Are the slurs of Paula Deen and Alec Baldwin equally offensive?

“I think Paula Deen’s statements were more serious. They were made in the course of a deposition. They have legal ramifications. What she said was offensive on many different levels. Alec Baldwin was offensive as well but he’s had numerous tirades in the past. People don’t take him seriously. He always apologizes, and it’s over with.”

“I wasn’t offended by what either person said. It’s not like Paula Deen or Alec Baldwin personally insulted me. They have a right to say what they want. I use the ‘N’ word all the time. It’s not directed against anyone in a negative way. People are too uptight these days. Just let these things roll off your back. Don’t take everything personally.”

“What they said was equally offensive. It was totally inappro-priate. They’re public figures. They should be more conscious of people’s feelings. I’m not saying they should suffer economically but they need to stop using those words. It’s unacceptable.”

“Alec Baldwin’s words were more of a freak-out. They were spontaneous. It’s harder to read that much into them. I give more weight to Paula Deen’s statements, considering the context in which they were made. She had more time to think about what she was saying. It shows more about her opinions.”