Rob Ford Dead at 46

[frankcastle]

The body has not yet assumed the room temperature. You're a pretty despicable human being. We can take comfort in the fact that nobody takes the word "racist" seriously, anymore. It's a refuge of twits.

Death doesn't erase your sins.

As for the term racist.... what do you call a person who uses racial slurs and generalizes people based on racial stereotypes?

And if you read my post I said that's what I thought of him but did not wish him dead and tried to convey the positive that he did contribute. It's just my opinion.

Death doesn't mean I have to give up my opinion.

Another poster suggested anti ford people would be happy. I'm by no means happy.

I can provide longer lists if that spread sheet of jerky things Ford did is still online. Not sure why in death we are going to pretend none of that happened.

 

[camnyc]

Rob was a nice guy personally..... My cousin lives near his house and he had met Rob few times even lining up in a Mac store to buy some milk....and so many other public places too and easy to talk with.....very sad that he's gone.....May His Soul Rest In Peace....my prayers are with his family...:'(

 

[Brill]

He didn't have any concerns when cyclists were killed by drivers, just said it was their own fault. I'll be raising a drink later tonight to celebrate his passing.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Tough, so young too. Up until just recently I had figured that he would beat it, but I am reminded that with cancer, it's a terrible disease.

It seems like the disease progressed incredibly fast with him.

I was never a big fan of Ford the politician, though I often felt that he had the right idea when it came to being tight fisted with the money. I respected him in that regard. (Much like I wasn't a fan of Jack Layton either). Layton, Ford, whether you appreciated them or not, you have to give them their due respect. They each believed they were trying to make Toronto a better place.

Ditto.

I saw his wife and kids a month ago in church one Sunday (and not that I see them all the time, so I figured maybe they were praying for him).

My mom lives nearby and neighbors may bring meals and stuff to their home.

When he was a Councillor, he did me a favour by removing a penalty on late paid property taxes on a commercial property owned by my dad whose memory was failing him due to his Alzheimer's.

But he also visited the property on behalf of residents who lodged a complaint against my tenant. He did his job.

Despite his imperfections, he was a good man.

 

[jcpro]

Death doesn't erase your sins.

As for the term racist.... what do you call a person who uses racial slurs and generalizes people based on racial stereotypes?

And if you read my post I said that's what I thought of him but did not wish him dead and tried to convey the positive that he did contribute. It's just my opinion.

Death doesn't mean I have to give up my opinion.

Another poster suggested anti ford people would be happy. I'm by no means happy.

I can provide longer lists if that spread sheet of jerky things Ford did is still online. Not sure why in death we are going to pretend none of that happened.

No, death does no mean you have to give up your opinion. But. It would be nice if you kept it to yourself, just for one day. That's maturity and class.

 

[Dawgger]

No, death does no mean you have to give up your opinion. But. It would be nice if you kept it to yourself, just for one day. That's maturity and class.

well said!

 

[james t kirk]

Death doesn't erase your sins.

As for the term racist.... what do you call a person who uses racial slurs and generalizes people based on racial stereotypes?

And if you read my post I said that's what I thought of him but did not wish him dead and tried to convey the positive that he did contribute. It's just my opinion.

Death doesn't mean I have to give up my opinion.

Another poster suggested anti ford people would be happy. I'm by no means happy.

I can provide longer lists if that spread sheet of jerky things Ford did is still online. Not sure why in death we are going to pretend none of that happened.

You know what, it seems like the word "racist" is the favourite word to be thrown at people these days when you want to shut them down.

You get tired after a while of hearing it used so freely and for every little transgression (real or perceived). In my opinion, the word racist needs to be used when you're referring to someone who HATES people because of their race. Not if a person simply tosses out some racial stereotype. David Duke, leader of the KKK is a racist. I really don't think that Rob Ford was a racist. I don't think he hated anyone because of the colour of their skin, or if they were gay. I think Ford simply didn't like the notion of special interest groups and when he was confronted by those with a special interest agenda he pushed back. So be it.

 

[Perry Mason]

Too much political correctness over his death, m'thinks. I believe it is always fair and reasonable to take a true measure of the man...

But not today!

Perry

 

[frankcastle]

No, death does no mean you have to give up your opinion. But. It would be nice if you kept it to yourself, just for one day. That's maturity and class.

You have a point. I could have left that one sentence out.

I can admit i made a mistake.

But shouldn't people who have forgiven ford for so much worse be able to over look my minor transgression on an anonymous board. It is not like i sent the comment to the family.

 

[frankcastle]

You know what, it seems like the word "racist" is the favourite word to be thrown at people these days when you want to shut them down.

