Tim Russert throws like a GIRL!!!

[underpants]

Anyone see this on the Today Show this morning? Russert threw out the first pitch at Wrigley yesterday and he one hopped it to the catcher. The whole studio erupted in laughter and Matt Lauer said , "Hey Tim if you are watching even Secretary Ridge (points to Ridge waiting for interview in next segment) winced!" (cut to shot of Tom Ridge laughing/shaking his enormous head).

More laughter.

[outinforce]

1. This Is, I Think, Sexist

First of all, what exactly do you mean that someone "throws like a girl"?

I think that there are many women and girls who would take strong exception to a suggestion that their throwing skills are less than that of men.

Secondly, what is so "macho" about throwing baseballs anyway? Does the fact that a man doesn't conform to your own view of what he "ought" to be able to do make him somehow less of a man?

I am not particularly good at throwing baseballs myself. I also happen to enjoy sex with men.

You gotta a problem with that?

on edit:

You know, we criticized -- rather severely -- some Americans who recently took delight in humiliating men. Do you think we should remind Matt Lauer and Tom Ridge that making a male appear to be somehow less of a man -- especially in front of a national audience -- is abuse and/or torture???

[underpants]

4. Oh I'm sorry I sohould have made it GRRRRRRL

It's a JOKE. That is how guys would rag on each other and it isn't sexist it's a JOKE.

[chimpymustgo]

10. Psst. Underpants. Quit digging.

Turn over the shovel now, friend.

[underpants]

17. Okay I will and start smacking myself in the face with it

maybe then I can get down to the level of discourse and complete lack of comprehension of the written word and social humor as exhibited in this thread.

[Book Lover]

16. A joke?

'Cause, see, I thought jokes were funny.

[outinforce]

27. I Understand What Guys Do

I am, after all, a guy myself.

I find it a bit curious that you would describe this as the way guys "rag" on each other.

I have always thought that epxrssion to be a bit --- well, a bit misogynist.

But I also think that any joke which is at the expense of any group -- women, Blacks, Jews, or anyone else -- is still sexist, racist, or anti-semitic.

[underpants]

32. In all my years of closely examining that saying from childhood..

I have never thought it was at the expense of women/girls because:

a. it's just funny and it means NOTHING

b. I know it isn't true-I have known several women who could throw and were otherwise excellent athletes.

[outinforce]

38. Have You Ever Thought About How

Have you ever thought about how a girl might feel if she were to see "So-and-so throws like a girl" used as a way to demean and humiliate men?

[outinforce]

41. Have You Ever Considered

Have you ever thought about how a girl might feel when she hears "So-and-so throws like a girl" used as an insult or as a means of putting a man down???

[HFishbine]

46. Or

How badly men feel when people say Ann Coulter looks like a man. Makes me cry every time. :(

[Book Lover]

47. It doesn't seem like it matters to you

And that is really what I am objecting to.

You said it, fine; then people call you on it and tell you it bugs them; but your defend yourself by saying that it means nothing.

But it does mean something - people just told you so. Why do you then insist that you are right, right, right? I and others are telling you here and now that it does mean something to some of us, and what it means is an insult to us.

[Richardo]

53. Allow me, Underpants. "Lighten up, Francis."

:eyes:

"Throws like a girl" is a time-honored slam. I've even heard GIRLS use it.

BTW: It's also funny.

[underpants]

57. Thanks sweetheart*

My wife would understand what I mean. I am going to have a smoke on this now.

*by seweetheart I mean that you are generally a good natured person who cares about your fellow man (to include women and no I think I will stop there) and get the friggin' joke.

[outinforce]

59. Francis?

My name isn't Francis.

Mr. and Mrs. Inforce (my parents) chose the name "Out" for me when I was born.

I have heard many racist and sexist jokes that had an element of what some might call humor.

But they were still racist and sexist.

[Richardo]

60. It's a reference to the movie "Stripes"

Francis, that is.

Here's the dialog:

Psycho: The name's Francis Sawyer, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Francis, and I'll kill you.

Leon: Ooooooh.

Psycho: You just made the list, buddy. Also, I don't like no one touching my stuff. So just keep your meathooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. And I don't like nobody touching me. Any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you.

