# Ron Howard refuses to remove gay joke despite protets **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212 "2010-11-02T14:59:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/1 "2010-11-02T14:59:49Z")
[Story here](http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protests_1179418) > [@](#): > > In the director’s latest movie, ‘The Dilemma’, a character played by VINCE VAUGHN is speaking to work colleagues in a boardroom about electric cars, he says, “Electric cars are gay. I mean, not homosexual gay, but my-parents-are-chaperoning-the-dance gay”. _Ron Howard_? That’s funnier than the actual joke. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/2 "2010-11-02T15:14:25Z")
Why would people protest that? That’s lame, not difficulty walking lame but don’t-people-have-better-causes-to-get-all-stupid-about lame. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/3 "2010-11-02T15:21:35Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Why would people protest that? That’s lame, not difficulty walking lame but don’t-people-have-better-causes-to-get-all-stupid-about lame. Yes, it’s stupid, but doesn’t provide any evidence of being biassed against gay people – i.e., homosexual people, not people who tell jokes like Ron Howard’s. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/4 "2010-11-02T15:23:52Z")
Well, at least someone is making the distinction of gay meaning lame is different than gay meaning homosexual. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/5 "2010-11-02T15:24:16Z")
Amen, **Wile E**! ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/6 "2010-11-02T15:24:34Z")
I wish people would quit using the word that way. I’m straight and it pisses me off. I can’t imagine that gay folks like it any better. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/7 "2010-11-02T15:32:25Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > Amen, **Wile E**! What are you, some sort of religious fanatic? I PROTEST!!! ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/8 "2010-11-02T15:35:01Z")
Calling that a “gay joke” makes it sound like it’s about gay people. Howard was awfully diplomatic in his response. Unless there’s more to it than quoted, the line doesn’t even reveal an anti-gay bias on the part of the _fictional character_ who says it. If anything, it suggests that sensitivity training has worked–he catches himself instantly after saying the word, and carefully (humorously to the audience) distinguishes his usage from a biased one. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/9 "2010-11-02T15:35:45Z")
A Vince Vaughn character has a line that’s simultaneously macho and juvenile? How disorienting! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/10 "2010-11-02T15:37:16Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I wish people would quit using the word that way. I’m straight and it pisses me off. I can’t imagine that gay folks like it any better. I agree that it’s an indication of someone who, let’s say, is less than adept at using his words. I just assusmed Mr. Howard put it in there for plot development to show us just how douchey Mr. Vaughn’s character is supposed to be. Etiher way, I think way too much is being made of it and I’m glad RH isn’t backing down. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/11 "2010-11-02T15:37:21Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I wish people would quit using the word that way. I’m straight and it pisses me off. I can’t imagine that gay folks like it any better. Then you better quit using “straight” to mean heterosexual, with its implication that everything else is crooked. ---
**Author:** ![hopesperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@hopesperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hopesperson)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/12 "2010-11-02T15:39:05Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I wish people would quit using the word that way. I’m straight and it pisses me off. I can’t imagine that gay folks like it any better. I wish gay people would quit using the word the way that _they_ use it. Gay means happy, dammit! ---
**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:** [November 2, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/13 "2010-11-02T15:39:22Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I wish people would quit using the word that way. I’m straight and it pisses me off. I can’t imagine that gay folks like it any better. The joke doesn’t bash gays (just electric cars) and I’m sure it’s meant to say something about the character. It sounds like every character Vince Vaughn has ever played, but that’s still not enough reason to get all up in arms about it. Not every character in every movie/tv show needs to sound like a public service message. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/14 "2010-11-02T15:40:53Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Then you better quit using “straight” to mean heterosexual, with its implication that everything else is crooked. So, what’s the opposite of “gay”? Depressed? Sad? Why can’t we ungay people have a good time, too? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/15 "2010-11-02T15:43:46Z")
Too much panty bunching going on over this. Not that I’m implying that gay people wear panties. Nor am I implying that there is something wrong if they do. In fact, if they like wearing their panties all bunched up, I’m OK with that too. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/16 "2010-11-02T15:51:24Z")
I’d be careful joking with people about panties or they’re going to be on your ass. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/17 "2010-11-02T15:57:39Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I’d be careful joking with people about panties or they’re going to be on your ass. Yeah, we should keep any underwear discussions brief. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/18 "2010-11-02T15:57:44Z")
Of all the offensive things said in movies in humor THIS is what people are riled about? Ron Howard? One of the most innocuous people on the planet? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/19 "2010-11-02T16:14:32Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Of all the offensive things said in movies in humor THIS is what people are riled about? Ron Howard? One of the most innocuous people on the planet? Seems to me they are just picking on an easy target. The complaint seems silly to me. Some jokes are meant to be offensive\*. People just need to get on with things and stop looking for offense. - I don’t find the one in the OP particulary funny or offensive BTW ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/20 "2010-11-02T16:40:55Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Seems to me they are just picking on an easy target. > The complaint seems silly to me. Some jokes are meant to be offensive\*. People just need to get on with things and stop looking for offense. > > - I don’t find the one in the OP particulary funny or offensive BTW And their easy target didn’t back down. Now they look foolish. Even Ron Howard, the least offensive guy on the planet, doesn’t agree with them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212.md?page=2)