Anonymous

Right!!!

So true! Think about the chemical and biological warfare that various countries are working on in an attempt to be the top dog. It's crazy. And unfortunately, it seems to be human nature.

"Kinds of reminds you of the network news, huh?" Yes! And what's funny is, I caught the episode of South Park where they talked about how we as a society have lowered the bar for ourselves. They spoofed Honey Boo Boo and her mother and made a few other points. From the Internet to the television everything is about outrageous reality garbage.

Good point! Reminds me of something Kevin Hart said while accepting an acting award. I don't remember which awards show it was, but I want to say it aired on BET. I recall that in his acceptance speech he jokingly said something like "I'm up against Denzel Washington, and y'all give the award to me?" People laughed, but he had a point.

Has anyone seen the video going viral on youtube? Teen girl talking trash to city bus driver. Bus driver says something like "I'll get my granddaughter on you" and the teen continues to be loud, disrespectful, in his face, yadda yadda yadda until she hauls off and hits him. And then it goes completely downhill from there. What in the world is happening? I'm sure those of us who have ridden the city bus in many parts of Chicago and other major cities have seen this type of aggressive behavior out of our youth. So in a way, this isn't a surprise. But now with youtube, the whole world gets to see some of the ignorance that REALLY goes on in some of our communities. I can recall riding the bus and seeing something similar to this, although in that case the adult was a passenger and chose not to fight the child. I also recall shopping on the West Side of Chicago w my daughter when a group of teens wanted to jump her merely because they didn't like the way she talked - too proper, too "white"...yes, in this day and age we're still doing that. So we've always known that we've got these types of issues in our community. But how do you feel about the world, through youtube, having the inside scoop on our dirty laundry? Nowadays everybody's got their phones out, willing and waiting to post the outrageous behaviors. Will seeing ourselves on camera like this - knowing that the whole world sees it to - help us to think twice before embarrassing ourselves? Or does it make matters worse? Or neither?

Maybe President Obama will bring a little bit of "Luther" from Key & Peele to the next one.

Maybe they killed him because the last naked man that was seen acting erratic ended up chewing some guy to death. Wait - that Florida homeless man did die right? Anyway, they could have used a taser, but they'll probably say they felt threatened because after all, he did have a weapon - his teeth. smh

Oh Jesus! Numbers 9 and 10 got my stomach hurting and my eyes watering from giggle tears! I love it! Let me go ahead and just add to the list: 11. Good Day Chicago's "what's trending now" reports (like we don't have the Internet and like yahoo isn't already plastering these stories all over their homepage). p.s. I do like the animal & cute baby videos though!

I thought Bishop Eddy Long was dealing with young men. Were these folks minors?

That's good to hear - the info on Tyler Perry giving back. That makes his story that much more interesting. I may have to read up on him. BTW, "Somewhere out there is a black James Patterson, who should be capitalizing off of books popularizing interesting black characters - that Tyler can make into movies. A win-win situation. No?" - Cynique Totally a win-win situation! Would love to see this happen!

I don't know all that much about Tyler Perry's story so I probably shouldn't speak on this. But I will anyway. I'm just guessing here, but (and maybe those that know him personally can weigh in and let me know how close or far off the mark I am) I'm thinking that Tyler probably doesn't bother much about putting something together that would benefit black writers...even if it would put that much more money in his pockets. The reason I say that is because the man was homeless, wasn't he? So he must have had to scramble his way out of that mess and do whatever it was that he had to do to finally "make it." After all that hard work, is he REALLY going to feel some kind of way for those who are still on the bottom (for lack of a better term)? Wouldn't he think that those people should just go ahead and pull themselves up by their own bootstraps the way he had to? I mean, the man was homeless.

Hey Troy, I didn't know about your youtube collection. I just subscribed and will be checking those out. I'm sure they're going to be interesting. Cynique you and I have favorite tv channels in common. I have to get my weekly dose of true crime and I love The ID Channel and also many of the others you mentioned. Careycarey you are fortunate to know those interesting stories about your relatives. Thanks for sharing.

I was watching this show on the History Channel about the President's job & what it's like to walk in those shoes. Talks about a book of secrets and a secret letter from the old president to the new. I feel bad for President Obama, even though I laughed the other day. He couldn't have known what he was getting himself into. We can only imagine just how effed up things really are. Just like he could only imagine...until after he was sworn into office. I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to lose this election and just be done with this job and go back to his old life. Sad part is, once you're in, you're in. President's club til death. I hope Obama's story ends well. He seems likeable enough and he's got daughters to raise. I doubt that he would have taken the job if he knew then what he knows now. Whatever that is.

