but why on earth are there so many defending this on this site. Disturbing really.

situations where they know they won't be chastised for using them. For people like that, I can see how they'd "slip out" from time to time in other situations. For me, that is the mark of someone who is a bigot when it's safe to be a bigot, but someone who pretends not to be a bigot when a wider audience is present.

I've known people like that. I've never liked people like that. If bigoted language is sometimes part of your active spoken vocabulary, then I have to wonder if you really are a bigot, after all, and just pretend not to be in the public arena.

I can't remember the last time I saw him speak. He's just not someone I care about all that much, frankly.

So, I don't care whether he gets fired or not. It won't affect me in any way. If I did care, though, and thought he should be fired, I would have said so in my opening post.

on this subject. If there weren't, I wouldn't even have known about it.

It's not, that's all in your head.

The language we use, even if we rarely speak it, is the language in which we think. If a verboten word escapes, it's a case of a slipping clutch on the internal monologue. Words don't just materialize without being part of one's internal vocabulary. For example, I would be astonished to hear *argute* in conversation (it means shrewd, in the sense of cutting or sharp) because it's not in most people's vocabulary.

Which means that word and the associated attitudes are in the thought patterns, and how we think is what governs behavior.

it would likely not be understood.

You're right, though. Our active spoken vocabulary is a deeply seated part of our thought patterns. It is possible to move words out of that active spoken vocabulary, though, through simple avoidance of their use over time.

The problem always seems to occur when one uses such words in some situations, but tries to avoid using them in others. It's far too easy for one's attention to slip or be slackened by alcohol, fatigue or some other influence. When that happens, words we might not use in a particular situation but would use others get spoken.

For strongly bigoted words, slips are indicative of their regular use in some settings. For me, there are probably a couple of dozen ugly words that I have not spoken in decades. I know them, of course, but they simply do not rise to the level of being in my active speaking vocabulary.

...Dictionary.com. What does it mean?

You'll find it defined in several dictionaries.

However, I cut him more slack for three reasons:

1) He's a comedian. Many comedians are looking for ways to be edgy. This wasn't scripted material -- the premeditation would be more condemning -- it was an off-the-cuff remark in a dialogue with a guest on Maher's show. While you and I don't necessarily have controversial terms swirling around in our heads, Maher and other comedians often do because it's can make them look sharp and witty, and controversial (think Andrew Dice Clay -- not everyone's cup of tea, I know). In this case though, Maher quickly retrieved a term that went too far.

2) Maher is 61. He spent years on the comedy club circuit when names like Richard Pryor and George Carlin lit up the marquees. It was a different era, when words and terms that are now eschewed were en vogue for comedians. He and others slipped them into their acts without much backlash in the late '70s and early '80s.

3) He has a history of being combative but in this case he has apologized. That's significant.

Again, this isn't me saying, "It's okay that Bill said it. It was a joke."

It's not justifiable, but these are the reasons why I think it could slip from his lips.

years ago. He has done similar things again and again, so I simply don't bother with him any longer. It's my choice. I have no doubt that he will do similar things in the future. It is his pattern.

Is he a comedian? I'm not laughing, really. I haven't laughed at him for a very long time.

He's 61? I'm 71. So what?

You're not about to give Maher another chance.

I am.

momentarily, and then said it. He knew exactly the words he wanted to say and he said them.

They are racist, bigoted words. They came out of his mouth. He could have let that "in the field" comment just go by, but had to take off on it. Now that I hear the context, I'm even more disappointed in him.

Mr. Maher said Saturday in a statement: “Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show. Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/arts/television/bill-maher-n-word.html?_r=0

That should be good enough for people who are familiar with the totality of his work.

She could best use herself giving someone a blow job.

He's funny. I used to record and watch him until I heard him say that.

Why is it that people make excuses for him, no matter what he does?

I am not surprised to read that, however. I've found him offensive on many occasions in the past, so I no longer pay any attention to him, nor view his program. I don't need that, frankly.

a brush off motion with his hand. I was sickened, and quit watching him. Thanks for the OP.

it's because they were very close to the surface anyway. Filter or not, I consider it reprehensible when certain words rattle around freely in some people's heads. That doesn't happen unless bigoted words and attitudes have been coddled and nurtured for a long time.

and uses words as his tools. I just saw the clip. He deliberately used that to play off the other persons words, and completely inappropriately. I could see him pull that expression out of his head to use to play off the other person's statement. There was a slight pause and then he spoke. He also knew, immediately after he spoke that he had screwed up. His filter was set to the Off position.

In private, I'm betting he uses lots of terms like that in his speech. Misogynistic, racial, and probably other bigoted expressions are probably part of his regular banter in private.

and I'm not shy about pulling out pithy phrases and bon mots when the occasion calls for it, but phrases such as the one Maher chose to deploy never occur to me - ever. I even jettisoned the term peon years ago for its negative connotations. 'Wage slave?' Not gonna use that one either.

always at hand and ready to use. We do have control over it. For some, that active vocabulary includes expressions that are offensive to some people. For me, I've moved those out of that speaking vocabulary permanently.

I just learned of Maher's "slipped out" venom and am both angered and saddened. IMO, there is absolutely no excuse for this.

