Telling it like it is
November 3, 2010 8:51 AM Subscribe
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- loup
I pretty much love this - except for the "you must be gay too"-type smear, which is stupid and divisive.
posted by thesmophoron at 8:58 AM on November 3, 2010 [17 favorites]
posted by thesmophoron at 8:58 AM on November 3, 2010 [17 favorites]
Also worth watching: Anderson Cooper's comments on McCance.
posted by specialagentwebb at 9:03 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by specialagentwebb at 9:03 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Saving you a minute of Googling around: Clint McCance, Arkansas School Board Member, Wants 'Fags' To Commit Suicide (HuffPo summary piece).
As usual, ericb had a good summary of the guy a few days back as a comment on the "I have made a decision" FPP.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:07 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
As usual, ericb had a good summary of the guy a few days back as a comment on the "I have made a decision" FPP.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:07 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not bad, but I enjoyed this one more.
posted by the other side at 9:10 AM on November 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by the other side at 9:10 AM on November 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
It would be to maximum effect at Warp Factor 10
Warp Factorrr Tennnn, Sirrr
posted by thesmophoron at 9:11 AM on November 3, 2010
Warp Factorrr Tennnn, Sirrr
posted by thesmophoron at 9:11 AM on November 3, 2010
The "you must be gay, too" part is distasteful and ruins the entire piece.
posted by ColdChef at 9:18 AM on November 3, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 9:18 AM on November 3, 2010 [8 favorites]
Oh, my.
posted by sourwookie at 9:23 AM on November 3, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by sourwookie at 9:23 AM on November 3, 2010 [8 favorites]
I never cared about Star Trek. When I was about thirteen, I think, my dad's friend was trying to put together a documentary on California gray whales that he'd shot a bunch of footage for. My dad owns and operates a recording studio for voiceover work, and somehow or other my dad's friend managed to hire George Takai to record VO for his whale doc.
I was (and still am) a huge nerd, but somehow I never get into the Star Trek thing, either TOS or TNG or any of the other variations. I knew that it existed, but never much cared, and at that age I probably wouldn't even have recognized Bill Shatner if he sat down across from me.
Anyway, at the time, my mom was still working and my dad would frequently have to leave in the middle of a recording session to pick me up from school-- I wound up sitting in his too-cold studio doing geometry homework while the likes of Lani Minella, Junior Seau, and (once!) Sally Ride worked on natural delivery somewhere behind me. So on that day I just wanted to sit on my dad's leather couch, read that day's assignment from Jane Eyre, and get home and eat junk food or something.
My dad said, 'Did you want to meet George Takai?'
'Sure,' I said. I had no idea who he was. Takai had the look of a guy who'd met thousands of overeager teenagers, the look of a seasoned politician who knows how to act really gosh-darned-pleased to meet you! and immediately get on to other things. He shook my hand. I remember his palms feeling warm and dry.
'This is George Takai,' my dad said. 'He was on Star Trek.' Takai did his politician smile.
'Okay,' I said. I probably glanced over at my backpack. His smile got slightly wider, quietly, and his eyes lit up. I started leafing through my organizer, and I don't think Takai stopped smiling the rest of the time I was there.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:24 AM on November 3, 2010 [31 favorites]
I was (and still am) a huge nerd, but somehow I never get into the Star Trek thing, either TOS or TNG or any of the other variations. I knew that it existed, but never much cared, and at that age I probably wouldn't even have recognized Bill Shatner if he sat down across from me.
Anyway, at the time, my mom was still working and my dad would frequently have to leave in the middle of a recording session to pick me up from school-- I wound up sitting in his too-cold studio doing geometry homework while the likes of Lani Minella, Junior Seau, and (once!) Sally Ride worked on natural delivery somewhere behind me. So on that day I just wanted to sit on my dad's leather couch, read that day's assignment from Jane Eyre, and get home and eat junk food or something.
My dad said, 'Did you want to meet George Takai?'
'Sure,' I said. I had no idea who he was. Takai had the look of a guy who'd met thousands of overeager teenagers, the look of a seasoned politician who knows how to act really gosh-darned-pleased to meet you! and immediately get on to other things. He shook my hand. I remember his palms feeling warm and dry.
'This is George Takai,' my dad said. 'He was on Star Trek.' Takai did his politician smile.