I think you're right. But group-think is so prevalent in our community (pick your angle / religion, politics, music, etc...etc) that we can't see it. Think about how we react even in the simplest of discussions. We love to talk about the things we are passionate about (like street lit and hip hop --- hey, may as well tie that in what this discussion). We talk and talk and love to hear ourselves speak and see our words come together on these message boards. We like to be heard. But the minute someone offers a different viewpoint than our own, we get all up in arms. Take Nah'Sun, for example. He seems to believe so strongly in his love for hip hop that he looks down (or at least appears to look down) on people like me who have only a little bit of knowledge of the history of hip hop. Am I wrong for having a different type of experience with hip hop than him? Is it so terrible to never have been die-hard enough to seek out the music beyond what was popular on the radio and music videos? Of course not. But there are others who would turn their noses up and roll their eyes at that and then tell me I have no right to ask questions or to join in a discussion about hip hop. Knock it off. We are black people. Yes. But that doesn't mean we have to have the same experiences all the damn time. But for some reason, we seem to feel as though we should. I'm loving Cynique's comment from the other thread more and more: "live and let live"... We'll likely never know everything that's "really" going on behind the scenes of world government or whatever the latest conspiracy theorists say. I doubt it's worth the stress of digging. But it is an odd feeling to realize that there probably IS "something" going on. Odder still is the realization that you are just one person...you are powerless to enduce sweeping changes...this is the world you born into...almost like accepting a type of slavery...think too much on it and you'll feel like you're in the making of The Matrix. Sigh...so again, live and let live. That's all we can do. Then again...where would we be if the slaves (or Waterstar would say that I should say "African people who were enslaved" - hey Waterstar! ) had my mentality?

Jesus help me!!! I can't stop laughing! The debate thing is so...so...reality-tv-ish! President Obama's face reminded me of that look I've seen on a few coworkers who slipped their way into a position they knew they weren't ready for...and I've been in that situation once too, now that I think about it. That moment when you realize: Shit! I don't know what the eff I'm doing! I guess I'm fired. Who knows how this will turn out. It sure is funny to watch though. I won't lie. I laughed at the highlights as if I were watching a comedy show. Felt like I got my money's worth out of this overly-priced satellite service I pay for each month.

Good point. Thanks for posting the article Troy. It was interesting.

Nah'Sun Perhaps nobody is bringing these groups (and these positive aspects) of hip hop up because nobody has any questions about them. The question I had, in particular, is regarding the negative side of hip hop. I even gave you an example of what keeps my interest concerning music (i.e. country music fan bc of the stories told in the music) and I thought I explained why I ventured away from hip hop (got tired of the negativity). And I asked what I thought was a straight forward question. You are the one who claims to BE hip hop, and so naturally one would think that you would be willing to discuss all sides - good, bad, and indifferent. But you do nothing more than answer questions with more questions and flat out rude, senseless accusations. I'm done. No, seriously...I'm done, even though I know you're going to come back with more insults. And you won't see an LOL here because this isn't funny. This going around in circles is counterproductive.

Sigh. I had a tad bit of hope that you'd at least TRY to answer the question. But since you didn't, I'm not going to waste my time with this any more. Have fun convincing yourself that you have said something insightful. I've learned nothing from reading your posts.

