Is Oprah being unfair??

[Jean]

I never heard of that obnoxious term "beard" until WS. It has previously been used as a derogatory term referring to female genitalia.

It did cause me to google and discover a woman named ALANA BEARD. Coincidentally, the second wealthiest African American woman after Oprah.

She is a Duke University alumni, formerly of Shreveport, Louisiana and pro basketball player for the Washington Mystics. I love basketball so I am happy to learn about her success.

Thanks to the trash talkin' Oprah bashers for this inspiring discovery!

You never know when you'll find a diamond in mud( or mud slinging).

I would love it if Oprah turned out to be gay. Rich and gay. OOh, too scary...what's the country coming to?

Reflect for one moment that powerful women are frequently labeled lesbian.

Lesbians should feel very happy about this.

I didn't take the posts by members here to be "derogatory" when they used the word "beard"--what word would you prefer be used in place of "beard"?

I have never heard the word "beard" used in reference to the "female genitalia" (as mentioned in your post) so I guess I learned something new from your post.

It doesn't matter to me whether Opra is gay or straight--black, white, yellow, or green--she is a successful person who has done a lot for many people over the years. Good for her.

Information for anyone interested:

From Wikipedia--Beard (female companion)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard_(female_companion)

In gay slang, a beard is a female companion used to hide a gay man's sexuality by appearing in public as if she and the gay man were a heterosexual couple. To do this with a heterosexual woman without letting your companion know you are gay is generally considered poor form.The term originated in the mid-1960s. It is derived from the notion that a man with a woman on his arm looks more butch, like a man with a beard. A male companion who accompanies a lesbian woman for the same purposes is sometimes called a merkin.

Closeted gay men and lesbians may also take part in this kind of relationship, to their mutual advantage. In the past a great many gay men and lesbians married in order to fit in with heterosexual society – this practice continues today, but less so, as the gay rights movement has made society more accepting of "out" gay men and lesbians.

In the 1920's this union was sometimes referred to as a Lavender marriage.

This term should not be confused with hag.

The term is also used in heterosexual couples when a man accompanies a male friend's partner. In Woody Allen's film "Broadway Danny Rose", Allen's character insists he is only 'the beard' and not a boyfriend when confronted by gangsters while he escorts Tina (played by Mia Farrow).

 

[TisHerself]

Rich and black was scary enough, now rich, black and gay!

What does that mean??? Who said anything about her being Rich and Black? Or the fact that she is Rich and Black that, that would be scary??? And if she was Rich Black and Gay what difference would that make from being Rich white and Gay?:waitasec:

 

[michelle]

What does that mean??? Who said anything about her being Rich and Black? Or the fact that she is Rich and Black that, that would be scary??? And if she was Rich Black and Gay what difference would that make from being Rich white and Gay?:waitasec:

You got me on that one too...:waitasec:

 

[IrishMist]

I can't speak for WOVC, but the fact that Oprah is rich, is black and there have been some rumors that she is gay have been all over this thread!!

 

[windovervocalcords]

Or we could simply ponder what the word "is", is...

What word makes you see red?

Beard, black, rich, lesbian, power...

 

[TisHerself]

I can't speak for WOVC, but the fact that Oprah is rich, is black and there have been some rumors that she is gay have been all over this thread!!

Well then don't, That is not what I was questioning, I questioned who said anything about Oprah being "Rich and Black?" as if those 2 together were put down on this thread anywhere. And why would the fact that she was Rich and Black be scary? That I find absurd.

I am also aware that the fact that she could be gay has been all over the thread, I can read. I was questioning what was so different from a Rich Black Gay to a Rich white Gay?

 

[narlacat]

Wind already answered you Tis or did you miss that?
Why attack someone else just because you don't understand something?

 

[deanws]

. I was questioning what was so different from a Rich Black Gay to a Rich white Gay?

