# Hugh Hefner is cool? Why?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2010, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500 "2010-08-07T08:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/41 "2010-08-10T15:04:01Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Yawn. Sorry if I can’t be bothered by your righteous indignation, but I have a woman I’d rather be fucking. Just one? What’s wrong with you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/42 "2010-08-10T15:17:28Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > > [@Cyningablod](#): > > > > I self-censored because this isn’t the Pit. Whether it’s Board policy or not, I try not to use foul language in any place other than the Pit. > > Not to further hijack the thread, but couldn’t you have just not used those words if you didn’t want to use them? What **Anamorphic** said, if you didn’t want to use foul language, you should have used some other language. All you did was use foul language, and spell it poorly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/43 "2010-08-10T16:30:23Z")
**Cyningablod** , Hef doesn’t live a lifestyle I’d personally choose. Neither do Willie Nelson, Bill Gates, Steve Irwin (before he went swimming with the rays), or Stephen Harper. To each his own, I guess. I don’t think I like you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/44 "2010-08-10T20:17:26Z")
One thing you can give him credit for is Batman. In the early 60’s, Batman was in the basement of DC’s catalog. For larfs, Hefner would show the old 1940’s serials at the mansion. The right people caught on, and decided to reboot it for camp value as a TV show; which begat 80’s Dark Knight graphic novels, the Tim Burton movies, and the Christian Bale franchise. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/45 "2010-08-10T20:40:30Z")
When I look at him, I can’t help but picture his little shriveled penis. That I cannot forgive. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/46 "2010-08-10T20:55:05Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > When I look at him, I can’t help but picture his little shriveled penis. That I cannot forgive. Ah, but that shriveled lil thing has been places and done things. . . Or so I assume. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/47 "2010-08-10T21:14:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@PunditLisa](#): > > > > When I look at him, I can’t help but picture his little shriveled penis. That I cannot forgive. > > Ah, but that shriveled lil thing has been places and done things. . . > Or so I assume. If these balls could talk… ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/48 "2010-08-10T22:59:28Z")
I remember Mike Royko’s column about Hefner, written back in the 1960’s that called Hef “the world’s most over-rated playboy,”. Mike contended that Hef’s mansion on the Near Northside of Chicago was just a supersized version of a suburban split-level with built in pool. I can’t find the column online, so here are some quotes: "This, then, is his private kingdom, his idea of high living, the fulfillment of his great dreams–all he stands for. Except for the fact that it is bigger and all paid for…Hefner’s kingdom is the same kingdom the 5:15 suburban commuter is rushing home to. Item by item, it’s middle-class, sub-development living." Mike went on to describe the TV and movies room, the completely furnished basement with wet bar, his private apartment or “den”, etc. “That’s the king of the playboys for you, complete with backyard pool in the basement, stereo, home movies, TV, finished basement with bar, attached garage…And he’s a stay-at-home too…” Mike then describes his “Uncle Rudy” who was married four times and pinched in a bookie raid, and a swinger at the “over-40’s” dances. He ends the column with “If Hugh Hefner is a playboy, then Uncle Rudy is King Farouk.” Ah Mike, how I do miss you. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/49 "2010-08-11T09:33:20Z")
**Two Many Cats** that nails what I find sad about Hefner. His coolness has a desperate quality to it, like when Steve Martin’s character gets rich in The Jerk. The jazz and the literature all has the air of affectation, while he’s pretty much having sex with women who are paid to do so. He has put all this money and effort in to a fantasy that is pretty lame. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/50 "2010-08-11T11:44:13Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > He has put all this money and effort in to a fantasy that is pretty lame. He didn’t start out rich you know. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/51 "2010-08-11T12:02:43Z")
A lot of comments in this thread seem to be focusing on the fact that he’s old (ewww, ick, an old man having sex OMFG!). As if being older means he has to behave differently than if he were younger. IMHO, stop it all you ageists. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/52 "2010-08-11T14:06:00Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > A lot of comments in this thread seem to be focusing on the fact that he’s old (ewww, ick, an old man having sex OMFG!). As if being older means he has to behave differently than if he were younger. > > IMHO, stop it all you ageists. The man’s an incubus–like George Burns only more flamboyant. He’d have perished naturally long ago but for his ritual feasting upon the souls of young women. He’s not icky because he’s old, he’s icky because he’s old and apparently possessed of an unnatural virility. Back before the Democrats killed God and morality we as a society would have burnt him at the stake. And then taken his gold. And his women. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/53 "2010-08-11T14:15:41Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > A lot of comments in this thread seem to be focusing on the fact that he’s old (ewww, ick, an old man having sex OMFG!). As if being older means he has to behave differently than if he were younger. > > IMHO, stop it all you ageists. I wouldn’t find it a problem if he was having a normal relationship with a wife roughly his own age. However, if he’s living with several women roughly 60 years younger than he is, it does seem rather icky. ---
