Kevin Hart Announced as Oscar Host....Stepped Down a Day Later

RiotZact

OnWis97 said:

RiotZact said:

OnWis97 said:

RiotZact said:

OnWis97 said:

I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.

It’s not a defense it’s a fact. There are extremely few circumstances where a joke goes “too far”, in my opinion. This is not even close to being one of those instances. 

You’re right, I retract the second bolded part. I only added that as not to offend anyone who doesn’t know how to read a dictionary or doesn’t understand that the word “joke” is an antonym for the word “serious”. That’s what I get for worrying about offending people. 

Actually, I think it's the first part that you should retract.  I don't really think there's anything factual...it is your opinion.  It's the majority opinion, but an opinion nonetheless.

No, it is an objective fact that joking is the opposite of being serious, and being offended by something that is the opposite of being serious is objectively nonsensical. 

OnWis97

HughFreakingDillon said:

bbiggs said:

I teach my kids that there are winners and losers in life. You don’t get a trophy for showing up. I’m in the minority, sadly. 

it really bothered me when my girls were in soccer or baseball as young kids and at the end of the season every kid got a medal, and no one kept score. on one hand, I suppose it's fine since they were quite young, but there will come a point where they won't get a medal for everything, and it will become confusing. And I think it's a good lesson that someone has to lose a game. Honestly, it took a long time for the loser of any board game in my house not to have a fucking hissy fit if they weren't the winner, and I'm sure "never losing" as a younger child had something to do with it. 

I was in sports as a young kid, and I don't recall getting all sad and whiney when our team would lose. it would build team spirit. 

I'm old enough to pre-date the whole idea of not keeping score.  And as much as I think the rumors of The Wussification of America are exaggerated, not keeping score is fucking crazy.  At a basic level, the kids are keeping score, anyway.  More importantly, l agree that shielding kids from from minor disappointment is unnecessary and probably does them a disservice in the long run.

In general, I agree with the message that kids should be having fun and "it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game."  That said, winning or losing games is part of it.  And kids need to learn to do both.  Likewise, they need to learn that neither one is that big of a deal and life goes on roughly the same either way.  They need to accept disappointment and learn to win with dignity.  Parents are probably the real villains.  Some get all gung ho about winning; they yell at umps/refs, complain to coaches about playing time, and send the message that this really is THAT important.  These are the ones that probably beat their kids or shun them if they bring home a B+ report card.  And then others want to re-enforce that their kid is deserving of the accolades. They are the ones that produce the actual wussies or protect their precious kids when they commit crimes and/or bully other kids.

I am kinda OK with everyone gets a trophy...actually I prefer certificates of participation.  It says it's a good thing that you participated...yeah, I did not cherish mine but I like the message that it sends that the involvement is a positive.  Because my kid's* participation is equally valuable whether the team wins the championship or finishes last.  At least it should be.

*Well, I don't have a kid.  Thank god.

PJPOWER

HughFreakingDillon said:

bbiggs said:

I teach my kids that there are winners and losers in life. You don’t get a trophy for showing up. I’m in the minority, sadly. 

it really bothered me when my girls were in soccer or baseball as young kids and at the end of the season every kid got a medal, and no one kept score. on one hand, I suppose it's fine since they were quite young, but there will come a point where they won't get a medal for everything, and it will become confusing. And I think it's a good lesson that someone has to lose a game. Honestly, it took a long time for the loser of any board game in my house not to have a fucking hissy fit if they weren't the winner, and I'm sure "never losing" as a younger child had something to do with it. 

I was in sports as a young kid, and I don't recall getting all sad and whiney when our team would lose. it would build team spirit. 

