# Paula Deen **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 27, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049 "2013-06-27T17:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/81 "2013-06-28T20:56:23Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Well, I’m feeling okay about how I’m judging you right now. That’s fine. Atleast you are probably going on more information when doing so. If Paula Deen’s restaurant was found to be a hostile place to work where there is sexual and racial discrimination, then as an owner and the financial backer then Paula will rightfully pay. People that have READ the transcript of the testimony will not see her as a racist. You guys are judging bad, incomplete information and you would be pretty disappointed if it was done to you and cost you your livelihood. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/82 "2013-06-28T21:01:43Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > For whom? > > And what exactly constitutes “persecution” in your world? If I say that it’s unacceptable to me to hold certain beliefs and say certain things, did I just persecute someone? If I call someone a racist, did I just persecute them? Do I have to make sure there are never economic repercussions to anything anyone says, lest I be persecuting them, or do there have to be lions involved? I’m sorry… I thought Paula Deen was being sued and that the media was having a field day painting her a racist, that’s why I said persecute… Silly me. Definition of persecute: 1: to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief 2: to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities) : pester You don’t even know her beliefs. You know she said something in a moment of anger. Ever called someone a name when you were mad? In your home? When you were venting about a bad situation? You know of a situation she admitted to. You don’t know her beliefs. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/83 "2013-06-28T21:09:31Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > I’m sorry… I thought Paula Deen was being sued and that the media was having a field day painting her a racist, that’s why I said persecute… Silly me. Well, yes. Silly you. Because being called a racist when you cop to saying or doing racist things or thinking racist thoughts isn’t persecution. I know that it’s fun to act like it is, but it really isn’t. This whole idea that everyone uses words like “nigger” is like the homophobic preachers who think everyone wants to have gay sex. Just because you do it doesn’t mean everyone does it. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/84 "2013-06-28T21:31:36Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Well, yes. Silly you. > > Because being called a racist when you cop to saying or doing racist things or thinking racist thoughts isn’t persecution. > > I know that it’s fun to act like it is, but it really isn’t. > > This whole idea that everyone uses words like “nigger” is like the homophobic preachers who think everyone wants to have gay sex. Just because you do it doesn’t mean everyone does it. She said a racist thing 30 years ago in a heated moment. No one said everyone uses the n-word or should use it. I have a problem with PERSECUTING someone for something they said in this context so long ago. There is no evidence that says she advocates the use of the word, uses the word in any sort of regularity in recent times or discriminates against a race. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/85 "2013-06-28T21:36:42Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > She said a racist thing 30 years ago in a heated moment. No one said everyone uses the n-word or should use it. I have a problem with PERSECUTING someone for something they said in this context so long ago. There is no evidence that says she advocates the use of the word, uses the word in any sort of regularity in recent times or discriminates against a race. People aren’t mad at her for using the N-word 30 years ago. They’re mad at her because she doesn’t think there was anything wrong with it, in addition to all of the other tone-deaf things she’s done and said that don’t exactly paint the picture of somebody who’s not a racist. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/86 "2013-06-28T21:36:46Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > She said a racist thing 30 years ago in a heated moment. No one said everyone uses the n-word or should use it. I have a problem with PERSECUTING someone for something they said in this context so long ago. There is no evidence that says she advocates the use of the word, uses the word in any sort of regularity in recent times or discriminates against a race. Am I persecuting her by participating in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/87 "2013-06-28T21:44:29Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > People aren’t mad at her for using the N-word 30 years ago. They’re mad at her because she doesn’t think there was anything wrong with it, in addition to all of the other tone-deaf things she’s done and said that don’t exactly paint the picture of somebody who’s not a racist. Why do you think that? She testified that it’s wrong to use, she has been crying and apologizing to everyone that will listen. No one is mad at her for using the N-word? Look at the headlines. People are furious about her use of the N-word, only lot of people believe she does it causally, frequently and recently. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/88 "2013-06-28T21:46:18Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Am I persecuting her by participating in this thread? I guess not directly since you aren’t actually contacting her personally. Unless you are then yes, per the definition you are. