In this thread, several of our UK Dopers are either supporting or actively participating in his public ridicule, consisting mostly of throwing things at him (eggs, cakes, etc.) and and doing things to break his concentration (laser pointers, flashing him, playing loud music to keep him awake, etc.).
Yes, in my opinion, he’s trying to attract as big a spectacle as possible. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean I don’t think the people that are trying to annoy him aren’t… well… annoying. A better tactic would be to print huge signs that point out just why Blaine’s little trick isn’t that amazing.
I have my suspicions that he had “his people” start the ridicule as part of the whole act. It’s easy to cheat when your cube is covered in chocolate sauce (and that’s a mantra I aim to live by).
Hunger striking has historically been a political activity in the British Isles, notably with the Suffragette movement and Republicanism in Ireland.
Worldwide there are countless dying of starvation every day. I have fasted for charity for short periods,
however self starvation it for the sake of spectacle and notoriety makes something of a mockery of these things, particularly when most are convinced that it’s a trick of some sort.
I’m not saying that the ill wishers are motivated by this, but it’s a possibility.
Another, possibly more realistic point of view is the inherent cynicism of folks over here, much more than I have found in the US. I have little doubt that if Blane were to pull the same in Dublin he would get just as much abuse.
Written more eloquently than I could, from this mornings New York Times:
The piece about the burger van was the best!
In conclusion- I think he deserves ridicule, flashers and rude gestures, but physical attacks on his abode, such as it is, are a little beyond what is called for.
This may be the first time I have ever heard of New Yorkers being considered more polite than the british.
I’m not sure I understand why “he deserves ridicule”. For being an entertainer? I would rather see him succeed or fail based on his ability, rather than because of somebody determined to do whatever it takes to make him fail.
[snark]And Americans are supposed to be the rude ones? [/snark]
That being said, if he’s got his mind set on starving in a cube for 44 days he could at least use it to increase awareness about starvation or something. As it is, he comes off as being a self-centered and egotistical attention whore. I don’t think people should abuse him, but he may well deserve that abuse.
I wish no physical harm upon him (other than that which he’s inflicting on himself), but I believe he is indeed asking for it.
This is a man whose job is to set himself up as a public spectacle. He courts attention for a living; that’s what has made him a multimillionaire. Without an audience, he would be nothing.
There is no obligation whatsoever for that audience to react with any respect at all. The audience is at liberty to react with total derision.
Furthermore, as I said in the Pit thread, I seriously doubt that he would be suffering such abuse if he weren’t receiving (something like) $7 million for his trouble, but rather was performing the stunt for charity.
I feel that his management did not do their research. Blaine comes across (to me and clearly to many people in England) as someone who takes themselves too seriously, is “full of himself”, is self-serving, and presents himself as a pseudo-mystic. We don’t mind attention whores, just not self-important ones.
Yes, it’s rude. Yes, it’s disrespectful. But pricking the bubble of pomposity is a long-standing British tradition, and I applaud it.
I’m trying to guess at the perception of the heckers. I’d be out there heckling him just because I think it’s funny. I suppose you could indeed make that argument, but I think a guy who locks himself in a box and refuses to eat for six weeks is MUCH more of an attention whore than, say, a musician.
Also: most of the people who willingly go through fasts like this are probably Buddhist monks seeking enlightenment. That might be silly, but it beats getting rich off it like Blaine. Nevermind that, intentionally or not, he’s offering himself up for comparison to Gandhi.
Well, I know a lot of starving musicians who probably would consider locking themselves in a box for six weeks if they could get the attention and money that Blaine is getting. Hell, they aren’t eating anyway.
