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White Florida quarterback loses scholarship for using N-word on social media

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
The downside is that "woke" doesn't really have any consistent set of principles and there's a certain sense of hypocrisy in imposing different sets of rules on people based on race or other immutable conditions.
Why can't we all share our gawd awful words together?
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
With the rise of MAGA and all of its forms of racism and discrimination, which is in some way a response to many marginalized citizens being recognized for who they are (as a civilized society should be), we have to think about what we say in public. The MAGAs are fighting for significance, and they are losing. But part of the fight is to work on being decent and supporting the marginalized. This way the MAGAs have less to believe is suport for their extremism and intolerance.

Cops are still being caught on video doing criminal acts, and that is because they haven't learned that video is not always your friend. Young people need to learn that social media is a window to privacy and not all things need to be broadcast to the world. Maybe this kid didn't have bad intent, but he showed poor judgment, and now he's learned a lesson.

Is the school right to cancel his scholarship? Well in this world of extreme sides in a culture war (thanks MAGAs) with the marginalized seeking acceptance and MAGAs attacking them, institutions will side with the marginalized because dignity and rights is what morals require.

The school certainly has every right to cancel his scholarship, although when such decisions are made at an establishment/institutional level, my impression is that it's more about PR, optics, and fostering a certain image they wish to project.

On the other hand, it appears to have been done in a somewhat knee-jerk, robotic, machine-like fashion which appears tone deaf to certain nuances and context which might put this into a more rational and objective perspective.
 

We Never Know

No Slack
With the rise of MAGA and all of its forms of racism and discrimination, which is in some way a response to many marginalized citizens being recognized for who they are (as a civilized society should be), we have to think about what we say in public. The MAGAs are fighting for significance, and they are losing. But part of the fight is to work on being decent and supporting the marginalized. This way the MAGAs have less to believe is suport for their extremism and intolerance.

Cops are still being caught on video doing criminal acts, and that is because they haven't learned that video is not always your friend. Young people need to learn that social media is a window to privacy and not all things need to be broadcast to the world. Maybe this kid didn't have bad intent, but he showed poor judgment, and now he's learned a lesson.

Is the school right to cancel his scholarship? Well in this world of extreme sides in a culture war (thanks MAGAs) with the marginalized seeking acceptance and MAGAs attacking them, institutions will side with the marginalized because dignity and rights is what morals require.

WOW! You tie and blame this on MAGA?
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
The school certainly has every right to cancel his scholarship, although when such decisions are made at an establishment/institutional level, my impression is that it's more about PR, optics, and fostering a certain image they wish to project.

On the other hand, it appears to have been done in a somewhat knee-jerk, robotic, machine-like fashion which appears tone deaf to certain nuances and context which might put this into a more rational and objective perspective.
It's kind of a carrot on a stick approach it seems.

If you want something, you have to play by ones benefactors rules. Provided of course the rules are clearly spelled out beforehand.

Not sure if it's a good thing entirely, but I see the gist to a degree.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
If the university is a state school, there might
be a 1st Amendment problem...& perhaps 8th
Amendment (excessive punishment).
Possibly, but the kid obviously has talent and he has a limited time to move on. A lawsuit would take time and it might be better to eat crow when there was no ill intent and applying elsewhere. Some school will snap him up.. He might win a lawsuit but his future is potentially brighter if he takes the route that he is taking.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Why can't we all share our gawd awful words together?

Well, legally, we can share our gawd awful words together. Obviously, this kid didn't get arrested or go to jail. He just lost a scholarship.

In the long run, as far as what's acceptable to say or who is allowed to say what, such matters tend to be decided more organically among the masses at street level. When it's decided by some kind of executive committee, it rarely goes the way they want it for very long. Might work in the short term, but eventually it falls apart.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
George Carlin explains the concept, which I am putting behind a spoiler for obvious reasons:
Carlin truly is a voice of reason for these mad times.
And funny, because just the other day I was thinking of that bit and considering doing a google search to see if all those words are actually slurs or not, lmao.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Well, legally, we can share our gawd awful words together. Obviously, this kid didn't get arrested or go to jail. He just lost a scholarship.

