GD's next crap thread: Free speach or blatant attempt to discredit gays?

[bordelais7]

Ultimately I think this hurts A&E. But they were in a no win situation. if they don't take him off the left has a field day. If they do the right has a field day as they currently are.

I have no data on this, but given the nature of the show I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of their viewers fall into the "right" category. Interesting to me that they chose to piss THAT group off.

 

[LogGrad98]

I have no data on this, but given the nature of the show I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of their viewers fall into the "right" category. Interesting to me that they chose to piss THAT group off.

Oh I am sure there is a healthy group that watches to reinforce their opinion of "those" people. Confirmation bias, right OB? There are plenty of people that love to point to the backward wrong thinking of the "redneck right" to make themselves feel better for suppressing their freedom of speech.

 

[One Brow]

They knew what they were getting in to, they just didn't care. Now that it's out in the open, they try to cry foul? They didn't care when they were making money and getting positive publicity about it, but now that a guy that has likely made A&E millions shows his colors they disown him?

How is that cool?

I'm not sure what "cool" has to do with it. Reality TV is always an attempt to make money off of people in exchange for offering them some sort of fame. Robertson just killed that one goose.

Does anyone really think that Phil Robertson will in any way suffer from this? For every dollar he loses from A&E, he will get back at least that much riding the Christian persecution complex. There will be speaking engagements, fundraisers, books sold on WorldNetDaily, etc.

 

[One Brow]

How capitalist of you. I would like to think that businesses aren't solely motivated by profit, and feel some measure of responsibility to do good and stand up for beliefs.

Man, wouldn't that be nice? However, even then, you're looking at the beliefs of Robertson compared to the beliefs of the executives at A&E.

THAT said, I'm having a hard time accepting that A&E made the correct the decision. The myriad of ways this could backfire seem to me to vastly outnumber the potential loss they would have taken had they taken no action.

More than anything else, I would guess that comes down to sponsors. Does A&E get more money from the Chick-Fil-As of the corporate world or from the Home Depots?

 

[One Brow]

Oh I am sure there is a healthy group that watches to reinforce their opinion of "those" people. Confirmation bias, right OB?

Not exactly, but certainly a related phenomenon. I agree with you that's probably a decent part of the audience, people who want to laugh at them.

 

[One Brow]

I sincerely doubt they were stupid enough not to consider that these guys were homophobic, given their backwoods, white trash, hillbilly ways.

By the way, that's a pretty judgmental and ugly sentiment in a couple of different ways.

 

[One Brow]

What society seems to be demanding of public figures is that they either hold a view on homosexuality that directly contradicts their religious teachings or they shut the **** up about it. I don't think that's the right way to progress on these issues. I think religious people should be able to express the religious perspective here without fear of such significant repercussions.

I work for a hospital. If I go on a TV interview with my job plastered below my name, and spout off on ObamaCare (either pro or con), I'm risking my job, and the stakes are greater when you are high-profile. If A&E chose to keep Robertson, fine with me. However, he doesn't deserve any special consideration in that regard.

 

[bordelais7]

More than anything else, I would guess that comes down to sponsors. Does A&E get more money from the Chick-Fil-As of the corporate world or from the Home Depots?

But ultimately, those companies are looking out for THEIR bottom line and don't want to give up on effective advertising channels. I'm skeptical that sponsor boycotts are ever carried out to the extent of causing long-term damage. And often, they backfire (Chick-fil-a)

 

[Harambe]

I'm not sure what "cool" has to do with it. Reality TV is always an attempt to make money off of people in exchange for offering them some sort of fame. Robertson just killed that one goose.

Does anyone really think that Phil Robertson will in any way suffer from this? For every dollar he loses from A&E, he will get back at least that much riding the Christian persecution complex. There will be speaking engagements, fundraisers, books sold on WorldNetDaily, etc.

He's already suspended, which in itself is a reprimand.

Phil didn't kill anything, A&E did. They pulled the plug on him for being what they paid him to do, just be him. A&E does not own the rights to his life or opinions. Given how big a bumpkin he is, I thought he voiced his opinion pretty darn well. And yet, he's blasted.

 

[Gameface]

I work for a hospital. If I go on a TV interview with my job plastered below my name, and spout off on ObamaCare (either pro or con), I'm risking my job, and the stakes are greater when you are high-profile. If A&E chose to keep Robertson, fine with me. However, he doesn't deserve any special consideration in that regard.

I don't disagree. I just think he hasn't really crossed the threshold into hate speech or advocating for discrimination against gay people (didn't listen or read the whole interview, not too interested in doing so). He says he thinks it's a sin. He's religious. Pretty much all major religions teach their members that. If you accept religious institutions as the authorities on their faiths then he's just repeating what is the established religious stand on the issue. Why would anyone act surprised? If his view is unacceptable shouldn't people be taking this up with the religious institutions teaching it, not their followers who repeat it?

 

[One Brow]

So this notion of the entire population (I am sure there are those that do) against gay rights is doing so out of hate is as foolish as being against gay rights.

I doubt you would make such a statement about people who are/were against civil rights for people of different skin colors (and yes, there are religions that teach skin color is an indicator of moral worth or God's favor). Just because the hate is impersonal to the hater (aka "hate the sin") does not make it impersonal to the hated.

The whole point of this life from the normal Christian view point is free agency. Now they want to limit any choice that goes agaisnt the teachings of Christ? If everyone is forced into obedience then what is the point?

Are you saying that, to allow Robertson to voice his opinions, we must force A&E to keep him on the payroll/show? No one has interfered with Robertson's ability to choose, or voice his opinions.

 

[Harambe]

By the way, that's a pretty judgmental and ugly sentiment in a couple of different ways.

If you read the article, he admits to being white trash. He knows, and accepts it. It's only negative if you see it that way.