The color of their skin? :laugh:

 

[narlacat]

hehehe
Was that a trick question

 

[deanws]

hehehe
Was that a trick question

I think so. Did I pass?

 

[narlacat]

I think so! seems to be the right answer to me:crazy:

 

[deanws]

I think so! seems to be the right answer to me:crazy:

Then where is my gold star?

 

[IrishMist]

Well then don't, That is not what I was questioning, I questioned who said anything about Oprah being "Rich and Black?" as if those 2 together were put down on this thread anywhere. And why would the fact that she was Rich and Black be scary? That I find absurd.

I am also aware that the fact that she could be gay has been all over the thread, I can read. I was questioning what was so different from a Rich Black Gay to a Rich white Gay?

If you put something out on a PUBLIC thread, then you can resonably expect responses from anyone reading.

If you have something PRIVATE to say, then use the PRIVATE messaging system.

You seemed to have difficulty understanding what was going on, and I was trying to help you by giving you my take- as I've only been reading, not posting, in this thread.

 

[TisHerself]

If you put something out on a PUBLIC thread, then you can resonably expect responses from anyone reading.

If you have something PRIVATE to say, then use the PRIVATE messaging system.

You seemed to have difficulty understanding what was going on, and I was trying to help you by giving you my take- as I've only been reading, not posting, in this thread.

You are the one who seems to be having great difficulty in understanding in what is going on.

So let me make it clearer for you ,
1) My reference to Gay was not in anyway directed to Oprah Winfrey (Surprise Surprise) So your reply that the fact it was mentioned all over the thread that she could be was moot.
Again (As nauseum) I wanted to know what was the difference between being A Rich Black gay to being a Rich White Gay?

Again(ad naseum) I wanted to know why Rich and Black (which was never mentioned together) on this thread was atributed to Oprah and why that would be a scary thing? Because as I mentioned that is absurd.

Now, the reason I asked those questions is because it appears to me those absurd suggestions put a racial slant on this thread concerning Oprah that just does not exist. Not one person on this thread who dislikes her has said it is because she is Black and Rich because that is not the reason.

 

[ellen13]

If you put something out on a PUBLIC thread, then you can resonably expect responses from anyone reading.

If you have something PRIVATE to say, then use the PRIVATE messaging system.


This is a good explanation of the boards Irishmist!

 

[Masterj]

I never heard of that obnoxious term "beard" until WS.

Had to google it to find out what the term means. The first link I came to said it was a derogatory term for a woman's genitalia.

In my googling of Oprah and "beard" , I discovered ALANA BEARD. Coincidentally, the second wealthiest African American woman after Oprah.

She is a Duke University alumni, formerly of Shreveport, Louisiana, pro basketball player for the Washington Mystics. Very successful. Love basketball, love women, happy to learn of Ms Beard's her success.

Thanks to the trash talkin' Oprah bashers for this inspiring discovery! Good comes out of negative. Nothing is completely negative or completely positive, is it?

You never know when you'll find a diamond in mud (or mud slinging, for that matter).

How interesting that would be if Oprah, powerful, successful, positive and black turned out to be gay.

Rich and black was scary enough, now rich, black and gay!

What's the country coming to?

Powerful women are frequently labeled lesbian. Lesbians ought to feel honored by this.

I think you are jumping to conclusions here. One - I am the poster who used the term beard. I have never heard it to be a derogatory term or a term used to refer to female genitalia. Please see Jean's post from yesterday at 10:10pm. This is the DEFINITION of beard as I know it. Two - I am NOT bashing Oprah. What did I say that was bashing her? That she may be gay? I don't think there is anything wrong with being gay and clearly you don't either. Where is the misunderstanding here????? Where am I slinging mud??? :waitasec: I am both amazed and aghast at how quickly this thread fell apart. I knew Oprah had a strong fan base, but I guess I never realized just how passionate her supporters are. Yikes - I meant no harm.

