Waiting on the World to change..
Posted By: The Abstract Analyst
Filed Under: News, Opinion on February 12, 2010
Bill Simmons said something to this effect — that one of the biggest changes in our culture due to social media has been the lowering of barriers between athletes and fans. This is obviously true for anyone famous who wants to communicate to the public at large. In my humble opinion, this also results in lowered inhibitions when it comes to interviewing any one old or new in the media. Thanks to twitter and the trending topic #whitesupremist yesterday, I caught the wave of the John Mayer controversy. Late last night, I was asked as the senior black correspondent (hat tip to the daily show) of Street Verse to put my thoughts on the street. I didn’t want to rush it…and since we aren’t a breaking news site I wanted to gather information and really form an opinion. So here we go….
| Chappelle’s Show | ||||
| When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong – Vernon Franklin | ||||
|
||||
| Chappelle’s Show | ||||
| When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong – Brenda Johnson | ||||
|
||||
John Mayer interviews with playboy, and makes some statements that before the advent of twitter would have been vetted by his publicist and probably stopped before they came to light. But since everyone likes to be candid. Everyone wants to keep it real. Everyone wants to show they are unaffected by perception and they shape their own images – to hell with being PC so the comments stayed. While I don’t claim to know what is on the mind of John Mayer nor would I defend his asinine ignorance, based on the context of the interview it seemed like he was trying to be funny.
For the record – probably around 80 – 90% of the people I know have made off color jokes…some of them about race. What i’m saying is its kinda not a big deal. The difference is that we do it without the glare of the media behind us, and most of us have the common sense to do it around the company who can appreciate it for what it is…a JOKE. Nothing is usually meant by it, and it’s considered JOKES, not representative of how we really feel about a certain person, race or group of people. Again…I’m not defending or justifying what he said but his lack of common sense is his real biggest mistake…but whether his comments are indicative of his real feelings or just what he thinks is funny – there is just no way to know & in a few weeks I or anyone else won’t really care…prime example of this is the Mike Greenbergs mistake on MLK day…outrage, twitter uprising. Weeks, no days later, no one really gives a fuck!
Of course after the fact, he did the obligatory apology, which was bullshit – he knew what he said and I’m sure playboy gave him the chance to review it and if he was really sorry he either wouldn’t have let it run or apologized before the article came out.
Was it racist ? It sounded like it. Was it dumb? Most def. Was it offensive to women, gays, & blacks…? I’d say probably, but in the bigger scheme of things, its not a big f’ing deal.
The other side of social media and instant communication is the over reactions by the public who blew it out of proportion. Its funny that we can get all worked up over something that is seemingly more scripted than most shows on Fox News. Here’s the formula: say something stupid via <insert medium> (twitter, late night show interview, magazine article, etc.), check. Public outrage, making something insignificant … significant, check. (probably the publicist) Prerequisite apology, check. The item fades from memory and no one cares, (almost there). Wash, rinse repeat with a new public figure -You become the butt of a joke in the future and the same people who were your fans / supports will continue to do so and even become apologist, check. Wake me up when the outrage and response are either appropriate or sustained. Where was this level of out rage and demanding of something being done when the supreme court overturned a law where companies are now viewed as individuals? Where was the outrage over the conditions in pre-earthquake Haiti where they have been the poorest country in the western hemisphere for years? I don’t see the same level of hysteria, trending topics or concern about issues that may actually impact people yet, when there is either a tragedy or a celebrity it is a big f’ing deal? wake me up when we go after something that really matters otherwise to quote Mr. Mayer himself…we are waiting on the world to change….
About the Author
MBA graduate and observer of media, politics, sports and every thing absurd...Comments (2)
my thoughts exactly san. trust no one who says jessica simpson knows how to move in the bed. we’ve all seen her dance, there’s no way.
This was a good lashing on the backside of ignorant people who took it way too far. Who cares what this DB really has to say?