Jason Whitlock - Greatest Advice Column Ever

[AHF]

This article was posted on September 2, 2008 -- before Brady's injury.

http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/779409.html

[TroyMcClure]

This article was posted on September 2, 2008 -- before Brady's injury.

http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/779409.html

Whitlock is a great read, or listen. He is really smart and honest. He speaks his mind with no thought of critics. It's sadly funny that he was so right, though.

[PureGreatness]

Makes since.

You guys havent read enough of Jason Whitlock to know that he is an a55hole!!!!!! Black Folks hate this guy, mainly when he is talking anything has to do with a black athlete. He blames everything on Hip-Hop. I swear to god he does this. he puts his nose in his ass when he speaks of the rutgers women, andy reids kids, al sharpton, jesse jackson and don imus. etc etc etc.

but this article is decent.

Edited September 12, 2008 by hoodstar

[TroyMcClure]

Makes since.

You guys havent read enough of Jason Whitlock to know that he is an a55hole!!!!!! Black Folks hate this guy, mainly when he is talking anything has to do with a black athlete. He blames everything on Hip-Hop. I swear to god he does this. he puts his nose in his ass when he speaks of the rutgers women, andy reids kids, al sharpton, jesse jackson and don imus. etc etc etc.

but this article is decent.

Well, sounds like you don't like to hear the truth. I'm way older than you and I've been a fan of his for some time. I've read enough. You don't speak for all black people. There are literally thousands that would agree with him.

[DrReality]

I bet the Pats coach wishes he'd listened to him.

[PureGreatness]

Well, sounds like you don't like to hear the truth. I'm way older than you and I've been a fan of his for some time. I've read enough. You don't speak for all black people. There are literally thousands that would agree with him.

what truth?

1.)I have a problem with him blaming everything on hip hop. You havent read enough of his articles or heard his interviews on youtube to know this guy. its rediculous. i think he blames hip hop because its easy as hell to do. But blaming everything on hip hop is NOT my biggest beef with him, its...

2) the way he stats his opinion. He called rappers "the black kkk" WTF. he probably didn't mean it in that since but thats what he said. He also bashed the rutgers women basketball coach for standing up and saying something. He talked about Andy Reid's kids and said it had to with racism...WTF.

He also said that david stern should put the nba allstar game overseas so we can get away from the hoodlums.

In a small percent of his statements he might be true 20% of the time. But when he stats it the way he do its hard for a young black African American who is doing something not illegal as myself i can stand to listen. Even kids that go to school at morehouse that probably are more safisticated than i am **sighed** everytime he was about to speak.

Kevin Whitlock was a some type of meeting a morehouse college(i think thats the school') with other black icons including nba baller Ethan Thomas. After the event, E.T tried to talk to him about his image amongst blacks but Kevin didnt wanna listen. So E.T wrote a letter to him a few days later saying exactly what i said plus more but in more a safisticated manner. READ THE HOLE THING http://www.slamonline.com/online/2007/05/a...jason-whitlock/]

i cant take the truth my a55. no disrespect to you but i had to let that one go.

Edited September 13, 2008 by hoodstar

[CBAreject]

Yawn...

I remember a debate in high school. They were discussing the issue of single-mother child-rearing. Some student got upset because he was raised by a single-mother. I was also raised by a single mother, and I was asked why I didn't take offense. I said that it was very likely true that single-mother homes were non-ideal for children. While my mom did a great job, that was only 1 case, and I'm sure in plenty of cases, the child suffers. Why should I take it personally if what they were arguing applies to a significant percentage of cases?

I realized then that not being reactionary had become non-American. I guess I should boil over at any negative suggestion about any generalities that applied to me specifically. I suppose I don't care, and I'd just rather be non-American. It's tiresome to have to get bent out of shape all the time.

The NBA does have an image problem, and I'm glad that somebody has the nads to say something about it rather than apologize for the Latrell Spreewells of the world. It has nothing to do with you or the Morehouse student body. Don't take it personally. To say that hip-hop has an image problem would be such a ridiculous understatement. Hip-hop dominates pop-culture. Starting in the late 90's, the Billboard annual top-20 pop chart was occupied by 80% hip-hop songs every year. That's terrific for the industry, but it's a tremendous responsibility to be so influential. Nobody should underestimate that influence, and it's a moral obligation of those involved to carefully consider how they shape the minds of a new generation. Jason Whitlock stands to gain very little by criticizing, but he stands to lose the support of his own ethnic group. That's a lonely position, and whether I agree with him or not, I respect him for sacrificing security in exchange for truth. The world is full of ear-tickling journalists who spew vitriolic propaganda that they know will be widely accepted. The few who go against the common view should be applauded. They risk being ostracized by not only their professional peers but their friends and relatives.

what truth?

