My Rant on Loren Feldman - Moopz

Shey posted an entry

July 8, 2008 8:44 PM - Sign in to comment - Link

Is Loren Feldman a racist? Well, I’m not ready to give out labels just yet — that’s not my motivation. Let’s get this straight: I’m not trying to brand him as anything. This rant is about those who think there shouldn’t have been any consequences for Loren and about those who think it’s stupid for me to get upset about what he said and did. I’ll be loosening up my writing style for this one. Loren wasn’t making fun of black people. Loren was making fun of bloggers. Wrong. That’s just one video — what about "Black People Can’t... [Tags: bigotry, black folks, consequences, creativity, derogatory label]

Shey I was nodding my head the entire time I was reading this post. I completely agree! - Corvida

Racism just like blacks shouldn't exist! (I swear it's a famous joke by a so generous french humorist) :) - directeur

@directeur Well race -- it's just a social construct. At the end of the day, we're all human, flesh and blood. Race is just a factor of the power imbalance in the world -- created along ethnic lines. - Shey

@Shey: I'm white but look at my avatar :) I have so much respect for every nice man/woman in this earth. The race things is because we "generally" have eyes. How do blind people "see" the race thing? See what I mean? :) - directeur

@directeur yeah, exactly - Shey

Blind people see the race thing just like everyone else really does, as a cultural values thing. Even blind people know glorifying living in the ghetto and pimpin' hos is probably not a good idea from a social context. - Alexander Williams

Awesome post, Shey. I'm glad people actually posted about this. - Rahsheen Porter

Thanks Rahsheen, glad you liked it - Shey

I had never seen the video at the end... doesn't surprise me though - Bwana McCall

I have to ask though; isn't this a year old why all the heat now? I had no idea who this guy was until Corvida and You posted about it. Maybe as a black bloggger it would only seem right if i expressed my 2 cents on it too - Gordon Swaby

Alexander's comment is exactly the problem racism yields. There is no "Black Culture" that glorifies "pimping hoes" or living in the ghetto. What you see on TV, and what is reality are not the same. The idea that Blacks have "lower cultural values" is at the core of racist ideology. - Jasmin Smith

Gordon, I never saw it recently either, literally a couple weeks ago. Blog away if you like :) - Shey

Key race is the human race! The rest is just details. - Mark Forman

Somebody apparently dug it up. Probably when they found out about the Verizon deal. I read somewhere that he had pissed of some other people before this, so they could possibly have had something to do with it. - Rahsheen Porter

One of the things I like about FriendFeed is that it proves Loren's video assertion (comical or otherwise) is untrue. That there are black nerds and bloggers and are adding to the conversation. It is very refreshing to me to hear from black people and women on the internet. I like to get a better sampling of "people" not middle-aged white men. All I need for that one is the mirror or listening to my own thoughts. - Mark Forman

Funny you should say that, Jasmin, because that's the culture black cultural entrepreneurs are selling. Look at urban culture in general and look to who produces it. Largely middle-class blacks from urban homes. If we can't expect they know what best sells to their home communities, who can we? - Alexander Williams

The comment I made on the Mashable post was that in competitive improv, we were taught never to go for the "easy" humor because it's not respectable and its not sustainable. All Loren Feldman has going for him is an easy laugh obtained from a sea of classless appreciators. He deserved to get this ripped away from him. - Jennifer Leggio

OK Alexander. Let's look at the So-Called Black Music Industry (Specifically hip hop/R&B. Who creates and markets it... white men... who buys it.. white kids... - Jasmin Smith

Well said Mark. I need to ask how long ago did he get the "verizion deal"? Because i was watching one of his videos where he was commenting on it and he lauded himself for getting the deal; seemed a tad bit excited, must have been a shame to lose it. - Gordon Swaby

@Shey, sadly racism is alive and well in America. Your post was spot-on. Bravos! - Dave Martin

I defy someone to find me another place - online or in the real world - that facilitates conversations like this about topics as sensitive as this. You find me a place where people regularly express the thoughts and ideas that have been expressed above about a topic like this and I will frequent it every bit as often as I do Friend Feed (ok maybe not EVERY bit - there are only so many hours in a day...) - Marco

Marco, absolutely - this is why I can`t stop blogging about FriendFeed :) - Shey

It would be good if my question was answered, please and thank you. - Gordon Swaby

Thanks Dave, unfortunately there are many who turn a blind eye or will even deny it. - Shey

@Gordon Apparently it only lasted a week: http://www.podcastingnews.com/2008/07/08/verizon-drops-loren-feldman-like-hes-hot/ - Shey

