# Disturbed that Duck Dynasty Phil's \*racism\* is getting overlooked **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 20, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788 "2013-12-20T02:10:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/41 "2013-12-20T19:59:03Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Or Sigma Nus (sorry, it was stuck in my head). Judging by some parties at college, Sigma Nus are pretty nasty fellas. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/42 "2013-12-20T20:28:25Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > One would assume it was worse in the South, there being more Black guys here to serve as victims. Whether hanged in Louisiana or Indiana, you’re still dead because of the color of your skin. So basically you’re saying that for any\* individual \*black, things were just as bad inside and outside of the South, because there had been hangings of blacks in both places. But you’re saying that in total, it was worse in the South, because (how bad it was for blacks, overall) = (how bad it was for any one black) x (number of blacks). You’re saying the first factor was more or less the same in both places, but the second one was very different. Am I interpreting you correctly? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/43 "2013-12-20T20:49:26Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > There was a reason why millions of blacks left the South for other parts of the country between WWI and the end of de jure segregation. Reasons like economics? That’s the reason for the vast majority of migration so why are you sure that in this case it was fear of lynchings? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/44 "2013-12-20T20:57:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > So basically you’re saying that for any\* individual \*black, things were just as bad inside and outside of the South, because there had been hangings of blacks in both places. > > But you’re saying that in total, it was worse in the South, because (how bad it was for blacks, overall) = (how bad it was for any one black) x (number of blacks). > > You’re saying the first factor was more or less the same in both places, but the second one was very different. Am I interpreting you correctly? I said > [@The Intelligent and Witty Carnivorousplant](#): > > One would assume it was worse in the South, there being more Black guys here to serve as victims. I presume you believe there are more racists in the South than the North. Perhaps that is true as well. To elaborate, I believe that \*if \*the only reason were there being more potential victims in the South, there would be more examples of racism. I recall driving through Memphis when I was a kid. Another kid was leaning out of a station wagon with New York or New Jersey plates, giving the finger to a Black woman in a maid uniform walking down the street. Why in the hell did he do that? It’s easy to hate people because one or a few of a group does something to you, or you think they are dumb or funny looking. There’s no telling why people are racist, I just think there are some everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/45 "2013-12-20T21:13:00Z")
For a man as old as he is, he seems to be amazingly ignorant of the larger world. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/46 "2013-12-20T21:18:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > For a man as old as he is, he seems to be amazingly ignorant of the larger world. He may be if he spends his time making duck calls, hunting and church going. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/47 "2013-12-20T21:23:57Z")
Nope. Not disturbed at all. This is a free country and people are allowed to have beliefs, and they are allowed to express them. I don’t have to like them, I don’t have to agree with them. Mostly I just don’t pay attention to them. Unless or until they try to impose their beliefs on me or anybody else, they are entitled to have them and it’s not my place or business to change them. It may come as a shock to some y’all but not everybody thinks way was you do, and _that’s okay_. You don’t get to tell other people what to believe, or what to say, or say there is something wrong with them because they don’t think and talk like you. Nobody is holding a gun to anybody’s head making them read with PR had to say, or saying you have to agree with what he said, or that you have to believe what he said. Nobody is making anybody watch DD. I think A&E are a bunch of pussies for suspending him. They wanted a show with rednecks, they got it and rednecks should be allowed to believe and say what they want just as any other group is. If some people happen to be offended by it, they don’t have to listen to it. Free speech applies to EVERYBODY equally, not just the people the PC crowd approves of. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/48 "2013-12-20T21:32:21Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Free speech applies to EVERYBODY equally, not just the people the PC crowd approves of. We need a “Like” button, like Facebook. All we got is this silly smilie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/49 "2013-12-20T21:46:33Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Free speech applies to EVERYBODY equally, not just the people the PC crowd approves of. Nice soundbite. But I think the issue is when “free” speech becomes hate speech. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/50 "2013-12-20T21:51:56Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Nice soundbite. But I think the issue is when “free” speech becomes hate speech. Meh, I believe “tacky” or “ugly” would be more descriptive. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/51 "2013-12-20T22:02:31Z")
