OT.. Wendy Bell

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

That's my whole point, Rivals.

Bell is the person most guilty of that which you are decrying. She was the one that decided this issue needed to be publicly discussed now and she was going to lead it.

That was a courageous choice on her part. It was also obviously a bad choice.

Personally, I don't see this as a political issue. I don't think that if you think she was a goofball to wade into these treacherous waters it automatically makes you a bleeding heart liberal. Similarly, I don't think if you defend her for whatever reason it necessarily makes you a crazy conservative.

The point is she is no more equipped to lead a discussion on race relations than I am on said abortion-rights. The fact that she decided to do it anyway is entirely up to her and was obviously at her professional peril.

Yeah you're right. My only comments politically is the support or criticism usually lines up along the political fronts. There is one underlying tragedy to all of these events that gets underreported and commented on, for the very reason why it is underdiscussed. The fact that you can't condemn these actions in any sort of grass roots level because the repercussions and attentions then seems to focus on those condemnations moreso the actions. Which is weird.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Well, I can only speak for myself. I don't pretend to speak for all politically moderate independents everywhere. And I definitely don't pretend to speak for the goofball zealots on either side of the political fence. I think they are two sides of the same coin and they're both batshit crazy...as evidenced by this very debate.

There is no defending what this woman wrote. She may be the nicest person in the world but what she wrote was wrongheaded and stupid. It was also stupid of her to attempt it in the first place.

She screwed up, period. There is just no debating a part of this issue.

However, she also did not deserve to lose her job over this. That too was wrong and extinguished any flickering hope that may have still existed of having a real discussion on a serious issue.

I have no problem whatsoever acknowledging that black-on-black crime is one of the most pressing problems in this country. However, I also think it is a socioeconomic thing more than a race thing. That makes it much more difficult discussion for both sides to have.

For example, I would suspect that the crime rate among whites living in those same drug-addled neighborhoods like Wilkinsburg would be similar to their black peers.

Also, I would guess that the black crime rates for african-Americans living in neighborhoods like Wexford or Fox Chapel or Jefferson is comparable to the white crime rates in those neighborhoods.

In other words, it's not a black thing, it's a poor thing. Your class, not your race, is most determinative of your behavior...and your punishment.

That then leads us down the rabbit hole to a discussion of:

^ Why have african-Americans been so marginalized in our culture and why does it continue to happen?

^ Also, what are we doing as a society to tangibly correct that self-identified "massive problem" other than wagging a disapproving finger at an entire race of people based on the actions of a fraction of them (statistically speaking)?

^ Why are such a disproportionately large number of african-Americans still at the lowest part of our economic totem pole?

^ Why are such a disproportionately large number of african-Americans occupying most of our prisons?

^ What are we doing to rehabilitate them so that history doesn't repeat itself?

^ What are we doing to address the almost always underlying mental illness that causes drug addiction in the first place?

^ Is it sheer laziness?

^ Is it intelligence related?

^ Is it systemic racism?

^ Is it systemic classism?

^ Is it that blacks are inherently less virtuous than whites?

^ Are poor people inherently less virtuous than wealthy people?

^ Do african-American inherently respect the lives of others less than their caucasian counterparts?

^ Are all these mostly white judges much more prone to throw the book at an african-American offender than a caucasian offender?

^ Is it any number of other factors?

Go ahead, take a good hard kick at that can of worms.

That's a pretty complex issue to dive into and I don't think Ms. Bell was remotely equipped to have that type of discussion on a serious level.

She wanted to talk about bastard thugs hiding in closets across the street from the murders and especially industrious busboys at the Cheesecake Factory. She wanted to tie it up into a nice tidy bow and it doesn't work that way. She offered some very simplistic solutions to what is a very complex and serious issue.

Honestly, I've read her post and reread it and reread it again; and I still don't really know what the hell she was trying to do? I think it was clearly well-intentioned but also so far off the mark that it's impossible for me to feel sorry for her.

Bell did what a lot of people are prone to do in these types of discussions, she wanted to cherry pick data points and talk about one aspect of this enormous issue without getting involved with all the rest of it and of course that pissed off people.

If it is truly a serious conversation you are after, I don't know how you can have a serious discussion on black-on-black crime without getting into the historical and cultural factors that have led us here and the current cultural factors we continue to condone that further marginalize the lowest end of the American economic spectrum, a disproportionate number of whom are african-American?