@Dave Martin Racism is alive and well here in Canada too. Don't even get me started.. especially when it comes to how Canada has treated and continues to treat our Aboriginal people. Sadly, unless you've experienced the negative effects of racism directly, it's difficult to understand the lived experiences of people who are discriminated against SOLELY because of the colour of their skin... not their "lack of moral character" as our friend Alexander has mistakenly suggested. - Jasmin Smith

Jasmin, you must be living in an interesting parallel world. I think I can say with some comfortable surety at least in the context of Atlanta's hip hop media and entertainment industry that it's very, very predominantly a black enterprise. White kids may be buying it up in bulk, but that's because there are a lot of white kids and somewhat fewer black kids. Thus the term "minority." - Alexander Williams

Thanks for the link @ shey - Gordon Swaby

Wow.. I saw this friend feed post and it sent me on a wild tangent through the web to Corvida's site and to the TechCrunch article that I somehow missed. Glad to see things come back around regardless of who the target was. - Adam Helweh

Unfortunately I think Feldman and his "shock jock" nature will try to capitalize on this negative publicity somehow. :-/ - Jennifer Leggio

Alex, I live in Canada, thanks.... but in your country, (America I presume) the Hip Hop industry is overwhelming supported by young white kids, and financially backed by their older white "parents and grandparents." While Black men and women stand as the figureheads in the industry, with the exception of a few big names, the money goes into the hands of the top execs.. who are predominately White. - Jasmin Smith

@Jennifer I wouldn`t be surprised - Shey

@Alexander, I am an artist in Atlanta. I know many other artists in Atlanta. The problem is that these artists talk about what they live. The big record companies help to market and glorify these things. White kids support this industry. The record companies put the black artists in positions where it looks like they run the show, but they are just managers/supervisors...not CEO's. - Rahsheen Porter

and while we're on the issue of "minorities" -- it has nothing to do with numbers and EVERYTHING to do with which groups hold the POWER in society. Racism is then perpetuated through the maintenance of these power structures along "racial lines" -- promoting stereotypes to denigrate racial minorities, all the while elevate whiteness to "the norm" (intentionally and unintentionally) which further stratifies society... - Jasmin Smith

Jennifer-who's to say he isn't the one to instigate the Verizon protest issue. It's possible that Verizon deal not so great and he hoped to generate even more publicity through this brouhaha. Hard to say when you're dealing with performance artist that is comfortable using "shock." Anything is possible. Loren might be many things but certainly dumb isn't one of them. - Mark Forman

@Mark It's quite possible. But hopefully since his notoriety is in limited circles a respectable mainstream business would realize there is more detriment than value to dealing with him. Again, the operative word being "hope." - Jennifer Leggio

So, if the "black culture" Loren parodies (well or poorly) in his video is created by, marketed by, consumed by, and enjoyed by whites, is it racist then to mock? Because, Hell, it ain't black at all by that measure and any REAL black person'd know he couldn't POSSIBLY be talking about them, right? Or are we assuming that since blacks aren't competent, driven, or cunning enough to produce the cultural artefacts credited to them (by your assertion), they're clearly too weak to take some parody and need to be protected by our doting, paternal culture? - Alexander Williams

With the video at the end. Spot on. Sometimes you get off the hook, sometimes there are consequences. Now he met some. - Roland Hesz

Alex, your opinion truly illuminates what is wrong with race relations in (the) America(s). Because you, and people like you have ignorantly bought into the stereotypes about Blacks (and no doubt other minorities) you fail to understand the social significance that your type of ignorance causes. It's too much to get into here. I'll sum it up in a blog post later. - Jasmin Smith

That was great to read Shey. I've felt the same way, all the stuff I've read being posted in his defense stinks of ignorance. How anyone can even stand to watch a single video by the guy is beyond me. His smug expression intolerable. His blatant bigotry is sickening. - Tsega D

Thanks Tsega -- I don`t get it either - Shey

It's really mind-boggling how impossible it is to actually explain race issues to people who have not lived them - Rahsheen Porter

@Jennifer, We can only hope that Feldman does call further attention to this situation, that he does attempt to rally and in that process out those like thinkers who support his plainly racist notions of humor and entertainment. We can not let this stand. We have the collective power to turn his cavalier dismissal into an indictment. We have the responsibility to call to account any advertiser that supports what is now a history of racist stereotyping for profit. If not us, who? If not now, when? - Dave Martin

OMG the irony of the video! LOL, yah he's a total loser. - Trula

@Dave I not once implied that we shouldn't continue to raise the issue. Nor do I have any doubt that Feldman will continue to fan the flames himself. My comment was merely about how I hope he does not profit from the increased notoriety this situation has caused. Not sure where you got the other part. - Jennifer Leggio