In the long run, as far as what's acceptable to say or who is allowed to say what, such matters tend to be decided more organically among the masses at street level. When it's decided by some kind of executive committee, it rarely goes the way they want it for very long. Might work in the short term, but eventually it falls apart.

It's a shame it cost a scholarship. He was just clearly enjoying the lyrics and was in the zone and nothing more. I think it should be reinstated post story.

I thought it was a great accomplishment by using the word *****, it took out the sting of its derogatory "r" cousin and pushed it mostly into irrelevance. He was just singing along.

It seems not, by some peoples standards, whom probably think for some reason it was directed at colored people in a bad way when it was not the case.
 
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Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
It's kind of a carrot on a stick approach it seems.

If you want something, you have to play by ones benefactors rules. Provided of course the rules are clearly spelled out beforehand.

Not sure if it's a good thing entirely, but I see the gist to a degree.

That may be part of the issue, since the rules aren't really that clear.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Carlin truly is a voice of reason for these mad times.
And funny, because just the other day I was thinking of that bit and considering doing a google search to see if all those words are actually slurs or not, lmao.
As a Sq##rehead I can assure you that some of them were. Oh wait! I can say that, it is others that cannot. As a Squarehead I can assure you that some of them were.
 

F1fan

Veteran Member
The school certainly has every right to cancel his scholarship, although when such decisions are made at an establishment/institutional level, my impression is that it's more about PR, optics, and fostering a certain image they wish to project.

On the other hand, it appears to have been done in a somewhat knee-jerk, robotic, machine-like fashion which appears tone deaf to certain nuances and context which might put this into a more rational and objective perspective.
What I don’t see anyone saying is how the boy’s own poor judgment caused the consequences. When i grew up and did something stupid there were consequences. Using social media comes with responsibility, and if someone screws up and uses poor judgment, well, consequences.

The school might be more interested in PR, but again, this is the changing world. When i hire people i want references because i need to trust my employees. Being responsible and using good judgment is important in life. Some call it woke to be socially responsible. Ok. Call me woke. Ill watch MAGAs not be woke and be on the losing side of American life.
 

F1fan

Veteran Member
WOW! You tie and blame this on MAGA?
It’s all connected. Hate speech and MAGA targets the marginalized, and there has been a response. Some go too far but going too far to support our fellow citizens is superior to tearing them apart. The dynamic of the rise in racism and hate crimes is serious and is related to MAGA. I support pushback. I support better social manners to help deny racists any feelings that they are supported, including white kids recording themselves singing rap that includes a word that black people have appropriated for their own use.

If you don’t care then what do you care about as a member of American society?
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
The guy is singing along with a song of a rapper. IMO if its ok for one race to use the N-word in songs, its racist to punish another race for singing along with the song. Its just plain stupid.

White Florida quarterback loses scholarship for using N-word on social media

"According to CBS Sports, Stokes committed to the University of Florida in July. However, after a video of the athlete saying, “Welcome back, n**ga” was uploaded online on Friday (Nov. 18), the school quickly withdrew its offer. The student-athlete shared an apology on Twitter, adding that he fully respects the school’s decision to not have him as a member of their community moving forward. “I was in my car listening to rap music, rapping along to the words, and posted a video of it on social media,” Stokes began".

“I deeply apologize for the words in the song that I chose to say. It was hurtful and offensive to many people, and I regret that. I fully accept the consequences [of] my actions, and I respect the University of Florida’s decision to withdraw my scholarship offer to play football. My intention was never to hurt anybody and I recognize that even when going along with a song, my words still carry a lot of weight. I will strive to be better and to become the best version of myself both on and off the field. I know that learning from my mistakes is a first important step,” he concluded."

https://www-yahoo-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/entertainment/white-florida-quarterback-loses-scholarship-115458803.html?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw==#amp_tf=From %1$s&aoh=16693815332339&referrer=https://www.google.com&ampshare=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/white-florida-quarterback-loses-scholarship-115458803.html
In these days of PR having to contest with their clients (current and future) documenting every moment of their lives, reactions to something like this may becoming more harsh by default.

