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Bill Cosby, now a free man, wants to do a standup act again in U.S., Canada

That is true, of course. But a behavior we might see as innocent in white people, we might see as menacing in blacks. Or Hispanics, especially if they're chatting away in Spanish and you have no idea what they're saying.

Humans are biologically wired to fear what is different from themselves. It's an instinct that has kept our species alive for centuries. Unfortunately, it can easily turn into racism.

I don't know about the US but In my country, different types of slang have been invented to hide things from others, from the police, from a possible mark, from people not in the business... When people around you speak a foreign language, chances are they're talking about you... and don't want you to know.
 
Around here, it's more likely to simply be immigrants who are still more comfortable conversing in their native language.
 
i can’t even say that I believe the Cosby Show didn’t actually do more harm than good overall. At the least the show gave cover to racists who could point to their love of the show as “proof” they weren’t racist, while at the same time, doing and saying the things racists say and do.
I really don't understand what you mean here. Could you elaborate?

I don't see it as the fault of a show without racism, if racists exploit the popularity it has for their own purposes. That's on them, not the show. Racists gonna racist, and all that.

Was The Cosby Show racist? I honestly don't know from personal experience, because I never watched it. That was more my brother's thing. But I do not recall anybody complaining at the time it was running that this wildly popular hit series was doing more harm than good because racists were somehow using it as cover. Nor was I aware that people might be having such concerns in any appreciable numbers, frankly, until I read your post.

Of course, in the wake of Cosby's legal issues and of his misdeeds coming out, i.e. more recently, many people have been repositioning themselves relative to what once was extremely popular in the mainstream and/or coming to terms with the fact that at one time they enjoyed his work. But really, Cosby's show did more harm than good, even before his misdeeds were widely known? I don't get that. Could you elaborate?
 
I really don't understand what you mean here. Could you elaborate?

I don't see it as the fault of a show without racism, if racists exploit the popularity it has for their own purposes. That's on them, not the show. Racists gonna racist, and all that.

Was The Cosby Show racist? I honestly don't know from personal experience, because I never watched it. That was more my brother's thing. But I do not recall anybody complaining at the time it was running that this wildly popular hit series was doing more harm than good because racists were somehow using it as cover. Nor was I aware that people might be having such concerns in any appreciable numbers, frankly, until I read your post.

Of course, in the wake of Cosby's legal issues and of his misdeeds coming out, i.e. more recently, many people have been repositioning themselves relative to what once was extremely popular in the mainstream and/or coming to terms with the fact that at one time they enjoyed his work. But really, Cosby's show did more harm than good, even before his misdeeds were widely known? I don't get that. Could you elaborate?

I was watching CNN's The history of the Sitcom a few days ago. The episodes are divided into theme rather time, so every episode tracks 50 years of television stapled to specification.

They praised Cosby.

They said, Tim Allen said, despite what we have found out about the man recently, what the show was and did still stands.

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I really don't understand what you mean here. Could you elaborate?
Actually, I did elaborate in the rest of the post you partially quoted, but I don’t mind repeating it.
I don't see it as the fault of a show without racism, if racists exploit the popularity it has for their own purposes. That's on them, not the show. Racists gonna racist, and all that.
I don’t believe, nor did I state , that The Cosby Show purposely harmed Black people or the culture at large.

What I said was that I wasn’t sure that the show didn’t do more harm than good. The show gave some people a completely false sense that theCosbys were a “typical” Black family, not from an economic standpoint, but personality-wise.

The show was practically whitewashed, except the faces were Black. I assume this was done to make the characters more palatable to white people. Cosby originally wanted a more realistic portrayal, but was overruled. The show may have created another stereotype; “Black people with money are like the Cosby’s.”

Also mentioned this in my post on the subject, that because of the show’s overwhelming popularity, and wholesomeness, people used it to argue that racism cannot be so bad, if so, how could there be a show like this? The show distracted many from the very real problems facing Black people.

The show also gave racists cover to claim that they couldn’t be racist, “I love the Cosby’s.”

Was The Cosby Show racist? I honestly don't ks ow from personal experience, because I never watched it.
You, and at least one other person in this thread, need to read more carefully. :lol: Neither I, nor anyone else has said The Cosby Show was racist.

But I do not recall anybody complaining at the time it was running that this wildly popular hit series was doing more harm than good because racists were somehow using it as cover. Nor was I aware that people might be having such concerns in any appreciable numbers, frankly, until I read your post.
Seems odd to me that you kept up with commentary about a show you never watched, but okay.

