I understand the difference between Spencer and Jeong. A better question would be the difference between Jeong and Rosanne -- other than one's an actual comedian and the other is on the editorial board of the New York Times.
Could you explain what the difference is between Jeong and Spencer?
Could you explain the difference between Roseanne and Spencer?
Spencer is militant and doesn't profess to be kidding about his racist remarks. He couches his statements in a warped sociological philosophy.
Jeong and Roseanne aren't militant and both professed to be kidding about their remarks. I think the differences between Jeong and Roseanne are more subtle (to the extent they exist at all), which is why I brought Roseanne up.
I'm certainly not here to defend Roseanne. I don't give a crap about her and I think she's probably does hold some ugly views about black people regardless of whether she gave the "just kidding!" defense afterward. The thing is, I think the same thing about Jeong with regard to white people. I don't care that Roseanne got fired, and I don't care about the NYT response. Those entities can navigate their brands how they see fit.
I just can't reconcile how someone could call for Roseanne's head but go to bat for Jeong.
Because one is clearly worse. Like, it's not even close.
Roseanne also had a higher profile when the tweets were sent, which is relevant. As awful as it can be, the Times Editorial board wouldn't stand for Jeong making those tweets today .
Fair point about the timing. I disagree that one of the "jokes" was worse than the other. And, as sys was talking about above, even if Jeong's joke were a lesser example, would you agree that her jokes are still "bad" in a broad sense?
First of all, I'd hesitate to call either "jokes". I admit I know little about the full context of Jeong's tweets, but she seemed to be creating a somewhat flamboyant online persona that at times commented on "white people" as the group in power.
The only tweet that could be construed as truly "racist" and not commenting on white people as a group of people in power was the "goblin" tweet sys referred to. Given more context, it's not bad at all and is definitely much more funny as it's a direct shot at Sullivan and talk of "let's hear both sides" of racist nonsense.
https://twitter.com/studentactivism/status/1025446539987169281?s=19So no, I don't think that particular tweet is"bad" for a mostly anonymous tech writer. But I think it's probably "bad" for someone writing at the New York Times or a senator or president or something, though.
Roseanne, meanwhile, wrote pure racist trash whole starring in the highest rated show on tv, comparing a black woman to an ape. It was completely unfunny, and probably even more inexcusable BECAUSE she's a comedian.