# Sean Penn brings personal photog on rescue mission
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [September 5, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193 "2005-09-05T13:16:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/81 "2005-09-06T03:53:40Z")
Equipoise:
I mean absolutely no offense when I say “How fucking dare you attempt to diminish or even fathom a guess at what we have or haven’t been/should or shouldn’t be doing? I guarantee you that for me and many other Dopers, “chortling as a message board” is not the extent of our contributions to or the degree to which we are affected by this greatest tragedy to befall the southeast in a generation, you cooze covered self righteous clone of a syphiletic whore’s third most watery turd”, and I mean that in the most diplomatic way possible.
As for _Rolling Stone_ and Penn, let’s see… do you think _Rolling Stone_ chose him because
1. He has a history of physical abusiveness and brawling that any judge, activist or otherwise, would allow to impeach his characterization as a humanitarian
2. He has has a background as an investigative journalist (oh wait, he doesn’t)
3. He has a background as an emergency rescue specialist (oh wait, he doesn’t)
4. He’s a native of New Orleans with unique insight into that city’s character and geography (oh wait, he isn’t)
5. He’s skilled with boats (oh wait, he doesn’t)
6. They thought, gee, you know who I’ll bet has some incredible insights into this tragedy— somebody far better than the millions of people directly affected by this, somebody with far more journalistic/literary talent than say Jon Krakauer/Rick Bragg/Seymour Hersh/etc., somebody who can make this situation far more real than the images of floating bloated corpses and fireant balls and screaming children separated from their parents in makeshift overcrowded evacuee centers or the people who have blogged about the sounds of gunshots echoing off canals that were streets a week before or people who encountered first hand the Infernal horrors of the SuperBowl? Sean Penn, that’s who, cause did you see him in _Mystic River_? Any guy who can do that has access to the inner sanctum of the human condition.
7. He’s a famous actor whose name will sell copies.
Which of the above seems most likely? Take your time.
As for Penn himself, this is a man who earns millions of dollars for a performance, which means two things:
1. He could easily afford to finance a flotilla of boats piloted by skilled pilots and staffed with equipped EMTs and or medical supplies and food by the truckload or open and fund an evacuee center almost into perpetuity (any _IDEA_ how many meals $200,000 or so would furnish to evacuees?)
2. He is not writing the _Rolling Stone_ article for the money.
Since clearly number 1 above would be the most logical and most efficient and humanitarian of ways he could contribute, and he doesn’t need the coin, why would he agree to write an article for Rolling Stone who wants him only because he’s a celebrity? Because he wants his name linked to this story as much as they do. While I’m sure like most people he wants this situation to be right again, I think he wants some press for himself at the same time and I don’t think that you’d have to be Clarence Darrow to prove that or the O.J. jury to believe it.
Fuck Penn and fuck _Rolling Stone_ for their little sickening 69 dance in the cult of the uninformed overindulged celebrity. This is a job for people who know what the fuck they’re doing (which I think it can be safely said that people who don’t know a bung hole from their bunghole don’t), not for folks who want to increase sales and Q factor.
And fuck Equipoise and Daisie Mae for attacking the motives and the humanitarianism of the people who call Penn and _Rolling Stone_ on their bullshit during a tragedy that has been incredibly real to those of us who live near it and know people profoundly affected by it.
And fuck Mary K\_\_\_\_\_ W\_\_\_\_ too. She was this evil old bitch I knew as a kid who I couldn’t stand and just happened to think of so I’m throwing her on for good measure. She’s no more out of place or self serving in this post than Penn is in New Orleans.
(And re: Harry Connick- you do know that the reason he went to New Orleans was to check on family and friends {and substantial property holdings} that were in the hurricane, right? And that most of his bandmembers are from N.O. and have family there and that a major reason for his cameras was to photograph damage of places associated with them, right?)
---
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/82 "2005-09-06T03:55:57Z")
P.S.- I’m a Bush hating, openly queer as folk, marijuana legalization proposing and stem cell research loving liberal, if it matters.