'Okay,' I said. I probably glanced over at my backpack. His smile got slightly wider, quietly, and his eyes lit up. I started leafing through my organizer, and I don't think Takai stopped smiling the rest of the time I was there.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:24 AM on November 3, 2010 [31 favorites]
I just realized why I like Ted Wassanasong so much.
posted by theredpen at 9:34 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by theredpen at 9:34 AM on November 3, 2010
A perfect example of an important message getting derailed by it's own content.
posted by quadog at 9:36 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by quadog at 9:36 AM on November 3, 2010
Worse yet, Clint McCance drinks shitty beer.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:41 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:41 AM on November 3, 2010
I love George Takei. Love. Him.
I'm not thrilled with the NO U argument, but I'll just assume he's dumbing it down for Douchebag McCance's benefit.
Have I mentioned I love Mr. Takei?
posted by Space Kitty at 9:45 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm not thrilled with the NO U argument, but I'll just assume he's dumbing it down for Douchebag McCance's benefit.
Have I mentioned I love Mr. Takei?
posted by Space Kitty at 9:45 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Too bad empowering awareness music and good listening music are so often mutually exclusive. When that cheesy piano started playing in the background I thought for sure it had to be part of the joke.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 9:47 AM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 9:47 AM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
Hippybear, I made you something.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:48 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by louche mustachio at 9:48 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Huh. I never thought I'd hear someone say douchebag so sexily.
posted by the bricabrac man at 9:52 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by the bricabrac man at 9:52 AM on November 3, 2010
I'm not thrilled with the NO U argument
Me either. Unless, of course, Takei has information we don't have (yet). Were that to be the case, the countdown clock idea would be hilarious.
posted by chavenet at 9:55 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Me either. Unless, of course, Takei has information we don't have (yet). Were that to be the case, the countdown clock idea would be hilarious.
posted by chavenet at 9:55 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Don't like the rentboy crack, everything else was great. George Takei for mayor of my heart.
posted by boo_radley at 9:55 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by boo_radley at 9:55 AM on November 3, 2010
I cannot disagree with George Takei's analysis of this matter.
posted by dudekiller at 10:04 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dudekiller at 10:04 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I wasn't thrilled by the 'NO U' bit at first, but -- I have total faith in George's gaydar. I mean, how could you not?
Also, the wink. Being winked at by George Takei makes everything better.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:16 AM on November 3, 2010
Also, the wink. Being winked at by George Takei makes everything better.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:16 AM on November 3, 2010
I am thrilled by the NO U part. Dude's too het up. Read "Gay Truckers in Denial." It's all in there.
posted by Trochanter at 10:18 AM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Trochanter at 10:18 AM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
I would like to hit Clint McCance in the face with a brick. Or a 40-inch section of pipe.
I do not understand how it is possible for people to exist with such a disregard for the obvious humanity of their fellow beings. I'm a fairly chill person, but comments like the ones he made really just make my blood boil, and I vividly imagine just being able to beat the shit out of people who make these hateful, terrible comments.
I know that's not the answer and that education, lobbying and the passage of time will eventually make gay rights a reality, and I take a lot of solace in that, but these incidents of hatred still seem to awake something really scary inside me.
And I'm a straight guy. I can't imagine how it makes gay people feel. My heart goes out to you.
posted by Aizkolari at 10:24 AM on November 3, 2010 [9 favorites]
I do not understand how it is possible for people to exist with such a disregard for the obvious humanity of their fellow beings. I'm a fairly chill person, but comments like the ones he made really just make my blood boil, and I vividly imagine just being able to beat the shit out of people who make these hateful, terrible comments.
I know that's not the answer and that education, lobbying and the passage of time will eventually make gay rights a reality, and I take a lot of solace in that, but these incidents of hatred still seem to awake something really scary inside me.
And I'm a straight guy. I can't imagine how it makes gay people feel. My heart goes out to you.
posted by Aizkolari at 10:24 AM on November 3, 2010 [9 favorites]
I would like to hit Clint McCance in the face with a brick. Or a 40-inch section of pipe.
I do not understand how it is possible for people to exist with such a disregard for the obvious humanity of their fellow beings.
Hmmmmmmmm...me thinks you just cleared up your own confusion.
posted by spicynuts at 10:35 AM on November 3, 2010 [5 favorites]
I do not understand how it is possible for people to exist with such a disregard for the obvious humanity of their fellow beings.