That is my initial thought.

The casual usage of the slur may have been entirely innocent since he was just singing along and maybe got caught up in the moment or it could have indicated the young man’s prosperity towards that language. Maybe just getting used to it through pop culture. Not necessarily using it with ill intent. (Normally I’m less inclined to give the benefit of the doubt, like I used to. But this is a kid, so I’m willing to be more lenient.)
Or even still maybe the young man just has a lot of friends (of all races) who use the term casually. I mean high school kids aren’t exactly known for their thoughtful use of language after all.

In high school we all swore like sailors and around friends used what could be considered slurs alarmingly casually (as long as we knew for certain that no one was thinking we were saying them with the intention of insulting anyone. But still.)

With that in mind I do think the response was a bit too harsh overall. But I don’t know what requirements US scholarships ask of their prospects, so I dunno
 
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Sand Dancer

Crazy Cat Lady
The guy is singing along with a song of a rapper. IMO if its ok for one race to use the N-word in songs, its racist to punish another race for singing along with the song. Its just plain stupid.

White Florida quarterback loses scholarship for using N-word on social media

"According to CBS Sports, Stokes committed to the University of Florida in July. However, after a video of the athlete saying, “Welcome back, n**ga” was uploaded online on Friday (Nov. 18), the school quickly withdrew its offer. The student-athlete shared an apology on Twitter, adding that he fully respects the school’s decision to not have him as a member of their community moving forward. “I was in my car listening to rap music, rapping along to the words, and posted a video of it on social media,” Stokes began".

“I deeply apologize for the words in the song that I chose to say. It was hurtful and offensive to many people, and I regret that. I fully accept the consequences [of] my actions, and I respect the University of Florida’s decision to withdraw my scholarship offer to play football. My intention was never to hurt anybody and I recognize that even when going along with a song, my words still carry a lot of weight. I will strive to be better and to become the best version of myself both on and off the field. I know that learning from my mistakes is a first important step,” he concluded."

https://www-yahoo-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/entertainment/white-florida-quarterback-loses-scholarship-115458803.html?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw==#amp_tf=From %1$s&aoh=16693815332339&referrer=https://www.google.com&ampshare=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/white-florida-quarterback-loses-scholarship-115458803.html

But they would extend a scholarship to a black player without recourse I bet. That could bite them in the butt.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
As a Sq##rehead I can assure you that some of them were. Oh wait! I can say that, it is others that cannot. As a Squarehead I can assure you that some of them were.
I know at least some of them are. But some of those words I still haven't heard outside of that bit.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
It's a shame it cost a scholarship. He was just clearly enjoying the lyrics and was in the zone and nothing more. I think it should be reinstated post story.

I thought it was a great accomplishment by using the word *****, it took out the sting of its derogatory "r" cousin and pushed it mostly into irrelevance. He was just singing along.

It seems not, by some peoples standards, whom probably think for some reason it was directed at colored people in a bad way when it was not the case.

I'm not sure if the "r" makes any real difference. It's just those phonemes put together which can offend, even in words which might have a different root, such as a word which means "stingy" or "miserly" which sounds very much like the "n-word." I recall some official in Washington DC was forced to resign for using that word, though there were some black politicians (such as Julian Bond) who defended him and thought the reaction against him was absurd and unreasonable.

Words can hurt. They can be used to dehumanize people, but in many cases, it's not so much the word itself, as much as how it's used and what context. That's what seems to be missing in this case and in similar cases - and that's a problem that should be addressed.

But another element to this story is music itself. This 18-year-old white kid is listening to rap music performed by black artists. He obviously enjoys the music to the point where he's singing along with it. There was another article about someone writing about white people attending a rap concert and singing along with the lyrics - some of which contained the "n-word." I've often considered that the history of race and racism in America can also be intertwined with the history of American music. Though that may be a topic for another thread.
 
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