Sergeant Hulka: Lighten up, Francis. :D

[Bunny]

68. Just one of the many great scenes in that movie!

:hi: Richardo!

[Richardo]

74. bunnyj!

:hi:

[outinforce]

75. Never Saw It.

But, if I understand the reference clearly, I think you may have suggested either that I am a psycho or that I would kill someone.

I am not a psycho.

And I think several of my posts on other threads on DU makes my position regarding the taking of life sort of clear.

So I kind of resent the reference.

But I assure you, I am a big enough man not to let you hurt my feelings.

Just don't let it happen again, or I'll tell my friend.

His name is Francis.

[Richardo]

79. :-)

[Bandit]

58. You're still digging

You ain't gunna win this one.

[underpants]

78. That's never stopped me before

:bounce:

Notice no one has even remarked on Russert uh making a fool of himself. I guess I was the only one who saw it.

[Richardo]

80. It's not OUR fault you post like a girl...

:evilgrin:

(Mrs. Richardo takes Richardo to the woodshed: :spank: )

[outinforce]

82. No. No. No.

He posts like a man.

I post like a girl.

More sensitive. More caring.

Really.

[underpants]

83. Ha!

Wow this is an instant off topic taken out of context classic.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[slinkerwink]

64. it's definitely sexist

:eyes:

[HFishbine]

6. You're absolutely correct

That's why there are so many female major league pitchers and quarterbacks.

[Mountainman]

11. I use to play a lot of softball

In one game I was playing the infield and a runner hit my glove and bent my thumb back wards.

It started to swell and I went back to the bench. Later I was told to see if I could still catch as they wanted be back in the game.

I looked around for someone to throw the a ball to me so I could see how much it would hurt to catch. I picked a girl who was the daughter of one of the players. I thought she wouldn't throw it very hard so it shouldn't be too bad. She threw the ball at me overhand and fast. It hurt like a mo fo!

[One Taste]

12. want some cheese

with your whine?:eyes:

Really, I love this site, but this ultra-PC stuff just makes me shake my head sometimes..

it was a J-O-K-E

[underpants]

22. Tim Russert throws like a man who doesn't know how to throw

That's better huh?

[chimpymustgo]

25. Well, it's not insulting to women, so, uh yeah.

nt

[One Taste]

26. ..

:nopity:

[underpants]

28. Good I don't want to get anyone's panties in a bunch

Not directed at you but this really needs to be said.

[redqueen]

31. DAMN!

You did it AGAIN!

:mad:

on edit: you seem to really not understand how this goes beyond just 'PC' and cuts to the heart of how men make women feel inferior from their earliest days.

The fact that you're using feminine characterizations in order to insult people means that the feminine characteristics are bad. Do you really not realize how horrible that is?

Think about this: how many insults can you think of that are used towards women, which are insults because it implies they posess masculine characteristics? Now think of the ones directed at men which are insulting because they insinuate that the men posess feminine characteristics ('throws like a girl' and 'panties in a bunch' are two excellent examples you've already provided).

[underpants]

42. What? WhatIdo?

Should have said underpants in a bunch huh?

Sorry I don't mean this towards you but this thread went way out into left field IMHO. Hey! that was a 2-fer.

[redqueen]

48. I know I wasn't clear... went back and edited it

I don't mean to jump on you, I understand these things are ingrained as you said since childhood. But we all should examine them honestly.

[slinkerwink]

"throwing like a girl" and "panties in a bunch"===definitely sexist

[slinkerwink]

67. "throwing like a girl" and "panties in a bunch"===definitely sexist

[One Taste]

35. !!

:toast: :evilgrin:

[ProfessorGAC]

120. It Appears There Is Sensitivity, And Then. . .

. . .there is hypersensitivity. WOLF!
The Professor

[mouse7]

65. Tim Russert throws a ball like a garden snake.

Even better!

[outinforce]

34. Some Brie Would Do Just Fine, Thanks!

Especially if you could get the kind with the toasted slivered almonds on top.

And some whole-grain crackers, too.

I'm sure, by the way, that the guards at the prison in Iraq thought that their humiliation of some men was little more than a "joke", and that everyone should just lighten up.