Hmmmmmmmm...me thinks you just cleared up your own confusion.
posted by spicynuts at 10:35 AM on November 3, 2010 [5 favorites]
Takei is a nice guy. My husband corresponded with him by email re the Japanese internment camps (hubby likes history) a few years ago.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 10:36 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 10:36 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I have mixed feelings about the 'NO U" thing. On the one hand, yeah kind of brings the message down to a level I'm not comfortable with. On the other hand, how many times have we seen personally and otherwise people who are vehemently anti-gay turn out to be protesting too much and gay themselves? A LOT OF TIMES.
But back to the first hand again, there were probably better ways to express that point, but look at that other hand again, it's George Takei being quintessentially George Takei and I love, love, love him.
posted by Kimberly at 10:41 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
But back to the first hand again, there were probably better ways to express that point, but look at that other hand again, it's George Takei being quintessentially George Takei and I love, love, love him.
posted by Kimberly at 10:41 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I read the comments here first and thought the NO U component would be a lot worse.
But he didn't just say "Ha ha I bet you're gay too," I thought it was a pretty specific reference to the past few years' raft of virulently anti-gay rightwing politicians and clergy who turned out to be not just gay, but really crazily inept about it (e.g. "I hired this gay escort not to hump his brains out, but to carry my luggage"). And they're never just caught with a guy in an Olive Garden or whatever! They're toe-tapping in airport bathrooms or snorting meth off some guy's ass or whacking it with a teenager over AIM right before voting on a war funding bill. Thus the 'South American breadboy' comment.
Anyhow, this McCance guy is a real scumbag and a sad reminder that the so-called thought process for a lot of people (no matter what they publicly claim) on LGBT issues boils down to "we just really hate gays".
posted by r_nebblesworthII at 10:48 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
But he didn't just say "Ha ha I bet you're gay too," I thought it was a pretty specific reference to the past few years' raft of virulently anti-gay rightwing politicians and clergy who turned out to be not just gay, but really crazily inept about it (e.g. "I hired this gay escort not to hump his brains out, but to carry my luggage"). And they're never just caught with a guy in an Olive Garden or whatever! They're toe-tapping in airport bathrooms or snorting meth off some guy's ass or whacking it with a teenager over AIM right before voting on a war funding bill. Thus the 'South American breadboy' comment.
Anyhow, this McCance guy is a real scumbag and a sad reminder that the so-called thought process for a lot of people (no matter what they publicly claim) on LGBT issues boils down to "we just really hate gays".
posted by r_nebblesworthII at 10:48 AM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
To be clear, I am freaked out by my own visceral reactions to this kind of shit, would never actually hurt someone in this way, and do not promote violence as a way to solve this kind of problem.
posted by Aizkolari at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by Aizkolari at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2010
Well, that settles that question.
posted by 256 at 4:57 PM on November 3
Oh, if only. If only.
posted by Decani at 10:58 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by 256 at 4:57 PM on November 3
Oh, if only. If only.
posted by Decani at 10:58 AM on November 3, 2010
r_nebblesworthII: "'South American breadboy'"
"South American Rentboy". Although I am intrigued by the idea of a life partner whose chief asset is making delicious frybreads.
posted by boo_radley at 11:01 AM on November 3, 2010 [12 favorites]
"South American Rentboy". Although I am intrigued by the idea of a life partner whose chief asset is making delicious frybreads.
posted by boo_radley at 11:01 AM on November 3, 2010 [12 favorites]
I was wondering if that's how 'taters' got started.
posted by Space Kitty at 11:02 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by Space Kitty at 11:02 AM on November 3, 2010
When you're as old as Takei and have seen so many haters get caught with their own hands in the (gay) cookies, it must be hard to resist pointing it out.
posted by hermitosis at 11:06 AM on November 3, 2010 [15 favorites]
posted by hermitosis at 11:06 AM on November 3, 2010 [15 favorites]
Anybody from that metatalk thread the other day care to reconsider their position yet?
posted by Aquaman at 11:17 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by Aquaman at 11:17 AM on November 3, 2010
As someone who spent four years in an all-male Catholic high school where douchebag was the goto insult, I approve of this message.
posted by tommasz at 11:30 AM on November 3, 2010
posted by tommasz at 11:30 AM on November 3, 2010
> I'm not thrilled with the NO U argument
Rationally, it's an unpleasant and seemingly self-defeating argument.