That seems impossible to me and Facebook seems like just about the craziest place possible to attempt it. Then again, what the hell do I know?

 

[upj87]

There is no defense of her that is fair. I am prejudice against prejudice people.

all statistically substantiated inferences are prejudiced and thus her defense.... dispel the inference if you can and make a point to prove otherwise...

 

[littlemoe]

WTAE fires Wendy Bell, justified ?

Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everthing she stated was a provable point!

 

[DruidTM]

I don't think she should have been fired...but.....I read nothing in her rant that remotely was "provable"...more like biased assumptions that can't be proven which therefore fall under the title of "wild speculation" which is a no no as a reporter...doubly so to put it on your employer's facebook...so well...I guess you can see why they fired her afterall....provable? She just "knows" the killers live across the street? Is she Bruce Wayne? Why don't the police "know" this?....She "knows" the boy at Cheescake Factory never got a compliment, attaboy or good job remark?.....wild speculation...nothing more.

 

[FreeportPanther]

I don't think she should have been fired...but.....I read nothing in her rant that remotely was "provable"...more like biased assumptions that can't be proven which therefore fall under the title of "wild speculation" which is a no no as a reporter...doubly so to put it on your employer's facebook...so well...I guess you can see why they fired her afterall....provable? She just "knows" the killers live across the street? Is she Bruce Wayne? Why don't the police "know" this?....She "knows" the boy at Cheescake Factory never got a compliment, attaboy or good job remark?.....wild speculation...nothing more.

Who is Wendy Bell?
Seriously, the news goes on........

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything she stated was a provable point!

In this case, (unfortunately) it doesn't matter. For her bashers:

 

[ChazzMo]

No, I understand what she was trying to do, which is why I advocated a suspension instead of a firing.

However, it doesn't change the fact that she compared this poor kid whom she was trying to compliment with a pair of wanton murderers for no reason other than their shared skin color. That is not remotely fair to that kid or anyone else who had nothing to do with that mass murder.

Bottom line: she's a goddamn idiot who absolutely deserved to be punished for her arrogance alone but maybe not quite this harshly.

Punished for her arrogance. - is that where we are?

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Of course that's where we are. This entire controversy is basically all about her hubris - at least from where I sit.

I honestly don't understand the debate here? I'm not being coy, I am sincerely at a loss for why people are so vehemently disagreeing with each other here? It's weird to be quite honest.

To me, it is as clear as a bell (sorry) that she was out of line in what she wrote. I'm not as worried about her speculating about where the murderers are most likely hiding or their likely parental status. That's dumb but ultimately harmless, IMO.

However, she clearly equated the Cheesecake Factory busboy to the murderers based solely on their shared race and I'm sorry but that is, by definition, textbook racism.

Period.

End of story.

Drive safely.

Have a nice night.

It doesn't make a bit of difference if the busboy was flattered by her well intentioned compliments about what she perceived to be his work ethic. They were still racist.

It's sort of like when your grandmother tells you she likes, "that one colored fella on the news because he is just so articulate."

Not at all malicious...but absolutely racist.

I don't think for one second that what Bell wrote was in any way malicious but it was definitely woefully misguided - especially for a person in her uniquely delicate position.

She should have known better than to wade into those notoriously treacherous waters, which have claimed more than one career for comments far more innocuous than what she wrote. The fact that she chose to do it anyway, despite knowing the dangers associated with it, speaks directly to her outsized ego more than anything else.

Also, I don't believe that she was really trying to initiate a serious conversation about anything. I think she is just another egotist who has grown used to being fawned over for her every thought and she assumed this would be more of the same.

She was wrong.

As I have written several times in this thread, I do not believe that she deserved to be fired for her idiocy. However, the people who are misguidedly trying to defend what she wrote are missing the forest for the trees, IMO.

 

[NTOP]

Of course that's where we are. This entire controversy is basically all about her hubris - at least from where I sit.

I honestly don't understand the debate here? I'm not being coy, I am sincerely at a loss for why people are so vehemently disagreeing with each other here? It's weird to be quite honest.

To me, it is as clear as a bell (sorry) that she was out of line in what she wrote. I'm not as worried about her speculating about where the murderers are most likely hiding or their likely parental status. That's dumb but ultimately harmless, IMO.

However, she clearly equated the Cheesecake Factory busboy to the murderers based solely on their shared race and I'm sorry but that is, by definition, textbook racism.

Period.

End of story.

