Yes, privacy is much more important than race equality. It’s a fundamental requirement for personal security, trust, free thought and expression.
There is a difference between private statements and public statements. If you make a public statement, then you are open to scrutiny.
Celebrities get a benefit from their status and they give up privacy in public places. They may be approached and photographed there. It’s not unreasonable for them to expect the same kind of privacy as anyone else in other situations. Even Tom Cruise should be able to have a private conversation.
Now, why should the NBA interview him about a private conversation with his girlfriend?
If this was a legal matter, then the conversation would not be admissible evidence. But in the public court of condemnation, anything and everything can be used against you.
Something wrong with that.
So like Duck Dynasty, then? I think the reality is, celebrities get away with the things that progressives are comfortable with. You’re right, he entered into the spotlight and there are risks associated with that. I’m not saying he wasn’t stupid, or that he shouldn’t have known better. But there’s a difference between that, and saying that what he did was actually so bad that he deserves this fate. It’s like that guy who gets mugged because he went into the wrong part of town unarmed, alone, at night, with the wrong colored skin. We can say he should have saw it coming and he knew the risks without saying we’re glad he was mugged or he deserved it.
Yeah, that is where I come down as well. At the very least, he should stop sleeping with this girlfriend… 
No, they are celebrities and a target doubly so because they are good people in addition to being celebrities. Which not all celebrities are.
I think “progressive” celebrities get way with anything as long as they toe the line.
Yeah, he’s an ass hat. (That’s a economic term for someone with an ass for a head. 
)
True, that would be “blaming the victim.”
Weeeeellll…he is 80 years old and apparently out of work. I’d need to see a picture of her.
Does it really make our arguments more effective by further insulting one whose already being subjected to hundreds of thousands of insults everyday?
I’d rather let my insults stand out. Every owner who potentially degraded his own rights within the league, by letting one of his own go down that hard, that easily, by not only not speaking against the sanctions, but by supporting them fully, are sheep.
Probably not. But, I wasn’t looking to strengthen the argument.
It isn’t private anymore. Public knowledge is public knowledge. So is everyone supposed to pretend they didn’t hear Donald Sterling complicit in the perpetuation of racism? Is the NBA supposed to ignore it? That would be dumb. What he said reflects on his character in a way that is deeply relevant to his potion and the league. We should not ignore important information once known. It simply isn’t prudent.
How information becomes public is the issue. If it was obtained in an unethical or illegal manner, then it should not be used and distributed. Otherwise privacy becomes a big farce… anyone can get access to information in whatever way he pleases and it becomes public information as soon as he posts it.
In a word … yes.
Everyone already knew that he was a racist before this recording came out. He has been in court at least twice, charged with racial discrimination. Didn’t bother the NBA. Didn’t bother the NAACP when they gave him an award in 2009 and almost a second award in 2014.
I don’t think public knowledge makes privacy a farce. I said if the tape was recorded and published without permission, there should be consequences.
I just fundamentally disagree that people should have to ignore important leaked information or play dumb. How would you enforce this anyway?
I don’t know Sterling’s history so I have no idea why no actions were taken before if his views were already known. Perhaps the NBA caught this as a convenient wave to do something about him. Maybe they should have done something sooner.
For most people it’s easy to play dumb when they know that they won’t be judge for doing so. Most public outrages are due to people following the leader rather than a true internal disgust.
As much as I am in support of his property rights over and above anything the NBA can do, and Im fairly positive even with it written in contract they still cant enforce it, I agree heavily with the statement for having no pity for Ron. I think there are a few smart moves the NBA could make.
- 99% certainty the NBA has no legal case in forcing a sale, no matter what is written. Only eminent domain and a court transfer of property can do that. You cant even force a hostile takeover of a company by buying majority stocks anymore if the board of directors dont want it, bunch of legal maneuvers.
wever… it is legally grey and therefor legal to pursue, and essentially the NBA can harrass RON until its ruled by a court as contractually unenforceable.
condly… labor disputes can lead to a union, and even if a union is prohibited from striking contractually during a game, the definition of what a basketball game actually is is quite debateable… both teams in each game might join together and do some choreographed harlem globe trotter moves… a lot of passing the ball back in forth, and never tossing it in the basket… ending each game zero-zero. Get some fancy dribbling going on.
ycott the stupid team… easy for me, I dont watch sports.
nd actual evidence he every stopped people from buying tickets on the basis of race… so far, I dont see it, but if he did, each one sue him, not for the constitutional violation that can be lumped together into one massive case, but each for emotional harm, and make expensive lawyers hear each position prior to consolidating them into a class action. It could potentially take years…
But in order to do that, you would need proof. Like, ticket sellers testifying, and people presenting evidence that they did try to buy tickets… such as complaints to the better business bureau, dated emails to friends complaining, dated internet posts bitching about never getting tickets… something.