1.)I have a problem with him blaming everything on hip hop. You havent read enough of his articles or heard his interviews on youtube to know this guy. its rediculous. i think he blames hip hop because its easy as hell to do. But blaming everything on hip hop is NOT my biggest beef with him, its...

2) the way he stats his opinion. He called rappers "the black kkk" WTF. he probably didn't mean it in that since but thats what he said. He also bashed the rutgers women basketball coach for standing up and saying something. He talked about Andy Reid's kids and said it had to with racism...WTF.

He also said that david stern should put the nba allstar game overseas so we can get away from the hoodlums.

In a small percent of his statements he might be true 20% of the time. But when he stats it the way he do its hard for a young black African American who is doing something not illegal as myself i can stand to listen. Even kids that go to school at morehouse that probably are more safisticated than i am **sighed** everytime he was about to speak.

Kevin Whitlock was a some type of meeting a morehouse college(i think thats the school') with other black icons including nba baller Ethan Thomas. After the event, E.T tried to talk to him about his image amongst blacks but Kevin didnt wanna listen. So E.T wrote a letter to him a few days later saying exactly what i said plus more but in more a safisticated manner. READ THE HOLE THING http://www.slamonline.com/online/2007/05/a...jason-whitlock/]

i cant take the truth my a55. no disrespect to you but i had to let that one go.

[PureGreatness]

Yes hip hop has a major impact but i think people blame hip hop for everything because its a easy ass target. It became a scape goat.

once agian it isnt what his message is its HOW he says it. Young people arent going to take him seriously because it isnt WHAT your saying its HOW you say it.

As for single mothers... i have a issue with the majority of single mothers but i have been scared to say it to them or about them because i found out that black women in general dont take critcism well.

[AHF]

As for single mothers... i have a issue with the majority of single mothers but i have been scared to say it to them or about them because i found out that black women in general dont take critcism well.

I suspect that a man is often involved in the "single parent" part of the "single mother" equation. You don't see a lot of single fathers even when there is an irresponsible or immature single mother.

Regarding Whitlock in general, I sometimes agree with what he has to say and sometimes disagree when he is discussing race issues. I have no problem with him being a voice in journalism but would need to take things issue by issue to discuss whether he is someone who is speaking the truth or going over the top in criticism of hip-hop culture. I think he does both.

Edited September 15, 2008 by AHF

[CBAreject]

As for single mothers... i have a issue with the majority of single mothers but i have been scared to say it to them or about them because i found out that black women in general dont take critcism well.

This is stupid. What are you wanting to say to single mothers? "You suck"? The debate I was referring to was about whether a single-parent home is ideal for a child. Nobody was criticizing single mothers. That's the point. People took it that way when it wasn't a criticism toward them specifically...it was a commentary about the situation that single mothers are in, which is almost certainly non-ideal. That says nothing about their own parenting abilities or who was to blame for their being single. Again, the very point is that while it wasn't about those things, people still took it personally. Actually, your comment could certainly be considered bigotry by someone who was a lot less apathetic than I am. Nonetheless, you're busy pointing fingers at people you think are bigots (Whitlock) because they criticize what matters to YOU specifically.

I forgot why I stopped posting on here for about a year solid. I get so sick of having to explain simple concepts, and the thing is, you still won't get my point. See, people are stupid--stupid and over-sensitive. That's why they take things the wrong way and get bent out of shape. They usually miss the point, end up taking it personally, then erupt because they're so sensitive.

BTW, AHF, I admire you for being able to always calmly explain and reiterate basic, logical ideas 3 and 4 times for these dullards. I have not 1/10th your patience. Bless you.

[coachx]

First let me say that I too grew up in single mother home.

