Ten Things to Consider about the Business of Duck Dynasty

[Danno 1,228]

I'm sorry you hate capitalism and don't seem to be familiar with how the First Amendment operates.

There are many rights which have nothing to do with the First Amendment.

Since I didn't raise that point, why did you?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I bring it up because your examples are not germane to the discussion of freedom of contract, but seem to be edging towards a discussion about freedom of religion and expression. Being something -- Muslim, Christian, Hispanic, white -- is not an First Amendment issue. Expressing an opinion that brings your employer into possible disrepute that is grounded in what you purport to be a religious basis both is and is not a First Amendment issue. It is in that you are protected in your right to say it; it is not in that can be grounds for dismissal, depending on its content.

Phil Robertson was not fired for being a Christian. He was fired because he almost certainly violated a term of his contract.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

If it were financially stupid, he would have retracted and got his job back. Trust me, it made perfect sense for A&E to let him go. These decisions are not made in haste by one individual, nor are they made lightly.

I am sure some other cable channel may pick him up and he may have another life left as a talk show host or spokesperson for inbreeding.com, the Klan, the ANP, or something else. I have no doubt there is a market for him. Even Tonya Harding got a second chance on TV!

I know they are not supposed to be made in haste or by an individual, this time it appears that it was.. That's what would make it a stupid decision.

They can't just reverse the decision and pretend at this point, they risk inflaming both sides if they do that.. They have to weasel it somehow.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Seems obvious to me. Society guarantees you the right to say what you want. It doesn't guarantee that there aren't consequences to doing so.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Why don't they have the right?

Who said they didn't? You keep arguing this and nobody is saying they don't have the right to remove the guy from the channel.. They can show somebody tap dancing while whistling Dixie 24 hours a day on the channel if they choose. If they do, and I call that a wrong decision or call it a stupid decision it doesn't mean they don't have the right... Just that they were stupid.

I don't know if this was the correct call, and despite some others insistence that A&E knows what they are doing... Reading the press release and comments it is pretty clear they misjudged the reaction and don't know what to do.

Seems obvious to me. Society guarantees you the right to say what you want. It doesn't guarantee that there aren't consequences to doing so.

Who is arguing any differently??

Edited December 26, 2013 by OnMyWayID

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Who said they didn't? You keep arguing this and nobody is saying they don't have the right to remove the guy from the channel.. They can show somebody tap dancing while whistling Dixie 24 hours a day on the channel if they choose. If they do, and I call that a wrong decision or call it a stupid decision it doesn't mean they don't have the right... Just that they were stupid.

I don't know if this was the correct call, and despite some others insistence that A&E knows what they are doing... Reading the press release and comments it is pretty clear they misjudged the reaction and don't know what to do.

Who is arguing any differently??

I was agreeing with Maven.

Sheesh - don't be so touchy.

[JohnR! 5,495]

As someone who used to work in reality television production, I can attest that all of the above is correct. One of our shows had a presenter who got himself in a bit of a mess, but he was integral to the show (which was a genuine hit) so he said sorry after his arm was twisted. He was back on after a nominal suspension. Another time, something that happened on another show was splashed all over the headlines. I came into work worried that the show was going to be cancelled but was told that the controversy was going to be great for ratings... which it was. (I can't talk specifics, for obvious reasons of confidentiality.) No apology, no one was fired. The company went on to make at least five more seasons of that pile of shite programme.

The people who run networks are not fools. They're some of the smartest people out there, even if their product can be pablum. Why is their product pablum? Because people eat it up. And when people eat it up, there's a lot of money to be made. The decision was made to, as I have said before, ensure that they do not lose advertising revenue. Losing a Ford or a Coca-Cola, even for a short period of time, can be financially challenging. A cost benefit analysis was made and in the end, Phil Robertson lost. It's a business decision.

I'm sorry you hate capitalism.

To be sure you and I must be completely wrong. Phil's dismissal from the show can only have one explanation...