---
### Author:  [@Daisy\_Mae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Mae)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/83 "2005-09-06T04:04:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> Equipoise:
>
> I mean absolutely no offense when I say “How fucking dare you attempt to diminish or even fathom a guess at what we have or haven’t been/should or shouldn’t be doing? I guarantee you that for me and many other Dopers, “chortling as a message board” is not the extent of our contributions to or the degree to which we are affected by this greatest tragedy to befall the southeast in a generation, you cooze covered self righteous clone of a syphiletic whore’s third most watery turd”, and I mean that in the most diplomatic way possible.
>
> As for _Rolling Stone_ and Penn, let’s see… do you think _Rolling Stone_ chose him because
>
> 1. He has a history of physical abusiveness and brawling that any judge, activist or otherwise, would allow to impeach his characterization as a humanitarian
>
> 2. He has has a background as an investigative journalist (oh wait, he doesn’t)
>
> 3. He has a background as an emergency rescue specialist (oh wait, he doesn’t)
>
> 4. He’s a native of New Orleans with unique insight into that city’s character and geography (oh wait, he isn’t)
>
> 5. He’s skilled with boats (oh wait, he doesn’t)
>
> 6. They thought, gee, you know who I’ll bet has some incredible insights into this tragedy— somebody far better than the millions of people directly affected by this, somebody with far more journalistic/literary talent than say Jon Krakauer/Rick Bragg/Seymour Hersh/etc., somebody who can make this situation far more real than the images of floating bloated corpses and fireant balls and screaming children separated from their parents in makeshift overcrowded evacuee centers or the people who have blogged about the sounds of gunshots echoing off canals that were streets a week before or people who encountered first hand the Infernal horrors of the SuperBowl? Sean Penn, that’s who, cause did you see him in _Mystic River_? Any guy who can do that has access to the inner sanctum of the human condition.
>
> 7. He’s a famous actor whose name will sell copies.
>
> Which of the above seems most likely? Take your time.
>
> As for Penn himself, this is a man who earns millions of dollars for a performance, which means two things:
>
> 1. He could easily afford to finance a flotilla of boats piloted by skilled pilots and staffed with equipped EMTs and or medical supplies and food by the truckload or open and fund an evacuee center almost into perpetuity (any _IDEA_ how many meals $200,000 or so would furnish to evacuees?)
> 2. He is not writing the _Rolling Stone_ article for the money.
>
> Since clearly number 1 above would be the most logical and most efficient and humanitarian of ways he could contribute, and he doesn’t need the coin, why would he agree to write an article for Rolling Stone who wants him only because he’s a celebrity? Because he wants his name linked to this story as much as they do. While I’m sure like most people he wants this situation to be right again, I think he wants some press for himself at the same time and I don’t think that you’d have to be Clarence Darrow to prove that or the O.J. jury to believe it.
>
> Fuck Penn and fuck _Rolling Stone_ for their little sickening 69 dance in the cult of the uninformed overindulged celebrity. This is a job for people who know what the fuck they’re doing (which I think it can be safely said that people who don’t know a bung hole from their bunghole don’t), not for folks who want to increase sales and Q factor.
>
> And fuck Equipoise and Daisie Mae for attacking the motives and the humanitarianism of the people who call Penn and _Rolling Stone_ on their bullshit during a tragedy that has been incredibly real to those of us who live near it and know people profoundly affected by it.
>
> And fuck Mary K\_\_\_\_\_ W\_\_\_\_ too. She was this evil old bitch I knew as a kid who I couldn’t stand and just happened to think of so I’m throwing her on for good measure. She’s no more out of place or self serving in this post than Penn is in New Orleans.
>
> (And re: Harry Connick- you do know that the reason he went to New Orleans was to check on family and friends {and substantial property holdings} that were in the hurricane, right? And that most of his bandmembers are from N.O. and have family there and that a major reason for his cameras was to photograph damage of places associated with them, right?)
Hate to break it to you but you do not have a market on concern just because you live close by. Jesus christ THIS is the ignorance fighting so many of you love to spout off about? Picking apart the motives of people who are trying to aid in a time of a horrible crisis and then giving a grand “Fuck you” to anyone who dares think differently than you do.
Oh fuck you too for trying to make every single post you make into something you can print out and enter for submission into “Southern Living Monthly.”
---
### Author:  [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/84 "2005-09-06T04:09:51Z")
Never mind Sean Penn, what’s Simon Le Bon doing when he’s most needed?