Funny how single mothers and hip hop tie into one another in this thread. They are directly related when it come to the single mother's battle of raising her children when she has 3 jobs and is trying to provide for their children. Meanwhile, when mom is at work the children are listening to hip hop that sends disturbing messages to the teens or preteens who are most easily influnced by it.

First of all, any one who defends hip hop has issues. Not to mention a man who calls himself "hoodstar." Their is a reason why hip hop records have quit selling. It is no longer "cool" to be a thug who can't speak English and its not cool to be a bum who does not work but sales drugs or pimps women for a living. Their target market is kids but the messages many of them send is violent, sexiest, and just plain scary for a kid to grow up being influenced by (much less a child in a single mother home with no positive male influence to draw from). How do you expect many of the kids to turn out who listens to this garbage ALL the time, not to mention the compounded problem of growing up in a single mother home?

Was it his article on the Las Vegas Allstar game what you are refering too when mentioning he blames "everything on hip hop."

http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/jason_w...a_great_tim.php

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnist...tlock/story/493

http://www.blogtoplist.com/rss/jason-whitlock.html352.html

http://sportsbybrooks.com/columnist-jason-...black-kkk-12321

This man is guilty of one thing....reporting the truth whether is "politicaly correct" or not ! Who else is their to blame, for that weekend, besides the individuals who acted as Crypt gang members all weekend ? Was it not the hip hop culture that conditioned these ADULTS to act this way ? Or were they just all born with a birth defect that makes them unable to comprehend how adults should behave ? Heck, the Atlanta All Star game was not much better. That was a pretty scary weekend for most Atlantans.

1. Sure we can gang up on the single mothers (as it seems you tried to to cast blame) and blame them for bad public schools in black areas and the weakness of the black community b/c their kids are not in the ideal home to be raised.... BUT that is the wrong approach as many have pointed out.

2. We can blame the sorry fathers who ran out on them, of course.

3. We can blame the government for not being socialist and giving hand outs to lazy people of all colors including the black community. (Most Americans who actually work, I hope, do not believe in Socialism or income redistribution ). So I do not believe in #3 personally but many blame the government for everything wrong with their lives rather then looking at themselves as to how they can make it better.

4. Should we not also blame the hip hop community when it says its OK to act this way and that its cool to pimp on a dozen women at a time or sale drugs to kids for living ? Plus they get filthy rich by spreading this garbage to teens around the county, especially the fatherless teens who are starving for male role models. (Too bad they choose the wrong role models.) They are exploiting the very people they should be helping.

5. We could also blame the executives (no matter what their color is) who sign this garbage to HUGE record deals. They are every bit as guilty.

Until the hip hop community stops explointing young people who are craving fatherly influences they will rightfully share in the blame.

It is important to note that NOT all hip hop sends a bad message. I give props to guys like Will Smith and LL Cool Jay who have made a 15-25 year carrer in hip hop without falling into the gangster way of thinking to sale their albums. not to mention they are both family men who have done good jobs raising their own families.

Oh ! For those of you who don't know, Jason Whitlock is African American. He just speaks what he feels is the truth and is as "color blind" as they come. He gets props in my book for speaking his mind in this "politically corrent media driven America."

Edited September 17, 2008 by coachx

[PureGreatness]

When you talk about single mothers you are usually talking about single BLACK mothers 8 times out of 10. My thing is this

1.) Ask yourself why the mothers are single? the dude that supposively ran out, was he a doctor, lawyer, teacher, professor, electrician, plumber, heating and air man, construction worker, college student, working in corporate america or anything positive. 9 times out of 10 the dude that ran out wasnt s*** when she met him and she CHOSE to sleep with him(yes there are some exceptions just like anything). but why did she get pregnant by him? BECAUSE SHE WAS BEEING A HOE AT THAT TIME!

Im sick and tired of of no one having the balls to say something. im not saying if your mother was single that she was a hoe but she simply chose the wrong man. its funny how when the child that was raise in a single 1mother home becomes successful we give the credit to mothers and glorify them BUT when the child becomes nothing we say he/she become unseccussful because the father wasnt there.

I went to a convention or some event that was glorifying single mothers and let me say i have never seen so many single mothers in one place in my life. me and a friend was hired for thant event to make the brouchures and talk to every single mothers at the event to make them feel comfortable. a real simple a easy job to do but very very boring... but we got paid

me and him had CONVERSATIONS with the women

to make it short here are the elements so i wont have to do a lot of typing

1. had multiple kids from multiple dudes

2. got pregnant from a 1 night stand and/or dont know the mans name.

