Philosophy With Don Imus
Kane Simmons wonders if the overanalyzing of controversial comments by the national media is doing more harm than good.
The old philosophical question: If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there, does it make a sound?
The new version: If an old, 'shock jock' radio host makes an offensive comment, and nobody hears him (unless everybody hears him the subsequent days when his comments are repeated over and over again), is it offensive?
Don Imus inserted his foot in to his mouth yet again with his latest offensive remarks. This article, however, is not a Don Imus-bashing article.
No, this is an article more focused to the national attention that remarks, like both of Imus' previous inflammatory statements, have garnered. In an age of paparazzi and camera phones, the simplest lapse of judgement can end up on You Tube, and then on the headlines. Imus' remarks were on air and he knew it. But how many actually were offended the second the words left his mouth?

A couple of years ago, after the tragic death of "CROCODILE HUNTER STEVE IRWIN", "South Park" made a joke about it right away. When I watched the episode of South Park, the appearance of Steve Irwin caught me off-guard but did not think about it afterward.

The next morning, when I woke up, I saw "The Today Show" play a clip of South Park as one of the top stories. Instantly, millions of parents and children who were drinking their coffee and eating their breakfast were forced to watch the 'offensive' clip. The audience of South Park were probably not offended by the joke, because, as fans, they come to expect jokes that push the envelope.
Imus is the same way in that he looks to push the envelope to entertain his audience. If people do not like his way of entertaining his audience—and, obviously, being lewd and racist should not be the only tool in his belt—then they have the option of turning to a different station. However, when his comment is repeated in the national media, more people watch and become outraged and
offended.
If people come after Imus' job for what he said about the Rutgers women's basketball team, or Adam "Pacman" Jones, then also go after the hip-hop artists who degrade women even more, and rap about the indifference of police treatment of African Americans, which Imus said his last quip was about. Then ask yourself who is more likely to reach a young person's ears: an old, white talk-radio host, or a hip-hop artist?
I do not live near a big city and never heard of Don Imus until he made his remarks last year. I did not even know that he was back on the radio, until his latest remark surfaced nationally.
So one last question: Were you offended the instant the words left his mouth, or were you offended when they were repeated over and over and over...and over again?