I think it's part of his schtick at this point. If you craft a persona of being super-edgy, you almost need to mock the audience for not liking you.

Look. We're talking about how society should deal with someone who's done something wrong, in this case using a harmful term.

You really need to change that avatar to a straw man. I don't know where you pulled that response out of, but it has nothing to do with this thread.

How very draconian of you.

First, I wasn't appealing to authority to convince you. I only mentioned it as explanation of my own evaluation of sources. That's why it didn't come up until I already said I was done with the conversation. It takes more than just knowing what a logical fallacy is to invoke it accurately you know.

I was speaking more generally there. In Mahers specific case, it was an intentional use of a word, but it was also in an off the cuff remark, building on the context of another strange comment.

We probably should consider the context in which Maher used the word. Ie, without any actual ill-will towards anyone, and in direct response to a weird assertion from a rich white guy that he has people who work in his fields.

I'm not sure that's how that works.

Its right up there in the article, and the clip is only 20 seconds. And its pretty much exactly as described: an off the cuff response to a Nebraska Senator's offer to have Maher "come work in the fields." A tone-deaf joke that falls totally flat, even if you can trace right where it originated from.

None. Because when Muslim countries get polled, the results show widespread acceptance of Sharia law and condoning of groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and ISIS. If that wasn't the case, then there would be a problem.

Yes, demand 100% infallibility from all allies at all times.

Weekend, maybe. As long as Trump stays off Twitter.

I've been watching Bill Maher for nearly twenty years (really? Holy crap), and I've never found him particularly funny. He gets a decent one in now and then, but for the most part his comedy bits are really, really lame. Like, CarrotTop lame.

Mmmm… nah. Let's not have speech be a firing offense anymore, especially for people who's entire job it is be to talk.

THERE'S ONLY ONE "O" IN "LOSE"!!!

I think the intent is the point. Does anyone really think Maher is a racist, or is he just lazily and wrongly appropriating a word he has no cultural right to (which, I suppose could be its own long thorny argument in and of itself)?

That's a disqus thing, and its not new to this article.

I really don't like the idea of wanting anyone to be fired over their verbal slipups. (Unless they're slipping up and admitting murder or something, but lets not be that kind of pedantic here).

Why the hell is that first comment of yours in moderation?

I think that's probably a number of things working in concert. Underfunding, for starters. Escalation by both sides, cops and criminals. Incredibly high levels of personal danger to police. Bill Maher has a frequent point about how cops have forgotten the job is supposed to be dangerous, and it has some merit.