3. man is no longer living

4. man had a good life and a career.

5. man was a drug dealer, drunkie or anything drug related

6. didn't contact the man letting him know she was pregnant

7. wouldn't let the man be in contact with the kid(s)

8. man is in jail

9. man knew she was pregnant and decided to bolt like a punk.

10 she knew the man was no good and still decided to sleep with him.

13 women was guilty of #9

21 women was guilty of #9 and 7

15 women was guilty of #8 and

21 women was guilty of# 7

51 women was guilty # 2, #5 amd # 10

37 women was guilty of #1, #2, #5 and #10

11 women was guilty of #4

19 women was guilty of #4 and #9

17 women was guilty of #3

we couldn't get all of them because some wanted to have long conversations like we was on a date. but look at them. i think the blame is 50/50.

im not trying to bash single mothers but i always ask "why"? why are they single? i like to look at things deeper. don't bash me before you sit back and think.

a couple of months later i expressed my opinion with single mothers and they didn't like what i saidor how i said it but they actually agreed with. me

as for hip-hop... we take the rapping thing to seriously...its just entertainment but i guess i the only one who thinks like that. it doesn't have anything to do with the single mother but more to do with drugs and violence even though its not all hip hop. if you take rap for more than what it is than you are a dumby.

its good that we are having these conversation though.

i know alot of people are gonna disagree with me and cal me names telling me i dont know what im talking bout

Edited September 17, 2008 by hoodstar

[coachx]

as for hip-hop... we take the rapping thing to seriously...its just entertainment but i guess i the only one who thinks like that. it doesn't have anything to do with the single mother but more to do with drugs and violence even though its not all hip hop. if you take rap for more than what it is than you are a dumby.

its good that we are having these conversation though.

i know alot of people are gonna disagree with me and cal me names telling me i dont know what im talking bout

I hope most adults take hip hop as just entertainment but many look at is as a way of life. (I guess the 400,000 in Vegas for the Allstar game were all the dummies gathered in one place where their view is its a way of life ?) That holds especially true for 12 - 18 year olds and even more true for 12 -18 year old boys in single family homes with no mature male influence in their life.

Go to any urban highschool and tell me hip hop is not a way of life that dominates the highschool culture more then any other single influence. BTW, this is coming from some one who went to a 95% white elementary school and a 80% black high school and the most diverse college university in Georgia (Georgia State.) So I have seen first hand the diversity in cultures. Just saying I know the difference between the truth in reality and the B.S. known as being politically correct.

I commend any writer today with the guts to print what they see as truth without caring about cultural trends or the political correct statements of the day.

[coachx]

When you talk about single mothers you are usually talking about single BLACK mothers 8 times out of 10.

Who is you ? Everyone ?

Not me. I think of all mothers. I am white and was raised by a single mother with 4 boys.

That like the Obama supporters (not Obama himself) saying the term social worker or community organizer is code word for black . That is just hillarious. My mother is white and has been a social worker/ community organizer for 30 years, my brother for 5 years , and another brother at UGA who will be doing the same thing for handicapped children in lower incomes. They all deal with children (majority happens to be black)who are poor and most come from single parent homes. They LOVE their job and would not trade it for anything no matter what the pay is . (They are qualified people who could be working in the private sector for much more money but money is not what makes them happy in life.)They truely feel happy in what they do yet the color of the skin of the children they help never even enters their mind.

Ever heard of project known as "Darias Goes West." Look it up. My brother is one of the guys in charge of that. He has been working on it for 4 years now and have raised millions for their cause. They been in the "Today Show", "Ellen", and "Pimp My Ride." All of this focuse on a black teen who could die any day of a terminal disease. His brother died of the same disease 5 years ago.

The race card games was worn out 10 years ago. Get over it ! You have been listening too much to radicals like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton too much.

I am so glad Obama "gets it." Hopefully he can help change the way some Americans think.

Edited September 17, 2008 by coachx

[PureGreatness]

Not me. I think of all mothers. I am white and was raised by a single mother with 4 boys.

yes, but when people talk about single mothers who are they talkin about? its most times black women. i know its more then them but when you talk about 70% of black households are fatherless/parentless than you get my point.

