name? Only a child would be "offended" by something that trivial.

What would you think if he called someone the "n-word" on air?

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

What would you think if he called someone the "n-word" on air?

I wouldn't care.

It is completely acceptable for black rappers to make music in which they call each other niggas and call white people crackers to no end, but if one white person calls a black person by that word, suddenly there is uproar?

That is racism, just in favor of minorities and against white people.

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

If anyone is super offended by some dude calling some lady a slut, I would simply say "take a chill pill" and chill out. Does it really matter if some random person called some other random person a bad name? Only a child would be "offended" by something that trivial.

Not sure if you read something into my comment or not. Pretty sure I hadn't mentioned anything about being offended - so not sure who you are telling to chill out.

My comment simply stated that the supposedly intelligent, professional person making the comment should be extremely embarrassed about a childish comeback that was clearly targeted at trying to make her feel bad about herself - unless they were specifically talking about her sexual escapades AND the specific situations leading up to those escapades. Wouldn't that be the only way he would know if she was a slut? I'm guessing that wasn't their targeted conversation.

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

What would you think if he called someone the "n-word" on air?

Well, Dr. Laura lost her syndicated radio show for saying exactly that. Based on that, I would say somebody cares.

[BillyTheAdult]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

Wait...so men are shamed for their sexuality because they're shamed for shaming women?

No what I mean is that it's what I would consider a relatively minor gaff, but because of the nature of how men are viewed as sexual perpetrators it gets blown up into something much larger. We had a thread recently about how there is a crisis of masculinity which I think is due at least in part to the fact that any mistake made by a man of an even slightly sexual nature can be so easily overblown into a potential career ending statement.

I remember a number of years ago in 1999 when a white man named David Howard used the word niggardly, which means stingy, in reference to a budget debate. He was basically forced to resign because some people likened the word to ******. Other than the sound they are not related in any way, but that doesn't matter because wherever there is a collective consciousness of victimization by a particular group, meaning will be made out of anything that has even remotely ability to be blown up. Here he did actually use the word, but the question is how much was it actually to shame her for her sexuality (she has personally outed gay students their parents btw) and how much it was just a general expression of his anger towards the right wing and it's more radical pundits.

In this case, doing a little research I found that Ed Schultz supports the government funding of planned parenthood and Laura Ingraham supports it's defunding. In general radical conservatives (of which she is one) only concern with womens rights and issues is in lessening them. Arguably Ed is more pro women. Laura Ingraham it turns out is actually a gaybasher, has in the past few years been in trouble several times herself for calling Meghan McCain (a thin woman) a plus sized model, and insinuating any Ron Paul supporters crazy, and actually attempted to insult the US navy SEALS by comparing them to the no.1 ladies detective agency, because she has such a progressive view on women and womens issues, and the sexual rights of rights of other. Even in accepting the apology of Ed Schultz said it was okay if he wanted to call Arnold Schwarzenegger or Eliot Spitzer a slut, which would be shaming a man for his sexual activity.

The part about it being an issue of mens sexuality as well is because he is being shamed not for insulting her but for doing it with a word that has sexual connotations. The stereotype of men is one of sexual aggressors, so he is being made to look like a bad guy, because of the collective historical guilt of mens behavior towards women, regardless of what his actual attitudes may be. In other words he is being reduced to a stereotype because of his biological sex.

But the entire context of all of that is being ignored in favor of focusing on one word a man said once because it could be construed as derogatory towards women.

[Alstar]

People seem to be forgetting that some insults are gender-specific. Crying sexism when one of those gender-specific insults is used is going to be a tedious endeavour indeed.

[buckeye]

Personal responsibility.
My right to speak does not end where your sensitivities begin.

[CroMagna]

There seems to be a double standard where a racially-charged comment is met with immediate punishment and protest, whereas a sexually-charged comment gets a slap on the wrist.

[curiouslyrandom]

Calling a man an ass is in no way the same as calling a woman a slut. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, maybe, but slut implies something else entirely and is deeply offensive.

Sorry guys, no woman is going to just chill after that sort of insult. Men are considered more manly if they sleep around, but women are called sluts? It just screams double standard.

