# Hey, Melissa Harris-Parry - you're wrong, you're stupid, you're ugly (on the inside). **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607 "2014-01-01T01:18:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/81 "2014-01-02T03:48:47Z")
Can I be the king of the idiots? ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/82 "2014-01-02T04:29:24Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > What bothers me is the mean spirit behind the jeering. Look, I completely agree that what she did wasn’t the smartest thing ever, but if you’re going to call someone mean spirited, don’t use Caleb Howe to help make your point. Pit that asshole instead as he’s far more deserving of it. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/83 "2014-01-02T14:07:08Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > It’s funny because - wait for it - frank racism is okay when you’re Progressives, especially, black Progressives! This is the only problem I have with your post - you imply that all “progressives” think that way. Please just restrict your criticism to the person who actually said it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/84 "2014-01-02T14:49:40Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Yes, very poor judgment was exhibited. And yes, race was at the heart of the issue. But please, that doesn’t mean that the dial automatically jumps to eleven. **I think it was dumb and tasteless to use the picture for a “write the funny caption” bit.** It was bound to backfire. And MHP’s laughing was inappropriate. But she realized her error and apologized in a straightforward manner. I carom-pit those calling for her head. > > And I double-pit you for making me agree with the likes of jayjay, Hentor and SnoBoarder. This is not the way I hope to start the year! Damn you all! And I agree with them and you too, especially the bolded bit. There’s nothing inherently funny about that picture, which is a rather nice family photo. Strange bedfellows indeed. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/85 "2014-01-02T15:05:33Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Surely he means that white people never had to deal with oppression _because of their race_. Sure, but why does that matter? Oppression is oppression. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/86 "2014-01-02T15:07:20Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Thank You. > > Also, let’s not kid ourselves. A black lady poking fun about a black baby in a rich white family is nowhere near the same thing as a white man poking fun about black anything. > > I know that may offend some people’s sensibilities but that’s the way it is. Last time I checked, white people never had to deal with oppression or stupid shit like Jim Crow laws, or the current ration of shit lower income minorities have to put up with. Why’s that matter though? Is something perfectly acceptable just because it’s not as bad as something else? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/87 "2014-01-02T16:19:22Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > The hypocracy on this board is rather amazing, and quite sad. [quote=“Little\_Nemo, post:40, topic:677607”] But there’s a difference. If Rush Limbaugh made fun of a black child, he’d be doing it as part of the general anti-black attitude of the modern conservative movement. If Melissa Harris-Perry made fun of a black child, she was only speaking for herselfQUOTE] Yes, you see if a conservative person says something negative then obviously they are speaking for all conservatives in the country because that is obviously what all conservatives think. If a liberal person says something negative then they are only speaking for themselves. > [@Frostillicus](#): > > Its nice to finally see Republicans getting outraged over perceived instances of racism. Now please stop forwarding photos of Obama with a bone in his nose, ok? > [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > This is the only problem I have with your post - you imply that all “progressives” think that way. Please just restrict your criticism to the person who actually said it. You call out **Belowjob2.0** for painting all progressives with a broad brush but you don’t call out **Frostillicus** for doing the same with republicans. Just another couple of data points of the hypocracy of this board. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/88 "2014-01-02T16:40:08Z")
Why is it that no one seems to be able to spell “hypocrisy” anymore? It’s a freaking epidemic around here. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/89 "2014-01-02T16:42:49Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Why’s that matter though? Is something perfectly acceptable just because it’s not as bad as something else? I don’t think it’s perfectly acceptable. I’m just saying firing her is a little bit of an overkill. Also, condemning her over this one incident with out even taking into consideration of the exemplary life she’s led thus far is stupid. Gee, I wonder if the people calling her out judge themselves by the same impossible high standards they judge MHP? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/90 "2014-01-02T17:39:36Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I don’t think it’s perfectly acceptable. I’m just saying firing her is a little bit of an overkill. Also, condemning her over this one incident with out even taking into consideration of the exemplary life she’s led thus far is stupid. Okay, thanks for clarifying. But that’s still got nothing to do with comparing white and black peoples’ experiences, does it? Why is racism worse if a white person does it? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/91 "2014-01-02T17:41:38Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > You call out **Belowjob2.0** for painting all progressives with a broad brush but you don’t call out **Frostillicus** for doing the same with republicans. > > Just another couple of data points of the hypocracy of this board. Um, or maybe I just didn’t see Frostillicus’ post. But thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/92 "2014-01-02T17:50:08Z")
