I don't have a problem with Cosby's message(my dad's been saying this stuff for years), I just don't care for his condescending tone. It's like he's scolding people, which is uncalled for. He needs to chill out with that sh!t.

uPtoWnNY said:

I'm not comparing but Malcolm took the scolding approach too. For all the inappropriate methods, I'll not be mad @ Cosby for what he said, his heart is on the right place(regardless of his misjudgments).

I think those who got offended by him felt that way becoz they're struggling with the same bullshit he addressed in his speeches.

Kids 2day are priceless!

The other day I saw a little bastid cussing his momma out for not buying him a nike, talking that bullshit about "You LIED to me, you always LIE to me". All she did was take of all that in with a smile and a "I know, I know, I'll make it up to you next time" WTF, she's worst than him.

I should write my well b4 I talk to my mother like that coz I know good and goddamn well that I'll not survive past that encounter.

Lets it face it, kids 2day are bunch of spoiled fuck-ups and their parents are WORST than them.

When you have a dirty deep wound on your leg, of course it'll hurt when you spread some colone/alcohol on it,,,,same way when Bill scold his people for their pretty obevious mistakes. Its called, tuff love.
[Edited 1/26/07 14:38pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

Like really! I mean I have no problem with the message because my father been telling me and my siblings all along too to never let nothing stop you from getting a good education and also show example of good parenting, it just the tone he said that turns a lot of people off though, especially at the same people who he referred to as they would mentioned his mistakes before they would even take his advice as a consideration. If he improve his approach and also admit his fuckups too then folks would might take him more seriously and would listen to him since he been there done that. He seemed so bitter too! I know that he is still in mourning and pain over the death of his son, which I remembered it happened 10 years ago next month, and the death of his castmate and close friend from Cosby (I forgot her name) but damn...
[Edited 1/26/07 17:30pm]

Harlepolis said:

I disagree. I am offended by Cosby's tirades because, until he raises a child in the ghetto of today, he has no idea what the hell he is talking about. I could see if he raised his kids poor or if the five of them turned out perfect but they didn't.

I grew up and continue to live in one of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago but last week, I sent my oldest child off to college.

When Coz has walked a mile in any of our shoes, then he can come back and holla at me. Til then, he can have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up.

Stymie said:

You watch Eddie Murphy's Raw too much, Stymie

Bill is from the ghetto originally. Then again, I don't think yoy have to be from the ghetto in order to address the issues that your people are struggling with.

People need to take his tune with a grain of salt and look @ the bigger picture. Just look paste all of that, see what the brotha's aiming at.

And I'm proud of you Stymie, I know you don't need somebody to tell you that, but sending a child of your own to college when you climbed the walls to provide that for him shows what type of mother you are. I'm a mother myself too, and I'm waiting for the day when I can send my kids to college thats my BIGGEST dream.

Stymie said:

I don't think you are one of the parents that Bill Cosby is talking about. Besides, isnt Bill Cosby from the projects of Philadelphia? I think he knows good and well what struggles people have to endure to achieve the Amerian dream.

Harlepolis said:

Yeah, I have seen Raw a lot but that quote was so perfect for this situation.

I disagree with you again: how can someone speak to the ghetto experience when one hasn't been through it? Yeah, Bill was born poor and was raised poor and life probably was a hell of a lot more different and difficult for him but we on some new shit now. To me, IMHO, it's easy to say what someone should do when you are looking down on them from high up.

Oh, it may be idealistic and not particularly practical for many, but it's sound advice nevertheless. I don't things there's any dispute there.

Stymie said:

I'm not sure why you're offended. You're the type of parent Cosby wants us to be. You did what you had to do, you made sure that ur child had what they needed, understood the value of an education and that they made good choices. Not only did he/she graduate high school, they're in college. That kind of seems like the natural order of things, but for some ppl in the ghetto that's unheard of, and unreal. That's all he really wants our ppl to get back to. He wants ppl to take responsibility and not give up even when things are so bad that it feels like that's the only thing you can do. Nothing major, just stay out of trouble, make good choices, get an education, and respect yourselves and all others.

PurpleRighteous1 said:

Well, as far as Bill Cosby getting "railroaded by his own ppl" - don't generalize - he's seen as a hypocrite in a lot of ways. Cheating on your wife, possibly fathering a child with someone other than his wife...Besides, it's easy to rail against the ills of the inner-city when you're going to get out of there before it gets dark. He's come to my city a few times in the past year to speak, but the people he's trying to reach don't read the newspapers and aren't going to take the time to listen to his words.

He can sometimes come off as condescending and bitter, which doesn't help when trying to spread a message.
[Edited 1/27/07 2:45am]

Wasn't this all like, a really long time ago, that he said that stuff?

I absolutley LOVE him.

Stymie said:

abigail05 said:

Everyone likes to kill the messenger and not heed the message. He's human....half the damn world cheats!! What makes him a person to worship when it comes to relationships. Last I checked.....he was still married and for whatever reason he cheated or creeped or whatever you choose to call it, they stayed together and worked it through. Show him and his wife some respect for THAT.