Edited September 17, 2008 by hoodstar

[High5]

Whitlock isn't always bad, but I'm surprised he actually has fans.

[Diesel]

Who is you ? Everyone ?

Not me. I think of all mothers. I am white and was raised by a single mother with 4 boys.

That like the Obama supporters (not Obama himself) saying the term social worker or community organizer is code word for black . That is just hillarious. My mother is white and has been a social worker/ community organizer for 30 years, my brother for 5 years , and another brother at UGA who will be doing the same thing for handicapped children in lower incomes. They all deal with children (majority happens to be black)who are poor and most come from single parent homes. They LOVE their job and would not trade it for anything no matter what the pay is . (They are qualified people who could be working in the private sector for much more money but money is not what makes them happy in life.)They truely feel happy in what they do yet the color of the skin of the children they help never even enters their mind.

Ever heard of project known as "Darias Goes West." Look it up. My brother is one of the guys in charge of that. He has been working on it for 4 years now and have raised millions for their cause. They been in the "Today Show", "Ellen", and "Pimp My Ride." All of this focuse on a black teen who could die any day of a terminal disease. His brother died of the same disease 5 years ago.

The race card games was worn out 10 years ago. Get over it ! You have been listening too much to radicals like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton too much.

I am so glad Obama "gets it." Hopefully he can help change the way some Americans think.

This is actually funny.

Just a few things.

Whitlock does what he does for one reason. To sell papers. He realizes that what goes into print must be compelling to somebody. He reinforces white people's beliefs about black people and he uses the race card in a very insidious way. It's almost self destroying. Hoodstar is correct when he says that Hip Hop is a big target. However, hip hop is marketed to be a big target. How many Hip Hoppers own their own record company? Not just a label, but the company? Sony, BMG, etc... Here's the point. They have to answer to somebody. That somebody determines what they will be... what they will produce. What they will say. And so far, to be successful, the hip hop artist has to say whatever will get him credibility. Not just on the street, but in the boardroom. You ever hear any gospel rappers? ever? do they ever make it to radio? That there tells you that rap is not what the consumer is buying... and neither is the beat. It's the message. Record companies dig the violence against women, they dig the thug, hoodlum, etc... because just like Whitlock, they know that it reinforces white people's belief of black people and they think it sells to blacks. Well, guess what. When you inundate children with the images and sounds of hip hop, they will mimic what they see. Not just black youth, but white youth too. There are a whole gang of guys in surburban America trying to be like M&M too. What they missed though is that these "thugs" can also be business men too. Sean Combs and Jay Z has turned everything they see into capital. Not by selling drugs, but by merchandising hip hop. That's not thugish behavior. What it really comes down to is that Hip Hop is a tool. Some people who learn to use it will become rich. Others will be victimized by it. However, some will be so willing to buy into the stereotype that they can't explain or understand it.

On to Reject.

Reject should have stayed gone.

He's still the same guy.

Trying to be an elitest to compensate for what's not there.

You're not smart reject. That fact that you lack education shows in your post. You feel the need to try to align yourself with AHF... for what...so you can rub shoulders? AHF is not an elitest. He's a cool dude. However, you... You're divisive. Let me explain this to you. You having come out of a single parent household... really means nothing. Nobody knows that you come from a single parent household. You don't have to wear a label that says "I come out of a single parent household". It's not something that you have to even live with if you don't want to. However, to try and compare your situation with what Hoodlum was saying is shallow. In other words, don't try to empathize because you don't know and probably never will know. Just take Hoodlum's word for it and move on.

" Nonetheless, you're busy pointing fingers at people you think are bigots (Whitlock) because they criticize what matters to YOU specifically."

:no-no:

:ill:

[AHF]

And so far, to be successful, the hip hop artist has to say whatever will get him credibility. Not just on the street, but in the boardroom. You ever hear any gospel rappers? ever? do they ever make it to radio? That there tells you that rap is not what the consumer is buying... and neither is the beat. It's the message. Record companies dig the violence against women, they dig the thug, hoodlum, etc... because just like Whitlock, they know that it reinforces white people's belief of black people and they think it sells to blacks.

