Can an Apology Suffice?

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
08/20/2020 at 13:48 • Filed to: None

You don’t say s**t like that on accident when you don’t ever say it at all. His on-air mea culpa is compelling, but should he keep his job?

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DISCUSSION (64)

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 13:55

Can people improve themselves and learn to be better humans? O f course.

Should this piece of trash ever get another second of air time? Fuck no.

The fact that it was picked up while he was unaware he was live, means that saying things like this holds no weight to him. Since he is incorrect in that assess ment, he can kick rocks.

I’m sure he’ll land on his feet in some minor league gig.

ttyymmnn > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
08/20/2020 at 13:57

The fact that it was picked up while he was unaware he was live, means that saying things like this holds no weight to him.

Exactly. This is part of his normal speech. Is he really sorry, or just sorry that he got caught? I will give him credit, though, for taking off the headset and leaving the booth when he realized what he had done. I think he knows he’s done, and he’s not fighting it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:00

He gone.

nermal > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:06

He immediately realized that he screwed up, but given the nature of how things work he’s gonna lose his job. Not sure where he will end up next . Probably insurance sales.

Ash78, voting early and often > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:15

I assume the word was “fag” and he’s referring to Winston-Salem, North Carolina?

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > ttyymmnn
08/20/2020 at 14:15

My view has ( and most likel y always will) be: If you’re really sorry, you’ll show it through actions, not words.

Like, y ou know what’s really easy for people who make a living talking? Making apologies sound genuine.

And y ou know what’s really easy if you’re not a dickhead? N ot acting like a dickhead.

Most importantly, you know what’s really hard for dickheads? NOT acting like a dickhead.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:19

Funny story...

I used to watch Good Day New York every morning. The two hosts at the time were Greg Kelly and Rosanna Scotto. Greg was the son of NY Police commissioner Ray Kelly. Rosanna the daughter of Anthony Scotto, a mobster affiliated with the Gambino family. Greg was a goofball, Rosanna more straight laced, basically the opposite of what one might expect. They made for an extremely fun and entertaining pair and I really enjoyed the show when they were hosting it together. Then Greg left the show and I stopped watching not long after.

At some point later I began to wonder what Greg was up to so I googled him and started looking through the results. This ultimately brought me to a message forum where he and the rest of the Good Day NY team were being discussed, and omfg the things that were being said about Greg and the weather guy Mike Woods.

At first glance this content seemed like the most homophobic things anyone could ever say. The kind of stuff that would get you canceled and publicly crucified were you to dare even think it, nevermind utter it out loud. It wasn’t just one member saying this stuff either, it was the bulk of them, and the rest seemed to be laughing along. I was perplexed. Had I accidentally wandered into 4chan?

No. No I hadn’t. It turned out to be a... how do I phrase this... It turned out to be a site comprised of the most catty gay people you could possibly imagine.

The moral of the story is that everyone is terrible. Some are just given a pass while others aren’t. If you’re not in the club you’re not getting a pass, be it gay, black, or whatever the disenfranchised sect of the week happens to be.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:21

There’s too many other people who would never say such things who deserve a chance at that job and would be better at that job than he is anyways. It’s a high profile, highly desirable job, he deserves to be let go. He had his chance and blew it.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > nermal
08/20/2020 at 14:23

It’s always insurance sales isn’t it?

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:24

Depends, was he just quoting Kenny Powers? Oh, how things have changed.

Kinja'd!!!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
08/20/2020 at 14:26

Then again, do we as a society allow people the opportunity to redeem themselves?

Ssfancyfresh > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:27

Are we not allowed to say figs anymore?

2020 is woke as hell

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
08/20/2020 at 14:32

That’s a great story and you told it well. I am reminded of a former colleague, another teacher, a gay woman who was very, shall we say, un-feminine in her appearance in the socio-binary sense, a big LGBT student booster, and so on. Extremely dedicated teacher and I appreciate — now, more than I did at the time — how she forced me to challenge my assumptions about people. Anyhow, one day she said something about fa***ts and I practically shouted, TIME OUT! You can’t say that s**t around here! Then she got kind of defensive and didn’t really have anything to say about it and it’s really a question about who is licensed to use certain terminology.

Grindintosecond > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:32

He gets to call the minor league games, thats how. and if hes good there, then gets a shot agtain at big time PROFESSIONAL games.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Ash78, voting early and often
08/20/2020 at 14:33

I honestly don’t know. I’m just curious whether or when or how someone can redeem themselves. Or not.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:36

Sure, he gets to start over his career, work his way bac k up. He had a dream job, he doesn’t get to keep it when he makes that kind of mistake. Maybe the next guy will be a little more humble and not use slurs to describe people.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > nermal
08/20/2020 at 14:36

Seems likely he’d get canned if he didn’t offer a resignation first. I am interested in how me might or whether he could redeem himself. That’s my question in this and it strikes me that the organization who employed him could have an impact on the larger society by giving him an opportunity to redeem himself. And it’s not like the cancel culture isn’t universally owned: look at the Dixie Chicks’ fiasco during the W administration. I would love to see concepts of atonement and redemption applied more broadly — and accepted more broadly — in our society. I’m not saying I think Brennenman should keep his job, because I really don’t know what to think. That’s why I posit this as a rhetorical question.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/20/2020 at 14:38

Would be my expectation, but I’m not sure his being out is necessarily the most constructive course for our society.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
08/20/2020 at 14:40

Yes, and yes. And then he brings his faith community into it. What do they talk about there ?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
08/20/2020 at 14:41

Sometimes I’m a d**khead, but I find that consistently being so takes real effort.

