The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

According to the dictionary, the noun "thug" can be defined as: "a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer." However, anymore, it seems as if the term is used only in reference to a certain demographic - African-Americans. Seriously, when's the last time you heard a white guy referred to as a thug? Take your time... This especially seems to be the case with regard to far right-wingers. Check out such a site. all of the comments below the article, and try counting the number of times commentators refer to an African-American as a thug. Then go through and count the number of times they call a person of a different race (especially whites) a thug. Just over the past year, I've heard the following comments: - "Richard Sherman is a thug!" - "Barack Obama is a thug!" - "Basketball is full of thugs!" - "Trayvon Martin was a thug!" - "Most rappers are thugs!" Never have I heard any of the foll...

Since the Seattle Seahawks' 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, there has been more talk about Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman's post-game comments than about the coming Super Bowl between his team and the Denver Broncos. After Sherman made his comments, the Twittersphere went bonkers - with many people referring to the Seattle cornerback as a "thug." When Sherman responded to that very label, he said this: "The only reason it bothers me is because it seems like it's the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowadays. It's like everyone else said the N-word and they said 'Thug' and they're like, 'Ah, that's fine.' That's where it kind of takes me aback and it's kind of disappointing. ... What's the definition of a thug really? Maybe I'm talking loudly and doing something I'm not supposed to. But I'm not ... there was a hockey game where they didn't even play hockey. They just ...

Is it just me or is there a written requirement somewhere which says, "If you're a character in a horror film, you have to be stupid"? My girlfriend and I went to see the film The Purge last night, and like with many contemporary horror films, we spent more time laughing and giving each other the why-in-the-hell-are-they-doing-this-are-they-stupid looks. Yes, I know the main intent of horror films is to frighten viewers. However, if the viewers find the script and plot so ridiculous, it's unbelievable to the point of being silly, then how will the film genuinely frighten said viewers? Here's my slightly exaggerated version of a scene from a contemporary horror film: Setting: A newly wed couple driving along the interstate, heading to Little Rock, Arkansas late at night Mr. Eugene Blockhead: "Oh, look honey. There's that man over there looking for a ride. What do you think? Should we pick him up?" Mrs. Mikayla Blockhead: "I don't k...

Exaggeration Sold It’s become an epidemic, Murder, rape and theft, Stay inside and lock your doors, Setup an alarm and buy a gun, One gruesome image after another, Fear and paranoia provoked, Panicked into purchasing safety devices, All the while crime decreases, Thirty seconds at a time, Attractive faces and voices displayed, Advice on how to better your life, Items and prices then portrayed, Hyperboles prevalent, There’s nothing like this, The first of its kind, Resulting in love and happiness, Constant imagery showcased, The sellers of products and exaggeration, Honesty of no importance, Just the illusion of being safe and contemporary.