**Author:** ![Private\_Bin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@Private\_Bin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Private_Bin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/54 "2010-08-13T13:00:23Z")
In my mind I always conflate him with Howard Hughes. Why? _Cocks pistol_ Hop into the Spruce Moose, I’ll explain on the way. No, I don’t know, I just don’t have room for two rich reclusive eccentrics with alliterative H names. Shouldn’t be allowed. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/55 "2010-08-15T07:58:45Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > > [@Icarus](#): > > > > A lot of comments in this thread seem to be focusing on the fact that he’s old (ewww, ick, an old man having sex OMFG!). As if being older means he has to behave differently than if he were younger. > > > > IMHO, stop it all you ageists. > > The man’s an incubus–like George Burns only more flamboyant. He’d have perished naturally long ago but for his ritual feasting upon the souls of young women. He’s not icky because he’s old, he’s icky because he’s old and apparently possessed of an unnatural virility. Back before the Democrats killed God and morality we as a society would have burnt him at the stake. And then taken his gold. And his women. He’s not really that virile. He has to have a lot of stuff done to him to get off now. I mean, he may be more virile than the typical guy his age, but I don’t know. I mostly have a problem with the fact that he has so many girls, and replaces them with clones. Not only is it similar to pedophiles, having to get a new partner when one grows up, but it also suggests that he is very misogynistic–any woman that looks similar will do. Also, Inigo: why is it bad for him (or the rest of us) to judge Hef, but it’s okay for you to judge the OP? We know more about Hef than you do about Cyn. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/56 "2010-08-15T10:13:28Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I find Hugh Hefner to be a really pathetic figure. Every time he is held up as some kind of cultural icon I think to myself, “that old thing?” I can’t get worked up about him though because he is so sad. 😕 I daresay _some_ men would envy an 84-year old sleeping with beautiful playmates every night. A question I’d have for lawyers is: where does the “bigamy” line get crossed? A Mormon was arrested a few years ago for calling multiple partners “wives” even though he’d never tried to legally marry more than one. Would he have been OK if he called them “girlfriends”? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/57 "2010-08-15T10:35:43Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > > [@madmonk28](#): > > > > I find Hugh Hefner to be a really pathetic figure. Every time he is held up as some kind of cultural icon I think to myself, “that old thing?” I can’t get worked up about him though because he is so sad. > > 😕 I daresay _some_ men would envy an 84-year old sleeping with beautiful playmates every night… Yeah, I find that sad, too. I look forward to being with my wife when I’m 84. As mentioned upthread his whole act is just sad and so “suburban” for lack of a better term. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/58 "2010-08-16T00:17:28Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > > [@septimus](#): > > > > 😕 I daresay _some_ men would envy an 84-year old sleeping with beautiful playmates every night… > > Yeah, I find that sad, too. I look forward to being with my wife when I’m 84. As mentioned upthread his whole act is just sad and so “suburban” for lack of a better term. Out of curiosity, how many folks do you know in the 'burbs who live in Playboy mansions? 😃 It’s obvious I don’t live in nearly as interesting a neighborhood as I thought I did. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/59 "2010-08-16T02:04:55Z")
He seems to have a wonderful relationship with Mary O’Connor the 80 year old secretary of 40+ years, She is devoted to him and he in turn trusts her in business decisions and the running of the mansion. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500/60 "2010-08-16T02:14:51Z")
[quote=“BigT, post:55, topic:549500”] > [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > it also suggests that he is very misogynistic–any woman that looks similar will do. How do you know any will do? He has his pick from many thousands of women, if any will do, why does he keep only a few at a time? Why have any girlfriends at all instead of a constant revolving door of them? It makes perfect sense that when you have your pick, that you’ll choose ones that fit your idea of beauty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-hefner-is-cool-why/549500.md?page=4)