[Agota]

It's really bad to call someone slut, especially on air, since that's very low and is just keeping the double standards that cause many suffering to women worldwide. For the record, I'd say exactly the same thing if a woman would call an other woman slut. I have said my opinion on women calling other women names and that I think that women are the ones keeping that concept alive, therefore it's not like I'm portraying women as innocent little girls abused by men.

I agree, slut is a very offensive term and can't be compared to calling someone an ass. I guess feminine version of "ass" would be "*****". I don't think there would be the same reaction if he would have called her *****.

The reason why someone (male or female, I don't care) who allows themselves to call someone slut on the air should be put in their place is because they're not only not showing any respect to themselves or others, they're broadcasting the message that it's okay to call people names. Then, you get high school kids calling some girl slut to the point where she kills herself. Or do you think there's no relation to that?

People, this is not about men and women, this is about what's right and what's wrong. As I said, it would be as bad if female would call other female a slut on air. That's just low and shouldn't be tolerated.

Curtis, there's some point to what are you saying, because it's true that some feminists are taking it a bit too far and equality becomes a discrimination of men. I don't think that men should be shamed for healthy expressions of their sexuality (by healthy, meaning expressing interest in consensual sex while being honest about your intentions) and women who do that annoy me. That being said, it's not right to say that "hey, some crazy feminists do non-senses, so it's okay for us to do non-senses as well". It's not about taking sides, because all that men vs. women thing is kinder-garden level, it's about following basic human values and having integrity.

If someone would call me a slut and would be in a near distance, I'd give him a slap without blinking (by slap, I mean a really hard slap, not that polite one). As someone who is on the path of personal growth, I do understand that I'm responsible for my emotions and that I shouldn't get upset about that. However, I also understand that by tolerating this kind of behavior I would be acting irresponsibly, since the next girl that person calls slut my feel really hurt by that and god knows how that might affect her. Also, by letting people to act in such a low manner, I'm not helping them in any way, because they'll keep spiraling downwards thanks to tolerant people. Or they might call someone a slut and end up with broken legs, since that girl's boyfriend might be very protective. Slap might give person a lesson which would prevent him and other from more negativity in future.

In the same way, society should not tolerate offensive behavior, especially on air. Letting people get away with it is not doing anyone any good.

P.S. Curtis, try to understand how girl might feel because someone called her a slut. What if someone would call your mother a slut on air? Would you then still say it's not a big deal? What if you'd find her crying afterwards? It's easy to get caught up in PD ideas to the point of losing compassion, so it could help to imagine how someone else, who's not that into PD, could feel and how hurt they might be. This could give you a clear understanding why people who are bullying others should be put in their place, so they would at least think twice before doing something like that in the future.

[Mariana Trench]

Agota is spot on.

[ZephyrusX]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

That said, I don't know who these people are, and it was probably inappropriate for that to be said. But c'mon feminists, you don't have to get your panties twisted every time anything bad is ever said about any woman ever. Men are generally expected to take insults (even untrue ones) without being babies about it; I don't see why women would hold themselves to a different standard.

This just sounds like convenient escapism to me. Of course some women will call you on your BS if you call another woman a slut. Slut is an offensive word. Even if you claim that your intentions are not offensive, that fact that you are using a word that is historically loaded with negative connatations just makes you an insensitive ass. The fact that you are trivializing and dismissing these women as being 'childish' and 'immature' just makes you a coward. Its easy to dismiss people as being 'unstable' or 'irrational'. It is much more difficult to actually listen to other people.

We speak openly because we demand respect. We speak openly because we want our children to live in a more welcoming world where people have healthier conceptions of gender and sexuality. We speak because we are mature and powerful. And there is not a damn thing wrong with us.

[sorter]

Originally Posted by Agota

If someone would call me a slut and would be in a near distance, I'd give him a slap without blinking (by slap, I mean jaw-dislocating slap, not that polite one).

WOW! Name calling equals a jaw-dislocating slap.
It's worth going to jail for a word?
I hope and doubt you're serious and it's just hyperbole.

These days I wouldn't assume a guy wouldn't knock out some of your teeth, or worse.