Drive safely.

Have a nice night.

It doesn't make a bit of difference if the busboy was flattered by her well intentioned compliments about what she perceived to be his work ethic. They were still racist.

It's sort of like when your grandmother tells you she likes, "that one colored fella on the news because he is just so articulate."

Not at all malicious...but absolutely racist.

I don't think for one second that what Bell wrote was in any way malicious but it was definitely woefully misguided - especially for a person in her uniquely delicate position.

She should have known better than to wade into those notoriously treacherous waters, which have claimed more than one career for comments far more innocuous than what she wrote. The fact that she chose to do it anyway, despite knowing the dangers associated with it, speaks directly to her outsized ego more than anything else.

Also, I don't believe that she was really trying to initiate a serious conversation about anything. I think she is just another egotist who has grown used to being fawned over for her every thought and she assumed this would be more of the same.

She was wrong.

As I have written several times in this thread, I do not believe that she deserved to be fired for her idiocy. However, the people who are misguidedly trying to defend what she wrote are missing the forest for the trees, IMO.

Also, I don't believe that she was really trying to initiate a serious conversation about anything. I think she is just another egotist who has grown used to being fawned over for her every thought and she assumed this would be more of the same.
This is it in a nutshell. The cult of celebrity isn't just for politicians. I'm surprised Sharpton hasn't chimed in.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Today in the Post Gazette, Brian O'Neill had what I thought was the best take on the whole situation. He wasn't defending what Bell said. No "right or wrong" in what she said. In fact, even quoted a "profiler" expert tearing down her comments.

But two things, two points he focused on where what I thought profound.

1) We all can admit the only way to get over all of the racial stuff in our society is "open and honest debate and dialogue" on race. And how many times have we heard this? From all communities, including black and the liberals. But this never happens. Because in "open and honest" will come dissenting views, even wrong comments in regards to stereotypes. Instead of continuing the "debate" or trying to educate that these views aren't correct or always correct, we just shout the person down. More than that, we shut them down. They aren't allowed to say that. because it is not politically correct. And so we try and ruin the person, instead of engage debate and maybe persuade and educate that their opinions aren't right. How in the hell is that "open and honest'. The black community and liberals basically use a form of terrorism to conform all debates to fit their agenda.

2) And again, what I have harped on, the most disturbing thing in this whole sad affair is that the crimes (6 people of one family were killed) didn't invoke 1/10th of the reaction and outrage from this same community as Bell's misguided comments. Look, I will admit that there are definitely bias still existing in society, courts, etc....based on race or more to the point, poverty, but the left and the black communities counter to this is to shoot the messenger's instead of trying to stop the violence.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I actually agree with this. The real outrage should be reserved for the murderers, not the dumbass who said some stupid shit about the murders.

Also, I do agree that political discourse in this country has deteriorated. Nowadays, people just talk past each other rather than to each other and that really is a shame.

The progressives/liberals are every bit as guilty of that as are the conservatives and sometimes even more so. Liberals are loathe to admit that reality but it's often true. For liberals arrogance is always the issue. For the conservatives it's usually their unabashed delusion that does them in.

However, I will reiterate that I do not believe the people on either side of the political divide truly want to have a serious conversation about this because it would require that both sides take responsibility for their shortcomings and stupid ass attitudes that still exist today.

What people on both sides really want is to freely wag their fingers of disapproval at entire groups of people who they see as "the real problem" without any fear of repercussion.

Unfortunately, anyone with a brain knows that it doesn't work that way. There's not one group of people or one set of circumstances that has created such a widespread and deeply entrenched problem. This was a group effort.

It is also a complex jambalaya of factors that have led us down this road and there are villains to be found all over the place – including some well-meaning villains. Also, there are no easy solutions to be had without radically overhauling a lot of cultural institutions.

I think I would be much more forgiving of what Bell wrote if I believed for one second that she was sincere in her attempt to start a real conversation about a serious issue.

I just don't think she is in any way remotely qualified to lead that type of nuanced discussion and I resent having someone dumber than me preach to me about an issue that I know a helluva lot more about than she does and I have no answers.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

I actually agree with this. The real outrage should be reserved for the murderers, not the dumbass who said some stupid shit about the murders.

Also, I do agree that political discourse in this country has deteriorated. Nowadays, people just talk past each other rather than to each other and that really is a shame.