I think the timeline is messed up on this one. Hip hop focused largely on the thug image, violence, women, etc. before record companies got involved. The decision to promote that musis had nothing to do with whether it would reinforce images about black people. It had everything to do with hip hop showing it could sell serious records and make the record companies money. The record companies took a financially successfull music/lifestyle and marketed it to the masses not because of its impact on stereotypes but because people buy it up. The record execs would be just as happy marketing "Hi Ho Cheerio - Sounds from the Farm" if it brought in the money that hip hop did.

Well, guess what. When you inundate children with the images and sounds of hip hop, they will mimic what they see. Not just black youth, but white youth too. There are a whole gang of guys in surburban America trying to be like M&M too. What they missed though is that these "thugs" can also be business men too. Sean Combs and Jay Z has turned everything they see into capital. Not by selling drugs, but by merchandising hip hop. That's not thugish behavior. What it really comes down to is that Hip Hop is a tool. Some people who learn to use it will become rich. Others will be victimized by it. However, some will be so willing to buy into the stereotype that they can't explain or understand it.

Here, the companies want anything that makes them more money. If Jay Z makes them money without being a thug, all the better for them because that means he doesn't come with the type of liabilities and risk associated with someone who is a thug.

I guess my bottomline is that I don't see the record companies intentionally trying to perpetuate negative racial stereotypes, nor do I see them as crusaders to change negative stereotypes. They simply don't care except to see how much $$ they are going to make if they sign an artist to a contract and promote that artist.

[Diesel]

I think the timeline is messed up on this one. Hip hop focused largely on the thug image, violence, women, etc. before record companies got involved. The decision to promote that musis had nothing to do with whether it would reinforce images about black people. It had everything to do with hip hop showing it could sell serious records and make the record companies money. The record companies took a financially successfull music/lifestyle and marketed it to the masses not because of its impact on stereotypes but because people buy it up. The record execs would be just as happy marketing "Hi Ho Cheerio - Sounds from the Farm" if it brought in the money that hip hop did.

Here, the companies want anything that makes them more money. If Jay Z makes them money without being a thug, all the better for them because that means he doesn't come with the type of liabilities and risk associated with someone who is a thug.

I guess my bottomline is that I don't see the record companies intentionally trying to perpetuate negative racial stereotypes, nor do I see them as crusaders to change negative stereotypes. They simply don't care except to see how much $$ they are going to make if they sign an artist to a contract and promote that artist.

I may have misspoke it or not said it well, but this is to my point. Record companies do whatever it takes to sell records... just like Whitlock will say whatever he believes is necessary to sell papers. It's a tried and true method... controversy is good for business. Rodman was able to market himself based on controversey. Without controversy who is packman jones and who is T.O. ?? It's just that when I see some rappers, I can tell that it's not them. it's their persona. Sorta like when Hammer tried to be a gangsta... It was at the height of "gangsta rap". He grabbed a color and he tried to act the part too.

The problem is that I think record companies use and perverse good artist with this need for a selling feature that fits in what they believe will sell. I will give it up for rappers. The really good ones can use their words to put a picture into your mind..just like a poet... The problem is that unlike the poet or maybe just like the poet, there's a censorship involved with what will get to the people. People are complex. They don't think one way and one way alone. It's refreshing to hear somebody not rapping about being a thug or being violent. I think one of the best rap songs ever put on a record was "if I ruled the world" by NAS. He talked about getting out of his situation in a poetic manner. This is while other guys were talking about shooting and killing and stealing and selling drugs. If hip hop is to survive, the limits have to be taken off of it. Some guy had a song about skating a few years ago. All I can say is refreshing. Moreover, this goes for other forms of music. I don't want to hear every heavy metal artist talking about suicide or hell. If that's all you got, then you don't have much. Record companies have to end their own stereotyping and get to a point where they are allowing everything to come out.

[CBAreject]

Reject should have stayed gone.

True

Trying to be an elitest to compensate for what's not there.

You're not smart reject. That fact that you lack education shows in your post.

Why do you always want to talk about my education? I have 2 engineering degrees from Ga Tech and now an MD. What sort of standard are you using to say that I "lack education"? You can't possibly be using your own. Don't you have like a bachelor's in MIS from Kennesaw St. or something equally unchallenging from an equally non-competitive school? You're just making yourself look ridiculous and pathetic....even moreso.

