Across The Media Universe: Mind Your Manners Edition

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Across The Media Universe

(CBS)

Not So Dapper Don: The weekend doesn't seem to have dampened criticism of Don Imus, the radio host under fire for referring to Rutgers University women's basketball players as "nappy headed ho's." Imus has apologized and said he is "not a racist;" he is scheduled to appear on Al Sharpton's radio show today. (Said Sharpton Saturday: "I accept his apology, just as I want his bosses to accept his resignation.") In the New York Times, David Carr points out that Imus continues to book big name guests from the political and media world, and notes that he "generously provides airtime to those parts of the news media and political apparatus that would generally be expected to bring him to account." Imus' show appears on WFAN, the parent company of which is CBS Radio.

I Got Your Blog Post Right Here: "Is it too late to bring civility to the Web?" wonders the New York Times. ("Yes," responds Public Eye.) The Times writes up an effort to create a blogger code of conduct, which could call on bloggers to ban anonymous comments and delete comments that constitute threat or libel. It's not censorship, says Tim O'Reilly, who is working on the guidelines. He argues that "[f]ree speech is enhanced by civility."

Expert Witness: As Sinbad fans well know, Wikipedia's open-source nature can mean inaccuracies. Citizendium wants to change that – it's meant to be "a smarter, kinder Wikipedia [in which] experts approve all articles posted on the site," as the Los Angeles Times notes. Sounds great, right? Too bad exacting standards mean a whole new set of problems. After six months, "editors have approved only nine of the roughly 1,000 articles that volunteers have written." And the experts may not have the same interests as the unwashed masses: "According to a chart on Wikipedia compiled by one of its contributors, the 20 most-viewed articles in February included 'Anna Nicole Smith,' 'Sex,' 'List of sex positions' and 'World War II.'"

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by lookingin1 April 10, 2007 5:29 PM EDT: Has anyone stopped to look at this from a real world view? What do you think a nappy ho should looks like? From everything we see on TV this team fits the bill like a made for TV movie.; Reply to this comment


by kikii1-2009 April 10, 2007 1:28 PM EDT: Mayor Ray Nagin has make comments regarding race and no one has asked for his resignation.; Reply to this comment


by vigilantes9 April 10, 2007 5:02 AM EDT: Unbelievable that our so called country leaders continue to play the racist card. Obviouly they have too much time on their hands.

If you don't like Imus, turn the channel. If you do listen to Imus, you know his agenda. I personally like his comments - I would love to be his sidekick. His remarks were funny.

Its been over 200 years since slavery. It is time to accept the past and move on. (I do recommend that those who feel they have been insulted, read actual Non-Fiction history on slavery......blacks were involved).

The prior "racist" incident regarding our Frazier star during his comedy routine. Get a grip as well. First off, being Gay is NOT A NEW RACE. It is individual sexual preferance for the same gender having ***, which belongs behind CLOSED DOORS and CLOSETS, exactly how it is with heterosexuals (men/women). *** are NOT entitled to special laws, rules, changing our Constitution and Religious Scripture, gay marriages, different drinking faucets, special parade days etc. This is another case of the "Bewidering Herd" - look it up if you don't know the meaning. *** is not a public act and families who have Christian values (any religion) have a right NOT to be exposed to obscene public display. I want my grandchildren to grow up with the old fashion values of our grandparents. Everyone should lighten and concern themselves with actual important issues. I would love to see smiles on everyones faces, instead of fear.; Reply to this comment


by tthomas1245 April 10, 2007 12:25 AM EDT: Perhaps Don Imus is redeemable. As an African American male and a part-time listener of the show, I am not surprised that Don said what he said. Will I continue to listen? I don't know. Personally, I am tired of feeling hurt by the comments of people who could care less about my experience as black man in this country %u2013 the %u201Cdisconnect%u201D is real. But, let%u2019s be honest, white people have said much more hurtful, hateful things and meant it.

What Don Imus said was wrong, but black people should show as much outrage about how we treat each other. Too many black people believe that it's cool to put one another down in music videos. Sadly we continue to kill one another in our own communities.

Yes, let's hold his feet to the fire, but we must stop demeaning each other %u2013 making it more meaningful when we complain about something some white person said.

T.Thomas; Reply to this comment


by k-sozer April 9, 2007 5:32 PM EDT: To be clear, I did not put the asterisks in my comment below in reference to the Vice President. That is handled automatically by CBS software.; Reply to this comment


by k-sozer April 9, 2007 5:12 PM EDT: Don Imus has gratuitously insulted just about every interest group and ethnic group in America. What he said about the women's basketball team is mild compared to his comments about *** Cheney.

If you don't like him, change the channel. I did.; Reply to this comment


by dd1780 April 9, 2007 3:40 PM EDT: Where is my Easter Bonnet?

While some may see the blogosphere and the behavior of its participants as a new phenomenon, it isn't difficult to find an appropriate predecessor model. That model is found on the streets of any metropolitan area and it is called traffic and the prevalence of road rudeness...or in its extreme...road rage.

Granted, personal attacks and snark on the internet are not likely to lead to fatalities, but if computers had wheels, it certainly would.

Read more on the relationship between blog civility and Easter Bonnets...here:

http://www.thoughttheater.com/2007/04/web_civility_and_easter_bonnets.php; Reply to this comment