The progressives/liberals are every bit as guilty of that as are the conservatives and sometimes even more so. Liberals are loathe to admit that reality but it's often true. For liberals arrogance is always the issue. For the conservatives it's usually their unabashed delusion that does them in.

However, I will reiterate that I do not believe the people on either side of the political divide truly want to have a serious conversation about this because it would require that both sides take responsibility for their shortcomings and stupid ass attitudes that still exist today.

What people on both sides really want is to freely wag their fingers of disapproval at entire groups of people who they see as "the real problem" without any fear of repercussion.

Unfortunately, anyone with a brain knows that it doesn't work that way. There's not one group of people or one set of circumstances that has created such a widespread and deeply entrenched problem. This was a group effort.

It is also a complex jambalaya of factors that have led us down this road and there are villains to be found all over the place – including some well-meaning villains. Also, there are no easy solutions to be had without radically overhauling a lot of cultural institutions.

I think I would be much more forgiving of what Bell wrote if I believed for one second that she was sincere in her attempt to start a real conversation about a serious issue.

I just don't think she is in any way remotely qualified to lead that type of nuanced discussion and I resent having someone dumber than me preach to me about an issue that I know a helluva lot more about than she does and I have no answers.

Trib pole, best female news broadcaster...

Does any other people in the news say anything about the beat down in "Sliberty"...

 

[Saboteur]

Today in the Post Gazette, Brian O'Neill had what I thought was the best take on the whole situation. He wasn't defending what Bell said. No "right or wrong" in what she said. In fact, even quoted a "profiler" expert tearing down her comments.

But two things, two points he focused on where what I thought profound.

1) We all can admit the only way to get over all of the racial stuff in our society is "open and honest debate and dialogue" on race. And how many times have we heard this? From all communities, including black and the liberals. But this never happens. Because in "open and honest" will come dissenting views, even wrong comments in regards to stereotypes. Instead of continuing the "debate" or trying to educate that these views aren't correct or always correct, we just shout the person down. More than that, we shut them down. They aren't allowed to say that. because it is not politically correct. And so we try and ruin the person, instead of engage debate and maybe persuade and educate that their opinions aren't right. How in the hell is that "open and honest'. The black community and liberals basically use a form of terrorism to conform all debates to fit their agenda.

2) And again, what I have harped on, the most disturbing thing in this whole sad affair is that the crimes (6 people of one family were killed) didn't invoke 1/10th of the reaction and outrage from this same community as Bell's misguided comments. Look, I will admit that there are definitely bias still existing in society, courts, etc....based on race or more to the point, poverty, but the left and the black communities counter to this is to shoot the messenger's instead of trying to stop the violence.

Bias is not the same as prejudice which is not the same as unfair prejudice. Bias is no more no less than " perspective" based on experiences, opinions, beliefs. We are all biased, IMHO. Prejudice is how we treat people without personal experience and the unsubstantiated views of others that we adopt.
Unfair prejudice is when people are ruled by their prejudice and, in spite of objective criteria to the contrary, follow their prejudicial beliefs.
It is a lesser challenge to get people to set aside their bias than it is to get them to set aside their prejudice. It is a lesser challenge to get people to set aside their prejudice than it is to eliminate the prejudice altogether.
People cannot be forced to like one another. But they can learn to live with each other.
I didn't read Bell's quotes. I don't care what she said.
But I agree with the earlier post that labeled as "weird" the fact that 6 people are dead AND NO ONE KNOWS ONE NAME OF THE 6, but Wendy Bell is the first name off most tongue's.
With all respect to Ms. Bell and those who focus on her, the real issue has nothing to do with them and is much much bigger than that.
Weird? That's a polite term for assbackwards.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I agree with this in it's entirety. The focus should be on the murders, and not someone's commentary on the murders or the likely murderers.

I also agree with those who claim that WTAE overreacted and should have suspended Wendy Bell instead of firing her. A legitimate suspension would've made the same point loud and clear and it probably would've come with very little public blowback except for the nut jobs.

However, I still have no sympathy whatsoever for Wendy Bell. She is the one that chose to interject herself into this story. It was a bad decision on her part - one of many bad decisions on her part.

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

Wendy Bell, I'd hit it....

 

[Hailpitt]

Dr Von Yinzer,
Ever think of running for office. You use a lot of words but don't actually say anything. Why don't you lead off with the "serious conversation" that you say we so desperately need. Instead of the same questions over and over (why are blacks so marginalized? blah blah blah) why don't you try to provide us with your wisdom as to why these circumstances persist? Bell's comments were wrong headed and stupid, but at least she showed guts to wade into this treacherous discussion. Isn't this what you are calling for--an "honest" discussion which may entail inappropriate comments? So far, I have heard nothing from you!