Exactly, children losing and failing at simple things opens up the opportunity to teach children so many life lessons in regards to perseverance, commitment, fairness, etc.  It is okay to fail and it is better to get a handle on some of those lessons while young than get inevitably blindsided by them when they are older.

my2hands

If Kevin Hart offends you please dont watch Pryor, Eddie, Carlin, Rock, or the current American treasure David Chappelle

Comedians are the most important artists in society, they push the boundaries and make us realize how absurd we are via making us laugh

RiotZact

my2hands said:

If Kevin Hart offends you please dont watch Pryor, Eddie, Carlin, Rock, or the current American treasure David Chappelle

Comedians are the most important artists in society, they push the boundaries and make us realize how absurd we are via making us laugh

Well. Fucking. Said. 

dignin

my2hands said:

If Kevin Hart offends you please dont watch Pryor, Eddie, Carlin, Rock, or the current American treasure David Chappelle

Comedians are the most important artists in society, they push the boundaries and make us realize how absurd we are via making us laugh

Everyone you mentioned above, minus Hart, was/is funny though.

PJPOWER

my2hands said:

If Kevin Hart offends you please dont watch Pryor, Eddie, Carlin, Rock, or the current American treasure David Chappelle

Comedians are the most important artists in society, they push the boundaries and make us realize how absurd we are via making us laugh

No shit, haha!  Kevin Hart is pretty tame in comparison.  I would say that if you are easily offended...stay away from comedy and satire completely.

Smellyman

Kevin Hart is annoying af.  Bullet dodged.

Meltdown99

Nothing funny about Rock...

dignin

RiotZact said:

dignin said:

RiotZact said:

OnWis97 said:

I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.

It’s not a defense it’s a fact. There are extremely few circumstances where a joke goes “too far”, in my opinion. This is not even close to being one of those instances. 

I mostly agree...but only when it's funny and clever. Unfortunately the "joke" in question is neither. Kinda like Kevin Hart.

Funny is subjective, though. So as long as the person that says the joke says it with the thought that it will make people laugh, then there is literally no reason that you are allowed to be offended by it. Period. I mean you can be offended by it, that’s your right, but you have no comprehension of the words “joke” or “comedy” if you are, and that’s not subjective. 

For the record, I can’t stand Kevin Hart and thought he was a poor choice to host. 

What if it's a racist joke though? It's about the intent right? Hart apparently admitted that at the time he did believe those homophobic things so at the time I can see why people would be offended. 

I do think if he apologized for those things people should move on. People make mistakes and can change.

Edit: My point being if a racist makes a racist joke it's offensive, if a homophobe makes a homophobic joke it's offensive.

Meltdown99

brianlux

"This is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past. I'm sorry that I hurt people... I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again."

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/07/entertainment/kevin-hart-oscars-step-down/index.html

Seems like a good response.  If more people evolved, there wouldn't be this kind of ruckus.

PJPOWER

Meltdown99 said:

Haha

Go Beavers

HughFreakingDillon said:

mcgruff10 said:

Kevin Hart cracks me up, this world is getting way too pc.  I read an article this morning that they want to get rid of rudolph the red nosed reindeer because it is an example of bullying.  Baby it is cold outside is being removed from radio stations because of the lyrics.  The wussification of the world continues.

I love what Hart said:  
Hart answered the outrage with a video Thursday, stating: “I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy. And I’m not gonna let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I’ve worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now. My team calls me. ‘Oh my god, Kevin. The world is upset by tweets you did years ago.’ My god. Guys – I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you wanna hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then … I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place. A great, mature place, where all I do is spread positivity. If you’re not doing that, you’re not on my page.”
“The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years,” said Hart in the video. “We feed into internet trolls, and we reward them. I’m not gonna do it, man. I’m gonna be me, and I’m gonna stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm no foul.”  

I think that Rudolph thing was just one guy explaining in some op-ed the ills of that show in today's world. some of it was right, some of it was "meh". I have always thought, even before the PC-age, that Rudolph was a terrible message to kids. Basically waht it says is "it's not ok to be different until we need something from you". 