Lastly, I am sad that you never heard of Alana Beard before that googling experience. She is an outstanding young woman,a great role model, and a downright phenomenal basketball player. However, there is NO WAY she is the second richest African-American woman second to Oprah. First, she plays for the WNBA were the average salary is $40,000 and the top players typically receive around $500,000 (which is rare). There is not much money in the sport as it has YET to turn a profit. She may have endorsement deals, but unfortunately, women basketball players do not draw the same type or monetary amounts as their male counterparts. I have to think that women like Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, etc. have much more money than Alana Beard.

Sorry to go so far off topic!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Do you all realize that you're bickering about celebrity gossip???? Come on now. If you want to bicker, can't you find something important to bring up?

 

[ellen13]

Once again, I don't mean to be controversial about Oprah-what I'm writing is not about her being gay, etc.

Someone asked me why Oprah is such a hot topic. I think I can sum it up because I'm a fence-sitter when it comes to her. Absolutely love what she does for the less fortunate, etc. You could go on and on all day about the good she does-she does use her power in a positive way-I give her that 100%.

Then, there's this side of her where she grows horns and a meanspirited, angry person comes out and she puts some of her guests down to make her look better. And this is after she made a big deal about never wanting to have a show like Jerry Springer. She wanted to be different and deal with subjects in a classy way.The way she's raked some people over the coals-still pissed how she handled James Frey, etc. James Frey did A LOT of good with his book. She didn't just question him, she spat venom on him and I've seen her do it to others. Do you know that some 23,000 people if not more responded to that episode on her website. And I read every post. Most people were furious with her. She could have handled it with more class and said, "Look James, you lied in your book, however you didn't know how you were going to market it when you first wrote it fiction or non. You did a lot of good for people, however we're feeling a bit let down. She could have handled it with class, instead of so so personal and confrontational. I believe she lured him on and he didn't know what she was going to do ESPECIALLY AFTER SHE CALLED IN TO LARRY KING AND SUPPORTED HIM-SHE WAS VERY DECEPTIVE HERSELF TO TEACH HIM A LESSON IN DECEPTION. I'm just citing one ex.God forbid she ever screws up!! Oh, but she's above that. She couldn't get into Hermes because it was closed and she was pissed because of a sense of "entitlement." I'm young, but I still miss Phil Donahue's show. I could do without all of the questions from the audience. But he had a classy way of bringing up issues and getting the message across without the anger and self promotion. I miss Phil. I watched him throughout my childhood. Probably knew about subjects I shouldn't have been watching. That would be my message to her-take a lesson from him.

This is why she's so damn controversial! Having said all this, I believe I saw that on MSNBC at 9 pm Eastern time, they're having a show about her declining popularity. Maybe this can help clear up a lot of this for all of us.

I'm not trying to be controversial by writing this post-instead I'm just stating my feelings. Take them or leave them.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Good post Ellen. I think what you said about the "Frey" controversy is true, but I would add that when she went on Larry King, she pretty much figured that her word was law and that all her fans were going to agree with her. When they stated calling and speaking out that they COULD NOT believe that she was standing by what Frey did, THAT'S when she completely changed her tune and got pissed off. Then, she had him back on and took out her frustrations on him because he made OPRAH look bad. IF those calls to her complaining about it hadn't come, she would have left it alone. That's why I call her a hack.

And, while I am thrilled that she gives so much to charities, let's not forget that she's a BILLIONAIRE. If she doesn't donate a certain amount of her income to charity, she's going to get stuck paying taxes on a whole bunch of money.

 

[jilly]

Then, she had him back on and took out her frustrations on him because he made OPRAH look bad. IF those calls to her complaining about it hadn't come, she would have left it alone. That's why I call her a hack.

And, while I am thrilled that she gives so much to charities, let's not forget that she's a BILLIONAIRE. If she doesn't donate a certain amount of her income to charity, she's going to get stuck paying taxes on a whole bunch of money.

Exactly! and Right on!!