# Nice guy Christian Bale is visiting the shooting victims in the hospital. Warner Bros is quick to **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292 "2012-07-24T22:42:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/61 "2012-07-25T16:53:01Z")
Classy guy is right. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/63 "2012-07-25T17:14:28Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I’ve heard the phrase “haters gotta hate” before, but until reading some of the ridiculous posts in this thread I never really understood it. > > Class move on Bale’s part. I don’t see any reason to ascribe ulterior motives to it, no one would have noticed if he didn’t do it, and the movie has already grossed millions. > > Losing his cool one time on a set doesn’t mean he can’t be a decent person. Better than a lot of bitter cynical dopers, that’s for certain. This x 1000. It was a classy act by Mr. Bale done on his own time. He showed a great deal of sympathy for the victims and only wanted to make some of them feel better for awhile. It’s too bad that some Dopers feel the urge to drop a turd in the punchbowl. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/64 "2012-07-25T17:37:57Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > You know if I was injured and in pain, I do not think I would very much like having some publicity grubbing celebrity coming around and bugging me, and being expected to be grateful, like he was Jesus come to heal me with his charisma or something. Maybe if I happened to be a huge Christian Bale fan, I might like it, but, hard as you might find it to believe, most people aren’t (even if they go to his movies sometimes). Most people care about, at most, a small handful of celebrities, and don’t give a rat’s ass about most of them. I have been injured and in pain in the hospital and had local celebrities doing charity PR stop by my bed to say hello (not because I was anyone special, but because I was on the route they were handing out merchandise and getting their pictures taken). It can be a nice gesture. It can be a fun and a momentary relief from pain to look at the face of the local star athelete and either call him by the name of his bitterest rival or ask who are you. But that’s just me. I imagine if Mr. Bale was halfway sympathetic anyone he visited appreciated the gesture as an attempt to do something positive in a rotten situation. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/65 "2012-07-25T18:25:32Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > If the shooting victims cared if I visited, I’d go do that right now. They’re only 20 minutes away. But I’m not famous, so who cares? > > Christian Bale was in a position to do something good. He did it. I think that’s great. Fortunately, this tragedy still isn’t about you. Keep trying though. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/66 "2012-07-25T18:35:03Z")
I think it was a nice thing for Bale to do. And it’s shame that local other celebrity Farmer Jane did not go visit those poor people. Shame on her. I will not be seeing any more of her movies from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/67 "2012-07-25T18:37:35Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Fortunately, this tragedy still isn’t about you. Keep trying though. Please hold back on personal commentary in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/68 "2012-07-25T18:41:19Z")
I’ve been pondering this today, and I have a question for those who thought Bale is doing the wrong thing. Imagine YOU’re the star of The Dark Knight Rises, and this horrible thing happens. I’d honestly, without snark, like to hear how you’d react, and why you feel like it’s a better reaction than Bale’s. (where “better” means whatever you’d like it to. More humanitarian, less douch-ey, better for your career/image/self-respect, whatever) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/69 "2012-07-25T21:12:53Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Yes, he’s clearly a humanitarian of the highest order, with no ulterior motive (a wee bit of good publicity most certainly _never_ crossed his pure, noble mind) and I am sure is duly mortified to find that his kindheartedness is being lauded in the press, as befits a humble, modest Man Of Means. Does this mean rich and famous people can’t do anything out of the kindness of their heart? Or only when you decide they’re sincere? If in some alternate nightmare reality I ever became famous, I’d be putting a lot of effort into making those means count for something. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/70 "2012-07-25T21:23:48Z")
Not only did he see the sick, but he apparently stopped by a memorial and stood in prayer with others. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/71 "2012-07-25T22:07:41Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > Christian Bale didn’t even visit the victims in hospital. What an asshole. > > Christian Bale visited the victims in hospital but told the media he was going to be there and brought along a photographer. What an asshole. > > Christian Bale visited the victims in hospital without media fanfare, and the only photographs that were released came from the people he was visiting, but he knew word would get out and it would be good publicity for him. What an asshole. > > Christian Bale visited the victims in hospital without media fanfare, refused to have his picture taken even with his injured fans and tried to get everyone there to sign a confidentiality agreement banning them from publicly talking about his visit. What an asshole. Thread-winningest not-trying-to-be-funny post ever. Take a bow, madam. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/72 "2012-07-25T22:17:19Z")