The whole Christmas song thing has been blown up by the media to feed a polarized narrative. People get sucked into it and then react with statements about it going ‘too far’ and blah blah about ‘pc culture’. The right wingers take anecdotal stories and then say they are a trend so they will constantly feel like they are in a struggle and their way of life is threatened. 

Go Beavers

bbiggs said:

I teach my kids that there are winners and losers in life. You don’t get a trophy for showing up. I’m in the minority, sadly. 

How do you figure your in the minority?

HesCalledDyer

HughFreakingDillon said:

bbiggs said:

I teach my kids that there are winners and losers in life. You don’t get a trophy for showing up. I’m in the minority, sadly. 

it really bothered me when my girls were in soccer or baseball as young kids and at the end of the season every kid got a medal, and no one kept score. on one hand, I suppose it's fine since they were quite young, but there will come a point where they won't get a medal for everything, and it will become confusing. And I think it's a good lesson that someone has to lose a game. Honestly, it took a long time for the loser of any board game in my house not to have a fucking hissy fit if they weren't the winner, and I'm sure "never losing" as a younger child had something to do with it. 

I was in sports as a young kid, and I don't recall getting all sad and whiney when our team would lose. it would build team spirit. 

I played little league when I was a kid.  When we lost we had to run laps around the field while the winning team watched from their dugout and laughed at us.  Don't want to run laps and get heckled?  Practice more, play harder, & win.

HughFreakingDillon

HesCalledDyer said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

bbiggs said:

I teach my kids that there are winners and losers in life. You don’t get a trophy for showing up. I’m in the minority, sadly. 

it really bothered me when my girls were in soccer or baseball as young kids and at the end of the season every kid got a medal, and no one kept score. on one hand, I suppose it's fine since they were quite young, but there will come a point where they won't get a medal for everything, and it will become confusing. And I think it's a good lesson that someone has to lose a game. Honestly, it took a long time for the loser of any board game in my house not to have a fucking hissy fit if they weren't the winner, and I'm sure "never losing" as a younger child had something to do with it. 

I was in sports as a young kid, and I don't recall getting all sad and whiney when our team would lose. it would build team spirit. 

I played little league when I was a kid.  When we lost we had to run laps around the field while the winning team watched from their dugout and laughed at us.  Don't want to run laps and get heckled?  Practice more, play harder, & win.

my volleyball coach (my brother) once made the entire team do manmakers at the next practice after a game. not because we lost, but because we didn't show effort. I have no issue with that. I do have an issue with punishment for losing.  I think that sends the wrong message. 

Go Beavers

Do people think kids are less competitive now? I don’t think that’s the case at all. 

Ledbetterman10

More talented people than Kevin Hart have lost gigs over less. Also, if you read those tweets, they're not jokes. They're statements. Look at this shit:

"“Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay.”

What's the point of even saying that?  Did someone ask him what he'd do if his son comes home and tries to play with his daughter's toys? Probably not right? So you'd have to be a pretty fucking insane to just tweet that because you were thinking it. 

mace1229

mcgruff10 said:

Kevin Hart cracks me up, this world is getting way too pc.  I read an article this morning that they want to get rid of rudolph the red nosed reindeer because it is an example of bullying.  Baby it is cold outside is being removed from radio stations because of the lyrics.  The wussification of the world continues.

I love what Hart said:  
Hart answered the outrage with a video Thursday, stating: “I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy. And I’m not gonna let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I’ve worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now. My team calls me. ‘Oh my god, Kevin. The world is upset by tweets you did years ago.’ My god. Guys – I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you wanna hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then … I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place. A great, mature place, where all I do is spread positivity. If you’re not doing that, you’re not on my page.”
“The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years,” said Hart in the video. “We feed into internet trolls, and we reward them. I’m not gonna do it, man. I’m gonna be me, and I’m gonna stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm no foul.”  

Explains why I havent heard Baby Its Cold Outside this year, but heard every other popular song about 20 times.
Was one of the few I actually liked too. That's so stupid if the radio pulled it. I remember when there was uproar over Weezer's No One Else.