[One Taste]

39. see HFishbine's reply

"And that is exactly the problem with political correctness, it diminishes real abuses to trivialities."



:eyes:

[underpants]

44. cracker?!?!?!?

Any other racial epitaphs you would like to share?

:bounce:

[outinforce]

76. I Meant It

as a joke.

Lighten up!

[HFishbine]

33. "abuse and/or torture???"

And that is exactly the problem with political correctness, it diminishes real abuses to trivialities.

[snooper2]

55. outinforce throws like a girl...

:)

[outinforce]

61. Yep.

You gotta problem with that?

I'm kind of proud of the way I throw a ball.

Just like a girl.

But I don not consider that to be an insult (or a personal attack).

Let me know if you got some problem with that.

[snooper2]

91. No problem, I think it's kind of cute..

:)

[outinforce]

93. Cute?

I think it is cool. Tom Selleck cool.

I do think your comment was cute -- way cute.

[snooper2]

94. People always say I throw like a girl...

But I always win the stuffed animal at the carnival!

[wtf]

89. asdf

First of all, what exactly do you mean that someone "throws like a girl"?

I think that there are many women and girls who would take strong exception to a suggestion that their throwing skills are less than that of men.

Secondly, what is so "macho" about throwing baseballs anyway? Does the fact that a man doesn't conform to your own view of what he "ought" to be able to do make him somehow less of a man?

I am not particularly good at throwing baseballs myself. I also happen to enjoy sex with men.

You gotta a problem with that?

on edit:

You know, we criticized -- rather severely -- some Americans who recently took delight in humiliating men. Do you think we should remind Matt Lauer and Tom Ridge that making a male appear to be somehow less of a man -- especially in front of a national audience --is abuse and/or torture???

For what it's worth, probably nothing, but as a former kool aid drinker, it's things like this that made it so easy to swallow the idea that the left was completely f*cking insane.

[outinforce]

92. Sorry?

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your post.

I am a little dense right now, so please bear with me.

Could you give me a bit more detail about what you are talking about here?

[trof]

2. oooo...I think I'll leave this one be.

My daughter throws like a girl, but then....
nope.

[trumad]

7. Well good for the girls who can throw a decent ball...

But honestly, the majority of girls errrr throw like girls.

[CatWoman]

95. have to agree with you, my friend

tho I am no longer a "girl" :D

[trumad]

97. I find you guilty of still being a girl....

[Raenelle]

14. I throw like a girl but my daughter won a silver medal in the junior

olympics for fast-pitch softball. She played 3rd base.

[candy]

3. I know some girls who throw quite well---

Enough said!

[hadrons]

5. Tim Russert may throw like a girl, but shills like an All-Star ....

[underpants]

15. This, I think, is Shillist

First of all, what exactly do you mean that someone " like an All-Star"?

I think that there are many shills who would take strong exception to a suggestion that their shilling skills are less than that of All-Stars.

Secondly, what is so "All-Star" about shilling anyway? Does the fact that a shill doesn't conform to your own view of what he "ought" to be able to do make him somehow less of a shill?

I am not particularly good at shilling myself. I also happen to enjoy sex with women.

You gotta a problem with that?

[chimpymustgo]

8. Uh oh, underpants. Sack cloth and ashes for you.

Or would others here like to suggest a more fitting punishment? Hmmmm?

[Zorra]

9. Have you ever seen these women pitch?

http://www.coloradosilverbullets.org/

Tim Russert throws like an un-athletic man.

[Tansy_Gold]

13. Not like this girl.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/womens/news/2000/07/05/womens_glance/

[soleft]

18. That's like saying Bush talks like a man

[underpants]

20. Tim Russert throws like a man who doesn't know how to throw

Since everyone will know what that means and it will lead to a few laughs at the expense of Russert.

[soleft]

21. You replied after I edited my post

I found another to express my opine.

[underpants]

23. Sorry I double posted..........like a girl

Ooops like a man posting who doesn't know how to post.

[underpants]

24. Wow

not about responding before you edited THE WHOLE POST :thumbsup: mod

but that this would get such a rise out of people. Take 5 people you seem to need it.

