# I just learned that Mark Wahlberg assaulted an Asian person in a hate crime as a youth. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326 "2013-02-04T18:50:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JamesQueue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@JamesQueue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesQueue)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/1 "2013-02-04T18:50:51Z")
> **[Mark Wahlberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wahlberg#Assaults_and_conviction)** > > Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), formerly known by his stage name Marky Mark, is an American actor. His work as a leading man spans the comedy, drama, and action genres. He has received multiple accolades, including a BAFTA Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, nine Primetime Emmy Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. > Wahlberg was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1971. During his early life, he perpetrated several crimes. In the 19... Apparently, it’s common knowledge. I am still shocked to learn this. I believe in redemption but frankly, he hasn’t paid the price for what he did. I was looking forward to Ted 2, but I won’t watch it now. I won’t be able to watch The Departed anymore. It’s ironic that in that movie, Matt Damon ( a real life good guy ) plays a bad guy and Wahlberg plays a good guy who gets justice in the end. Fuck you Mark Wahlberg. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/2 "2013-02-04T18:57:46Z")
I heard about this during a 60 Minutes feature on Wahlberg a few years ago. It was strange because they were trying to fit the incident into a redemptive arc (he went to jail, turned his life around, and got famous), but the story so awful that it doesn’t work. His comments about forgiving himself - without trying to find or help the guy he partially blinded - were really disgusting. It doesn’t affect my movie viewing habits because I think he’s a shitty actor anyway, but it does sound like he’s also a poor excuse for a person. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/3 "2013-02-04T19:15:02Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It doesn’t affect my movie viewing habits because I think he’s a shitty actor anyway, but it does sound like he’s also a poor excuse for a person. This is why I’ve never heard of this. I couldn’t care less about this guy. I just wasted 30 seconds reading the material linked to. Perhaps he’s attempted to seek redemption, but I’d think there would be more noise about it if he did. I am a bit surprised to find he’s more of an ass-wipe than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/4 "2013-02-04T21:02:23Z")
> [@JamesQueue](#): > > I believe in redemption but frankly, he hasn’t paid the price for what he did. Who fuckin’ died and made **you** God? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/5 "2013-02-04T21:51:22Z")
> [@DonLogan](#): > > Who fuckin’ died and made **you** God? Cool it. You’re not in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/6 "2013-02-04T22:07:21Z")
And note that the OP has 4 posts, each one starting a thread and never returning to them. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/7 "2013-02-05T00:02:20Z")
That’s almost as bad as assaulting an Asian person in a hate crime as a youth. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/8 "2013-02-05T00:05:37Z")
> [@JamesQueue](#): > > I believe in redemption but frankly, he hasn’t paid the price for what he did. What should that entail, do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/9 "2013-02-05T00:08:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That’s almost as bad as assaulting an Asian person in a hate crime as a youth. Nitpick: two Asian persons. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/10 "2013-02-05T00:09:57Z")
The really interesting thing is that as a felon he has violated the law numerous times, particularly when he was handling the weaponry for the movie _Shooter_, where he was trained to shoot in preparation for his role. All indications are that he has gotten past his previous goon behaviors and has become a good person, but this is one of those things that will haunt him pretty much forever. As it should. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/11 "2013-02-05T00:14:20Z")
If you beat someone to the point where they lose an eye, is it ever _not_ a hate crime? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/12 "2013-02-05T00:17:12Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > The really interesting thing is that as a felon he has violated the law numerous times, particularly when he was handling the weaponry for the movie _Shooter_… Hmm. I know felons aren’t permitted to own or possess guns, but are they forbidden from handling them - that is, could a felon go to a shooting range and rent a weapon for target practice? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/13 "2013-02-05T00:19:05Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Hmm. I know felons aren’t permitted to own or possess guns, but are they forbidden from handling them - that is, could a felon go to a shooting range and rent a weapon for target practice? That constitutes possession. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/14 "2013-02-05T00:19:20Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > If you beat someone to the point where they lose an eye, is it ever _not_ a hate crime? Semantobabble, IMHO. You could assault and injure someone without there being any particular hatred, just anger. But if you assault and injure them because they are Asian, black, gay, short, redhaired or call themselves Sparky, it’s hate-based. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/15 "2013-02-05T00:22:26Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > That constitutes possession. Well, showing the manuscript for a Stephen King novel that you bought at auction to someone constitutes publication, but even Random House isn’t likely to press charges. Is possession of a weapon under the controlled circumstances of a shooting range or movie set “possession” in the sense that any but the biggest dick with a badge would make an issue of it? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/16 "2013-02-05T00:22:34Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Semantobabble, IMHO. > > You could assault and injure someone without there being any particular hatred, just anger. > > But if you assault and injure them because they are Asian, black, gay, short, redhaired or call themselves Sparky, it’s hate-based. What if you break both their arms while shouting “Woo!”? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/17 "2013-02-05T00:22:43Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > If you beat someone to the point where they lose an eye, is it ever _not_ a hate crime? Sure. For example, if you are an organized crime enforcer and you beat a guy that badly or worse, it may well be nothing more than “just a job” to you. People have other motivations than hate for brutality, although hate is obviously one of the more common motivations. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/18 "2013-02-05T00:41:28Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Well, showing the manuscript for a Stephen King novel that you bought at auction to someone constitutes publication, but even Random House isn’t likely to press charges. > > Is possession of a weapon under the controlled circumstances of a shooting range or movie set “possession” in the sense that any but the biggest dick with a badge would make an issue of it? Yes. It constitutes possession. Period. When you’re speeding is it only the biggest dick that pulls you over, or is it because you’re breaking the law? That’s for you to decide. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_E.Nixon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@Richard\_E.Nixon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_E.Nixon)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/19 "2013-02-05T00:53:23Z")
> [@JamesQueue](#): > > [Mark Wahlberg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wahlberg#Assaults_and_conviction) > > Apparently, it’s common knowledge. I am still shocked to learn this. I believe in redemption but frankly, he hasn’t paid the price for what he did. I was looking forward to Ted 2, but I won’t watch it now. I won’t be able to watch The Departed anymore. It’s ironic that in that movie, Matt Damon ( a real life good guy ) plays a bad guy and Wahlberg plays a good guy who gets justice in the end. > > Fuck you Mark Wahlberg. How do you know Matt Damon is a “real life good guy?” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326/20 "2013-02-05T00:55:36Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Yes. It constitutes possession. Period. When you’re speeding is it only the biggest dick that pulls you over, or is it because you’re breaking the law? That’s for you to decide. Is he a felon? He plead guilty to an assault charge and spent six weeks in jail. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-learned-that-mark-wahlberg-assaulted-an-asian-person-in-a-hate-crime-as-a-youth/649326.md?page=2)