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

No, I am not wading into those waters. I don't feel qualified to wade into those waters. And unlike many others, including Ms. Bell herself, I have the wisdom and humility to understand and accept that reality.

My point was this is a very serious and exceedingly complex conversation. It serves no constructive purpose for anyone to be wagging their finger at any group of people telling them that they need to get their shit together whatever the truth of the matter is we ALL need to get our shit together!

People get very uncomfortable when you say this but the truth of the matter is that we all created this culture together and it is everyone's responsibility to change it. How exactly do we do that? I have no earthly idea. I suppose it begins with dialogue. However, by dialogue I mean respectful conversation – not political rhetoric and certainly not through trite Facebook posts by people who have no idea what the hell they're talking about.

Anyone who wags their fingers at "the black community" without simultaneously acknowledging the myriad factors that have led us to this point is, well, a complete imbecile.

The problem of disenfranchised African-Americans, and indeed disenfranchised poor Americans of all colors, did not happen overnight and it won't be solved through a phucking Facebook post from some self-important, airheaded bimbo.

To try to "solve" the most complex and controversial issue in the history of this country through a Facebook post is ridiculous and demonstrates a fundamental under appreciation for the complexity of this issue. Neither Facebook nor a message board is an appropriate place to have a conversation this complex and important.

Hell, on this message board I can't even get people to acknowledge basic facts about ultimately meaningless bullshit that everyone can plainly see but some refuse to acknowledge for whatever reason.

Just the other day we had a 10 page discussion on whether or not the Pitt football program was a mess three years ago when we went through 39 coaches in three months and phucked up our program to such an extent that we somehow ended up with a younger roster than rival Penn State, which was under NCAA-mandated scholarship reductions (about which they pissed and moaned to the whole world at every opportunity).

Can you believe that? People were actually debating whether or not the program was phucked up - as if that was somehow still in question?

People were like "Yeah, I understand that we went through a bunch of coaches in a short period of time and that we were the butt of jokes across the country, but we still should've recruited better and we should have overcome that and won the conference."

It was ridiculous.

Spoiler alert: The answer is that we grossly phucked up our program and it is just short of a miracle that we did not end up where we did in the early to mid 90s - the last time we majorly screwed up our program.

If you can't get a consensus on something as simple and obvious as that, how in the world can you talk to them about about something as personal and meaningful and complex as race relations?

No, thank you. I'll let somebody else jump into that particular swimming pool. I would much rather have some stranger hate my guts because I disagree with them about the relative competency of one of our former coaches or the ability level of our backup safety than have them hate me for something that actually matters.

 

[cbpitt2]

Trib pole, best female news broadcaster...

Does any other people in the news say anything about the beat down in "Sliberty"...

It's poll not pole. Sheesh.

 

[Hailpitt]

How the hell do you go from the "complex and controversial" problem of disenfranchised African Americans to the trials of the Pitt football program from 2010 to present day all in a single post?

 

[Swervin27]

How the hell do you go from the "complex and controversial" problem of disenfranchised African Americans to the trials of the Pitt football program from 2010 to present day all in a single post?

pretty amazing if you think about it..

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

How the hell do you go from the "complex and controversial" problem of disenfranchised African Americans to the trials of the Pitt football program from 2010 to present day all in a single post?

Pretty impressive, isn't it?

The truth is I am only fluent in one of those two topics so I brought it back to my area of relative expertise.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

No, I am not wading into those waters. I don't feel qualified to wade into those waters. And unlike many others, including Ms. Bell herself, I have the wisdom and humility to understand and accept that reality.

My point was this is a very serious and exceedingly complex conversation. It serves no constructive purpose for anyone to be wagging their finger at any group of people telling them that they need to get their shit together whatever the truth of the matter is we ALL need to get our shit together!

People get very uncomfortable when you say this but the truth of the matter is that we all created this culture together and it is everyone's responsibility to change it. How exactly do we do that? I have no earthly idea. I suppose it begins with dialogue. However, by dialogue I mean respectful conversation – not political rhetoric and certainly not through trite Facebook posts by people who have no idea what the hell they're talking about.