[soleft]

29. My post was edited at 2:06, you responded at 2:07

I didn't change it after you replied.

[underpants]

36. I think I was in the midst of replying

or changing my double post. Yes it really takes that long to create such pearls of wisdom.

[soleft]

45. The reason I changed my post was because I noticed that

many people had already said the exact same thing, so that was my fault at not reading the entire thread before posting. yes, I got over excited, and will take 5. Or 10.

[Cocoa]

19. Russert is more used to softball

which makes me wonder how Chris Matthews would do...

Russert stunk up the broadcast booth, by the way, hawking his stupid book when I wanted to hear the game. :mad:

[redqueen]

30. *sigh*

I understand this is a joke and meant to be funny.

I also understand the frustration of those that really don't seem to perceive how insidious the misogyny is in nearly every culture all over this planet.

But ... damn.

We've got a long, long way to go... still.

[HFishbine]

40. If girls would just

learn how to throw, or if men would quite throwing so fast and accurate, we'd be half way there.

[redqueen]

52. More like...

if people would realize that insulting men by implying they posess feminine characteristics reinforces the 'feminine = bad' meme that has been around seemingly since the dawn of civilization.

:(

[HFishbine]

62. Your Majesty

I respect most of your posts, and I don't want to go any further in trivializing the issue you are bringing to this discussion. But, I think Underpants' joke falls out of that relm and here's why. Insults that demean a man's masculinity are not slams against women any more than insults that demean a woman's feminity are slams against men. The context is not that feminine=bad, but rather man=feminine=funny.

[slinkerwink]

70. it's definitely a slam against women

it's plain as the nose on your face.

[HFishbine]

72. That's freaky

I'm going to have an operation on my nose in 30 minutes. Hmmmm.

[redqueen]

84. I can see where you're coming from

But I just don't agree. To understand why, think about what you've just said. You said that slights against women's femininity are not slams against men, so that disproves the polar opposite. *However*, I would like to ask you: how many insults usually directed towards women capitalize on their possession of masculine characteristics? How many insults usually directed towards men slam the men based on their displaying feminine traits?

See where I'm going with this? Each and every time a man is insulted by implying he displays feminine traits, the meme that feminine = bad is reinforced once again.

Here's a corollary: it's okay for women to posess masculine qualities, but bad, bad, bad for men to posess feminine qualities.

Women can wear pants, have jobs, have short hair, be sexually aggressive, etc., etc., etc., and no one bats an eye. (Interestingly, complaints about these things are due to misogyny as well!)

Flip side -- Men cannot wear skirts, be stay-at-home-dads, be non-sexually aggressive, etc. etc. etc. Now mind you I'm not saying it's physically impossible or illegal for men to do these things, just that it's societally frowned upon. Why?

Ask yourself what you would do if your daughter wanted you to buy her a truck or a science kit as a gift; what if your son wanted a babydoll to care for or a pair of pink shoes?

*sigh*

[Solomon]

119. This whole damn thread is a perfect example of people gone

pc berserk.

[outinforce]

63. My Own Thought On That

is that if men quit throwing baseballs altogether and learned instead more useful and worthwhile things -- like how to cook and clean and change diapers and provide emotional support and (perhaps most of all) to listen and understand) -- the world would be a much better place.

It's amazing, though, how many men resist the notion of learning those skills -- I guess they fear being thought of as "too feminine".

Get my point?

[HFishbine]

73. I rarely throw a baseball anymore

but I cook and clean daily. So, uh, no, I don't get your point.

[wubbathompson]

37. girly man

[underpants]

50. I think I agree but I don't want to go too far out on a limb here

[wubbathompson]

56. LMAO!!!!!

Looks like he just came from a nascar race. That's hilarious!

[Emboldened Chimp]

43. Man, not another PC lesson thread...

seriously, both sides need to chill. please.

[underpants]

51. Thanks honey

:hi::bounce:

[rumguy]

49. Bottom line: Russert is a fuckin' dweeb

[redqueen]

54. See?

Not that hard to insult someone without insinuating that it's solely their feminine qualities which make them deserving of insult.

[HFishbine]

66. Dweebist!

Got something against dweebs?