And how do I "try to be an elitist"? Either a person is or he isn't. All it takes is thinking himself better than others. It's not something you try at and fail, like "trying to be an astronaut". Why if I'm elitist do I choose through my career to serve indigent people, many times without pay? I'm not better than anybody. I am smarter than some people...actually the wide majority of people, and I use that gift to help people who are less fortunate. If you weren't so proud, you might learn something from me on occasion. Instead, you blindly contradict whatever I say without even thinking about its meaning.

You feel the need to try to align yourself with AHF... for what...so you can rub shoulders? AHF is not an elitest. He's a cool dude. However, you... You're divisive.

Let me explain this to you. You having come out of a single parent household... really means nothing. Nobody knows that you come from a single parent household. You don't have to wear a label that says "I come out of a single parent household".

However, to try and compare your situation with what Hoodlum was saying is shallow. In other words, don't try to empathize because you don't know and probably never will know.

How do you figure I "align myself with AHF"? I said that I respect the fact that he responds so calmly, and I have complimented him for it. I didn't say anything about our perspectives being the same. Did you not understand? I said very plainly that he is patient and that I lack that patience. That's why I'm divisive. I admitted as much. I'm a jerk on here because I can't tolerate people like you who aren't intelligent but are too ignorant to realize it. AHF isn't a jerk, and that's terrific. I admire him for that. You are very divisive yourself, and you don't exhibit 1/10th the logical reasoning ability that AHF has. It has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing. You just can't think. He can.

On the same note, why do you "align yourself" with Hoodlum? Oh, that's right--because he's whoever is opposing me. You hate me because I threaten your fragile ego. You know that I can crush you in any debate or any intellectual measure. You remember when I publicly embarrassed you for showing people your incomprehensible, grammatically catastrophic blogs. You hate me because I'm the only one on here who will rip just about every part of your ill-conceived, weakly-supported, 5th-grade-level-composition arguments to shreds. (Note, not the only one who can, but the only one who will...AHF could, and he probably does in his own mind, but he's too nice to do it publicly).

Wear it on my sleeve? I don't even care that I did. I certainly don't care that anybody knows. Did I not say that I was apathetic about it? Did I not say that people get bent out of shape and I don't understand why? How could you possibly think I'm "wearing it on my sleeve"? I was clearly using single parent homes as a parallel concept. People are passionate about some things, including that. There's no reason for them to be so sensitive, yet they are. You couldn't get that. Good job--you've just passed a milestone: 20,000 points missed completely.

You think I was "comparing" my own upbringing to "what Hoodlum was saying" about Whitlock's wacky POV? I was talking about societal opinions on single motherhood! The fact that I am from a single-mother home is purely incidental. It only gave me insight into that particular sensitive issue. And when was I trying to empathize? It's not like Hoodlum has suffered and I'm trying to "feel with" him. Do you sniff glue?

Even if I were "comparing", as you say, how would that be "shallow"? You don't even know what shallow means. Actually, the perception of single-mothers is considerably MORE important that perception of hip-hop music.

It's only shallow to you because it's whatever is coming out of my mouth, which you instantly and categorically deny, contradict, dismiss. You can't listen to me, because you're afraid you'd find out what everyone else has known for years--you're not half as smart as you think. The only person that would ever conceive of the idea that you are smarter than I am is....you. It's not even about the dramatically disparate levels of education. You lack the very basic reasoning skills that I had when I was in the 10th grade. I didn't need to go to a top med school to learn reading comprehension. I had that mastered before I graduated HIGH SCHOOL. Note that I do not think you are stupid! I think you're of about average intelligence, which is just fine. Here's the trouble: you think you are brilliant. You don't think you could learn anything. You don't think you could improve your own reading comprehension or ability to construct an argument. You think you arrived long ago, and now you're helping all the morons with doctorates think like you who "didn't need all that college".

Prediction: You'll ignore everything I've said here, refusing to answer any challenge, and you'll only repeat yourself should you reply. Everyone with a brain will think you look pitiful, but you yourself will grin with an air of self-satisfaction, nestled into your computer chair, which your pasty fat haunches have long since grown into. You and only you will think "I sure told him". You and only you will think "that guy sure is uneducated". And you and only you will somehow, albeit inconceivably, peer upward at your laminated, wall-tacked associates degree and nod smugly at the "clear evidence" of your own staggering acumen.