[GandD 5,966]

This is just the latest of a million hyped up stories that are used to portray the religious right as the victimized oppressed populous. Using Christianity as a shield for bigoted views is all too cliche these days. How many of you Christians are on your second wife? How many if you are donating your 10% to the church. How many of you had pre marital sex? The Robertson's are rich entrepreneurs. In the show's intro they are driving a rolls Royce around. The meek shall inherit the earth. Guess they're out. Easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of god. That last one is from their savior's mouth. Guess they're out. But I'm sure that one doesn't count right? How many times is wealth demonized vs homosexuality in the bible? But that's not convenient

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'd like to see some hard facts that it's propping up all of A&E. Genuinely.

They reinstated him. Hard fact. You don't have to like it. If I were you I wouldn't watch the show anymore.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There are some great quotes on the reinstatement story:

"A&E has become a third-rate collective of sell-outs. Mr. Robertson has the right to voice his opinions, but he is far from representative of decent, progressive Americans. Rude, crude, and offensive, he represents the masses that embody ignorance, intolerance, and hatred to a television audience of brain dead zombies - the A&E audience. With the brain of a Wood Duck he is a bible-thumping, shotgun-toting, backwards, hillbilly bully that Americans just love, in short all quack, feathers, bones, and beard - not much meat there."

That's the show right there - all quack, feathers, bones and beard. No meat.

[Rich and Wen 101]

This is just the latest of a million hyped up stories that are used to portray the religious right as the victimized oppressed populous. Using Christianity as a shield for bigoted views is all too cliche these days. How many of you Christians are on your second wife? How many if you are donating your 10% to the church. How many of you had pre marital sex? The Robertson's are rich entrepreneurs. In the show's intro they are driving a rolls Royce around. The meek shall inherit the earth. Guess they're out. Easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of god. That last one is from their savior's mouth. Guess they're out. But I'm sure that one doesn't count right? How many times is wealth demonized vs homosexuality in the bible? But that's not convenient

It's called hypocrisy. Embraced by conservatives everywhere. Maybe they should try libertarianism.

[lostinblue 1,989]

This is just the latest of a million hyped up stories that are used to portray the religious right as the victimized oppressed populous. Using Christianity as a shield for bigoted views is all too cliche these days. How many of you Christians are on your second wife? How many if you are donating your 10% to the church. How many of you had pre marital sex? The Robertson's are rich entrepreneurs. In the show's intro they are driving a rolls Royce around. The meek shall inherit the earth. Guess they're out. Easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of god. That last one is from their savior's mouth. Guess they're out. But I'm sure that one doesn't count right? How many times is wealth demonized vs homosexuality in the bible? But that's not convenient

So you have donated all your wealth to the poor this year?

[Karee 4,191]

There are some great quotes on the reinstatement story:

"A&E has become a third-rate collective of sell-outs. Mr. Robertson has the right to voice his opinions, but he is far from representative of decent, progressive Americans. Rude, crude, and offensive, he represents the masses that embody ignorance, intolerance, and hatred to a television audience of brain dead zombies - the A&E audience. With the brain of a Wood Duck he is a bible-thumping, shotgun-toting, backwards, hillbilly bully that Americans just love, in short all quack, feathers, bones, and beard - not much meat there."

That's the show right there - all quack, feathers, bones and beard. No meat.

i read somewhere the guy has a masters degree. So much for higher education.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So you have donated all your wealth to the poor this year?

Congratulations on making it to the 4th sentence. Sadly you need to read the whole thing to get the point being made.

Edited December 28, 2013 by Papa Lazarou

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

There are some great quotes on the reinstatement story:

"A&E has become a third-rate collective of sell-outs. Mr. Robertson has the right to voice his opinions, but he is far from representative of decent, progressive Americans. Rude, crude, and offensive, he represents the masses that embody ignorance, intolerance, and hatred to a television audience of brain dead zombies - the A&E audience. With the brain of a Wood Duck he is a bible-thumping, shotgun-toting, backwards, hillbilly bully that Americans just love, in short all quack, feathers, bones, and beard - not much meat there."

That's the show right there - all quack, feathers, bones and beard. No meat.

But lots of $$$