Dear Bobby Jindal, others: The first amendment means that the government can’t put a muzzle on this guy. But if A&E wants to censor or censure him, that is perfectly within their rights. If a member of the public chooses to boycott the show, that is perfectly within their rights. It’s a triumph of capitalism, if anything. Thus free speech isn’t at stake here. He can say all he wants, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t consequences. He needs a new black friend to show people that he is 100% not racist. I suggest hanging out with a religious guy, and by his description of gay sex, I think I found [the perfect guy to hang with, Martin Sempa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjnrLt3VuSM)! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/52 "2013-12-20T22:09:14Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > He needs a new black friend to show people that he is 100% not racist. I suggest hanging out with a religious guy, and by his description of gay sex, I think I found [the perfect guy to hang with, Martin Sempa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjnrLt3VuSM)! 🙂 The telling point will be if he lets him use his duck call and doesn’t wipe it off. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/53 "2013-12-20T22:19:19Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Nice soundbite. But I think the issue is when “free” speech becomes hate speech. Doesn’t really matter what he says, he still has the right to say it. But as I’ve said elsewhere including on this board, the issue is Freedom of Association. A&E doesn’t have to be associated with his beliefs or opinions. Clearly there has been some friction on that end long before this happened. Now, he stated his opinions and beliefs on a completely different forum (GQ) and A&E has nothing to say about that, but they can always choose not to do business with him any further over it. That’s their choice and it has fuck all to do with “Freedom of Speech”. I’m betting it will blow over and they’ll be back on the air. Or the show will move to a different network. The property is simply too valuable to just end it at this moment because of one grossly ignorant man. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/54 "2013-12-20T22:36:40Z")
What **Sahirrnee** said. > [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Nice soundbite. But I think the issue is when “free” speech becomes hate speech. Not in the United States, anyway. Even “hate” speech is protected. Especially since 100 random people would likely give you 98 different definitions of “hate speech” (the 2 that agree would be in the “I don’t know” bucket). There are a lot of TV shows, movies, songs, etc. that I don’t agree with, don’t like, or find offensive. I don’t watch/listen to them. If enough people don’t watch/listen, they eventually go away. IOW, consequences. It seems to me that it is the very people who preach tolerance the loudest that cannot abide views different from their own. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/55 "2013-12-20T22:49:34Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > It seems to me that it is the very people who preach tolerance the loudest that cannot abide views different from their own. Is that different view “Intolerance”? Then, yeah. In fact it’s quite stupid to expect those those preach tolerance would abide people preaching different. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/56 "2013-12-20T23:09:56Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > It seems to me that it is the very people who preach tolerance the loudest that cannot abide views different from their own. I don’t have a lot of tolerance for people who insult me and lie about me, if that’s what you mean. I don’t think that’s particularly unusual, do you? ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/57 "2013-12-20T23:30:35Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > What **Sahirrnee** said. > > Not in the United States, anyway. Even “hate” speech is protected. Especially since 100 random people would likely give you 98 different definitions of “hate speech” (the 2 that agree would be in the “I don’t know” bucket). > > There are a lot of TV shows, movies, songs, etc. that I don’t agree with, don’t like, or find offensive. I don’t watch/listen to them. If enough people don’t watch/listen, they eventually go away. IOW, consequences. > > It seems to me that it is the very people who preach tolerance the loudest that cannot abide views different from their own. 1. Wanted to get it in before someone else did. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/58 "2013-12-20T23:45:19Z")
You do understand that the expression “singing the blues” isn’t literal?" What he probably meant was that he didn’t hear people complaining. I’m trying to figure out what they would have said to him if they wanted to complain. I mean, here’s this White guy out there doing the same work as they were, subject to discrimination by richer white people and probably richer Black people as well. Would they complain to him? “Man, those White people are mean to us making us do this work.” That would require some recognition that he didn’t have it much better than they did. And what could he do if they did complain? If he said he never heard the people he worked with complain is that racism? Maybe they were all a bunch of tough-spirited people who were all glad to have work and didn’t like to look like whiners in front of White people who did the same thing. I’ve done field work. Not because I had to financially but, well, because my parents said it would be good for me. No choice. We were all White kids and hopeful we wouldn’t be doing it the rest of our lives but both there and in factory jobs I’ve had I’ve noticed it’s a matter of pride that you do your job and not complain. Maybe that’s changed and that people who are doing harsh work are expected to complain. Or Black people are expected to complain in public? ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/59 "2013-12-20T23:55:50Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Is that different view “Intolerance”? Then, yeah. In fact it’s quite stupid to expect those those preach tolerance would abide people preaching different. No. It’s not the best way to go about teaching tolerance. If that is what you truly want to do and not just holler at people. You start just the same way as people who fight racism do. You try to understand from their background and experiences why they may be feeling/thinking that way because understanding is the first step to tolerating people as fellow human beings. Remember, the goal is to tolerate the person while not tolerating the idea. They are wrong and stubborn while you are correct and righteous. That’s ugly all by itself. ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788/60 "2013-12-21T00:02:45Z")
Free speech is standing on a soap box in a street corner. A&E is a business. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disturbed-that-duck-dynasty-phils-racism-is-getting-overlooked/676788.md?page=4)