But politics is not rational.
On the level of politics, it's a great argument.
posted by darth_tedious at 11:48 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Rationally, it's an unpleasant and seemingly self-defeating argument.
But politics is not rational.
On the level of politics, it's a great argument.
posted by darth_tedious at 11:48 AM on November 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I pretty much love this - except for the "you must be gay too"-type smear, which is stupid and divisive.
I'm not sure that calling someone gay is a "smear", although implying that they bang rentboys probably is.
posted by atrazine at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2010
I'm not sure that calling someone gay is a "smear", although implying that they bang rentboys probably is.
posted by atrazine at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2010
The "you must be gay, too" part is distasteful and ruins the entire piece.
I disagree, ColdChef, & I agree with hermitosis.
McCance appears to be under 40 years old. Opposition to gay existence-- not just gay equality, but gay existence-- is a wildly atypical view. Who on earth that age wanders around thinking about gay stuff that often?
A: Gay people, and the closeted gay people who hate them(selves).
It's not a 100% thing, but given the onslaught of antigay crusaders who turned out to be crusading against their own inclinations-- Haggard, Long, that Floridian with the rentboy, Craig, etc. etc.-- it's not just an out-of-nowhere insult.
posted by ibmcginty at 12:19 PM on November 3, 2010
I disagree, ColdChef, & I agree with hermitosis.
McCance appears to be under 40 years old. Opposition to gay existence-- not just gay equality, but gay existence-- is a wildly atypical view. Who on earth that age wanders around thinking about gay stuff that often?
A: Gay people, and the closeted gay people who hate them(selves).
It's not a 100% thing, but given the onslaught of antigay crusaders who turned out to be crusading against their own inclinations-- Haggard, Long, that Floridian with the rentboy, Craig, etc. etc.-- it's not just an out-of-nowhere insult.
posted by ibmcginty at 12:19 PM on November 3, 2010
As someone who has spent all my life with one of the mysterious ladybits which inspired the word "douchebag" as a goto insult, I approve of this message.
posted by Dr. Zira at 12:28 PM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 12:28 PM on November 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
This pigfucking redneck douchebag and his smarmy mealy mouthed "I'm sorry I got caught" apology can fuck right off.
He's the reason I have to be more than circumspect when talking about my son and his BF's antics when in public. He's the reason my son had to meticulously set the privacy settings of his prom pictures on Facebook. He's the reason I stay up fretting when my son is out on a date.
This "Freedom Loving Christian" grognard is exceedingly fortunate that he lives far and away from where I do.
He'll probably be a guest star on Sarah Palin's new show, though. And he has shitty taste in beer, too.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:29 PM on November 3, 2010 [6 favorites]
For the record, assuming that he will eventually be caught with a "rentboy" is not meant in any way as an insult, because there is nothing negative about being gay. It is meant as a prediction that "the lady doth protest too much, methinks," delivered in a humorous way.
posted by MatthewTie at 12:30 PM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by MatthewTie at 12:30 PM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I actually object a little bit to the douchebag comment, since that's a highly insulting comparison to a useful medical device.
But as for the countdown clock, the ingeniousness of the insult is that it's only an insult if one is homophobic. Otherwise, it's a "Well, that's a bit far to go to get laid, guy" comment. But McCance is going to be considering it a mortal insult...at least he gets caught with his hand down some guy's pants.
posted by happyroach at 12:34 PM on November 3, 2010
But as for the countdown clock, the ingeniousness of the insult is that it's only an insult if one is homophobic. Otherwise, it's a "Well, that's a bit far to go to get laid, guy" comment. But McCance is going to be considering it a mortal insult...at least he gets caught with his hand down some guy's pants.
posted by happyroach at 12:34 PM on November 3, 2010
I actually object a little bit to the douchebag comment, since that's a highly insulting comparison to a useful medical device.
Ok, who gets to break the news to him on this one? Can I??
posted by hermitosis at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2010 [9 favorites]
Ok, who gets to break the news to him on this one? Can I??
posted by hermitosis at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2010 [9 favorites]
Gotta love Takei, I didn't have much of an opinion of the No U bit other than the fact that it made be chuckle a little darkly (as a straight guy, I'd feel really uncomfortable leveling such an accusation, but seeing someone as fabulous as Takei throw the jab, I get a bit of something like schadenfreude.)
