# Liam Neeson reveals some ugliness... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2019, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986 "2019-02-05T02:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/21 "2019-02-08T01:20:58Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/22 "2019-02-08T01:27:03Z")
Human history is littered with barbarity and savagery. Senseless killings and conquest. It took a long time to get where we are today. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/23 "2019-02-08T01:46:55Z")
I fully understand on a calm and rational level that only one person is responsible for the rape of Liam’s friend. That realization is _why_ Liam calmed down and didn’t act on his rage. I’d certainly hope that I’m capable of reacting in the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/24 "2019-02-08T02:06:01Z")
Yes, most of us have wanted to lash out at times, or have some really hateful thoughts. But how many of us had acted on them? Gone out and attempted to commit some kind of assault? While I’m glad that he’s expressed remorse for what he’s done, and encouraging others to do so as well, I’m not going to give the guy credit. Seriously, I don’t think he’s a hero simply because he failed to commit assault and/or murder. Yes, it’s good he’s sorry, but you’re not supposed to murder people. You shouldn’t get kudos for doing what you’re supposed to do. (I’m not saying Neeson is a BAD person, mind you. Just that this doesn’t necessarily mean he should get all these accolades from people.) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/25 "2019-02-08T06:54:46Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The right answer, **ace** , was “I’m sorry; I phrased that poorly. Thank you for pointing out my error and giving me a chance to correct myself.” I don’t think it was badly worded at all. If you can’t target an individual but you know that person is part of an identifiable group that you see as an “other” it is an ugly part of human nature to turn your anger onto the “other” group. It is wrong and I don’t think anyone in the thread thinks otherwise but it would be a perfectly logical position for someone brought up Neeson’s era and location. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/26 "2019-02-08T07:01:08Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I don’t think he’s a hero simply because he failed to commit assault and/or murder. Yes, it’s good he’s sorry, but you’re not supposed to murder people. You shouldn’t get kudos for doing what you’re supposed to do I really don’t think he was looking for plaudits, it was more about how ashamed he was of how he behaved and how the human desire for revenge is destructive and corrosive. There are plenty of people in this world who continue to harbour prejudice, bigotry and hatred and seeing that it is possible to move past that, admit they were wrong and be a better person. Like when someone gets free of a gang. They shouldn’t have been stabbing, stealing and dealing drugs in the first place but we still rightly applaud the fact that they’ve turned away from it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/27 "2019-02-08T07:07:31Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I really don’t think he was looking for plaudits, it was more about how ashamed he was of how he behaved and how the human desire for revenge is destructive and corrosive. It’s not so much what he aimed for – it’s the fact that people are GIVING them to him. I don’t think he necessarily deserves all these, “Liam Neeson is so brave and such a class act he deserves a medal!!!” I like Neeson, I think he’s a good actor. I think it’s good that he’s admitting to wrong doing, and expressing remorse. But some people seem to think he’s doing such a wonderful, heroic thing. Note: I don’t think he deserves to be tarred and feathered, either. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/28 "2019-02-08T09:09:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s not so much what he aimed for – it’s the fact that people are GIVING them to him. I don’t think he necessarily deserves all these, “Liam Neeson is so brave and such a class act he deserves a medal!!!” Sure, that’s way over the top I agree. It is important that he changed and highlighting that it is possible for someone to change is a good thing and sparking a conversation about the evils of bigotry and the poverty of revenge is useful. The actual avoidance of the violent act itself? not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_McGinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@Mrs\_McGinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_McGinty)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/29 "2019-02-08T19:10:20Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [John Barnes: ‘Liam Neeson deserves a medal’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze66N6XK88M) > > I thought Mr. Barnes comments were interesting and on-target. John Barnes is an absolute legend. To have hundreds of people yelling racist abuse at you while you go about your job, month after month, year after year… To have your every error zoomed in on, your every success downplayed, and to be judged so much more harshly than your white teammates… To see your career prospects - and those of people who share your skin colour - clearly and continually undermined because of underlying prejudices that, while obvious to those suffering from them, are scarcely - if ever - acknowledged either by your fellow professionals, by the watching media, or by the public at large… To come through all of that without a trace of bitterness, and to dedicate yourself to trying to change things for the better, without ever giving into the counterproductive temptations of self-righteous fury or reciprocal prejudice… As a general rule, I don’t have heroes. But to see the guy who lit up the weekends of my childhood with his football genius become such an outstanding advocate for positive change, it’s hard not to make an exception. Especially now that he’s called out that despicable, race-baiting piece of shit Piers Morgan for telling black people how they should feel about this Liam Neeson thing. