And, in support of my statement to which Jackoff . . . er, Contestant #3 objects here is every post I made in the thread, up until Omniscient’s, with my added comments in bold.
Please feel free to point out any profanity or vulgarity, anywhere where I tell anyone to “get over it,” anyplace where I defame or belittle Walter Payton, or any other such thing:
POST #1: posted 11-01-1999 05:55 PM
I’m curious as to why exactly Walter Payton or Payne Stewart don’t
“deserve to die.” Sorry, folks, nobody gets a free pass, especially
not for being talented and rich. We’re all gonna get it, so start
appreciating what you have.
Simple, succinct, nonvulgar, and relevant in light of the OP.
Admittedly unpopular, but still relevant.
POST #2: posted 11-02-1999 07:52 AM
So sorry for offering an opinion that differs from the prevailing one.
What I meant to say was, “Walter Payton was the bestest greatest
person to ever, ever play football or do anything else, and even
though he had achieved more fame, talent and wealth than any 10
SDMBers combined, and probably had a pretty fulfilling life, he should
have been granted permanent immunity from all illnesses and been
permitted by the Universe to live forever and ever and ever.”
Granted, this was pretty snotty, but I think it was obviously
sarcastic. It was a response to the general “how dare you disagree
with us” tone. At this point, Mojo says I’m trolling.
POST 3#: posted 11-02-1999 09:18 AM
Ah, suddenly I’m “trolling.”
No, sorry, Mojo, I’m trying to make a point, albeit one that appears
to be going over the heads of those engaged in celebrity-worship:
-
There is no such thing as “dying before your time.” Do you have a
card promising you life through a certain date? I sure don’t. Nobody
does. When you die, you die.
-
Everybody dies. Everybody. Rich & poor, famous & faceless,
beautiful & ugly. Everybody.
-
I’m sure Walter Payton probably was a nice guy. So, probably, were
many of the faceless people who died yesterday who had much tougher
lives than he did, and without all the privilege that fame and wealth
can bring.
Even Satan said, in a thread in GQ regarding the Columbine Martyr:
“Her loss was a tragedy, but no more so than the loss of anyone else
there, including the Godless heathens.”
He died. Everyone does. Life goes on. It’s silly to me to grieve over
the death of a complete stranger merely because he was famous.
** At this point in the discussion, UncleBeer agreed with me **.
POST #4: posted 11-02-1999 12:55 PM
I think that
can be interpreted by any person of reasonable intelligence that “He
should be allowed to live longer than others,” and strongly implies
that it is because he is a famous athlete. So, yes, I do take
exception to that.
I’m still curious as to why I am not permitted to have an opinion on
the matter. I didn’t say his death was a good thing; I said that it
wasn’t any more or less important than anyone else’s in the scheme of
things, and that he didn’t deserve it any more or less than anyone
else.
Hell, a marketing manager for one of my office’s biggest and most
well-known clients died on the EgyptAir flight, and I don’t expect you
all to grieve or particularly care, but why is his death more deserved
or less tragic than Walter Payton’s? (Hint: It isn’t.)
**At this point, Omniscient comes back with personal attacks,
including “pathetic,” “hypocrisy,” “jealous,” “disturbed individual,”
“no perspective and emotions,” and “a truly bleak life,” among others.
Ed Zotti says my reply (and, by implication, Omniscient’s post) are
inapppropriate. I tell him to delete them and I’ll repost in the Pit.
Frankd6 posts something in support of my comments. Mojo again claims
I said something I didn’t, and refers to me as an “asshole.”
Yep, I can see where I’m in the wrong, here.
**
“Argue with what I said, not what you think or hope I said.” - Me