Hey! This is my first thread! But I was just wondering. As many of you hopefully know, Eminem performed at the MTV VMA awards. And the GLAAD group was fighting quite hard to get MTV to not allow him to go on stage.
YEY TO THE GLAAD FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
But the thing is… Freedom of speech. The GLAAD can say what they want, as can Eminem… plus… not wanting Eminem to perform is… censorship or something. I am not against gays. I hate bigotry and prejudice, because I’ve been faced with it all my life. I was just wondering what the Gay population here thought on the whole situation… Any eminem fans? Hell what about the str8 people. Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about, because his lyrics aren’t directed at me. But i’ve had to stand outside and watch a truck full of KKK members drive by my house, so I do know what it’s like to be offended. But i’ve kinda been like… “they won’t change and neither will I… I’m going to be the better person and forget them” And i’m only 16… I’m sure more is to come my way.
Any thoughts on the whole MTV/Eminem/GLAAD thing? Plus… the GLAAD was slamming MTV for playing him!
Jenny*
I’m not sure why GLAD hates, who is it again? Eminem? I’m assuming he insults gays in his songs.
Well, I like both men and women, and have been in sexual situations with both men and women, and have had crushes on both men and women, so that most likely makes me gay. In my relatively uninformed opinion, I would say that GLAD has the right to protest, and Eminem (whoever he is) has the right to sing whatever he wants, no matter how obnoxious. MTV probably wanted him there because he’s popular. Maybe, to make everyone happy, they could have asked him not to sing the offensive song.
I don’t know, hon. Maybe I’d have a better and more helpful post if I knew the lyrics of the song?
Well… It’s not just one song. Actually. In his first hit, he said… “if we can hump dead animals and antelopes then there’s no reason that a man and another man can’t elope” But he has said the “fag” word quite often. He says that in saying this, it’s not directed at Gay’s but wussy men. He’s a very upfront person.
Oh hell, I don’t know. So many people use the word “fag.” The other day, my cousin called Rich from Survivor “fag-boy.” I looked at him funny and he said, “Oh now, don’t get all upset. Even Rich called himself ‘fat, naked fag.’”
So, I don’t know. The word “fag” sounds derogatory. Kinda like “colored” for black people.
Could I have some help here from other gay people on the board? What do you all think? I’ve never heard the guy, Eminem, so I don’t want to take a quote out of context.
Peace,
Tracy, in other words, I’m no help and should probably shut up!
It is used by the G/L community much the same way as that OTHER word is used in the African American community. Richard can refer to himself with that word, but coming from, say, Rudy, it’s offensive.
Because Eminem has taken the word to mean “wussy man” instead of “homosexual” doesn’t make it any LESS offensive. He is then likening all homosexuals to wussy men.
See the thread in IMHO on Mr. Shady for more info.
This sounds like it’s headed for Great Debates rather rapidly.
Coupla comments: There is a great distinction between “hate speech” and advocacy, the former being incitement to aggression and the latter being outspokenness for some point of view, no matter how controversial, and hate speech being suppressible while advocacy is First Amendment protected.
Advocacy that nobody should sponsor Dr. Laura or, as a network, permit her views to be broadcast, is quite distinct from advocating the suppression of her views. By the same token, Fred Phelps has every right to express his disgusting views, and a gay movement that decided to advocate getting people together to burn down his church, no matter how much he might deserve it, is engaging in “hate speech,” advocating violence, and properly suppressed.
So to me, it would depend on whether you consider Eminem’s attitudes as expressed in his raps to be homophobic free speech or hate speech. Having been required by a teen of my acquaintance who is fond of rap to sit through Eminem’s “Criminal,” I’m inclined to go for the former; the man is quite explicitly expressing the views of the culture he grew up in (an interesting story in itself) in a medium that culture is growing to accept as one of its standard voices. Does that make his songs’ attitudes “good”? Not in my opinion. But does it make them protected? Yes.
Despite the fact that I find his work hateful and repellent.
I just want to point out that “The Real Slim Shady” (lyrics from this song provided by LilCutie) wasn’t Eminem’s first hit. It was actually “My Name Is…”. Leave it to me to nitpick.
Anyway, for more Eminem lyrics you can go to http://www.top3.net and click on LYRICS. A list of artists will appear, scroll down to find Eminem’s name. You’ll find lyrics for “The Real Slim Shady” and Eminem’s newest single “The Way I Am”. Another good site would be Kaufmich! Escort, Hobby-Huren, Domina & Bordell-Community . Hope this helps.
You know, I can’t say I don’t like Eminem, because he says alot of things in his songs that I fully understand. That’s real. I don’t like his bashing on people (CHRISTINA!)And the gay population. And I totally applaud GLAD for making a stand.
O and yea* I know that wasn’t his 1st hit. I have the 1st cd. I think I was talking about his more recent cd, which has caused EVEN more controversy. I tell ya… music is just… something else these days
Eminem is not only offensive to gays but also to women. I’m straight, but I’m also a woman, and I find him vile. The song Kim pisses me off, and MTV is totally hypocritical for constantly celebrating Eminem and making him look good while sponsoring their Stop the Violence Campaign.
Well we seem to have been spared from the Eminem phenom. here in Oz, so it’s difficult for me to truly give an opinion.
However, just going on the lyrics I’ve seen on the boards, I have to say I think I’d find him a repulsive little rat.
Question out of ignorance: Is this guy truly bigoted or is he just manipulating the media to gain attention and controversy (which of course guarantees sales among the younger demographic)?
As I said I have no idea. I don’t even know what he looks like, but his antics seem to hint at getting attention and one of the current lines of thought in marketing is “Any attention is good.”
There’s no such thing as bad publicity, and the best is free.
I think that he acts that offensive to get free publicity and to appeal to the same people who get off on hearing the “F” word over and over in comedy bits.
In the words of Yoda- “Flash in the pan he is, Yeeess.”
I’m sure more is to come my way.