A tip. If you do slap a guy and he runs about 10 feet, then starts calling you names again, don't approach him.
He has fulfilled his legal obligation (in most US states) and can now justifiably kill you.
.

[BillyTheAdult]

I agree it's a horrible word. I think the issue here is that we shouldn't punish people worse than they might otherwise be just because the person insulted is considered a "minority." Disrespect is disrespect, no matter who is the perpetrator and who is the target. It seems there is often an attitude of if a minority is offended that all bets are off and any reaction is fine, I mean dislocating someones jaw? Or feeling justified in verbally assaulting Curtis because you disagree with him? This called righteous indignation and is a game of the ego. These things are not righting any wrongs or changing anyones attitudes, if anything they are contributing to the problem.
It's like in Animal Farm, we're all equal, but some are more equal than others.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Agota

P.S. Curtis, try to understand how girl might feel because someone called her a slut. What if someone would call your mother a slut on air? Would you then still say it's not a big deal? What if you'd find her crying afterwards? It's easy to get caught up in PD ideas to the point of losing compassion, so it could help to imagine how someone else, who's not that into PD, could feel and how hurt they might be. This could give you a clear understanding why people who are bullying others should be put in their place, so they would at least think twice before doing something like that in the future.

The real question is why is my mother crying over some douchebag who decided to call her names? A mature woman would just walk away and be unaffected by that.

Like I said, I agree the guy probably shouldn't have said that. But I also think if anyone was affected by it (targeted victim of the insult, OR anyone in the audience) then maybe they need to harden their skin a bit or simply change the channel.

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

Slut is an offensive word.

Any word or statement is only "offensive" if someone is offended by it.

The real question is, what if I'm not offended by anything?

Just because someone boldly proclaims "CURTIS IS A GIANT F_GGOT!!!" on nation television, doesn't mean I will be crying in my room about it and ranting about how "offensive" they are.

When your self-esteem reaches a certain point, you can view even personal insults as perhaps annoying and childish, but not be personally offended or emotionally effected by them.

Personally I feel like words should not be censored in the media at all. I feel that anyone should be able to state their opinion in as colorful a language as they want (obviously slander would still be illegal since you are outright lying - but that's different from censorship).

I think it does society and even our children a disservice to raise them teaching them that they should be "offended" by anything. It just adds programming to their mind that says "other people should have the power to negatively effect you just with their words!"

Haven't you ever heard the sticks and stones saying?

Just to shield myself from the pro-women lobby in here , I am not arguing in favor of the word "slut" specifically.

My argument is trying to go to the principle of the matter, which really brings out the question "why should I give a crap at all if some childish man on television is calling someone else names?"

Just thinking about it is a waste of my time. I have more important things to do! As we all do.

Originally Posted by sorter

WOW! Name calling equals a jaw-dislocating slap.
It's worth going to jail for a word?
I hope and doubt you're serious and it's just hyperbole.

These days I wouldn't assume a guy wouldn't knock out some of your teeth, or worse.

I agree.

Why do so many women claim they have an all-access pass to slap any man they are angry with?

Does that mean men get the same all-access pass to slap any woman they are angry with?

What was that? Something about equality? Nope, not in here!

[curiouslyrandom]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

The real question is why is my mother crying over some douchebag who decided to call her names? A mature woman would just walk away and be unaffected by that.

Any word or statement is only "offensive" if someone is offended by it.

The real question is, what if I'm not offended by anything?

Then maybe you just don't care about what other people think. Congratulations. If someone called my mother a slut (as did happen once and the guy didn't even know me or my mother), I would be offended. That person knowingly said something to me that was intended to hurt. I could brush it off and ignore it, sure. But sorry, I take offense. What did I do about it? Nothing. I was too shocked to even know what to say.

Just because someone boldly proclaims "CURTIS IS A GIANT F_GGOT!!!" on nation television, doesn't mean I will be crying in my room about it and ranting about how "offensive" they are.

Who said anyone was crying in their room about it?

When your self-esteem reaches a certain point, you can view even personal insults as perhaps annoying and childish, but not be personally offended or emotionally effected by them.

Personally I feel like words should not be censored in the media at all. I feel that anyone should be able to state their opinion in as colorful a language as they want (obviously slander would still be illegal since you are outright lying - but that's different from censorship).

