# Gary Oldman defends Mel Gibson, Alec Baldwin **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568 "2014-06-24T23:14:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/41 "2014-06-25T18:19:16Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Likely just a coincidence, but guess who did sound mixing for Oldman’s last few movies. > > I wish. 😃 The Klan? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/42 "2014-06-25T18:41:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Likely just a coincidence, but guess who did sound mixing for Oldman’s last few movies. > > I wish. 😃 It was Hitler, wasn’t it? I wonder if he was bothered by the fact that his “DJ” act could be mistaken as a reference to Der Juden. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/43 "2014-06-25T20:04:41Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > It was Hitler, wasn’t it? I wonder if he was bothered by the fact that his “DJ” act could be mistaken as a reference to Der Juden. Actually, I believe that’s what he was going for. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/44 "2014-06-25T20:23:59Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m a huge fan of Oldman’s work, but I have to say, I’m not crazy about this “Gary Oldman” character he’s playing. Heh. If only it were true. I heard years ago that Oldman was a fairly rabid right-winger, so this latest incident didn’t come as much of a surprise. Though it would be wrong and inaccurate to assume that every self-identified right-wing person is a bigot, there does seem to be a certain amount of xenophobia and general “us versus Them” thinking associated with that set of political views. > [@Raygun99](#): > > It seems like a lot of bigoted people think that everyone thinks like them, and we’re just holding it in somehow. I guess it needs to be said every time, but: No, no. It really never does occur to most people to use ethnic and or sexual slurs. It’s just not a part of our vocabulary. > [@Kolga](#): > > This. There’s a message in that meltdown that all of us, every one, use racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, or misogynistic language all the time, and that the hypocrisy is that we freak out when someone does it in public and gets caught. Um, NO. These remarks can’t be quoted enough. So, so true. ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/45 "2014-06-25T20:40:46Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I see a big difference between Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin though. I’ve never seen anything that implies Alec is actually homophobic, just bad tempered. But Mel appears to be truly anti-semitic and chauvinistic. What makes someone homophobic? Because I myself don’t think that Alec Baldwin is against gay rights, but wouldn’t prejudice towards gay people be considered homophobic? People use “fag/faggot” and “cocksucker” to demean heterosexuals, because to to the person throwing out the words, the worst thing you could be was gay. If there was a celebrity who supported equal rights and was publicly against racial discrimination yelled to a paparazzi, “You’re acting like a n-----!” Would people say he wasn’t actually racist? ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/46 "2014-06-25T20:58:36Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > “Well, if I called Nancy Pelosi a c\*\*\* — and I’ll go one better, a f\*\*\*\*\*\* useless c\*\*\* — I can’t really say that. But Bill Maher and Jon Stewart can, and nobody’s going to stop them from working because of it. Bill Maher could call someone a fag and get away with it. He said to Seth MacFarlane this year, ‘I thought you were going to do the Oscars again. Instead they got a lesbian.’ He can say something like that. Is that more or less offensive than Alec Baldwin saying to someone in the street, ‘You fag’? I don’t get it.” I kind of see where he’s coming from but his thinking on the issue is pretty black and white. Alec Baldwin had a show on a liberal/progressive news channel. I can see why MSNBC felt the need to let him go when he’s caught on video disparaging a minority group that is part of their demographic. Bill Maher has a show on HBO without sponsors, and there’s no particular political audience that HBO is going after. I do think that in the political sphere or talk show circuit, that there is a double standard for Maher, but the same thing goes for people on the right like Limbaugh or Palin, for example calling someone “retarded” or saying that the United States “baptizes terrorists” with water boarding. > [@Raygun99](#): > > It seems like a lot of bigoted people think that everyone thinks like them, and we’re just holding it in somehow. I guess it needs to be said every time, but: No, no. It really never does occur to most people to use ethnic and or sexual slurs. It’s just not a part of our vocabulary. I think most people have prejudices. It’s just that racial prejudices are becoming less and less because of the progress we’ve made in society but other prejudices and bigotry are still pretty common. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/47 "2014-06-25T21:39:28Z")
Offensensensitvity. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/48 "2014-06-25T21:46:48Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Offensensensitvity. That was my favorite Jane Austen book. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/49 "2014-06-25T21:48:23Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Offensensensitvity. You don’t have to be all that sensitive to object to a guy making a series of gross comments in defense of other people who’ve made the same kinds of comments. And Oldman was being interviewed and was neither drunk nor provoked, at least as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/50 "2014-06-25T21:52:52Z")