If you’re trying to say that critical views of The Cosby Show have come into vogue only recently because of Cosby’s crimes, I would respond that if this is what you believe, it is more likely a product of your own lack of awareness on the topic. What I have said about the show is something I’v believed for several years. It’s not brain surgery but does take some open mindedness, racial sensitivity, and a bit of insight.
I don't see it as the fault of a show without racism, if racists exploit the popularity it has for their own purposes. That's on them, not the show. Racists gonna racist, and all that.
Yes, and this the reason I never said that I thought the show should never have been on. I liked it, didn’t love it, for many reasons.

Cosby’s show didn’t really even do all that much for Black TV actors, producers, directors, since Black faces just about disappeared from network shows by the end of the 90’s. Yes, “racists are gonna racist,” I think of this every time I see people whining about diversity, online. ;)
 
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You, and at least one other person in this thread, need to read more carefully. :lol: Neither I, nor anyone else has said The Cosby Show was racist.
Well, I didn't say or imply that anyone said the show was racist. It was however, a question worth asking.

Seems odd to me that you kept up with commentary about a show you never watched, but okay.
Heaven forbid someone would take an interest in current events or socially relevant topics....

Anyway, thank you for clarifying what you meant.
 
My parents didn’t like me watching Fat Albert…but I did. It is still the M*A*S*H of the cartoon world. I wish he lived a better life…but him dying behind bars serves no purpose. He did time. Weinstein? Now he can burn in hell.
 
The last couple of times I had the misfortune of watching Cosby talk on TV his voice was very weak and he appeared not really switched on, sounded kind of sleepy, so I'm not convinced he's going to be able to pull off any sort of 'stand up' routine.

Of course, that was pre-trial so it may have been an act in itself (see also Weinstein suddenly barely able to walk unaided).
 
My parents didn’t like me watching Fat Albert…but I did. It is still the M*A*S*H of the cartoon world. I wish he lived a better life…but him dying behind bars serves no purpose. He did time. Weinstein? Now he can burn in hell.
Yeah, I was of the age to watch Fat Albert, also. And listen to his eminently quotable comedy albums.
 
The last couple of times I had the misfortune of watching Cosby talk on TV his voice was very weak and he appeared not really switched on, sounded kind of sleepy, so I'm not convinced he's going to be able to pull off any sort of 'stand up' routine.

Of course, that was pre-trial so it may have been an act in itself (see also Weinstein suddenly barely able to walk unaided).

Well, that means he's a better actor than person.
 
Humans are biologically wired to fear what is different from themselves. It's an instinct that has kept our species alive for centuries. Unfortunately, it can easily turn into racism.
:eek: What?!?!

Unwarranted fear, mistrust, hate, for other humans because they’re different, is NOT a trait humans are “born” with.

Fear, hate, and mistrust, by humans for those who are different doesn’t “turn into” racism, it IS racism. Humans are not born racist, Racism is LEARNED behavior. It is learned from the people who raise you, friends, your general environment.

Where do you guys get this stuff.
 
Fearing what is unfamiliar, different, or "off"... that is human survival instinct. And having dealt with the consequences of it for forty-odd years, I know it all too well.
 
I got to disagree that racism isn't something we are born with. Heck we are born with tons of negative instincts that come from the lizard part of the brain. I think my favorite TV quotes that sort of describes this comes from Trek of course. You have Kirks, we are killers but I choose not to kill today and in The Bonding you got the scene were Riker tells Data, That maybe our history would be a little less bloody if we felt the lost of strangers as much as we do individuals we are close do and in Chimera on DS9 you got Quarks "Don't you get it Odo? We humanoids are a product of millions of years of evolution. Our ancestors learned the hard way that what you don't know might kill you. They wouldn't have survived if they hadn't jumped back when they encountered a snake coiled in the muck; and now, millions of years later, that instinct is still there. It's genetic. Our tolerance to other life forms doesn't e tend beyond the two-arm, two leg variety. I hate to break this to you, but when you're in your natural state, you're more than our poor genes can handle." To me education and empathy and how you are raised do help people fight against these instincts and all of our negative lizard brain instincts but those instincts are still their in all humans. They can come out when people feel threatened or insecure or because they are uneducated but it's always their in everyone and not as far under the surface as people would like to think.
 
