What is a "fireable" offense?

#1
volinbham

volinbham

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#1
I guess technically, this is another Imus thread but...

What level of wrong should be sufficient for job termination?

I realize it will vary by job and the free market answer is "anything the employer chooses" but...

Why is a racial slur such a monster offense? Sexist comments are considered bad but not in the same league. Racist comments against races other than African-American are considered bad but not in the same league either.

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
My thoughts? I honestly don't see his comments as racist, more of a classless comment. I guess you could if you tried hard enough, see them as racist. I do know that Rutgers has white players on the team and he did not single them out as being non-nappy headed hoes.

It is a big deal because people like Sharpton and Jackson need incidents like these to continue their style of living.
 
#4
#4
I have a question (and sorry this will side track your topic). Since when did African-Americans take ownership of the words "nappy" and "ho" as derogatory to their race?

I know plenty of white women who are hos and/or have nappy hair.
 
#5
#5
My opinion no. No more than someone descecrating the American flag should be a criminal offense. Any of the TV personalities demanding his firing are idiots. Can you present an example of where making a racial slur should be a fireable offense?
 
#6
#6
therealUT said:
I have a question (and sorry this will side track your topic). Since when did African-Americans take ownership of the words "nappy" and "ho" as derogatory to their race?

I know plenty of white women who are hos and/or have nappy hair.
Click to expand...

I agree. That is why I don't see his comments as racist. But it made it much easier to get this issue pushed onto all the TV and radio shows by everyone granting it "racist" status.
 
#7
#7
The two I've seen recently were embezzlement, and sexual harrassment

I think the punishment is appropiate, he's off for two weeks so that sends a message, and he's not fired.

He's been making controversial comments for a long time, especially when he and Howard were battling it out for the NY morning drive listeners
 
#8
#8
I would think that the entire female population of the state university of new jersey, while not all subject to the 'nappy headed' comment, is fair game to be called 'hos'.
 
#9
#9
vol_in_ar said:
I think the punishment is appropiate, he's off for two weeks so that sends a message, and he's not fired.
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Why is the punishment appropriate? If they have been paying him to behave in this manner for years, then why does this comment deserve punishment?
 
#10
#10
therealUT said:
I would think that the entire female population of the state university of new jersey, while not all subject to the 'nappy headed' comment, is fair game to be called 'hos'.
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:lolabove:

And it did make it easier considering the names of 2 of the players:

Epiphanny and Essence.
 
#11
#11
Any word yet on when Don Imus is going to meet with the Lady Vols so they can thank him for saying they were cute?
 
#12
#12
This whole Imus situation is being taken way too seriously. Should he have said it? Probably not. Is it worth all of the attention that it has received so far? Definitely not.

There are a thousand rappers out there who do this very same thing x1000, yet you don't see Jackson or Sharpton on the news condemning their albums for containing such material..

This country as a whole has become way too sensitive. People need to lighten up.
 
#13
#13
As for the topic question, I'm not sure what's a "firable" offense, but I'm pretty sure this isn't one of them.

I wouldn't be surprised if his next day back isn't one of his most listened to broadcasts.
 
#14
#14
allvol123 said:
Why is the punishment appropriate? If they have been paying him to behave in this manner for years, then why does this comment deserve punishment?
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After all the hype, MSNBC had to take some action or risk further negative press..
 
#16
#16
It's a personal issue to me since I've seen someone virtually lose their job for racial insensitive comments - they were not on the level of what Imus said and they were not directed at any specific person - yet, nothing short of firing would satisfy those going after him.

Alternatively, someone else in the same department made much more agresssive and potentially slanderous comments about 2 individuals and broadcast those comments annonymously throughout the organization and to external constituents. That person faced no punishment what so ever.

I was amazed it could happen but it did.
 
#17
#17
volinbham said:
It's a personal issue to me since I've seen someone virtually lose their job for racial insensitive comments - they were not on the level of what Imus said and they were not directed at any specific person - yet, nothing short of firing would satisfy those going after him.

Alternatively, someone else in the same department made much more agresssive and potentially slanderous comments about 2 individuals and broadcast those comments annonymously throughout the organization and to external constituents. That person faced no punishment what so ever.

I was amazed it could happen but it did.
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I guess it's one of those situations that you have to place in the "life's not fair" file..
 
#18
#18
My Father was once reprimanded because he walked by someone's desk and saw somebody slacking off and joked "I'm going to chain you to your desk if you don't get that filing done". The person happened to be black and filed a grievance due to a racially insensitive comment. :wacko:
 
#21
#21
OWB said:
I guess it's one of those situations that you have to place in the "life's not fair" file..
Click to expand...

Yep - it's frustrating but that's the current environment.

I just find it interesting that racial slurs against AA's are at such a much higher level of offense than virtually any other comment a person can make. In certainly has a chilling effect around the workplace.
 
#22
#22
It is only chilling if you let it be. I treat black people the same way I do any other people. I do not guard my comments around them anymore than I would anyone else. If the environment cannot sustain that, I find a different environment. But I know what you mean, I have certainly seen that situation. It only takes one ultra-idiot to create that kind of situation.
 
#23
#23
allvol123 said:
It is only chilling if you let it be. I treat black people the same way I do any other people. I do not guard my comments around them anymore than I would anyone else. If the environment cannot sustain that, I find a different environment. But I know what you mean, I have certainly seen that situation. It only takes one ultra-idiot to create that kind of situation.
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The chill comes from the reaction of the hire-ups -- fear of a racial incident or lawsuit dominates their response.
 
#24
#24
I see.

I think the media is giving this more attention than the average person.

I see 2 threads on VN that have titles with some combo of "Florida" and "gay". So I assume "gay" is being used in a derogatory manner in these cases. Does this bother people?
 
#25
#25
allvol123 said:
I see.


I see 2 threads on VN that have titles with some combo of "Florida" and "gay". So I assume "gay" is being used in a derogatory manner in these cases. Does this bother people?
Click to expand...


I was thinking the same thing - the gay slur is not on the same level as the race slur. Interesting.
 
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