Why is physical violence OK, but racism is not?

seamus · 29-07-2015 01:33PM

This one get airtime because of who it is and the way in which WWE wiped him out so quickly.

Truth is WWE is a viper's nest and have probably been itching to get rid of Hogan for years but couldn't figure out how to do it without upsetting fans. Recording of him saying something racist? Jackpot.

smash · 29-07-2015 01:33PM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Sean Connery on the other hand, his comments about slapping women didn't put the skids on his career, and that's just one example off the top of my head.

This was long before social media.

29-07-2015 01:39PM

seamus wrote: »

This one get airtime because of who it is and the way in which WWE wiped him out so quickly.

Truth is WWE is a viper's nest and have probably been itching to get rid of Hogan for years but couldn't figure out how to do it without upsetting fans. Recording of him saying something racist? Jackpot.

They pretty much Chris Benoit'd him!

Justice4Adolf · 29-07-2015 01:46PM

OP I want you to find a seat. Sit down before reading this.

Wrestling's not real.

Gooners · 29-07-2015 01:46PM

I think boneyarsebogman picked the wrong example with Rihanna and Chris Brown but I do think the argument has merit. While nobody in the media is saying physical violence is ok there is a much bigger deal made of racist or sexist comments.

smash · 29-07-2015 01:50PM

Gooners wrote: »

I think boneyarsebogman picked the wrong example with Rihanna and Chris Brown but I do think the argument has merit. While nobody in the media is saying physical violence is ok there is a much bigger deal made of racist or sexist comments.

To some, hurting someone's feelings seems to be worse that fracturing someone's face. Or at least they portray it that way because it sells more copies. The thing about it is that an assault on single person is just an assault. A racist or sexist comment targets half the world and maybe more.

LincolnsBeard · 29-07-2015 01:51PM

We live in a world where racism is associated as a justification for large scale violence, discrimination and even genocide. Therefore racist language is believed to be contributing to an environment where these things would be more likely to take place.

It is somewhat irrational I agree.

Knasher · 29-07-2015 01:51PM

Might be that one is assault, so there is an expectation that, if the victim chooses to press charges, that will be handled fairly by the courts.

Whereas there isn't anything illegal about having racist opinions, and anyone who is subjected to those opinions doesn't have any recourse. So in the lack of something else handling the situation, the only court available to people is the one of public opinion.

conorh91 · 29-07-2015 01:53PM

Hulk Hogan has no Irish background, despite his name.

His real name is Terry Bollea (Terry? lol) and he was only given the name Hogan by an Irish-American wrestling promoter (founder of WWE) who wanted a 'fighting Irish' sorta character.

Can we still self-flagellate though?

razorblunt · 29-07-2015 01:54PM

Chris Brown seems to be worming his way back into the mainstream, for a while there there was nothing from him, then gradually there's "Artist A featuring Artist B and Chris Brown", then shortly afterwards "Artist A featuring Chris Brown", now recently it's "Chris Brown featuring Artist B".

Just goes to show radio stations will play what they're paid too.

One eyed Jack · 29-07-2015 02:04PM

Gooners wrote: »

I think boneyarsebogman picked the wrong example with Rihanna and Chris Brown but I do think the argument has merit. While nobody in the media is saying physical violence is ok there is a much bigger deal made of racist or sexist comments.

That's an opinion that's completely dependent upon your own selective perception, ironically enough.

You speak of "the media" as though all media sources share the same agenda, and imagine society as one big homogenous think tank.

The very thing you're complaining about, is exactly the thing you're trying to promote in society, but with your own agenda of course.

Samaris · 29-07-2015 02:05PM

smash wrote: »

The thing about it is that an assault on single person is just an assault. A racist or sexist comment targets half the world and maybe more.

LincolnsBeard wrote: »

We live in a world where racism is associated as a justification for large scale violence, discrimination and even genocide. Therefore racist language is believed to be contributing to an environment where these things would be more likely to take place.

It is somewhat irrational I agree.

I think both of those are very good points and not brought up enough. Whether or not they justify the added sentences for a bigotted crime as opposed to a random crime, I'm not sure. Maybe they do, as they can cultivate an atmosphere that will put more people at risk.

Wexicanfan · 29-07-2015 03:53PM

knew he was a nazi from day 1

Gooners · 29-07-2015 09:56PM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

That's an opinion that's completely dependent upon your own selective perception, ironically enough.

You speak of "the media" as though all media sources share the same agenda, and imagine society as one big homogenous think tank.

The very thing you're complaining about, is exactly the thing you're trying to promote in society, but with your own agenda of course.

I am trying to promote something in society? I have an agenda?

DEFTLEFTHAND · 29-07-2015 10:11PM

seamus wrote: »

This one get airtime because of who it is and the way in which WWE wiped him out so quickly.

Truth is WWE is a viper's nest and have probably been itching to get rid of Hogan for years but couldn't figure out how to do it without upsetting fans. Recording of him saying something racist? Jackpot.

He only returned to the WWE in 2014 after spending years at another promotion. He wasn't a regular fixture on their tv, he'd more of an ambassadorial role in the company than anything, just a few appearances here and there and was part of a couple of shows on their new network.

candy-gal1 · 29-07-2015 11:52PM

I think what the OP is trying to say in maybe not so many words, but Ive thought the same myself, is that racism in any way or form seems to be considered sometimes worse that someone getting the crap kicked out of them!
As in sometimes it seems that once someone calls someone the N word then thats it, all bets are off and that person can get beaten up and itll be brought back to the "racist desparaging remark" that caused him/her to be beaten!

