# CNN reporter calls black man "boy" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252 "2008-01-20T12:22:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/22 "2008-01-20T15:49:52Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] So it’s CNN’s fault you now look foolish? [/QUOTE] So I look foolish because she doesn’t look black? The left really needs to update its manual. You guys are so hard to follow. Is it okay for her to say, “Nigga please”? ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/23 "2008-01-20T15:50:32Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] CNN failed to report her paternal racial heritage, if that somehow makes a difference to you. [/QUOTE] So you are valiantly trying to point out hypocrisy in defense of the poor put upon Golf Channel by bringing attention to the fact that a talking head on the that liberal bastion of all things left happened to say the word “boy” while talking to a person of African descent? Keep fighting the good fight Lib, this one is as “good” as all your other ones… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/24 "2008-01-20T15:55:05Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] So I look foolish because she doesn’t look black? [/QUOTE] You look foolish not because of Malveaux’s appearance, but because you were too eager to attribute to racial insensitivity what was actually just friendly banter between newscasters. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/25 "2008-01-20T15:58:50Z")
Southern boy does not equal a racial insult. Neither does _he is a big old boy_. Neither does _he is a good old boy_. Nor does _what ever happened to that old boy who used to run the Texaco down the street_? _Bring me that package, boy_ is a racial insult if it is addressed to a black person. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/26 "2008-01-20T15:59:44Z")
Just another voice to say that there is a clear distinction between “nice Southern boy” and spitefully using “BOY!” as an epthet. Nothing wrong here except perhaps a slight dig against the man’s age. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/27 "2008-01-20T16:08:20Z")
Hey **Lib** , I hear that crow doesn’t taste all that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/28 "2008-01-20T16:09:33Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] So it’s CNN’s fault you now look foolish? [/QUOTE] Obviously, nothing is ever **Liberal** ’s fault. He’s perfect, if you doubt this just ask him. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/29 "2008-01-20T16:12:53Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Obviously, nothing is ever **Liberal** ’s fault. He’s perfect, if you doubt this just ask him. [/QUOTE] I don’t believe that. He has apologized for mistakes many times. His problem is he often waits too long to put down the shovel before climbing out of the hole he dug himself into. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/30 "2008-01-20T16:13:03Z")
So if black people were offended by this and called for Malveaux’s firing, you’d be happy about it, **Liberal**? ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/31 "2008-01-20T16:14:04Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Obviously, nothing is ever **Liberal** ’s fault. He’s perfect, if you doubt this just ask him. [/QUOTE] But… but what if he’s… what if he’s WRONG? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/32 "2008-01-20T16:14:22Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/33 "2008-01-20T16:15:04Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] So if black people were offended by this and called for Malveaux’s firing, you’d be happy about it, **Liberal**? [/QUOTE] Sure he would. Now about this bridge I have for sale, do you want to pay with cash or will you be financing it? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/34 "2008-01-20T16:27:04Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] So if black people were offended by this and called for Malveaux’s firing, you’d be happy about it, **Liberal**? [/QUOTE] I’d be happy if people, especially Dopers, applied principles equitably. I honestly had no idea when I opened this thread that the CNNness of the event would trump all else. Even Jon Stewart calls CNN bullshit. I’m surprised by the reactions. But it’s not a hill I wish to die on, so I’ll just let the thread move forward with a hearty round or two of fun at my expense. It doesn’t bug me like it used to, and besides **Luc** hasn’t even had a chance to drop a great bomb yet. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/35 "2008-01-20T16:30:46Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I’d be happy if people, especially Dopers, applied principles equitably. [/QUOTE] Which principles are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/36 "2008-01-20T16:32:39Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I honestly had no idea when I opened this thread that the CNNness of the event would trump all else. [/QUOTE] It has nothing to do with CNN, and everything to do with the fact that you’re a trigger-happy loon looking for something, _anything_ to get offended by. And, by God, you’ve found something. Of course, to do it, you had to twist and distort the quote until it damn well meant what you say it did. But, you did it! Congratulations; mission accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/37 "2008-01-20T16:33:55Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I’d be happy if people, especially Dopers, applied principles equitably. [/QUOTE] What principle has been applied inequitably? You assumed that using the word “boy” in reference to a black man is always, without exception, an “egregious verbal face-slap”. You have been shown to be mistaken. The gracious thing to do would be to admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/38 "2008-01-20T16:36:03Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] The left really needs to update its manual. [/QUOTE] The hell ya say. Them Bo and Luke boys ain’t never updatin’ The General’s 4-speed Hurst Shifter. [QUOTE=Liberal] So I look foolish because she doesn’t look black? [/QUOTE] You look foolish because you go out of your way to wag your finger at people before you think things through. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: yYou should keep out of the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/39 "2008-01-20T16:40:18Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: yYou should keep out of the pit. [/QUOTE] I thought _he_ said he was going to do that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/40 "2008-01-20T16:44:51Z")
I don’t consider it offensive at all. Now if she said something like, “Now lissen here, boy!” Then I’d see a problem. If anything she was inappropriate to call him “boy” which means disrespect on an age basis. But I don’t see how it could be construed as racist. I’m white and have been called a southern boy loads of times. It’s just the most convenient term. Maybe not professional, but still… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252/41 "2008-01-20T16:44:57Z")
I love the “If this were different it wouldn’t be the same” game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-calls-black-man-boy/434252.md?page=3)