That's the lesson from Trump, and one he learned from Roy Cohn. Nothing is out of bounds as long as the result cooperates. Repeat something often enough and it becomes the truth. If you make one high profile mistake like a standard politician or standard comedian then it is allowed to define you, especially if you show weakness in the aftermath. Right wingers thrill to pounce on something like that. They love that Kathy Griffin and Bill Maher were forced to apologize. But make it part of your emphasis and suddenly the impact blends and it can become a strength. One lie is fatal. One thousand lies is a visionary.

I wish Maher had foregone the apology and literally used the word 1000 times over an hour or more. Talk about everything Republicans and the right have done to damage African Americans over the decades, with emphasis on right now and what the current proposals will do. Go back to that, "What have you got to lose?," line and specify exactly what they will lose.

We continue to be wimps and then wonder what went wrong.

They don't.

My parents taught me that it was wrong. Those words don't "just slip out" of my mouth.

I raised my children in a part of the country where bigoted remarks were commonly heard. I taught them that it was wrong. Those words don't "just slip out" of their mouths, either.

Daughter when the N word was used. My grandmother, who was my best friend, said it about a part of town (very small farm town she lived in) where she routinely went w her black friend to eat Bar B Q on Wednesdays and fish on Fridays (the food was great & she took me there often). I asked her nicely not to use that word and pointed out that my daughter was there. She responded, I'm so sorry. You are right. That is just what it was always called when we were growing up, and we still say it. I don't mean anything by it. You are right though, I won't do it anymore. That was good enough for me. No problem.

Then, my father, in defense of my grandmother (his mother in law) said, She can say any god damned thing she wants in MY god damned house. My grandmother was practically in tears, saying, this is my fault, I shouldn't have said that, and she was telling my father to, be quiet and drop it. I said to him, fine, then we won't be coming to your house anymore. I got my daughter's hand and walked out. It wasn't a ploy. It was a non negotiable position.

Just as we were getting in the car, my father came running out, and apologized. He made a sincere apology. He said, he always knee jerk defended his family, and he was just a stupid old ass who didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. He had tears in his eyes. He said, you are right, and you did the right thing. I'm sorry and no one is ever going to say that is my house again. Please forgive me. So, I did. We went back inside and the issue never came up again. My daughter would die before she would let someone get away with bigotry.

no, it did not just slip out.

Maher was taking a shot back at the senator, but I don't think the senator was referring to slavery when he made his comment about working in the fields, but who knows.

Not prudent for either of them to make the comments they made given they are really racial loaded, Maher's blatantly so.

That said Maher didn't mean it as a epithet directed to an African American.

there was nothing imprudent in the Senator's comment. I worked in the fields from the time I was 7 or 8. There is nothing bigoted about a Nebraskan talking about working in the fields. It is a fact of life, regardless of race, for most rural Nebraskans.

Obviously.

But it wasn't a problem. Maher is a comedian and provocateur. You aren't. You couldn't play the riffs Maher plays even if you wanted to. So, I'm sorry, but it's not appropriate for you to compare yourself to him.

Maher picks a dud or two from time to time. He picked a dud this time too. Like every other right-minded person, Maher knows that PC language policing must be fought. So he was probably getting ready to filter out the joke and then decided to stick his finger in the eye of the PC prigs instead. He probably needed one more cycle of consideration, because the joke came out short of funny. He was trying to do a riff on the rap style use of the N-word, make a riposte in line with what his guest was saying about "working with us in the fields," and poke his finger in the eye of the PC prigs. The riff just wasn't quite strong enough for him to get away with it.

That's it. He slipped, and it hit the ball into the gallery. Their job was to rub it off immediately and move on. They failed.

Then Maher apologized. Those who took offense now owe him an apology. Then we are all good again.

I was raised around that kind of language. N word, C word, Wetb...., slope, gook, chink, and countless others. It was my direct family, they were raised that way and never changed, some still have not.

I am not sure exactly when it changed for me, but it was before I turned 20, and I am now 50 (well 49.85). My parents were the first people I changed and they changed others around them. The people I drink with at the local watering hole have changed, any "friends" I have changed.

It is not hard to make those around you change, you simply do not tolerate the use of those words. Period. There is no discussion.

If you use those words in my presence I will call you out on them, I do not care where we are, or who you are.

"I do not use that word, and you will not use it around me"

Have I lost "friends"? Yes. My circle of friends is now a better class of people, some changed ... some got left standing outside looking in.

Those types of words simply do not exist in my vocabulary now, I do not use them in any circumstance. And people around me used to "slip" every now and again. It amuses me now, when they would "slip" I would chastise them and they would apologize. Some used to see me walk in and attempt to berate me, "Lurker's here, we can say N-Word anymore" and I would turn around and walk back out the door. Now, I just never hear them, people understand that if you want to be in my company you will not speak that way.

Period.

It takes time, and effort, but those words simply do not exist in my life anymore.

You can change the world ...

that are usually the reprehensible, hard fighting words they suppressed all their lives. So don't be to sure about that, if you have a stroke that affects your speech area, that could be the one word you'll be able to say.

If you saw the show and the context, you know he was flummoxed by being invited to Nebraska to pick their crops. He quoted "Gone with the Wind" and it just didn't land. He used the word on himself. He didn't use it hurtfully against anyone else.

Honestly, most of the people hyperventilating over this have not seen the show. Until they do, they need to stop typing.

The basic answer is no. But it is possible for someone to use a word in a way that they intended to
Be ironic, but which fails dramatically.


FWIW, I am not defending Maher. I think he is an ass, and he was being flippant.

that are off limits. If Richard Pryor wants to use one of those words, that's his prerogative (yes, he is dead).