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/89 "2013-06-28T21:59:19Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > Why do you think that? She testified that it’s wrong to use, she has been crying and apologizing to everyone that will listen. No one is mad at her for using the N-word? Look at the headlines. People are furious about her use of the N-word, only lot of people believe she does it causally, frequently and recently. You know why? Because people tend to say the same things in the heat of anger that they say in other situations. If some dumbass cuts me off in traffic, I don’t suddenly blurt out racial hate-speech. I call him a dumbass, or a fucker, or something else that I use every day. Likewise I can count on one hand the times I’ve actually SAID the word “cunt” out loud, and \*\*none \*\*of those times have been in anger, because that word isn’t part of my descriptive vocabulary. If you were narrowly missed by a semi, would you be likely to blurt out “Alhamdulillah” in the heat of the moment?? NO! And if you did, I would have a right to assume some things about your background and your casual everyday speech, and I’d be RIGHT. I swear to you guys, there are a few of us in the south who aren’t complete racist douchenozzles. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but I swear it. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/90 "2013-06-28T21:59:34Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > I guess not directly since you aren’t actually contacting her personally. Unless you are then yes, per the definition you are. Am I indirectly persecuting her by participating in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/91 "2013-06-28T22:03:38Z")
Again…Robert Byrd, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/92 "2013-06-28T22:41:42Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > If you were narrowly missed by a semi, would you be likely to blurt out “Alhamdulillah” in the heat of the moment?? NO! And if you did, I would have a right to assume some things about your background and your casual everyday speech, and I’d be RIGHT. No “Alhamdulliah” has too many syllables, but you do bring up a good topic. Paula grew up pre-Civil Rights Era and these things ARE in her background and likely WERE in her casual everyday speech. Sure she is aware that it isn’t appropriate, but does it really surprise you that 30 years ago, in an heated moment, the racism she was raised on came out? A person can change a lot in 30 years and her life is drastically different now that it was then. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/93 "2013-06-28T22:45:26Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Am I indirectly persecuting her by participating in this thread? I don’t think it’s a stretch to say so. You are passing along incomplete information that does harm her reputation. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/94 "2013-06-28T22:47:25Z")
> [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](#): > > Again…Robert Byrd, anyone? Don’t you mean Strom Thurmond? ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/95 "2013-06-28T22:49:32Z")
> [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](#): > > Again…Robert Byrd, anyone? Why, because of initial racist views that later were denounced conveniently with the change of social norms? That’s the South in general and just about anybody that live through the Civil Rights Movement. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/96 "2013-06-28T22:52:00Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Don’t you mean Strom Thurmond? No, Byrd is more accurate. I don’t think Strom Thurmond ever denied being a racist. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/97 "2013-06-28T23:01:43Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > I don’t think it’s a stretch to say so. You are passing along incomplete information that does harm her reputation. What incomplete information did I pass along? Am I responsible for her reputation? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/98 "2013-06-28T23:04:11Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > Why is every one so quick to call her a “trashy piece of shit”? Because she is a trashy piece of shit. My late mom was only three years older than she was. My dad is in his late 70’s. Neither one would have dared use the n word. I was always told it was a disgusting way to view people. Deen has all the class of Donald Trump. And about the same appeal. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/99 "2013-06-28T23:06:43Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Because she is a trashy piece of shit. My late mom was only three years older than she was. My dad is in his late 70’s. Neither one would have dared use the n word. I was always told it was a disgusting way to view people. > > Deen has all the class of Donald Trump. And about the same appeal. You may not know this, but you just set Paula Deen on fire and then used her as kindling to burn the constitution. ---
**Author:** ![babygoat666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2acd7d/32.png) [@babygoat666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/babygoat666)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/100 "2013-06-28T23:15:20Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > People aren’t mad at her for using the N-word 30 years ago. They’re mad at her because she doesn’t think there was anything wrong with it, in addition to all of the other tone-deaf things she’s done and said that don’t exactly paint the picture of somebody who’s not a racist. Once again, it was 1983 30 years ago. Several decades too late to play dumb. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049.md?page=6)