I think it does society and even our children a disservice to raise them teaching them that they should be "offended" by anything. It just adds programming to their mind that says "other people should have the power to negatively effect you just with their words!"

Haven't you ever heard the sticks and stones saying?

Just to shield myself from the pro-women lobby in here , I am not arguing in favor of the word "slut" specifically.

My argument is trying to go to the principle of the matter, which really brings out the question "why should I give a crap at all if some childish man on television is calling someone else names?"

Just thinking about it is a waste of my time. I have more important things to do! As we all do.

Gee, sorry we unenlightened immature kids wasted your precious time. Why did you bother to reply at all, then?

[ZephyrusX]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

My argument is trying to go to the principle of the matter, which really brings out the question "why should I give a crap at all if some childish man on television is calling someone else names?"

This is the reason why I cared enough to reply:

Originally Posted by Zephy

We speak openly because we demand respect. We speak openly because we want our children to live in a more welcoming world where people have healthier conceptions of gender and sexuality. We speak because we are mature and powerful. And there is not a damn thing wrong with us.

I replied because I am very cognizant of the fact that other people are reading this thread and that it may influence how they may understand gender and sexuality. If I cared only about my self, I probably would not have replied. For the record, I feel very calm and good natured. I'm trying to have a rational conversation with you.

And for the record, I do indeed 'give a crap'

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Haven't you ever heard the sticks and stones saying?

Firstly, that saying is a load of crap!

Words hurt and words heal, depending on the intention of the person speaking them...anyone who claims they aren't affected by hurtful words is simply numbed to or not in touch with their emotional side and have become too desensitized. I used to think the same way as you...then I woke up!

Not everyone has high self-esteem all the time...does that make them somehow inferior to people who do? You show such a lack of understanding about the state of mind a person who is suffering from low self-esteem or possibly trauma is in. Does it make it somehow ok then for someone to come along and trash that person..."oh, well it's their own fault for having no self-esteem!" that's the underlying message that comes from your words here.

Have a little empathy, for god sake!

My argument is trying to go to the principle of the matter, which really brings out the question "why should I give a crap at all if some childish man on television is calling someone else names?"

You don't have to give a crap. It's not you who is being insulted.

Why do so many women claim they have an all-access pass to slap any man they are angry with?

The same could be said for some men.

Does that mean men get the same all-access pass to slap any woman they are angry with?

What was that? Something about equality? Nope, not in here!

You seem to be forgetting about the thousands upon thousands of cases of domestic violence that occur daily. Apparently lots of men feel they have the right to do this...I heard about a guy beating his new bride up because he didn't think she looked beautiful enough, the other day.

You're always complaining about the apparent injustice of the whole gender thing and tend to have a selective memory when it comes to your own genders bad behavior. You come off sounding like a baby crying "waaaa...not fair, not fair", whilst at the same time dissing people who get offended and act like babies.

Women have double standards...men have double standards. No one here is disputing that, so why keep coming back to the point?

[supertom]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

I agree.

Why do so many women claim they have an all-access pass to slap any man they are angry with?

Does that mean men get the same all-access pass to slap any woman they are angry with?

What was that? Something about equality? Nope, not in here!

I think she meant Anyone not just a man, male or female so i think her rules are fair.

I've never never been slapped by a girl but yeah it would be the end of any relationship we had.

[BillyTheAdult]

Originally Posted by elucidate

You seem to be forgetting about the thousands upon thousands of cases of domestic violence that occur daily. Apparently lots of men feel they have the right to do this...I heard about a guy beating his new bride up because he didn't think she looked beautiful enough, the other day.

You're always complaining about the apparent injustice of the whole gender thing and tend to have a selective memory when it comes to your own genders bad behavior. You come off sounding like a baby crying "waaaa...not fair, not fair", whilst at the same time dissing people who get offended and act like babies.

Women have double standards...men have double standards. No one here is disputing that, so why keep coming back to the point?

I agree with what you're saying elucidate but I think the big difference is there are not men, on the forum , in this thread , bragging about how they would slap the **** out of a woman if she said this or that. There are women here doing that.