You get tired after a while of hearing it used so freely and for every little transgression (real or perceived). In my opinion, the word racist needs to be used when you're referring to someone who HATES people because of their race. Not if a person simply tosses out some racial stereotype. David Duke, leader of the KKK is a racist. I really don't think that Rob Ford was a racist. I don't think he hated anyone because of the colour of their skin, or if they were gay. I think Ford simply didn't like the notion of special interest groups and when he was confronted by those with a special interest agenda he pushed back. So be it.

I think racism is a spectrum. You can be Archie bunker or you can be grand wizard of the kkk.

I don't think it is fair to personally redefine a word based on your own opinions as it hampers our ability to communicate. I couldn't possibly know your definition.

Anyways i could go further on this an explain it i can save it for another day.

 

[jcpro]

You have a point. I could have left that one sentence out.

I can admit i made a mistake.

But shouldn't people who have forgiven ford for so much worse be able to over look my minor transgression on an anonymous board. It is not like i sent the comment to the family.

These days, especially online, we tend to go too far. All of us, at some point.

 

[ParkersPillows]

I guess some of you guys are happy, eh.

Sure I didn't want him as Mayor of Toronto, but why would it make me happy that he died suffering from a terrible disease? We are all human and he was not evil, just messed up. There are few people in this world that deserve a painful end...Rob Ford was not in that bracket.

 

[SexyFriendsTO]

RIP Rob. He made some mistakes but at least he tried and wanted to make some good changes and make things better for Toronto.

 

[GameBoy27]

You have a point. I could have left that one sentence out.

I can admit i made a mistake.

But shouldn't people who have forgiven ford for so much worse be able to over look my minor transgression on an anonymous board. It is not like i sent the comment to the family.

It's not so much what you wrote, it was the timing.

 

[Ridgeman08]

Hypocites!

What is it about our society that brings out the worst in people? Nothing changes one's opinion of a guy more than when he dies. I find it ironic that many of the same individuals that were calling for his head on a chopping block, are now spreading accolades about the man. Not just here, but all over the media. I expect that from the board's most vocal Ford hater, and most notorious hypocrite, (#cough Fuji #cough), but the rest of you?

Shameful.

 

[james t kirk]

At the end of the day, the one thing I will say about Rob Ford is that he was never boring.

They could put that on his tombstone.

 

[explorerzip]

What is it about our society that brings out the worst in people? Nothing changes one's opinion of a guy more than when he dies. I find it ironic that many of the same individuals that were calling for his head on a chopping block, are now spreading accolades about the man. Not just here, but all over the media. I expect that from the board's most vocal Ford hater, and most notorious hypocrite, (#cough Fuji #cough), but the rest of you?

Shameful.

It's a reminder that even the most reviled people go through serious diseases and face death. Ford might have been hated by a lot of people, but he's not an evil man. So it's far from shameful or hypocritical not to piss on the guy's grave. Besides, you can't change his past behavior.

 

[ParkersPillows]

What is it about our society that brings out the worst in people? Nothing changes one's opinion of a guy more than when he dies. I find it ironic that many of the same individuals that were calling for his head on a chopping block, are now spreading accolades about the man. Not just here, but all over the media. I expect that from the board's most most vocal Ford hater, and notorious hypocrite, (#cough Fuji #cough), but the rest of you?

Shameful.

My opinion of him has not changed. He was an insecure, illogical, little boy inside. Some people never truly grow up. Those types of people can be incredibly dangerous but he didn't reach those heights. With that sort of disposition he should not have been the head of anything. I never wished him death...he didn't warrant it and that would be a thoughtless, over-exaggerated response to his actions.

I do understand what you are saying. People's opinions change very fast when death befalls someone they hated. We can chalk that up to societal death etiquette, but I also feel that if the man truly deserved such suffering, people would stick by that thought today. We are human and when we feel threatened by someone, and harbour intense anger towards them, it can make us lash out with extreme claims/wishes. I will not hold people to those claims. When the threat is gone we can think rationally. We can realize if what we said was unreasonable. We can understand that we were wrong. That is important to the growth of reason. If I never allow myself the room to question/change my opinions and views as I learn...if I were to never realize when I am wrong and rethink the thought processes I had, I would not be the person I am today. I would be stunted at 21. I do not dispute that there is hypocrisy about, but not all denouncing of previous claims is hypocritical. Especially those that wish for extreme measures in times of chaos.

 

[Van Wilder]

No, death does no mean you have to give up your opinion. But. It would be nice if you kept it to yourself, just for one day. That's maturity and class.

I second this.

 

[dirkd101]

He was an asshole, but I feel sorry for his family.