Look, if you think there’s nothing funny about one black kid in the middle of a giant lily-white family, you’re just wrong. Is it mean to think so? Sure. Things can be both mean and funny. The trick is that the joke has to be a whole lot of funny and a little bit of mean. The most important thing is that you can’t go for the easy joke. The thing that you’re being mean about can’t be the joke in and of itself. Good comedians and comedy writers could find tons of comedic potential in this picture. A bunch of pundits spontaneously riffing were going to go for the easy joke, and there was no way it wasn’t going to end up being more mean than funny. So that’s why MHP shouldn’t have used that picture in that setting. She doesn’t understand how comedy works. This might be one of the reasons I don’t care all that much for her show–it’s great when it’s just her talking with the pundits, but when she tries to be funny or “cool” it’s often fairly cringeworthy. Still, she has plenty of good will built up, and her apology was immediate and appeared heartfelt, so I think calls for her to be fired are a bit silly. I would, if I were her, find the funniest person on her staff (or hire one if there isn’t anybody) and run all attempts at humor by that person before they happen. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/93 "2014-01-02T17:52:05Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Look, if you think there’s nothing funny about one black kid in the middle of a giant lily-white family, you’re just wrong. Is it mean to think so? Sure. Things can be both mean and funny. If it’s comedy, it’s fair game. Racist political commentary is not. The problem is that the two are often hard to discern from each other these days. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/94 "2014-01-02T18:03:31Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Okay, thanks for clarifying. But that’s still got nothing to do with comparing white and black peoples’ experiences, does it? Why is racism worse if a white person does it? Eh, it’s just my opinion. As I mentioned earlier, things like slavery and Jim Crow laws were things that actually happened. (By the hands of white men) Also, I could call a black person a n-word, and that could cause very real offense. A black person could call me a cracker, honky or whatever, the only reaction you’re going to get from me is a chuckle. And I’m sure that’s true for most white people. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/95 "2014-01-02T18:08:31Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Eh, it’s just my opinion. As I mentioned earlier, things like slavery and Jim Crow laws were things that actually happened. (By the hands of white men) I ask again - why does that matter here? > [@](#): > > Also, I could call a black person a n-word, and that could cause very real offense. A black person could call me a cracker, honky or whatever, the only reaction you’re going to get from me is a chuckle. And I’m sure that’s true for most white people. So? SHOULD they do more than chuckle? I think so. You’re just offering a circular argument here. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/96 "2014-01-02T18:21:15Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I ask again - why does that matter here? > > . Because we don’t exist in a vacuum, you have to back the camera lens up and look at the big picture. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/97 "2014-01-02T18:41:37Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Because we don’t exist in a vacuum, you have to back the camera lens up and look at the big picture. That’s still not an answer. You’re just restating your claim, again. What is the “big picture,” and why does it matter in this case? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/98 "2014-01-02T18:43:43Z")
Its a stupid mistake but she wasn’t personally offensive as much as her panel. It was her mistake to select the picture to be mocked, however, but given her work in fighting inequality, this is a small blip on her otherwise diverse career. Let’s not pretend this was the latest in a long line of racially questionable tactics. Plus, her apology was actually a good apology. I think she should be disciplined, but just a small suspension and nothing more, and I doubt she’ll ever make this mistake again. Now I’m gonna get out of this topic before I agree any more with certain people ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/99 "2014-01-02T18:45:05Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It’s also worth commenting on the fact that the Romneys named the baby using the Gaelic word for black (Kieran), according to the article. That seems like a questionable choice, given the circumstances. If true, that would be a \. But it’s false. So it’s a toss-up between :facepalm: and LMAO. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607/100 "2014-01-02T18:55:02Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > That’s still not an answer. You’re just restating your claim, again. > > What is the “big picture,” and why does it matter in this case? I’ve laid it out in very plain simple terms. If you can’t understand that, I don’t know what else to tell you. I’ve told you repeatedly why it matters, yet you keep asking the question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-melissa-harris-parry-youre-wrong-youre-stupid-youre-ugly-on-the-inside/677607.md?page=6)