Bill Maher: People Need To Stop Throwing ‘Conniption Fits’ Over Things They Find Offensive

[Tx4obama]

VIDEO here: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-people-need-to-stop-throwing-conniption-fits-over-things-they-find-offensive/

[bluestateguy]

1. People can throw conniptions all they want. It's the incessant demand for apologies that are stupid.

When the offended people demand an apology the offender will offer up an apology of sort---to make the controversy go away, or simply to make the offended people shut up. At that point the apology is not sincere, so who cares? The offended people are usually still not satisfied and continue to criticize the offender. Much like Richard Durbin blubbering on the floor of the US Senate. It's not about an actual apology; it;s about making your adversary do the Walk of Shame and having to humiliate himself. It's all just theater.

[DonCoquixote]

2. Bill, you are wrong

Yes, I know conniption fits are used to stifle debate on things, but truth be told, we, especially on the left, have been docile cattle, while the right has used outrage and fake outrage to get YARDS OF GROUND. Frankly, we have every right to demenad that we can hold people accoutnbable, especially people like limbaugh.

[applegrove]

3. I'm with you. Well said.

[Kalidurga]

4. You know what would be really cool.

If somehow Limbaugh understood why he was wrong. That will probably never happen, he is a bit thick. But, barring that we should be getting that poison off the air waves. At least we should make sure he stops getting tax payer money for his spew.

[madrchsod]

5. why would anyone care what he thinks?

he`s important because he has a subscription only show? wow! i guess we all should hang on his every word.

[Loudmxr]

6. The one thing I miss about my Mommy are the conversations we had late at night

One of us would call each other and say "I am going to have to say something tomorrow that will piss someone off"

Then we would discuss how not piss some specific person off

WHILE SAYING WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID.

I miss that consultation but I carry the good advice she gave me and I gave her.

Except for the ridicule part. They never remember yelling and cursing but they remember the f**king joke.

I do not yell. I do not curse. But I am a smartass.

[ScottLand]

7. Maher should apologize for this!!!!!

For making me laugh my kids awake so early in the morning!

[tanyev]

8. People do have the right to say offensive things.

But everybody else has the right to express their opinion on what was said.

[HopeHoops]

9. That was excellent.

[Blue Meany]

10. The problem with this is that not all speech is intended to communicate...

Many times words are "instrumental," indended to engender action in those to whom they are spoken. When the police order demonstraters to disperse, they are not exposing to them to ideas different than their own, they are threatening them with use of force. If your boss tells you to do something, he or she is not sharing his thoughts, he telling you what to do, with the implicit threat of disciplinary action if you don't do it.

In politics words are often used to manipulate people to support one candidate or position through distortion or outright lying. Is this communication? Perhaps we need a different term for it.

Broadcast hate speech, like Limbaugh's, combines both coerecive and manipulative use of language. The scapegoating and villifying of those he attacks is intended not to educate or communicate, but to change or sustain the political positions of those who listen to him. The coercive element comes into play because it is known that the speech will lead some indivdiuals to engage in violence against those who are villified (e.g., abortion doctors); this will then create a chilling affect on opponents of policies.

I don't have any problem with offesnive speech. I do, however, a problem with threatening speech, which I don't think is protected by the First Amendment. It is better to think of this as "communicative action" rather than communication.

[Bucky]

11. Translation: "I believe in free speech, so you should shut up"

God bless the First Amendment

[Ikonoklast]

12. From a guy that gets paid money to say things. Eff Bill Maher.

Don't care what he says, just another jackass with a microphone.

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. My conniption fit is not due to offense, but rather the attempt to control speech

Limbaugh is the attack dog of the republican party. He follows his script--just like Fox news does and just like the elected officials do. He is part of a well oiled machine.

The republicans, with Issa as the quaterback, attempted to wound the President in anticipation of the upcoming election. But, it did not go as planned. Because of females who did not know their place and instead spoke out.

Limbaugh was to stop her--and any other potential hurdle--from interfering in the game plan.

The republicans wanted to de-legitimize her and send a message to any other potential female who would have the nerve to speak against that machine.

Power and control. That is why I am having a conniption fit. That is why, although I am offended when sexist Bill Maher says stupid sexist things, I do not start a conniption fit. He is not part of the team. He is not designed to assert control over anyone who dared interfere in the game plan.