I like how you’ve put all of that.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
08/20/2020 at 14:43

And not necessarily entirely for the worse.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Ssfancyfresh
08/20/2020 at 14:47

Hah! It’s a shame that basic consideration for others has to be scorned as woke. Not that this is you, I’m just stating my general opinion.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
08/20/2020 at 14:48

And maybe Mr. Brennenman will do some reflecting about the sort of man he’s allowed himself to become and the sort he wants to be. Good opportunity for him to do that.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Grindintosecond
08/20/2020 at 14:49

Question, though: will he continue to be a closeted homophobe, or will he reflect and soften his heart?

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:50

People bring up their “faith” whenever they show their true colors. Are we supposed to forgive them because Jesus will? I understand that we are all sinners, but I thought faith was supposed to teach you how to be a good person.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 14:57

What should his penalty be, if short of termination, and would it differ if he’d used “ n——-” ?

Even though he thought he wasn’t on the air, he used this hateful language at work . How should they treat a teacher who used this language at work, at a time they thought no one else was listening?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
08/20/2020 at 14:59

Yeah, you’re officially a shitty Christian if you use that word.

Kinja'd!!!

ttyymmnn > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/20/2020 at 15:06

Or else you’re just really bad at it.

gettingoldercarguy > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 15:11

In his apology he said “This isn’t who I am.” That consistently infuriates me when people fail to take responsibility for their actions. Yes, it is who you at, it isn’t how you’d like other people to see you and you’re ashamed only that you were caught.

No, he shouldn’t get a second chance until he a) accepts what he is and says so and b) takes sincere actions to better understand the marginalized society he insulted.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
08/20/2020 at 15:14

I’d argue most Christians are pretty bad at it, but that’s kind of the point, right? But using a word like that means you’re actively not trying.

Kiltedpadre > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 15:17

I think we need opportunities to show that redemption is possible. Will it be with him? That I can’t decide since I certainly wouldn’t be qualified to say if anything he does would show he’s become a “new man.”

If he does get the chance I can’t see anyway he can just stay where he is. Even if he really does improve himself the optics would be bad for the team/league. He’ll have to drop down to the farm team of a farm team of a farm team. Maybe if he agrees to enough community outreach or service work tied with some counseling work he might be able to make his way back to the pros eventually.

Ssfancyfresh > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 15:18

I like using woke as a device. I think it’s as provocative as figs.

DipodomysDeserti > ttyymmnn
08/20/2020 at 15:19

I think faith is just there to hold back the existential dread that, despite how much importance we place on ourselves, we’re all gonna end up as worm food.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 15:26

I don’t get too bent out of shape about words. I’d rather people say what they think rather than hide it. I have enough of my own baggage to care about other people’s.

As someone who played baseball half their lives, I can assure you than a good portion of players use or have used the same language.

nermal > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 15:46

It’s the path of least resistance. Guy says unacceptably offensive stuff on air, gets fired immediately, done. No more is required from the organization outside of hiring a replacement.

To “rehab” him? That’s gonna take a ton of effort, in addition to the cost of ongoing negative publicity for the organization for still employing “that guy”. Besides, how are you going to rehab him? Teach him how to use the mute button?

The current society is one of “punish & deter” philosophy , not “atonement & redemption”. If you fire a guy for saying offensive stuff, that not only punishes him but also deters others from doing the same thing.

Cash Rewards > DipodomysDeserti
08/20/2020 at 17:12

John rocker was a piece of shit.

Signed,

A key fan

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > gettingoldercarguy
08/20/2020 at 17:19

If that wasn’t who you are, then we wouldn’t have this situation, would we? Perhaps if he’d said, “I don’t like who I was just then,” we could get behind that.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
08/20/2020 at 17:22

It all boils down to a person’s sense of what their responsibility is to the society they live in, doesn’t it?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
08/20/2020 at 17:23

I worked with some of the baseball players at the high school where I worked. They seemed to think that being foul-mouthed made them a more successful athlete.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > nermal
08/20/2020 at 17:26

Does punishment deter? In my experience, not so much. If at all.

Your first paragraph, is that how you see things as being?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
08/20/2020 at 17:55

Define “good person.” Whatever definition you come up with, I think we could consider Mr. Brenneman’s statement a counterexample.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/20/2020 at 17:58

My rhetorical question would have been the same.