As in it seems like you could call a coloured person any name under the sun but once you mention the N word then thats it, even if no violence is occuring just that word!

RDM_83 again · 30-07-2015 12:01AM

candy-gal1 wrote: »

I think what the OP is trying to say in maybe not so many words, but Ive thought the same myself, is that racism in any way or form seems to be considered sometimes worse that someone getting the crap kicked out of them!
As in sometimes it seems that once someone calls someone the N word then thats it, all bets are off and that person can get beaten up and itll be brought back to the "racist desparaging remark" that caused him/her to be beaten!

As in it seems like you could call a coloured person any name under the sun but once you mention the N word then thats it, even if no violence is occuring just that word!

Also its an interesting question in a slightly different way.
Hogan went on a Racist rant about a matter in his personal life, in private, to another person of the same race, he's aware that he is racist as well.
Thats bad but does it actually cause any real harm if he doesn't actualize his racism, a fair few prominent black people have came out in support of him and called him a friend.

Now he's obviously a racist in that he holds racist views about his daughters partner but as long as he kept this internalized does it actually matter, he seems to have had good relationships with his black co-stars etc.

candy-gal1 · 30-07-2015 12:12AM

RDM_83 again wrote: »

Also its an interesting question in a slightly different way.
Hogan went on a Racist rant about a matter in his personal life, in private, to another person of the same race, he's aware that he is racist as well.
Thats bad but does it actually cause any real harm if he doesn't actualize his racism, a fair few prominent black people have came out in support of him and called him a friend.

Now he's obviously a racist in that he holds racist views about his daughters partner but as long as he kept this internalized does it actually matter, he seems to have had good relationships with his black co-stars etc.

+1 there

Exactly, it brings up something to my mind which Ive always thought and said but imho racism as people call it as a bad thing etc to me would be someone going up to a person of different race/coloured etc and threathen them in one way or another unprovoked just because of the race/looks etc , that I can understand as bad.

But having your own private thoughts/opinions on other races no matter what they are good or bad , and even discussing/chatting with people about these opinions should be seen as free speech and fine as long as theres no intimidation on threat or physical violence involved, thats just imho anyway!

I mean, if calling someone black etc in a desparaging way is wrong and should be condemned then sure why not make anyone harrassing or abusing someone verbally over their looks be looked at the same way?!

RedemptionZ · 30-07-2015 12:19AM

Chris Brown got a LOT of publicity and outcry over that incident, however he's recovered and is doing just great, he's starred in movies since and had loads of very successful singles and concert tours. And in my opinion rightfully so, people make mistakes and he deserves his chance to try to make amends.

Hogan, or anyone found guilty of a racist incident however, won't get the same fate. And that's where the problem is for me. Especially because the video is I believe 8 years old, Hogan had tried to kill himself during that period and was obviously in a very dark place. Does that excuse racism? No but it's probably reasonable to assume he might've changed his tune or at least had the capacity to after he got his head right. The media doesn't care about that though and he'll probably always be known as 'racist Hulk Hogan'.

If you were to ask me what's worse, a guy beating his girlfriend or a guy making racist comments in a private setting, well I think it's a no brainer I'd pick the beating of the girlfriend. Society however doesn't seem to agree with me. So I don't think the OP is necessarily in the 'PC gone mad' brigade.

RedemptionZ · 30-07-2015 12:28AM

candy-gal1 wrote: »

+1 there

Exactly, it brings up something to my mind which Ive always thought and said but imho racism as people call it as a bad thing etc to me would be someone going up to a person of different race/coloured etc and threathen them in one way or another unprovoked just because of the race/looks etc , that I can understand as bad.

But having your own private thoughts/opinions on other races no matter what they are good or bad , and even discussing/chatting with people about these opinions should be seen as free speech and fine as long as theres no intimidation on threat or physical violence involved, thats just imho anyway!

I mean, if calling someone black etc in a desparaging way is wrong and should be condemned then sure why not make anyone harrassing or abusing someone verbally over their looks be looked at the same way?!

I agree, as long as no violence is incited or committed, however WWE obviously don't want to be seen to be employing and endorsing a man with those views and I can understand it tbf. I don't care if Jo Bloggs from Nigeria hates all white people, but if he's the host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, he certainly won't be incentivising me to watch it(and it was a crap show to begin with

) which will affect sponsors and whatnot, money is all they care about at the end of the day.

K4t · 30-07-2015 01:24AM

Physical violence (as in assault) is a crime and generally isn't ok.

Racism is ok, but severely frowned upon by wider society, especially those pesky pc brigade types.

They are separate things though so not sure why the attempted comparison is required.

NachoBusiness · 30-07-2015 01:43AM

razorblunt wrote: »

Chris Brown seems to be worming his way back into the mainstream, for a while there there was nothing from him, then gradually there's "Artist A featuring Artist B and Chris Brown", then shortly afterwards "Artist A featuring Chris Brown", now recently it's "Chris Brown featuring Artist B".

Just goes to show radio stations will play what they're paid too.

Mike Tyson back doing in spotlight quite a bit also (Hangover movie cameo for example).

Here he is recently lip syncing to..Push It, of all songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yevAbC0QHlw

Why is physical violence OK, but racism is not?

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