Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:20 pm  

As a disabled person I don't find this offensive, and although I think anybody should be able to say whatever they like to who ever they like I do wonder why anyone would want to call anyone a mong, or a spaz, or spacca or any other similar put down. Surely a comedian can come up with something a bit more clever about Susan Boyle than simply saying she looks like a "mong".

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:39 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

As a disabled person I don't find this offensive, and although I think anybody should be able to say whatever they like to who ever they like I do wonder why anyone would want to call anyone a mong, or a spaz, or spacca or any other similar put down. Surely a comedian can come up with something a bit more clever about Susan Boyle than simply saying she looks like a "mong".

That's one of the most annoying thing about it. It's so f'n lazy. Surely a comedian who thinks as much of himself as Gervais does can do better than this?

Sadly he seems to content to pander to those who think he is being daring, and somehow 're-claiming' a word.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:59 pm  

Hang on, Gervais has both apologised, and admitted that his use of the word was both naïve, and never intended to refer to people with disabilities. He was speaking to the mother of children with disabilities who had rightly taken him to task, a Mrs. Clark; "Do you understand why people got upset by it?’, to which Gervais replied: ‘I do now. Never dreamed that idiots still use that word aimed at people with Down’s Syndrome. Still find it hard to believe.’ Asked how the anger towards his use of the word had made him feel, Gervais continued: ‘A mixture of confusion, anger, terror and disappointment. But mostly naïve. Never meant the word like that and never word. (sic)’ (meaning would)" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051938/Ricky-Gervais-admits-naive-offensive-remarks-Twitter.html#ixzz1kUfibvnr Of course he could have sorted the situation rather than putting his foot in it on Twitter and making it worse, and the situation did reflect badly on him, but now he's explained and apologised I fail to see why folk ignore that and pretend he hasn't.

Hang on, Gervais has both apologised, and admitted that his use of the word was both naïve, and never intended to refer to people with disabilities. He was speaking to the mother of children with disabilities who had rightly taken him to task, a Mrs. Clark; "Do you understand why people got upset by it?’, to which Gervais replied: ‘I do now. Never dreamed that idiots still use that word aimed at people with Down’s Syndrome. Still find it hard to believe.’ Asked how the anger towards his use of the word had made him feel, Gervais continued: ‘A mixture of confusion, anger, terror and disappointment. But mostly naïve. Never meant the word like that and never word. (sic)’ (meaning would)" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051938/Ricky-Gervais-admits-naive-offensive-remarks-Twitter.html#ixzz1kUfibvnr Of course he could have sorted the situation rather than putting his foot in it on Twitter and making it worse, and the situation did reflect badly on him, but now he's explained and apologised I fail to see why folk ignore that and pretend he hasn't.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Wed Jan 25, 2012 6:55 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote: Hang on, Gervais has both apologised, and admitted that his use of the word was both naïve, and never intended to refer to people with disabilities. He was speaking to the mother of children with disabilities who had rightly taken him to task, a Mrs. Clark; "Do you understand why people got upset by it?’, to which Gervais replied: ‘I do now. Never dreamed that idiots still use that word aimed at people with Down’s Syndrome. Still find it hard to believe.’ Asked how the anger towards his use of the word had made him feel, Gervais continued: ‘A mixture of confusion, anger, terror and disappointment. But mostly naïve. Never meant the word like that and never word. (sic)’ (meaning would)" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051938/Ricky-Gervais-admits-naive-offensive-remarks-Twitter.html#ixzz1kUfibvnr Of course he could have sorted the situation rather than putting his foot in it on Twitter and making it worse, and the situation did reflect badly on him, but now he's explained and apologised I fail to see why folk ignore that and pretend he hasn't. Although I struggle to accept that one as supposedly witty and urbane as Jervais could be as naive as he claims. I am reminded of someone on here who often used the term "window licker", until the popular meaning of the word was pointed out to him. As to Jervais's apology I wouldn't have known about the original incident unless someone thought it necessary to post on here, so I'm hardly likely to look anywhere else for any subsequent action.

Ferocious Aardvark wrote: Hang on, Gervais has both apologised, and admitted that his use of the word was both naïve, and never intended to refer to people with disabilities. He was speaking to the mother of children with disabilities who had rightly taken him to task, a Mrs. Clark; "Do you understand why people got upset by it?’, to which Gervais replied: ‘I do now. Never dreamed that idiots still use that word aimed at people with Down’s Syndrome. Still find it hard to believe.’ Asked how the anger towards his use of the word had made him feel, Gervais continued: ‘A mixture of confusion, anger, terror and disappointment. But mostly naïve. Never meant the word like that and never word. (sic)’ (meaning would)" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051938/Ricky-Gervais-admits-naive-offensive-remarks-Twitter.html#ixzz1kUfibvnr Of course he could have sorted the situation rather than putting his foot in it on Twitter and making it worse, and the situation did reflect badly on him, but now he's explained and apologised I fail to see why folk ignore that and pretend he hasn't. Although I struggle to accept that one as supposedly witty and urbane as Jervais could be as naive as he claims. I am reminded of someone on here who often used the term "window licker", until the popular meaning of the word was pointed out to him. As to Jervais's apology I wouldn't have known about the original incident unless someone thought it necessary to post on here, so I'm hardly likely to look anywhere else for any subsequent action.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:45 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

My position is the same as yours, i.e. I am expressing my opinion on a message board.

The reason I hold that opinion is because offence is often avoidable and unnecessary, usually unfunny and, in this case, deeply distasteful ... as a moment's thought would tell anyone.

Big difference is that I haven't told anyone to do anything like yourself.

As for offence, isn't your opinion that, those people who aren't offended by the word mong, "should grow up and think a bit." A bit instructive isn't it?

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:29 pm  

Codead, why Jervais?

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:20 am  

Sheldon wrote:

Codead, why Jervais?

Why Jervais what?

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:44 am  

Sheldon, why Codead?

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:58 am  

Rooster Booster wrote:

Big difference is that I haven't told anyone to do anything like yourself.

I haven't "told" anyone what to think, I have expressed my opinion (the word "should" in the phrase "should grow up and think a bit" is the clue there).
I guess you'd prefer I used a phrase like "thought nazis" so as not to be instructive?

Rooster Booster wrote:

As for offence, isn't your opinion that, those people who aren't offended by the word mong, "should grow up and think a bit." A bit instructive isn't it?

Firstly there's a big difference between "people who aren't offended" and "people who find the word funny" (the second of which is the term I used.)
Secondly, no, it's not instructive, it's an opinion.

Re: Ricky Gervais - right or wrong to use that word? : Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:42 am  

El Barbudo wrote:

I haven't "told" anyone what to think, I have expressed my opinion (the word "should" in the phrase "should grow up and think a bit" is the clue there).
I guess you'd prefer I used a phrase like "thought nazis" so as not to be instructive?

Firstly there's a big difference between "people who aren't offended" and "people who find the word funny" (the second of which is the term I used.)
Secondly, no, it's not instructive, it's an opinion.

Interesting to note that you chose to be a tad condescending in your reply. Hinting at your "clue" and guessing (incorrectly) what others think or believe.

Anyhow El B. Your opinions are fine as opinions. It's just the manner and what appears to be that you think people should behave in a certain way, which happens to be your way. People may CHOOSE to do, rather than SHOULD do anything. Suggesting that people "should grow up and think a bit" because they don't have your opinion, will be offensive to some. We're not going to please everyone all of the time. Neither clearly, is Ricky Gervais.