"Robert Alexander" (bobbysgarage)
04/13/2020 at 23:27 • Filed to: NASCAR, kyle larson, racing | 0 | 16 |
The 2020 NASCAR season. This is going to go down as the most fucked up season in recent history, and that was before Kyle Larson decided to yeet his career into oblivion.
Last night I logged on to Reddit and saw the post. Now the highest post ever on r/NASCAR. I clicked the link, and sat there in shock for a little bit. One of NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” drivers is now embroiled in a massive scandal for saying the N word.
The slaughter commenced Monday morning with Chip Ganassi Racing, NASCAR, and Chevrolet all condemning the actions and placing Kyle on various suspensions. Kyles twitter apology came soon after, and while we were missing the true hallmarks of an internet apology (sitting on kitchen floor, eyes red from tears, runny makeup, you get the idea), it was much better than a prepared statement by a PR person. Kyle knows he fucked up royally, there’s no denying it.
As evening fell, the nukes went off. Credit One followed up a statement from earlier, adding that they would be TERMINATING their sponsorship of Larson. Soon after, Ronald McDonald came on with a haymaker, announcing the same. A couple of smaller sponsors decided to announce they would stick by the now disgraced driver, but the damage was done. Three of the 42 cars biggest sponsors drew a line. They want to sponsor CGR, but not Kyle.
At this point I’m anticipating that Larson will be released from his contract pretty soon. Crazy thought that one of the hottest free agents this season may not have ride anymore.
boredalways
> Robert Alexander
04/13/2020 at 23:55 | 4 |
Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
> Robert Alexander
04/14/2020 at 00:00 | 9 |
AdamB
> Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
04/14/2020 at 01:09 | 1 |
NKato
> Robert Alexander
04/14/2020 at 01:19 | 0 |
I feel like Kyle definitely screwed up. But at the same time, it was likely an impulse that he failed to check himself on. Personally, I don’t think a single word should destroy a man’s career, when
black
people are calling each other the N-word all the time.
Racism will die only when we acknowledge this strange dichotomy and make an effort to avoid having such absurd double standards as a species.
P.S. Yes, I would fire a black man for using the N-word, the same I would for a white man using the N-word.
PyramidHat
> Robert Alexander
04/14/2020 at 01:34 | 0 |
Not that I care about this guy, but what does he do now? drive for Uber?
barnie
> Robert Alexander
04/14/2020 at 01:52 | 0 |
What bothers me about this is how one word can nuke a career. Did he repeat it? Isn’t it used by some in normal speech? One single word. Sheesh! Are we so sensitive that words can break us?
NKato
> Robert Alexander
04/14/2020 at 01:55 | 0 |
Threw up some thoughts over on the NASCAR subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/g0zrwd/some_thoughts_on_the_kyle_larson_debacle/
DipodomysDeserti
> NKato
04/14/2020 at 03:04 | 3 |
Guy from the PNW who’s into cop cars makes the most stereotypical comment of the night.
Keep it up, America!
DipodomysDeserti
> barnie
04/14/2020 at 03:12 | 3 |
Either you’re a racist piece of shit, or a total fucking moron to be dropping racial slurs on public platforms.
His career is gone because he’s one of those two things. If you don’t realize this you’re probably in the same bag.
NKato
> DipodomysDeserti
04/14/2020 at 04:02 | 0 |
You’re not really thinking, are you?
Sovande
> NKato
04/14/2020 at 06:40 | 0 |
Um. His “instinct” was to use a racist term. That should be cause for dismissal right there. There is no double standard surrounding the word. Black people can say it, white people can’t. That’s the rules.
BigBlock440
> Sovande
04/14/2020 at 09:44 | 0 |
What about Asians though?
krustywantout
> BigBlock440
04/14/2020 at 11:15 | 0 |
If we as a society (all races) continue to circulate it in our vocabulary then these scenarios will always reoccur. How is it was okay for the Beastie to use it and but not other white people? I’m south Asian and I hear other south Asians use it between each other. Are they racist? Should they be punished if someone overhears them? I don’t like the word and don’t use it in my vocabulary. M ore people should consider removing this word and other epitaphs from theirs.
https://www.nepr.net/post/tackling-n-word-campus-after-her-famous-father-used-it-stage
NKato
> Sovande
04/14/2020 at 14:08 | 0 |
And that “rule” is stupid. I don’t really see people by the color of their skin to begin with, so to me, making a word exclusive to one group is not a good thing.
And yes, I get the historical context of the word, that’s why I think it needs to burn in hell no matter what.
Sovande
> NKato
04/14/2020 at 14:19 | 0 |
I do see people by the color of their skin, but that’s only because I have eyes and I am honest. The goal is to not judge people by the color of their skin. A famous guy made a spe ech about it a while ago. To paraphrase: don’t judge a man by the color of his skin, but the content of his character.
I don’t know that you can remove a word from the common lexicon. You can, however, stop using it and keep reminding people, by doing things like firing them, to not use the word either.
I don't know the reason that black people are "allowed" to use the n-word. I don't know the significance of dropping the "r." I do know that it's a word that I wouldn't use without expecting some kind of repercussions.
NKato
> Sovande
04/15/2020 at 03:20 | 0 |
There are a lot of explanations, but you’re absolutely right — judging people by the content of their character is how I try to approach things.
As for the last bit regarding the n-word, it’s generally perceived as “reclaiming” and subverting the word for their own benefit in the eyes of black culture. Think of it like today’s “Ok Boomer” subversion...it
was
clever, but it doesn’t retain the context of the subversion for very long which was my issue with blacks using the n-word for so long.
But then again, to each their own. I will not stop people from choosing what they want to do or say. Only that they should be prepared for any consequences should they speak before they think.