20/20 did a report on various "taboos". Here they are with my thoughts.
The N-word.
D L Hughley thinks everyone should be able to use it and a bunch of other people don't. I like Hughley but I disagree. I think it's still too soon. We can talk about progress this and that all we want, but racism is fresher than people think. I think younger people (and to an extent, it seems many white ppl) are deluded and forget there are lots and lots of people of colour who lived during the Civil Rights movement and the "aftermath". My parents and people like them have lots of racist stories, and wouldn't appreciate being called a beaner or a wetback any more than a black person their age wants to hear Whitey or anyone else say the N-word. I'll say it on teh interwebs or joke around with it to Merla but I won't be saying willy-nilly at the office or anything.
They mentioned Will Smith not having any white leading ladies but only blacks and latinas while black ladies get to mack with white men like Bond. I don't see how that's related to anything. Especially when we're talking Will Smith, who has the star powet and clout to demand a white leading lady. I think it's a matter of giving more parts to black and latina women in movies and not a slight on Will Smith or anyone else.
They also mentioned that whole thing about Barak Obama being "articulate" as an insult but not as an insult when said to Jamie Foxx from Sidney Portier, but in typical sensationalism fashion completely missed it was not about the word but the context. Sidney called Foxx articulate, while that other guy was going on about Barak being an exception to his race because he was mainstream yet "clean" and "articulate". This was not pointed out despite being painfully obvious. Hiss.
Gay Leading Actors
This was stupid, but so many people are "anti-gay" I don't see it dying anytime soon. I'm concerned more about acting ability in a movie, but I know that's the minority. As far as romantic movies go, who cares as long as the person's hot. They talked about it being fantasy, that it should be a man women could dream about being with and men could fantasize being. As far as I'm concerned, it just opens the door for all new fantasies. Not like Bob or Jane Everyday had a chance with Non-Gay Moviestar to begin with, let alone Gay one.
"Mismatched" Couples
They had a fat woman with a skinny man and a working woman with her househusband. While I don't doubt they get a lot of reactions as they say, I think perception is everything. If you carry yourself or act as a victim, people will treat you that way. The working woman and her man lived in this tight-assed Morman neighborhood where women stay home. They chose to live there and have their lifestyle, I think it's time to just go with it. The househusband admits his shame by saying he "works at home" instead of saying he's a stay-at-home. If he's not proud of it, why should anyone else be? I think it's cool.
And I'm all for a dude wanting some extra cushion. That ppl go up to them and tell them things is hilarious. Though I thought his wife's ass was gonna eat that bicycle seat. Heh.
Mom is Bored
A housemom is bored with her kids and admits it in an article. Oh noes. I don't see what the problem is. Everyone gets bored. It's far more refreshing to have this honest mom writing about it and admitting it than all of those fakes that treat childrearing like the orgasm that never ends. People that'll get all panty-twisted about it are hilarious.
Other...
Then they had their no-longer taboos, like divorce and internet dating. (I still don't think the latter is completely acceptable to ppl, 20/20 is fooling themselves.) Oh, and a Catholic president. Whee. Whateva.