[Emboldened Chimp]

69. Yeah, what the hell?

No disparaging comments against us dweebs!

[HFishbine]

71. Actually, dweeb may be somewhat sexist

dweeb

An even lower form of life than the spod, found in much the
same habitat as the former. though more prevailent on talker
systems. Unlike spods, upon receiving the desired response
to the question "Are you male or female?", dweebs will then
engage upon a detailed description of themselves and how
wonderful they are, often in the hopes of truly impressing the
other with their "charm" and "wit". Nearly all dweebs are
male, but very few actually live up to the image that they
present. Dweebs, unfortunately, are often the cause of
ill-will, and may well bring a bad reputation to the system in
question. They are often, however, easy to wind up and can be
the source of great mirth to the seasoned user.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=dweeb

[ronnykmarshall]

77. Power to the dweebs!

[NoPasaran]

85. How do dweebs throw?

[underpants]

86. like girls

:scared:

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

81. it was funny on The Simpsons

i think it was nuclear plant night at the ball park with the springfield isotopes.


bart: hey, you throw like a girl.

lisa: yea, you throw like me.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

87. It's because his pumpkin head makes him top heavy

and his breasts get in the way.

[PAMod]

88. Ridge does have an enormous head, doesn't he?

[underpants]

90. I understand that in his spare time....

he busts open coconuts with it. :bounce:

Actually that is a Top Ten item on Dave's show aobut Gore, but it works.

[CatWoman]

96. I get sooooooooooooooooo sick of the PC bullshit around here

How many times have I heard this comparison in my life?

It has never bothered me once, as girls DO throw differently than boys.

Girls - feminine.

Boys - masculine.

It's a fucking fact -- live with it.

[redqueen]

98. The issue is not that it's not a 'fucking fact'

The issue is that people are still using femininity as an insult.

:eyes:

[trumad]

99. Oh it's a fucking fact...

I'd say 90 percent of the male population throw the ball better than the female population.. What's the BFD? 90 percent of the female population shop better than the Male population... Do you hear me bitching about that fact?

[VelmaD]

100. Which orifice did you pull your numbers out of?

Could you spew more idiotic gender stereotypes if you tried? :eyes:

[CatWoman]

101. *snarf*

damn right!!!!!!!!

don't EVER try to get between me and a good sale!!!!!!

i'll rip your lungs out!!!!!

:D

[VelmaD]

102. Guess what? I don't give a rat's ass about sales.

And I can throw a fucking ball. Does that somehow make me not a female?

[trumad]

104. Easy Velma... Easy

back away from the ledge... Come on... easy...easy... now take my hand.... Got ya. Yheeewwww...that was close!

[VelmaD]

106. I'm not on a fucking ledge...

I'm just sick and damn tired of this sexist nonsense. I expect better from allegedly "liberal" men...although I don't know why anymore after some of the crap I've seen around here.

[trumad]

108. Hey Velma... You do know we're just fucking with you?

Now go pop a beer and relax.

[VelmaD]

109. Do you understand yet...

that telling me to "relax" or "step away from the ledge" is not the best way of handling this situation since it has this tendency to come across as minimizing my concerns over the proliferation of sexist nonsense on DU?

Just curious. :)

[redqueen]

112. Hey

No need to get our 'panties' in a twist, right?

:nuke:

[underpants]

113. Right I KNEW you all agreed with me

It's so nice when we work these things out and we all come to a common ground and agreeable compromise.

:hi:

[CatWoman]

107. oh, what the fuck

*shove*

[CatWoman]

105. Well, if I had the talent

I'd go pro and get paid for it.

Unfortunately, no one is hiring a shopping addict these days, so I guess I'm shit out of luck.

[outinforce]

121. And

I can't throw a ball very well but I do like sales.

Does that make me not a male?

No one laughs -- and certainly not on national news -- at a woman who does not like sales or at a woman who can't shop.

Folks like Matt Lauer and Tom Ridge laugh at men who can't throw balls.

See the difference?

(I'm not so much addressing these comments to you, VelmaD, as I am at all those folks who just think that this is some big joke that we should just "get over".