In the case of the teacher, they’d probably be union, and still at work. Probably, but not necessarily.

nermal > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 19:12

In theory punishing one person for doing something deters others from doing the same. In practice it’s obviously no where close to 100% effective. Even looking at the subject at hand, surely this will not be the last broadcaster fired for something said on air.

Absolutely see organizations taking the easy route . Especially when there is nothing to be gained otherwise.

gettingoldercarguy > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 19:13

I really wish people would start saying something to that effect.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 19:21

I have a responsibility to treat those I intereact with with the respect they deserve. Our society is too screwed up to dwell on.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 19:27

I curse like a sailor, but only to express myself, not to offend people. I have gay family and friends and have never used the “f” word, even as a kid. Always pissed me off when people used it as kids, but it let you know exactly what type of person they were.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > gettingoldercarguy
08/20/2020 at 22:01

It would amount to actually taking ownership rather than offering reasons or excuses. Own it first, then talk about the why or the because later.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
08/20/2020 at 22:04

A wise man once said, and I paraphrase, if you take offense when none was intended, then you are a fool. If you take offense when it was intended, then you are doubly a fool. Lots of foolish Liberals out there, by that measure. Not sure I agree with you about what type of person someone is until they insist upon keeping on saying it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
08/20/2020 at 22:05

Doesn’t that require a judgment on your part?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > nermal
08/20/2020 at 22:07

I’d argue that the only person deterred by a punishment, pretty much, is the person who knew better in the first place, or had something to lose.

As for gained otherwise, I think it’s more the case of who gains. Likely no gain financially to the organization by doing something that is constructive to society, so why bother?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Ssfancyfresh
08/20/2020 at 22:09

I have some devices that I use as well. I like engaging with someone who is an obvious Trumper and then not letting them figure out just where I stand, and they get thought-provoked rather than triggered.

Grindintosecond > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 22:12

He can reflect on that while calling unprofessional games. Why should he get a pass? He gets a demotion to fill in human interest sideline work.

Ssfancyfresh > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/20/2020 at 22:17

I like the cut of your jib.

In the end, it’s just conversation. What good is it to have different thoughts and ideas if we can’t share with others? Thoughtful discussion is a lost art.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Ssfancyfresh
08/20/2020 at 23:21

Thoughtful discussion is for losers and wimps.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Grindintosecond
08/20/2020 at 23:26

I’m just asking rhetorical questions here. I think it’s really an unfortunate situation that this man has such a hateful streak and has thus will likely forfeit his living. Give him something to think about at church. He brought up the church aspect of his life; I did not.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Grindintosecond
08/21/2020 at 00:38

Is this something you’d be interested in having? If so, it’d be yours for the cost of the postage.

Kinja'd!!!

SmugAardvark > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/21/2020 at 00:44

Like others have said, anyone who claims “this isn’t who I am” automatically gets me fully believing that their apology is not authentic. You said those things, you did those things. Grow the hell up, own it, and actually put in the effort to become a better human being.

They might as well just release a statement saying only , “I’m sorry I got caught.”

SmugAardvark > Ssfancyfresh
08/21/2020 at 00:45

Kinja'd!!!

It’s true. He does.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > SmugAardvark
08/21/2020 at 00:59

You know he’s saying that kind of hateful stuff in his life. He brought up his churchgoing. Does he talk like that with the brethren? Disappointing.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > SmugAardvark
08/21/2020 at 01:06

When I was stationed in Louisiana, at Fort Polk, in the mid 80s, I visited an oil worker and his wife in Shreveport. It was a grand weekend, but whilst there, we visited an oil rig worker and his wife in their home. They were probably about 60 and she was a school teacher. They had a big, burly bull terrier who’d patrol the pool for leaves and jump in and get them out. We were sitting there talking and I was commenting on Buggar the bull terrier and this woman would curl her lips and talk about how Buggar protected them from the f*****g n*****s who might want to jump the fence and rob them. She said those words multiple times and I was young and nothing like as awakened as I’ve become in the 30 years since that afternoon, but I was in total shock. I just could not believe that a school teacher could talk like that. Only now do I understand how much harm she could have done, even on the unintentional, in her classroom over decades of teaching. It’s appalling, really. Last year, in my district, we had a white math teacher who walked into his classroom and pronounced greeting, What’s up, my n———s? Still works there, though he was forced out on leave for a semester. *shakes head*

i86hotdogs > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/21/2020 at 05:15

His situation is bad, but him apologizing on air while calling a home run mid apology is laugh out loud funny

Ssfancyfresh > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/21/2020 at 08:00

So... figs.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > i86hotdogs
08/21/2020 at 08:34

I’m sick of a** holes.

Grindintosecond > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
08/21/2020 at 16:12

I dont have a flight helmet. I was never military. It is a cool bag but I have so many backpacks and bags through the house from giveaways at schools and the wife’s work and my work and what not. I’ll have to pass but thank you for thinking of me!

Now if you were giving away a set of deep aero clincher bike wheels........