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/30 "2019-02-08T19:16:10Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Neeson has made a specialty of revenge stories. I’d like to see him make a movie showing how revenge can go horribly wrong, and how twisted it is to blame a group for the actions of an individual. He should hook up with Clint Eastwood, who’s been banging the “old man with demons” drum for quite a while now, and has kind of mastered it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/31 "2019-02-08T19:21:14Z")
I think Neeson showed a lot of courage in admitting such thoughts - knowing full well the risk in doing so - and should be applauded as such. What many critics of Neeson don’t understand is that suppressing people’s thoughts or pasts don’t erase them. It just merely suppresses it. We’d be a much better society if people were more open and non-judging and able to let people vent and be cathartic about things. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/32 "2019-02-08T20:08:34Z")
I think what Neeson revealed is very important – anyone can be racist at any time. We need to consciously act to keep ourselves in check. No one should think of themselves as being immune from being racist. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/33 "2019-02-08T21:01:39Z")
> [@Mrs\_McGinty](#): > > John Barnes is an absolute legend. > > To have hundreds of people yelling racist abuse at you while you go about your job, month after month, year after year… To have your every error zoomed in on, your every success downplayed, and to be judged so much more harshly than your white teammates… To see your career prospects - and those of people who share your skin colour - clearly and continually undermined because of underlying prejudices that, while obvious to those suffering from them, are scarcely - if ever - acknowledged either by your fellow professionals, by the watching media, or by the public at large… > > To come through all of that without a trace of bitterness, and to dedicate yourself to trying to change things for the better, without ever giving into the counterproductive temptations of self-righteous fury or reciprocal prejudice… > > As a general rule, I don’t have heroes. But to see the guy who lit up the weekends of my childhood with his football genius become such an outstanding advocate for positive change, it’s hard not to make an exception. Especially now that he’s called out that despicable, race-baiting piece of shit Piers Morgan for telling black people how they should feel about this Liam Neeson thing. Aye; that’s why I thought that video was something people should see. > [@Acsenray](#): > > I think what Neeson revealed is very important – anyone can be racist at any time. We need to consciously act to keep ourselves in check. No one should think of themselves as being immune from being racist. I make a conscious decision every day to be civilized; I wish more people did. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/34 "2019-02-08T23:20:15Z")
[Link to a tweet thread that I mostly agree with](https://twitter.com/latxcvi/status/1092859059907280896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1092859059907280896) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/35 "2019-02-08T23:23:17Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > [Link to a tweet thread that I mostly agree with](https://twitter.com/latxcvi/status/1092859059907280896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1092859059907280896) What are the parts that you don’t agree with? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/36 "2019-02-09T01:52:30Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > I think he is being genuine. And I think his reaction to the rape is not uncommon at all. People go through the ‘stages of grief’ after their loved ones are victims of violent crime & that sounds like he was in the ‘anger’ stage (which can be quite irrational), but he moved past it. Was he going through the ‘stages of grief’ or the ‘stages of getting his daughter back’? Stage 1: I will look for you Stage 2: I will find you Stage 3: I will kill you Stage 4: Healing ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/37 "2019-02-09T02:08:31Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Was he going through the ‘stages of grief’ or the ‘stages of getting his daughter back’? > > Stage 1: I will look for you > Stage 2: I will find you > Stage 3: I will kill you > Stage 4: Healing Nah, the Seven Stages of Liam Neeson are: - Forgo money - Acquire skills - Become nightmare - Look for you - Find you - Kill you - Acceptance and hope ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986/38 "2019-02-09T03:58:50Z")
Thank god that Liam Neeson was the only violent bigot in Northern Ireland in the '70s, otherwise there could have been some real troubles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-neeson-reveals-some-ugliness/828986.md?page=1)