Michael Savage has crossed the line

[ccoa]

Normally, I ignore what the "shock jocks" have to say, as I would hope any reasonable person, liberal or conservative, would do. However, his words on a recent broadcast were so unbelievably offensive that there simply was no ignoring them.

“I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.” And then he went on to say that they needed a father to say: “Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, you idiot.”

How is this man still employed? How can he spew such hateful nonsense as "facts" and still have listeners? Have Americans completely lost what little sense and sanity they ever had? How can this man be considered an "expert" on anything by anyone if he can't be bothered to so much as Google autism, let along pick up an actual reference?

[Kojo]

Well, golly, maybe someone told him as a child "Being a man is being a complete and utter jerk to everyone in a station lower than you. If they can't man up, then they shouldn't exist." I have a cousin who is autistic, he's no faker, he truly is autistic. He is actually very smart, and he does exceptionally well in mathematics. He tries hard in school, and isn't doing a "dumb act." If you wanna see some true morons who need to man up and cut the dumb act, look at the kids who are trying to be cool. They think that any form of initiative is a display of some form of stupidity, and by showing that they're stupid, they think they'll get an easier hand dealt to them. I see it all the time and it disgusts me. Anyone from high school recently will see it, and anyone who started college recently will see it.

[Atnas]

Don't let one man's opinion ruin your faith in our society, there's plenty else to do it, haha.

[shadowseer]

There's bunch of arrogant twats who thinks like that.
Our society is collasping rapidly, its sad really.

[Volrath]

This is vintage Savage. I still remember when he told a gay caller to "eat sausage, get AIDS and die" or something to that effect. He and Limbaugh have made a career out of spewing bullshit to people who can't be bothered to fact check.

You'll enjoy this, though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEm1A-udoAw

P.S. His real name is Michael Weiner.

[HawkZombie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrHh492Nojg&feature=related

This made me crack up...but you have to realize...he makes his living by being a 'shock jock'

I honestly, however, never heard of him until just now. I have the feeling talk radio will go out soon enough, when people get more and more iPods with Podcasts, and listen to their MP3s instead of the radio.

[ccoa]

It isn't so much what he said, although as the parent of a child with severe autism I am extremely offended, but that he suffered absolutely no consequences for it. Instead, he's spinning a cock-and-bull story about it being "out of context" and "not what he meant." Which just means he needs to buy his first dictionary and look up "context", because there was nothing said before, after, or between those remarks that clarified or changed the meaning.

This is a symptom of a much larger problem. Is there something in the genetically engineered food that is making Americans turn a blind eye to politicians and their ilk when they do something blatantly morally wrong or even outright illegal? What changed since the Clinton administration?

And that was a good video. ^_^ I have heard the nickname "Savage Weiner," now it makes sense.

[HawkZombie]

Ya know...now that you mention it, it DOES seem like the general populace is becoming more and more complacent...odd..

[Ronove]

I want to smack him.
:| Seriously, if autistic kids COULD, they would. With all the shit they are given, if they really could "straighten up" they probably would. My brother isn't a moron, he's quite smart. Impeccable memory (come on, it's been 10 years since I played Super Mario RPG and all I have to do is ask him what to do and he comes up right away with what to do), and a nice guy, RIDICULOUSLY smart, and did I mention he's actually nice? I'd rather have him this way rather than a jerk like that guy.

I just want to tie that guy up and beat him with a bat.

[Atnas]

Should I be angry at the guy? It seems like everyone else who has someone with autism in their family is, but I'm not. I don't see the point, it's just one person's opinion. @_@

[ccoa]

He's spreading misinformation about a very real disability that has to constantly struggle to get funding for research as it is. Not only that, but he's taken the extremely offensive and hurtful stance that it's "all the parents' fault."

Parents of autistic children go through a world of disappointments, depression, setbacks, intolerance, and frustration. We don't need ignorant assholes to come along and tell us and 8 million listeners who may agree with them that it's all our fault on top of all the bullshit we already have to put up with.

[Atnas]

I just can't see how anyone could believe him. I mean, you can't treat a mental illness by yelling at someone. It's like telling cancer patients to cut the bullshit, and recommending that their tumors be stomped on.

[ccoa]

Go find any article on this that allows comments, you'll find people who believe him, or believe he was exaggerating on the percentage but right about the problem.

[Ronove]

Atnas, the public believes anyone who is loud enough. A lot of the public only listen to the media, and never research things. So they believe what they are told without any thought.

[Kojo]

What Ccoa is talking about is the theoretical "opiate of the masses." I'm about 99% positive when I tell you this: It does not exist. Do you have any idea how large of a scam that would be to cover up?! How HUGE of a scoop that would be? How much money that sort of story would be worth? People in Washington would be fighting each-other to tell it.

However, we are naturally lazy. It is a law of energy. Intertia. That's why once you are in motion, it's hard to stop, even when you're burnt out.

Also: I am sickened by most shock jockeys. And not just on the "conservative" side. Some of the "Reverends" can really say some ugly things. PETA's representitives seem to value animal's lives above our own. Any extremist borders on facist ideals and an almost humorous devotion.

[Anaryu]

In my opinion it's like advertisement; whether it's believable or not there's too much of an information overload for people to think rationally and fact check most things they're presented with. So most people will simply make a decision based on what they remember hearing and treat that as reality be it true or not.

The problem is, as a country, we care less and less, and assume that "smart" people will just ignore the foolish material. Due to a serious increase in apathy from that overload, people like this have to be more and more shocking to get attention. It's questionable if this person even believes it, but they're only successful if they make people pay attention, even if it's the kind of attention that complains, because to the people who sponsor and pay these guys, that's what they want, attention.

It's a sick paradigm that punishes people on the receiving end of the lies with no seeming consequences to the person making the comments.

[HawkZombie]

But the sad fact, is people -do- believe him, because instead of forming their own rational thoughts on the subject, and researching for themselves, most will simply listen to his program, and just agree with him because they are fans, or because they decided that 'hey, maybe he's right...well, I'll just agree because most everyone else is. It's easier.

Personally, I believe he has a right to say whatever he wants. But when he goes about throwing out such awful comments (Which, thankfully, he's experiencing SOME backlash over) on a radio program millions of people listen to, it's less free speech, and more promoting ignorance.

I think -that- is what people should be upset about. If he would have allowed a second opinion, or even followed up with more facts to even REMOTELY support his case, then I probably don't think this would be an issue. But as it sits, he does it to shock people and make a buck...and sometimes you just go too far.

[Autumn]

Peddle back, peddle back!

Really though, I've seen plenty of idiots and this guy is just one of them, he only happens to be heard on the radio. People believe the media, what else is new? Gossip magazines hai? Yes, it's not a nice thing to say and it's misinformation, but seriously...