[trumad]

103. You girly girls got that department all to yuuurselves....

Now let's wrestle Bitch!

[redqueen]

111. Did you not notice

that I just posted that the factuality of the claim is NOT the issue?

Sheesh!

The issue is not whether or not it's true. The issue is that femininity is STILL being used as an insult.

[mitchum]

110. He's far more experienced at lobbing SOFTBALLS

[underpants]

114. Mostly to RIGHThanded batters

:thumbsup:

[Scout]

115. how about this?

Tim Russert can't throw worth a shit!

[EV1Ltimm]

118. that's insulting to shit resellers.

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

116. bush probably throws like a man, and spit and grabs crotch and

drags knuckles

i think this is what got us in trouble last time. i think this is what feeds the war hate let me show you i am a man bring it on kinda a thing

i will take russet throwing like a girl anytime. i, being a girl, can throw like a boy, so can teach my kids, dont need a "man" to do it

[underpants]

117. DING DING Freakin' DING we have a winner!

THAT is the answer.

[Stuckinthebush]

122. You didn't think it'd get this hot, did you?

Taking a step back and looking at the responses to this thread is interesting, enlightening, and at times, depressing.

Yes, the tone of the post is sexist, but I don't think Underpants is overtly sexist. He is a product of his society like the rest of us.

First, I disagree with those that say it is too "PC" around here. What does PC mean? It means that we are a community that does and should critically analyze our speech and actions. We aren't a bunch of Neanderthal freepers who blindly lap up societal prejudices without the slightest twinge of shame. We can look at our discussions through a critical lens and learn from how others perceive our statements. Very important stuff, learning.

While PC is bothersome at times because we don't always want to be "on", I have found that a good way to react to negative reactions to my writings is to step back and say, "Alright, what did I assume, and how did that assumption affect a segment of the population."

I would encourage others to not pile on a poster who has posted something you might consider sexist, racist, or classist. Let's treat this board as a classroom where there are calm discussions about why something might be seen as offensive. Instead of, "Underpants, you sexist jerk!", one would get much farther with, "Hey, Underpants, I think that the use of 'throw like a girl' can be seen as insulting to women because it uses femininity as an insult. What are your thoughts on this?"

Of course, that type of conversation isn't nearly as fun as a flame fest!

[underpants]

123. It's not my fault!! I'm just a product of SOCIETY!!!!

NO I didn't think it would get this hot and do you know why? Because it is a JOKE there was NO reason for it to get that hot. That's it, it was a JOKE on NBC and that is why I posted it.

For the record no one called me a "jerk" unless I missed it in a post.

I understand your points but I stick by my original post and everything I have posted here. If people can't see from the original post that it was a joke (some ribbing) and that instead of getting hostile I just fanned the flames to see if they would get too close to the flames (several did) then that is their problem not mine.

Tim Russert throws like a GIRL!!!

[outinforce]

126. I Never Called You A Jerk

and I won't do so now.

I do not consider you a jerk at all.

Still, I do think that StuckintheBush had an interesting point -- that we might all want to consider DU as a sort of classroom.

It is my own observation that there were several attempts made in this thread to sensitize you and others to just how offensive a joke like "So-and-so throws like a girl" is to a great number of people -- both men and women.

And it is also my observation that there were more than a few posts on this thread which attempted to convey to you the depth of feeling that a number of people have on this type of joke in general -- and this particular joke more specifically.

So it is somewhat discouraging -- no, it is very discouraging -- to see that after all of these serious efforts to convey what I, and I would suspect what many others -- feel is just "basic progressive" courtesy, that it is rebuffed with a comment that we were being "hostile" and an implication that we can't take a joke.

And what is, to me at least, is even more distressing is to see a comment that our efforts to convey our deeply-held feelings about this "joke" is met with a comment that "we" have a problem.

[Bandit]

124. Thank you ~ This is the funniest thread I've seen in a while

Maybe you should bring back the pink panties for a while until things coll down for you. They did a great job of chasing your underpants around. Always brought a smile when I saw them.

[underpants]

125. Still undefeated!!!!!!!!!!

I mean they never caught the underpants did they?

Still undefeated!!!!!!!!!!!! This one goes in the WIN column.