Holy shit, Christian Bale might be an actual human being and might actually have been profoundly struck emotionally with what happened in Colorado that he was genuinely moved to go and visit the victims and their families. But this goes against that one rant I heard on Youatube a year ago berating the the DP, destroying my world view! He might be a petty dick sometimes, or actually a pretty good guy overall, but cut the cynicism here. Will he get some good PR out of this, sure; he’s a huge celebrity, no matter what he does you can think he’s doing it for selfish reasons. More important is what it meant to those he visited with, after all. Y’know, the fans who went to see a midnight screening of the movie he starred in, that got gassed bombed and slaughtered. Famous actor or not, who wouldn’t want to meet those unfortunate victims, their families and express condolences or even share candid thoughts and emotions as they were all directly affected. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/73 "2012-07-25T22:35:39Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > But this goes against that one rant I heard on Youatube… Ah, You-aTube. Italy’s most popular site for user-generated video content. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/74 "2012-07-25T23:18:08Z")
So I guess this means Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are on the side of the murderer. (Surprises me from Hathaway; I’d have thought somebody chosen to play Fantine would have more compassion than that.) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/75 "2012-07-25T23:25:04Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I just want to note that he made no announcement of his trip, there was no press alert, and any pics have been taken except for personal cell pics. > > I think it’s really cool of him. Okay this isn’t the Pit so language will be tamed down. I’ve spent 30-odd years working around people like Mr. Bale. Some are sinners, some are saints. Some are artists, some are poseurs. Some sit and share their dessert with you at lunch, some have armed guards outside their trailers. My take- my personal take- is that anyone creative is not responsible in ANY WAY for the reaction of others to their art. ( please, let’s not argue about whether or not Batman is art. I’m taking anyone in the creative realm ok?? ). Stanley Kubrick was sufficiently horrified by [real live violence inspired by his film that he had it banned in the U.K.](http://dangerousminds.net/comments/still_ticking_stanley_kubricks_ban_clockwork_orange). A rare moment to be sure. This may prove to be an analogous situation. Fair to say that Kubrick was the author of his works to a higher degree than Mr. Bale. Also fair to say that [Anthony Burgess](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Burgess) penned " A Clockwork Orange" partially in response to a savage attack that he and his wife suffered, and which is (sadly) faithfully recreated in his novel. The novel was then filmed by Kubrick. Mr. Bale is neither the author of the Batman legend or of the Dark Knight portion of the legend. He’s a hired hand. If he feels a certain responsibility because he’s wearing the cowl these days, I can respect that. His infamous [rant](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4508022/Christian-Bale-rant-Full-transcript.html) directed at Director of Photography [Shane Hurlbut](http://shanehurlbut.com/) was a bad day at work, or perhaps representative of his real personality. Whether he’s an asshole or a dream colleague on set is irrelevant. He went without the publicity machine in tow to pay respects and lend support. People went to see HIM 80 feet wide that night, and he owns that a bit. Though I don’t think he’s responsible one iota, I see this as a polite and classy move by anyone. It doesn’t make him a saint. It makes him both human and humane. By comparison, [actor Steve Buscemi returned to his former Firehouse, FDNY Engine Co. 55, on 9/11 and worked the pile at Ground Zero for many hours.](http://www.oddee.com/contrib_13716.aspx) Zero publicity. Those were his brothers. An extreme case here, but it’s the lack of publicity that makes me draw a slanted analogy. ETA: **HenryGale** , I like to think I’d go and see them. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/76 "2012-07-25T23:32:08Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > So I guess this means Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are on the side of the murderer. (Surprises me from Hathaway; I’d have thought somebody chosen to play Fantine would have more compassion than that.) I don’t see why the fact that Bale decided he wanted to do something, and the rest of the cast didn’t, has to mean that either he’s right and they’re wrong, or vice versa. This isn’t a multiple-choice test. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/77 "2012-07-25T23:38:34Z")
_whoosh_ He’s poking fun at all the people imbuing the visit with deep meaning. He doesn’t really think Michael Caine, et al., are in favor of mass murders. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/78 "2012-07-25T23:46:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Ah, You-aTube. Italy’s most popular site for user-generated video content. Ey’a, itzza alright! ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/79 "2012-07-25T23:47:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > _whoosh_ He’s poking fun at all the people imbuing the visit with deep meaning. He doesn’t really think Michael Caine, et al., are in favor of mass murders. I get that, you don’t have to pass your user name along to me. 😉 But **Sampiro** ’s sarcasm seemed to say that if Bale is right for visiting the hospital, then the rest of the cast must be wrong for abstaining. My point is, I don’t see the point in bringing the rest of the cast into it at all. The fact that he and the rest of the cast made different decisions doesn’t have to mean that anybody made a wrong decision. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/80 "2012-07-25T23:53:05Z")
Heath Ledger couldn’t make it due to extenuating circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292/81 "2012-07-26T02:02:56Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > My bolding. The phrase is haters _gonna_ hate. Gonna. Not ‘gotta’. Saying they _gotta_ hate removes the responsibility from the hater. It should be understood that ultimately they \*choose \*to hate. Shame on them. Pedants gotta pedant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-guy-christian-bale-is-visiting-the-shooting-victims-in-the-hospital-warner-bros-is-quick-to/629292.md?page=5)