But I hated... hated the piano. Maybe it was just because I watched it on my phone, and it was fine for everyone else, but what I saw/ heard was a score that completely drowned out the speaker.
Completely, as in I didn't understand some of the last words he said.
And that's just a stupid thing to have happen.
posted by quin at 1:12 PM on November 3, 2010
But I hated... hated the piano. Maybe it was just because I watched it on my phone, and it was fine for everyone else, but what I saw/ heard was a score that completely drowned out the speaker.
Completely, as in I didn't understand some of the last words he said.
And that's just a stupid thing to have happen.
posted by quin at 1:12 PM on November 3, 2010
Pogo_Fuzzybutt won the thread with "grognard." We can call stop now.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 3:27 PM on November 3, 2010
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 3:27 PM on November 3, 2010
I thought the rentboy comment was offensive to rentboys.
Even they draw the line somewhere.
(In reality, they would probably refuse him as a client for their own safety.)
posted by louche mustachio at 4:08 PM on November 3, 2010
Even they draw the line somewhere.
(In reality, they would probably refuse him as a client for their own safety.)
posted by louche mustachio at 4:08 PM on November 3, 2010
One of the recent YouTube comments I saw asserts that George Takei is "like an Asian Old Spice Guy." Yes.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:27 PM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:27 PM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I think he meant to say asshole. The situation, Fred Durst and other over inflated people are douchebags. Wanting people to kill themselves because you don't agree with who they are is just straight up ASSHOLE.
posted by djduckie at 5:24 PM on November 3, 2010
posted by djduckie at 5:24 PM on November 3, 2010
hippybear, louche mustachio: I had a similar idea. The audio was just too choice not to play with. I cleaned it up a bit and posted three different edits, choose your favorite!
posted by djwudi at 5:55 PM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by djwudi at 5:55 PM on November 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
Whenever I see a video that begins with "I'm George Takei" I just know something funny is on the way.
Although I wish he'd simply stopped at "You are a douchebag."
posted by bwg at 6:14 PM on November 3, 2010
Although I wish he'd simply stopped at "You are a douchebag."
posted by bwg at 6:14 PM on November 3, 2010
I am thrilled by the NO U part. Dude's too het up. Read "Gay Truckers in Denial." It's all in there.
It's actually Trucker Fags in Denial.
posted by Tube at 8:35 PM on November 3, 2010
It's actually Trucker Fags in Denial.
posted by Tube at 8:35 PM on November 3, 2010
And they're never just caught with a guy in an Olive Garden or whatever!
When I become an old rich lady after winning the lottery (it surely must happen some day!) I am going to make a point of only taking my lovely young graduate student gigolos out to the Olive Garden.
'Bellissima!' they will cry. (My gigolos will all be Italian graduate student gigolos) 'Why do you torture us with such hideous food!'
'Because, my pet,' I will say, patting their lovely hand with one of my aged, liver-be-spotted claws, 'I cannot risk the scandal of being seen to behave like a Republican in my immorality.'
They will inevitably leave me shortly after the second or third trip to the endless soup bar or whatever godless food they serve at Olive Garden, but my moral copybook will remain unblotted.
Basically my plan is to be just like George Takei as an old lady, but without his charming fidelity to his beloved.
posted by winna at 8:35 PM on November 4, 2010
When I become an old rich lady after winning the lottery (it surely must happen some day!) I am going to make a point of only taking my lovely young graduate student gigolos out to the Olive Garden.
'Bellissima!' they will cry. (My gigolos will all be Italian graduate student gigolos) 'Why do you torture us with such hideous food!'
'Because, my pet,' I will say, patting their lovely hand with one of my aged, liver-be-spotted claws, 'I cannot risk the scandal of being seen to behave like a Republican in my immorality.'
They will inevitably leave me shortly after the second or third trip to the endless soup bar or whatever godless food they serve at Olive Garden, but my moral copybook will remain unblotted.
Basically my plan is to be just like George Takei as an old lady, but without his charming fidelity to his beloved.
posted by winna at 8:35 PM on November 4, 2010
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