# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/81 "2010-11-03T06:19:01Z")
My understanding is that the objection was to using the line in the trailer. Did people really clamor to remove the line from the movie proper? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/82 "2010-11-03T06:21:41Z")
I can’t really see the director of a film making a statement where he refuses to alter the trailer for the film. I don’t even know how much input Ron Howard even has (or wants) wrt the content of his films’ trailers… ---
**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:** [November 3, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/83 "2010-11-03T12:52:23Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Preach on, my n\*gger. That is offensive. You should have said “Preach on, my n\*ggah!” That’s the proper way to use it! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/84 "2010-11-03T14:23:34Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > My understanding is that the objection was to using the line in the trailer. Did people really clamor to remove the line from the movie proper? Yes. > **[This Page Was Not Found - WordPress](https://execte.com/404)** > **[StockExaminer - AI-Powered Stock Chatbot](https://examiner.com)** > > Discover Stock Examiner, the AI-powered chatbot delivering instant, interactive stock charts, real-time financials, breaking news, stock screeners, and more—all in one seamless experience. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/85 "2010-11-03T14:48:25Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Preach on, my n\*gger. My nigger = slave My nigga = one of the homies The difference between the two is far greater than enunciation alone. Know your slang. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/86 "2010-11-03T18:16:36Z")
Ahh, so then anyone can use it so long as they have the pronounciation correct? ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/87 "2010-11-03T19:06:18Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > it was Anderson Cooper who actually made an issue of this on his news show because he saw it in the trailer at the theater and it offended him because he himself is… uh… somebody who cares about bullying. That week. _snicker_ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/88 "2010-11-03T19:45:21Z")
You know how I know you’re gay? You protested that joke. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/89 "2010-11-03T20:09:30Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Ron Howard’s anti-gay manifesto Band name! ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/90 "2010-11-03T20:23:57Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > You know how I know you’re gay? I macraméd myself a pair of jean shorts? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/91 "2010-11-03T20:26:26Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > As kids in the 70s-80s we used it often to mean “lame”. As I recall, we used “gay” to mean “lame” because it meant “homosexual”. We\* also used “faggot” and “fag” a lot. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What a ridiculously egotistical statement. It’s also entirely possible that even after you ask, no one gives a shit whether or not you’re offended. So what you’re saying is that after he asks, they know he’s offended by it and do it anyway. _Checks_ Yep, that fits the definition of “offense is intended”. * * * - I don’t recall actually using either that much myself. That’s more the collective “We”. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/92 "2010-11-03T20:36:07Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > You know how I know you’re gay? I cried during _Up_? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/93 "2010-11-03T20:48:12Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What a ridiculously egotistical statement. It’s also entirely possible that even after you ask, no one gives a shit whether or not you’re offended. That means offence is intended, like I said. How is that egotistical? Not many of my friends have ever used that word anyway, at least in front of me - from a previous discussion, a couple of them have said that they wouldn’t use it that way in front of gay people, which kinda indicates that they’re aware that the term is a bit dodgy, just that they don’t think it’s very important. None of my friend have used it again after I’ve asked them not to, because it’s not that big a deal for them to avoid one word when they know how I feel about it. Friends don’t intentionally make their friends feel bad. The only person who continued using it was a colleague, and that was extra annoying, because I didn’t have any choice about being around him at work. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/94 "2010-11-03T20:51:28Z")
Saying “gay” is leotarded. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/95 "2010-11-03T20:59:54Z")
It’s like a buddy of mine that goes to great lengths to explain why when he uses the word “nigger”, he doesn’t mean black people, and he hopes you won’t be offended because to him (growing up in Alabama) it refers to what now is colloquially refered to as being someone’s “bitch”\*. All so he can feel justified is using a word that many people find offensive in a way that is highly suggestive. ## Seems like an awful lot of effort to me. \*Not his words - I’m adding that description. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/96 "2010-11-03T21:17:41Z")
Sorry to jump back to the first page, but I wanted to address this: > [@Markxxx](#): > > To understand this you have to use substitution. If gay means lame or CAN mean lame does that mean it’s OK to use it. > > If I said, that guy is so cheap, would it be acceptable to say “That guy is such a Jew.” Or "Can you bargain him down,’ would you say “Can you Jew him down” As a Jew, I would in fact find that hilarious. My younger brother accuses me of “jewing out” on him all the time. I do the same back. It’s a ridiculous non-sequiter based on a stereotype that doesn’t reflect accurately on us. The silly dichotomy between not buying him a movie ticket and impugning an entire religion is inherently funny. How could I possibly take offense at that? Even if you meant it earnestly, I’d just shake my head and laugh to myself about it. > [@](#): > > I doubt anyone here woud find that acceptable. It’s a bankhanded insult, like saying, “You’re the laziest white person I ever met.” Implying that people of other races are still lazier than the laziest white person. I snipped this one because I don’t understand it. I don’t draw the same conclusion you do. If somebody accused me of being the “laziest Jew he knows,” I wouldn’t immediately think “Thanks for not lumping me in with those Christians, at least.” It doesn’t carry the implication that you seem to think it does. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/97 "2010-11-03T21:24:21Z")
I really think that going after a Ron Howard film for using the word gay as it’s used constantly is an :rolleyes: moment when there’s plenty of actual homophobia and other real gay issues to go after. I think it reflects rather than causes the notion that gay is wrong and above all else I think it’s a Vince Vaughn movie that will only be quoted by an Asian guy with Tourettes whose next sentence will be “bitch whore bathroom tissue singalong!” To protest it just makes the protesters look whiney. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/98 "2010-11-03T21:31:25Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > “bitch whore bathroom tissue singalong!” That’s where I first saw Ron Howard’s Anti Gay Manifesto. Not a bad a capella group live, but their studio work sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/99 "2010-11-03T21:36:59Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I think that “gay” as a synonym for lame has outgrown it’s association as a slur against homosexuality. My now 19 year old nephew was using it that way in grade school. ---
**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 3, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212/100 "2010-11-03T22:01:36Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > You know how I know you’re gay? … > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > I cried during _Up_? Dammit, both my boyfriend and I must be gay! [sub]I’m female but I think he joke works even if I’m not.[/sub] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-howard-refuses-to-remove-gay-joke-despite-protets/559212.md?page=6)