Nah’Sun I am interested to see how you answer Cynique’s question. I think it is a valid one. To add to it, I figured I’d throw my own question out there for the "expert": How do you feel about the negative images of women and the violent images of the black community as painted by many of the songs in rap/hip hop? I personally loved hip hop in my younger days and can still remember watching my older brother and his friends break-dancing in my parents’ driveway to music blaring out of a big silver boom box. Dougie Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Slick Rick, LL Cool J (not in any particular order, just naming what comes to mind - and forgive me if I spelled some names wrong). I remember being a steady fan of the music all the way until Snoop & Dr. Dre hooked up together. I still smile when I hear “I, two, three and to the four…” Good times those were for me, and even a little bit when Eminem showed up on the scene. But as I continued to get older and live life (get married, have kids, have divorces, lose people, gain people, etc etc), the music got older and took various twists and turns, and more and more I began to be bothered by the negativity of some of the music. Women really got targeted and I started getting sick of it. It got to the point where I didn’t want to listen to any of it. And the truth of the matter is, today, my preferred music is Country. Reason? Simple. The stories they tell. They are true-like stories without all the demeaning attitudes toward women. I find it shameful that we who supposedly love our people and love our music and yeah, even love hip hop, can sit here and act like we don’t have a problem with some of the stuff that gets produced (and it isn’t just mainstream so don’t come at me with the radio argument). One day, about 7 or 8 years ago I decided to listen to something different. Caught a music video on television by Kenney Chesney called “There Goes My Life.” I watched the video. It was one that I could relate to; a song about a man whose daughter grows up and leaves home. I ended up watching the whole video. Then I found myself trying to catch the video again so I could hear the song and listen to the story again. And that’s how I found that I liked country music. And I listen to it to this day - because of the stories it tells. Hip hop? Well, it just isn’t the same. It doesn’t give me anything useful or even entertaining (beyond a good beat; a beat which gets ruined by the words). Too much of hip hop is revolved around the exploitation of women and our black communities for my tastes. Question repeat: How do you feel about the negative images of women and the violent images of the black community as painted by many of the songs in rap/hip hop?

Real talk!...Word up!...Fresh!!! Seriously, I too believe that's what we're looking at when dealing with these politicians. How can one get excited about that - for either side? Can someone please answer me this?

Troy you are right! To say conjoined IS misleading and I think that's why I blew this whole thing off. When the commercial flashed on tv I just glossed over it and kept on doing whatever it is I was doing at the time. I had to look again at this still-frame of the video clip you posted. WOW! That is trippy! It took my brain a minute to register what it was seeing. One body. Two heads. That is something new to me too.

I think there are quite a few conjoined twins w/two heads. Saw these girls on the commercial for their show & was shocked that they'd even want to do reality tv. Sign of the times I guess. Erbody wants to be seen and liked and loved and accepted and whatnot. That's crazy to me...that ppl care so much about what strangers think. Then again, maybe they want them checks. Kind of like why ppl write and then try to sell books. But hey, if they want to go for it, they can knock themselves out I suppose. But they better be prepared for some feedback. You put yourself out there, somebody is bound to say something. I don't think I'll watch mainly bc they are folks w/a story that doesn't interest me. Plus, I've seen a story about conjoined twins before. I want to say their names were Dori and Lori? Or something like that. One of them was wheeled around in a cart next to the sister. Anybody remember them? No comment on Honey Boo Boo's mama. She might try to fight me.

So for some reason I have insomnia and of course that means I have to check the board. And my dear Cynique does not disappoint. It's been a minute since I've truly "laughed out loud"...you know that type of laugh that catches you off guard and makes you spit your drink across the table at your friend, spouse, child, or vacant space? Well that's what happened (sans spitting of the drink) when I read that last lil part. And now I must ask Jesus to forgive me. Thanks Cynique! I needed this. I saw commercials for Honey Boo Boo and the Twins. That was enough. My 19year old daughter watched Honey Boo Boo and was traumatized...walked around with a blank stare for several minutes before trying to describe whatever it was these folks were doing. Something about a mud festival??? wth? Cynique & Troy, I hear you both loud and clear regarding the insane amount of money connected to this election. Mind-boggling! I just don't get it. Yet, when I tried to say something about it, somehow my fam translated my complaint into an anti-Obama rant. And oh LAWD why did I even say ANYTHING at all? You'd have thought I said I wanted to bring back slavery! smh p.s. Hope your foot gets better soon!

Absolutely! This sums up nicely my train of thought when I said that it will be interesting to see what my kids' generation comes up with.

Crossfire? Oh, trust me...I wasn't concerned. I was just trying to figure out where you were getting half of this stuff. I do think you may be reading the posts too fast or something. You said something about me not being well-versed in rap? Let me address that. I never said I was an expert. I have my experience with hip hop and you have yours. You also said something about not bringing up rap if you don't know enough about it...I guess I'll address that since I believe it was one of my earlier comments about rap & street lit that sparked this conversation. I do not claim to be an expert on the history of rap. However, I have enough memory of certain reactions from the public when rap first started hitting the mainstream that I could make a connection between that and the reactions to street lit. As the conversation began to go more in the current direction, I threw my two cents in here and there, but not as an expert witness, rather as someone merely adding her opinion on the little bit she DOES know. As a matter of fact, I don't think I read anywhere from anyone that they thought they were an expert on rap/hip hop... oh...wait...I forgot about you.