# Imus: Groveling isn't pretty **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2007, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292 "2007-04-09T11:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/1 "2007-04-09T11:57:38Z")
Oh man: I jumped over to Imus’ show a couple of times this (Monday) morning on the way in to work. Portrait of a man who knows his job is on the line. He was basically trying everything and anything in the couple of minutes I listened - he apologized, discussed his knowledge of African-Americans, cited his ranch for terminally ill kids constantly, scolded himself, discussed the difference between being a bad person and being a good person who does a bad thing - everything. It was painful. I don’t really have a dog in this hunt - he says a lot of crap and I tend to just dismiss him, but saying “nappy-headed ho’s” is pretty freakin’ awful anyway you cut it… ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/2 "2007-04-09T12:31:29Z")
Somebody should have queued up Saddam Hussein singing “Baby, I Can Change!” from _South Park_. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/3 "2007-04-09T13:41:49Z")
There’s no excuse for “nappy-headed hos.” Period. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/4 "2007-04-09T13:44:45Z")
Can’t wait for his appearance with Reverend Al today- knowing he’s going to be phony contrite and will not say what he really thinks of Al and his ilk. But really, what’s the point anyway- he’s going to lie to save his ass, so whay bother with the charade. It will only be worthwhile if the two are honest are say what they really think of each other- that would be great radio. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/5 "2007-04-09T14:29:14Z")
I woke up to Imus a lot of mornings in high school, and it occurs to me that the real surprise here is that this has never happened before. He’s been doing this same kind of humor for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/6 "2007-04-09T17:56:59Z")
What was more objectionable? The producer called them “hos.” Was it the “nappy-headed” description, added by Imus, that made it worse? Is “nappy-headed” considered an objectionable decription of a black person’s hair? Yeah, I’m white. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/7 "2007-04-09T18:09:00Z")
[QUOTE=randwill] What was more objectionable? The producer called them “hos.” Was it the “nappy-headed” description, added by Imus, that made it worse? Is “nappy-headed” considered an objectionable decription of a black person’s hair? Yeah, I’m white. [/QUOTE] [This Imus pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=415426) contains a discussion on the subject of calling someone’s hair “nappy,” and the possible racist implications thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/8 "2007-04-09T18:15:05Z")
The word is objectionable, and it’s Imus’ show. And “jigaboo” is inarguably a racial slur. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/9 "2007-04-09T18:21:09Z")
I personally like Al Sharpton, but when did it become standard to have to sit down with him when you offend the black community? There are dozens of reputable black reporters who could do the interview. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/10 "2007-04-09T18:43:18Z")
Ah, the public act of contrition: It has a long [and ignoble history.](http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/apologies.html) The catholics among the Teemings can elaborate on the need to resolve to confess, do penance ('make nice with Mr Sharpton, Donnie!") and most importantly, [‘to amend (his) life’.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Contrition) Will he be now lay off blacks but pick on the gays? (Beats me, unless the CBC picks it up, I won’t be hearing it) ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/11 "2007-04-09T19:04:51Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Can’t wait for his appearance with Reverend Al today- knowing he’s going to be phony contrite and will not say what he really thinks of **Al and his ilk**. But really, what’s the point anyway- he’s going to lie to save his ass, so whay bother with the charade. It will only be worthwhile if the two are honest are say what they really think of each other- that would be great radio. [/QUOTE] If this wasn’t so utterly condescending, I’d be citing “band name” right now. Almost like I would cite “nappy-headed hos.” Except I won’t for either. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/12 "2007-04-09T19:07:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] Somebody should have queued up Saddam Hussein singing “Baby, I Can Change!” from _South Park_. [/QUOTE] Imus’s personality makes the lyrics completely apropos: “But what if you cannot change? What if you remain a sandy little butt-hole?” ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/13 "2007-04-09T19:20:48Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] If this wasn’t so utterly condescending, I’d be citing “band name” right now. Almost like I would cite “nappy-headed hos.” Except I won’t for either. [/QUOTE] I was speaking in character as the “I-man”. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/14 "2007-04-09T19:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I was speaking in character as the “I-man”. [/QUOTE] Uhm, ahhh, . . . good answer? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/15 "2007-04-09T20:42:18Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] Uhm, ahhh, . . . good answer? [/QUOTE] seriously, though, I see your point and can see where what I wrote could be taken the wrong way, I did not mean that I feel that way, I meant he feels that way. Mea Culpa. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/16 "2007-04-09T20:58:32Z")
It amazes me that every time these incidences happen and the celebrity does the same thing and goes on Sharpton’s and Jackson’s radio shows as if they are the ones with whom they should be talking. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/17 "2007-04-09T21:15:05Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] seriously, though, I see your point and can see where what I wrote could be taken the wrong way, I did not mean that I feel that way, I meant he feels that way. Mea Culpa. [/QUOTE] Thanks for the acknowledgement. It takes a big man to do this. The tone of my last answer was then definitely in error. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/18 "2007-04-09T21:19:51Z")
[QUOTE=pool] It amazes me that every time these incidences happen and the celebrity does the same thing and goes on Sharpton’s and Jackson’s radio shows as if they are the ones with whom they should be talking. [/QUOTE] I have often wondered how black people feel about this. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/19 "2007-04-09T21:31:26Z")
It was insulting and inexcusable. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292/20 "2007-04-09T21:33:28Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I have often wondered how black people feel about this. [/QUOTE] Yep - there’s the whole “well, you’ve said a racial slur against African-Americans - who do you apologize to?” requirement - it’s, like, Spin Control 101 when the crisis hits or something… Like somehow all people of one race can be apologized to through a spokesman or surrogate. “Why sure - all X people like that guy/girl - let’s apologize to them!” It just worsens the damage - now, not only did Imus say something stupid, but IMHO he comes across like he thinks all blacks are alike - or, at least, like he is going through the motions for a Dutiful Apology™, not a real one… This, like most of these types of scandals and attempts at recovery, reek of TRYING to do the right thing - not actually doing the right thing. But then again, the right thing would’ve been not saying stupid stuff like that in the first place - or, the minute it escaped your mouth, stopping and saying “whoa - that was wrong; I gotta back up and apologize for that.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imus-groveling-isnt-pretty/399292.md?page=2)