Alec Baldwin's silver daddy hair = perfection- Page 5

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 10:58am

I believe that in anger we often lose our filters and show our true selves.

Updated On: 11/18/13 at 10:58 AM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 10:58am

THANK YOU, Growl. Well put. There is absolutely no justification for those kinds of slurs... even if you are a bigot!

Being upset or angry cannot be the defense for using a slur; that is just an excuse. Baldwin has hid behind his (much appreciated) support of the gay community whenever something offensive slips out of his mouth -- I believe this is the second or third time he has used a homophobic slur to verbally attack someone. I see a pattern.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 11:09am

I absolutely agree that he knows the words are hurtful, and that he is responsible for using them.

Do we show our true selves in anger? Possibly. But I think it's also possible that we say the things we think will hurt the most, not necessarily the things we believe most strongly.

Either way, people are responsible for their words and actions (including, of course, the paparazzi).

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 11:17am

The way I see it is that when you lash out in anger like this, you don't call someone a flower or an actor. You call them something you see as a bad thing. Otherwise it's not really a very good expression of anger, is it? So, to me, this tells me that, underneath it all, Mr. Baldwin sees being gay as a bad thing.

Just like when I was growing up, kids called other kids faggot, true or not, because they felt being a faggot was a terrible thing to be and it would hurt the person it was directed at. Same thing applies here. I think Alec believes that a faggot is a terrible thing to be. So he uses the word as an insult/weapon.

I don't want to crucify the man, especially considering the work he does for us. These things are complicated. He may rationally understand that it's not right to feel this way, but may struggle with erasing years of conditioning. So these things slip out in anger. Doesn't mean we dismiss them as slips because they are real things slipping out. But we have to understand that all of us struggle with this stuff.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 11:36am

^ I agree 100% with this, art, and you include a really key point:

"He may rationally understand that it's not right to feel this way, but may struggle with erasing years of conditioning. So these things slip out in anger. Doesn't mean we dismiss them as slips because they are real things slipping out. But we have to understand that all of us struggle with this stuff."

Acknowledgement of this is where growing begins, and choosing P.R. does the opposite effect.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 11:49am

Well, I think we choose the words we think will hurt the most.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 12:01pm

I can't imagine having to deal with this. Every. Single. Day.

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 12:27pm

Reg, just to clarify that my post wasn't in response to your post, which wasn't there when I started typing. I think you have a very valid point in this very complex issue.

Updated On: 11/18/13 at 12:27 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 12:44pm

It'd be okay if it was, Scallion. As you say, it's a complex issue, and everybody (well, most) on this thread have valid points. And I know it might sound like I'm giving Baldwin a pass, and I'm not. I just don't think the formula is as simple as "He said X, therefore he feels and thinks Y."








Updated On: 11/18/13 at 12:44 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 12:45pm

"Well, I think we choose the words we think will hurt the most."

But that is the point, Reg. If he thinks calling you a f** is hurtful, clearly that implies being a "f**" or homosexual is something to be ashamed of. Why else would he use that word? Art put it best. I'm just reiterating it.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 12:50pm

The only person who can make you feel ashamed, or ANYTHING AT ALL, is yourself.

I couldn't care less what Alec Baldwin says to another human being.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 12:55pm

I think it certainly implies that he thinks his target would be hurt most by it.

If I were looking for a really hurtful word, I'd probably choose "c*nt." Would that mean that I think a woman (and/or her vagina) is the worst thing in the world? Or would it mean I think it's the most loaded, anger-coded word I could hurl at someone? I may or may not be a misogynist, but I'm not sure the use of that word answers that question.

Either way, I'd need to take responsibility for using it. And there may be some deep dark reason why I'd choose that word. But all insult words are based on some sort of intent to degrade: "bitch," "bastard," "son of a bitch" . . . I'm just not sure they track back to a deeply held prejudice.

All that being said, in 21st-century America, "f*ggot" and "n*gger" are the two that I can't think of a good reason to use. No matter how angry you are, those words shouldn't be in your arsenal. Because no matter how those who use the words try to spin it, those words mean specific things (in a way "assh*le" really doesn't).

And if Baldwin in fact isn't a homophobe, he needs to examine why that's so often his go-to insult.



Updated On: 11/18/13 at 12:55 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 1:06pm

The only person who can make you feel ashamed, or ANYTHING AT ALL, is yourself.

I couldn't care less what Alec Baldwin says to another human being.

BRAVO!!!

[DAME]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 1:20pm

"The only person who can make you feel ashamed, or ANYTHING AT ALL, is yourself.

I couldn't care less what Alec Baldwin says to another human being."

BINGO

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 3:52pm

I respectfully disagree, Diva. To each his own. I find the use of that word inexcusable, even when thrown around by those in our own community. I realize I'm in a small group who feel that way. So be it.

And Reg, thank you for the discussion. Valid points made all around. Always love engaging with you on these issues! Bravo. And let's just hope Baldwin has publicly apologized (?)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 4:38pm

If you're a lady who does stand-up comedy and you use that word, GLAAAAAAAD will give you an award for it!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 4:48pm

And now we've got one of the resident trolls using the "C" word on the main board.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 4:55pm

"coldplay"?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 7:34pm

"I respectfully disagree, Diva. To each his own. I find the use of that word inexcusable, even when thrown around by those in our own community. I realize I'm in a small group who feel that way. So be it"

Again, if you FEEL that way, that is your own problem.

I remember someone posting something of Facebook that said something along the lines of 'if you don't like what someone else says, you can go fcuk yourself.'

Is there ever a day that your are not enraged over something so minor?

[Kad]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 7:36pm

"Again, if you FEEL that way, that is your own problem. "

That is a really ****ty way to look at this, gotta be honest.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 7:43pm

I have better things to do with my time then complain that a celebrity cursed out a paparazzi with words that might be deemed offensive.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 7:52pm

I can see that. Apparently you're very busy getting bent out of shape at people who do.

Updated On: 11/18/13 at 07:52 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 7:53pm

A celebrity using a homophobic slur in a very malicious and public way is not "so minor," IN MY OPINION.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 9:27pm

I'm not bent out of shape. I'm just stating my opinion.

There are bigger problems to worry about.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/18/13 at 10:40pm

I've seen The Vagina Monologues three times, once with Eve Ensler and two other times with six other women and I always kept my mouth shut and listened enraptured as the women in the audience reclaimed "Cunt." I am sure if Eve Ensler and the women in those audiences saw what the troll posts her to rile people up, they'd say it too.

Updated On: 11/18/13 at 10:40 PM