Folks who choose to pick out a persons shortcomings are usually those who have those same shortcomings or have experienced them in some way shape or form. And it makes you or he any less exempt from being human?

There's a way to deliver a message without coming across like a condescending, bitter, know-it-all. That's been the main criticism coming from the folks in my area who he's preached to. Not the message - the way it's being delivered. The sad thing is, he's already preaching to the choir - as mentioned earlier, the people who would most benefit from any kind of positive message aren't going to be found attending a Bill Cosby rally.

DexMSR said:

Ain't nothin' new - just look at Bill and Hilary Clinton...They're called arrangements.

Did he mention anything about teaching children to repect their relationships and the importance of fidelity when making a commitment to someone?

Janfriend said:

Scroll up and read DexMSR's post

Harlepolis said:

Oh, I did, but there is a difference between talking at someone, with a tone of superiority, and sincerely trying to help the situation. He's not in a position to put himself on a pedestal. The messenger is more important to me than the message

What really kills me is the assumption that parents aren't doing these things. We know the statistics and demographics of our troubled youth because the government keeps track of such things, but do they interview every single parent of these children to see if they are indeed doing the things listed in the original post? No. They just assume they're are not. There's no perfect statistical record to assume such things

Janfriend said:

I don't understand where this WHOLE sensitivity's coming from. If he's talking about you and you felt offended, then step your game up and do something to fix it, its YOUR life. If he's not talking about you, then whats the fuss?

He's not generalizing anybody when you read between the lines. Let the brotha voice his frustration without having to look over his shoulder becoz he's not on that "politically correctness" bandwagon.

So WHAT if he's not walking on my shoes or speaking in a superior manner? He's telling the truth, ain't he?

If he's lying through his gap, then I'd understand people's sensitivity but if he DID point out something that plaque our society when we know good and goddamn well that he's telling nothing but the gospel truth,,,,,then folks need to start saving thier bent-out-of-shape energy for cleaning their backyards and put some house training into their kids. And if you already DID your job, there's no need for you to hit the ceiling becoz it wasn't directed at you in the 1st place.

From the looks of it, I don't think the man will stop(and I'm glad he won't),,,,and if what I'm thinking is true, then folks will have a looooong time to complain about what should or shouldn't Bill Cosby do.

P.S. My post isn't directed at you Jan, I'm talking in general terms.

Harlepolis said:

xplnyrslf said:

I would respect your grammatical critique if you didnt have to edit your post. If I recall, this is coming from the same person who uttered the phrase "get your butt out of your ass".....or something like that.

Puddin' Pops.

Harlepolis said:

I understand what you're saying, but I disagree. There's no proof that these parents are doing those things on that list. What about those parents that do everything to steer their children in the right direction, but they still fall to the wayside? Who will Cosby be pointing the finger at about that?


He needs to worry about teaching men to respect their wives by keeping his dick in his pants

Janfriend said:

Janfriend said:

Like I said over and over for many times, he wasn't generalizing. And I don't think the parents who steered their kids in the right direction need a tap on the shoulder and a "well done" kiss, they are already secure enough to know that they're winners whether they get acknowledged or not.

And I won't defend his adulteral act(I'm not even sure if this already a word in the English language lol anyway) but then again, who the hell is he to be put on a pedestal in the 1st place?

ALL of the US presidents (who should good examples considering that they're leaders) have hit the skin,,,and its still overlooked.

But when Bill Cosby do it,,,,its hell on earth? Again, I'm not condoning what he did, and I damn sure don't condon people's double standard about this subject. But I'm trying to look @ the bigger picture and not get caught up in this "divide and conquer" game the media;s trying to play when she leaked this story.

Harlepolis said:

I wasn't talking about acknowledgement. I asked who he is going to blame when the parents steer their children in the right direction, but the children do not follow the right path. He's generalizing and assuming that parents of low-life children don't teach their children to speak English, don't show up at school when a teacher calls, don't turn the tv off (it's not an idiot box btw. That's more elitist attitude) when profane rap comes on, don't refrain from cursing around the kids, don't teach their boys that women should be cherished (which he himself, doesn't do. don't tell them that education is a prize. Where's the statistical proof of his assumptions??? He's assuming that the reason some of our youth are living low lives is soley because of the parents, not realizing a lot of it has to do with enviroment. Perhaps, it's because his own enviroment is unrealistic



.


Fair enough. I lack respect for him though, mainly because of his condescending attitude when he, himself, is a very flawed individual

Janfriend said:[quote]

Harlepolis said:

We are ALL flawed, but that doesn't take away accountability for our children and our futures. I am a teacher and I see it first hand what he is speaking of.

DexMSR said:

...but don't you also see the really good parents whose children are not doing well in school and hanging around the wrong people?

Janfriend said:

When that is the case...those "really good parents" are even more involved. I can tell right away which of my students are getting feedback from both parents and who are not...it shows in their behavior immediately!