Anyone who wags their fingers at "the black community" without simultaneously acknowledging the myriad factors that have led us to this point is, well, a complete imbecile.

The problem of disenfranchised African-Americans, and indeed disenfranchised poor Americans of all colors, did not happen overnight and it won't be solved through a phucking Facebook post from some self-important, airheaded bimbo.

To try to "solve" the most complex and controversial issue in the history of this country through a Facebook post is ridiculous and demonstrates a fundamental under appreciation for the complexity of this issue. Neither Facebook nor a message board is an appropriate place to have a conversation this complex and important.

Hell, on this message board I can't even get people to acknowledge basic facts about ultimately meaningless bullshit that everyone can plainly see but some refuse to acknowledge for whatever reason.

Just the other day we had a 10 page discussion on whether or not the Pitt football program was a mess three years ago when we went through 39 coaches in three months and phucked up our program to such an extent that we somehow ended up with a younger roster than rival Penn State, which was under NCAA-mandated scholarship reductions (about which they pissed and moaned to the whole world at every opportunity).

Can you believe that? People were actually debating whether or not the program was phucked up - as if that was somehow still in question?

People were like "Yeah, I understand that we went through a bunch of coaches in a short period of time and that we were the butt of jokes across the country, but we still should've recruited better and we should have overcome that and won the conference."

It was ridiculous.

Spoiler alert: The answer is that we grossly phucked up our program and it is just short of a miracle that we did not end up where we did in the early to mid 90s - the last time we majorly screwed up our program.

If you can't get a consensus on something as simple and obvious as that, how in the world can you talk to them about about something as personal and meaningful and complex as race relations?

No, thank you. I'll let somebody else jump into that particular swimming pool. I would much rather have some stranger hate my guts because I disagree with them about the relative competency of one of our former coaches or the ability level of our backup safety than have them hate me for something that actually matters.

Doc, I am sorry, it ain't that complicated. White guys like us say it is to placate the PC crowd. It is not black and white, (nothing is and no pun intended) but it is also not such a complex equation that it is completely unsolvable. But there are a few shades gray. There almost always is in all of these types of discussions and that is why we fail, because we want everything in black or white. Why I don't think it is that complicated, It comes down to accountability and opportunity.

This is funny and relevant. I am checking into a hotel today and the young man (man do I sound old) checking me was remarking when I yawned and said I was tired, that he has been up since 2:00 AM as he already worked a job at the Cleveland Airport. And now he is checking me in. He was incredibly polite. I laughed as I thought to myself on the way to the elevator "what would Wendy think?" I mean how ironic, I was thinking the same thoughts as she posted, but then I thought to myself, it had nothing to do with race, but age. How impressive it was that this young man was working two jobs like this and could still have a great attitude.

I think one of the main problems with race, is that we as a society are not allowed to discuss it if we are not a) black ourselves or b) apologetic. Because I think always apologizing and making excuses for the worst of this society is being racist in itself as you are basically saying "they are not equal, they need special assistance". And that is part of why we overcomplicate things. If we perhaps have the same expectations as all, then maybe.....we both would stop making excuses.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Of course it's complicated. If anything I have undersold its complexity. I feel no need to further explain why.

It's only simple if you're not fully considering the enormity of the issue. If you think this is all about a race of people acting in a substandard manner and refusing to take responsibility for that behavior – without also considering any of the thousands of issues that have created that circumstance and thousands more that could improve it – then you're right, it's not all that complicated.

"Those people" simply need to get their shit together like us civilized people did centuries ago.

It's time to reinstate Wendy Bell, for she speaks the truth. I can't wait to go to the Cheesecake Factory so that I can hug some random black busboy for doing his job and complement him on his unexpectedly outstanding (adequate) articulateness.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

You all are still yammering on about a talking head for losing her job for saying stupid shit?

How bored are you?

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

Okay, now I'm totally confused. I thought this thread was about Facebook etiquette, how to solve black on black crime, and how properly compliment African American busboys for doing their job all while being surprisingly articulate at the same time.

Oh, bother. I just wish there was someone locally who could set me straight on these major issues of the day.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

Okay, now I'm totally confused. I thought this thread was about Facebook etiquette, how to solve black on black crime, and how properly compliment African American busboys for doing their job all while being surprisingly articulate at the same time.

Oh, bother. I just wish there was someone locally who could set me straight on these major issues of the day.

If there was a value for life Wendy would still be on WTAE and I would still be watching WTAE...