_The Fifth Element_ sucked. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/51 "2014-06-25T22:05:33Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You don’t have to be all that sensitive to object to a guy making a series of gross comments in defense of other people who’ve made the same kinds of comments. And Oldman was being interviewed and was neither drunk nor provoked, at least as far as I know. I’ve unsubscribed from GroupThink and RightThink ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/52 "2014-06-25T22:08:21Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I’ve unsubscribed from GroupThink and RightThink What think do you do? It’s nothing personal, but I’m unimpressed by people who claim to have won the internet by not being offended by something. Congrats, dude- we plebes all in awe of your amazing display of not having an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/53 "2014-06-25T22:38:07Z")
Sounds like Gary Oldman has become Gary Old Man. He probably just wants everyone to get off his lawn. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/54 "2014-06-25T22:50:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What think do you do? It’s nothing personal, but I’m unimpressed by people who claim to have won the internet by not being offended by something. Congrats, dude- we plebes all in awe of your amazing display of not having an opinion. And I’m totally unimpressed by all the righteous outrage. Alec Baldwin can call me a fag to my face, and I’d be unoffended and unimpressed. My sense of self-worth doesn’t hinge on other people’s words. But, y’know, whatever floats your boat. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/55 "2014-06-25T23:39:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Likely just a coincidence, but guess who did sound mixing for Oldman’s last few movies. > > I wish. 😃 You never disappoint. Wish I could say the same about others in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/56 "2014-06-26T00:12:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Raygun99** : > > It seems like a lot of bigoted people think that everyone thinks like them, and we’re just holding it in somehow. I guess it needs to be said every time, but: No, no. It really never does occur to most people to use ethnic and or sexual slurs. It’s just not a part of our vocabulary. It’s like the preachers who rail against the insidious temptation of gay sex. No, really, we aren’t all tempted that way. If Satan wanted to tempt me with sex, he’d send a woman. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/57 "2014-06-26T00:18:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What think do you do? It’s nothing personal, but I’m unimpressed by people who claim to have won the internet by not being offended by something. Congrats, dude- we plebes all in awe of your amazing display of not having an opinion. I, for one, am impressed at how you managed to get your knickers twisted at least a full turn more than I would have said possible. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/58 "2014-06-26T01:25:39Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > And I’m totally unimpressed by all the righteous outrage. > > Alec Baldwin can call me a fag to my face, and I’d be unoffended and unimpressed. > > My sense of self-worth doesn’t hinge on other people’s words. > > But, y’know, whatever floats your boat. Are you gay? Because saying you’re not offended when somebody insults a group you don’t belong to is more a lack of empathy than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/59 "2014-06-26T01:51:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Are you gay? Because saying you’re not offended when somebody insults a group you don’t belong to is more a lack of empathy than anything else. \< sweetly \> Of course he is. Why else would he bring it up? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568/60 "2014-06-26T03:43:34Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > And I’m totally unimpressed by all the righteous outrage. > > Alec Baldwin can call me a fag to my face, and I’d be unoffended and unimpressed. > > My sense of self-worth doesn’t hinge on other people’s words. > > But, y’know, whatever floats your boat. Who’s bringing self-worth into it? The guy said some shitty things and people are calling him on it. Why is that a problem? > [@Scumpup](#): > > I, for one, am impressed at how you managed to get your knickers twisted at least a full turn more than I would have said possible. See, this is another example. I didn’t express any outrage. I identified a silly phenomenon and a lazy rhetorical trick. You then did the same thing: you’re BETTER because you’re NOT OUTRAGED. Congrats? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gary-oldman-defends-mel-gibson-alec-baldwin/691568.md?page=4)