Fearing what is unfamiliar, different, or "off"... that is human survival instinct. And having dealt with the consequences of it for forty-odd years, I know it all too well.
If you believe people are born with fear, instinctual mistrust, and hatred of other human beings, you are completely wrong no matter your 40 years. :lol:

Babies are born with very little instinctual fear. Why the frack do you think parents have to keep an eye on toddlers? Why do you think little kids will stick their hands in flame? They have very little instinctive fear or mistrust. Why do you think children have to be “taught” not to talk to strangers? Because if they aren’t taught, they will put their trust in just about anyone or anything.

It is the same with racism. Children have to be “taught” to mistrust, fear, hate, people because they look different. Children are not born this way. What you believe is something taught by white supremacists.

Now, your assertion that there is a “survival instinct,” actually has some truth to it. But that is not what you originally stated, and really has nothing to do with the topic of racism.The survival instinct babies have has to do with reactions to things like the sensation that they are falling, or being smothered, or feeling pain. Has nothing to do with reactions to people who you think look “off.”

If you think a survival instinct has something to do with race or racism, please explain why and how. Please be specific.

Bruh, you need to avail yourself of some of the online information on human biology and sociology. :)
 
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I got to disagree that racism isn't something we are born with. Heck we are born with tons of negative instincts that come from the lizard part of the brain. I think my favorite TV quotes that sort of describes this comes from Trek of course. You have Kirks, we are killers but I choose not to kill today and in The Bonding you got the scene were Riker tells Data, That maybe our history would be a little less bloody if we felt the lost of strangers as much as we do individuals we are close do and in Chimera on DS9 you got Quarks "Don't you get it Odo? We humanoids are a product of millions of years of evolution. Our ancestors learned the hard way that what you don't know might kill you. They wouldn't have survived if they hadn't jumped back when they encountered a snake coiled in the muck; and now, millions of years later, that instinct is still there. It's genetic. Our tolerance to other life forms doesn't e tend beyond the two-arm, two leg variety. I hate to break this to you, but when you're in your natural state, you're more than our poor genes can handle." To me education and empathy and how you are raised do help people fight against these instincts and all of our negative lizard brain instincts but those instincts are still their in all humans. They can come out when people feel threatened or insecure or because they are uneducated but it's always their in everyone and not as far under the surface as people would like to think.
Annnnnnd then there’s the Jayson take. :lol:
 
It is the same with racism. Children have to be “taught” to mistrust, fear, hate, people because they look different. Children are not born this way. What you believe is something taught by white supremacists.
I agree 100% with your post but I have to highlight this particular part because I'm reminded of the South Pacific song "You Have to Be Carefully Taught" which is all about how racism is taught to children.
 
The problem with the learned part of racism being the only issue is it makes humans as nothing more than basic sponges that just record everything they see and hear and absorb and aren't able to see or think beyond those experiences. But that would make us the only animal on the planet that doesn't have instincts that exist on a raw emotional level. Of course I do know people can go to deep on the instinct argument. Plus we do have positive instincts as well. Like compassion and of course being self aware gives us the ability to comprehend the ramifications of our actions so when we do something bad to someone we know what effects can happen. But that doesn't mean emotion and instincts don't sometimes win out over being self aware. That is because we are very easy to manipulate and also we suffer mental pain that alters our ability to always think beyond that pain.
 
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If you think a survival instinct has something to do with race or racism, please explain why and how. Please be specific.

All I know is that racism is fueled by ignorance, and focusing on the differences between people (physical or cultural, real or imagined) is one of the bread and butter tactics of organizations who promote it. That's one of the "carefully taught" paradigms: the notion of "they are not like us."
 
All I know is that racism is fueled by ignorance, and focusing on the differences between people (physical or cultural, real or imagined) is one of the bread and butter tactics of organizations who promote it. That's one of the "carefully taught" paradigms: the notion of "they are not like us."
Oh, you seem to have “adjusted” your original premise a bit. Welcome to the real world. :)
 
The problem with the learned part of racism being the only issue is it makes humans as nothing more than basic sponges that just record everything they see and hear.
You don’t know much about babies, do you? This is almost a textbook description of some of their characteristics :)
But that would make us the only animal on the planet that doesn't have instincts that exist on a raw motional level.
pain.
No, humans are born with far fewer “instincts” than many other animals.Yes, I know we’re at the top of the food chain so you think that means we get the best of everything, but it isn’t always true.

You really should stop posting in this thread based on what you think you know.
 
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