@Alexander No matter how they originate, the stereotypes end up hurting racially. When someone who's just met me jokes about not bringing a crack pipe, or when an Ivy League school president is followed around a store to make sure she won't steal anything, if you can visualize someone being negatively impacted, do you visualize a white person? How about anyone of the same "race" as the one working off the stereotype? - MiniMage

@Jennifer, by his own hand let him come to be known for what he defends and let his supporters and fellow travelers be named. I learned as a child it was a good thing the KKK sported the cover of sheets, it told us who they were. - Dave Martin

@Dave OK, I am not nor never disagreed with you. Just think you missed my point. Regardless, we're on the same side, so we can stop wasting Shey's quality convo space. :) - Jennifer Leggio

Closed circuit to Feldman: A quote by the great philosopher king Mike Tyson seems apropos here, think about it..."Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." - Dave Martin

Alexander: "Black culture" isn't monolithic; what you're describing is a substrate of hip-hop culture. Is that substrate unusually visible? Well, yeah... white kids in search of rebellion-by-proxy lap it up, making the artists in question enormously successful, which in turn attracts those in the black community who are starved for signs of economic and societal success. It's a big, complicated puzzle... not a simple matter of glorification. - Roger Benningfield

Roger, if only I could "Like" a comment :) - Rahsheen Porter

@Shey Great post. Thanks for sharing your feelings on this issue. Unfortunately, these discussions just show how far we have left to go and how much we white people have to learn. - swhitley

Amazed by all the people still saying that it's not racist. As you know it's easy to say when you're not the target of the ridicule.It really doesn't matter because corporate America doesn't like controversy. It's as simple as that. - Kenya Allmond

It seems to me that this is a classic proof that yes, words really do have consequences. Feldman likes to swagger, talk tough, and put on this macho act about how he's the only guy with big enough balls to say things other folks would rather not hear. But now that he's pissed people off enough that there are actual consequences, he says it was "satire" and complains that people are too easily offended. Well, wasn't it part of his goal to offend people? If you're going to play bad boy, play it all the way. - nathan

I have only recently come to learn of Loren Feldman - and now I wish I hadn't. I know he works to rub everyone up the wrong way, but his lack of understanding on matters is vapid to non-existent. I hadn't heard of his potentially racist path, but somehow it doesn't surprise me. - Jake Fudge

nathan-bingo-like the wise man said,"You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" - Mark Forman

I'm continuously amused by the number of people who decry Loren's comments as racist and essentially call for his lynching. If we add up the number of people suggesting that black people need protection from such hurtful words with the people suggesting such things should never be said and never be allowed to be said, it becomes rapidly clear that racism may be the issue on the table but freedom of speech, especially for those whose messages you virulently oppose, is the one under the table like a gun levelled at one's midsection. "White culture" is just as monolithic as "black culture" in these comments, for what it's worth, but one is an opressive manifestation of racism and the other is hand-wringing. Seems to me the problem isn't what Loren said, or how he said it, but a lot of excuses to pose before public opinion and try to look good. Pfeh. - Alexander Williams

@Alexander: Feldman has freedom of speech. So do the posters here. What's your point? He has the freedom to be an asshole, these guys have the freedom to call him an asshole... - Barry de la Rosa

@Alexander Lynching? First off, you'd think another word would have been appropriate. Second, no one is trying to kill him or jail him or hurt him. I don't think any of this is at the level of what he's done to others. - Shey

Alexander: I know it's possible you're discussing this in several venues and thus addressing the aggregate feedback you're getting, but no one here is calling for Feldman's lynching, essentially or otherwise. I'm not even willing to call his performance "racist", since I prefer not to attribute something to malice when stupidity will suffice. - Roger Benningfield

@Alexander So the white people who support Shey's post secretly think Loren's video was okay and are just trying to look good? The logic in that escapes me. - swhitley

Alexander: I'll let you in on a little secret... if Feldman were some factory worker getting fired because a special interest group protested his off-hours activity, I'd be defending him. Not his actual speech, but his right to express himself without being deprived of his unrelated job. I don't support firing a nurse because she's a cam-girl on her own time, a teacher because he supports gay causes, or anything of the sort. The problem is that Feldman's speech and his job are one and the same. - Roger Benningfield

My Rant on Loren Feldman - J. Phil

Reading: "My Rant on Loren Feldman" sheysmith http://tinyurl.com/66qxl7 - Kenichi Matsumoto

Roger, at the point at which 1938 Media goes in as a pre-roll, that's not on his own time. That's business. The same business Verizon signed up. - Cyndy

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