---
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/85 "2005-09-06T04:13:04Z")
> [@Daisy Mae](#):
>
> Oh fuck you too for trying to make every single post you make into something you can print out and enter for submission into “Southern Living Monthly.”
What the fuck does that mean?
---
### Author:  [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/86 "2005-09-06T04:17:44Z")
are you kidding?
---
### Author:  [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/87 "2005-09-06T04:18:08Z")
> [@Daisy Mae](#):
>
> Jesus christ THIS is the ignorance fighting so many of you love to spout off about? Picking apart the motives of people who are trying to aid in a time of a horrible crisis and then giving a grand “Fuck you” to anyone who dares think differently than you do.
Well said. This is why I (usually) stay out of the Pit; it’s not just Katrina threads that go this way.
---
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/88 "2005-09-06T04:26:05Z")
> [@Daisy Mae](#):
>
> Oh fuck you too for trying to make every single post you make into something you can print out and enter for submission into “Southern Living Monthly.”
Incidentally, you’re the first woman I’ve “fucked” with since Reagan was president. It’s different than I remembered. (Please excuse me as I’ve got to get the Japanese lanterns placed just right in the garden before the _Southern Living_ photographers arrive.)
---
### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/89 "2005-09-06T05:15:10Z")
I think I can make a case that Sean Penn did more harm than good. The other day FEMA turned back 500 experienced boaters from helping out in the evacuation. The why has not yet been fully answered, but one possible reason is that the people in charge did not want a bunch of people who did not know what they were doing to get into trouble themselves, and increase the number of people to be rescued by 500.
Now Spicoli goes out there, and promptly sinks his damn boat (which had no room for anyone after he boarded his photographer, and hangers-on.
Now the next time a civilian goes to offer their boat, or whatever, the officals will think back to the Sean Pen affair and turn them down flat, since Sean Penn was proof postive that untrained people can drive a boat, and can’t help out.
Nice job Sparky. :wally
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/90 "2005-09-06T10:42:35Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> _buncha stuff_
From where I sit, from what I understand, he’s writing a story for Rolling Stone, for whatever reason. Go ask Jann Wenner why if it’s really bothering you so much. Rolling Stone always has photos along with their articles, hence the photographer. I’m sure there are many photographers in New Orleans taking up space in boats, along with reporters and camera crews. Go bitch at people who like visuals with their information. Something fucked up with his boat. Too bad. He helped some people anyway and I’m sure they were greatful no matter who he was. Good for him.
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> The other day FEMA turned back 500 experienced boaters from helping out in the evacuation. The why has not yet been fully answered, but one possible reason is that the people in charge did not want a bunch of people who did not know what they were doing to get into trouble themselves, and increase the number of people to be rescued by 500.
I’ve seen TONS\* of private boaters on the waters of the Great Nawlins. More likely for that particular situation is that FEMA is headed by a bunch of fuckups thanks to Bushco and has no leadership so no one knew what to tell those people. Looks like the people who bypassed FEMA are the ones who got their boats in the water and did some good, including Penn.
- if I’d taped all the coverage I’ve watched in the past week, I could go back and count every boat that didn’t look official. Since I didn’t, TONS is the best I can do.
---
### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/91 "2005-09-06T10:43:58Z")
Sorry Rick, I cut and pasted the first quote and forgot to change Sampiro’s name to yours.
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/92 "2005-09-06T10:57:02Z")
> [@Daisy Mae](#):
>
> Hate to break it to you but you do not have a market on concern just because you live close by.
>
> Oh fuck you too for trying to make every single post you make into something you can print out and enter for submission into “Southern Living Monthly.”
Did you really have to quote his whole post just to get those two lame ass shots in? The rest of it was pretty convincing, don’t you think? And if you can’t see the humor in that self-important blowhard bailing out his rescue boat with a plastic beer cup … Come On! The rest of New Orleans is fighting for survival and this guy starts taking in water as soon as he casts off. Boy, I’ll bet he was surprised when nobody yelled Cut!
Point me to a copy of “Southern Living Monthly” that would print what **Sampiro** posted. They got pinups now too?
---
### Author:  [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/93 "2005-09-06T11:46:59Z")
[Sean carrying victim](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/343547p-293308c.html)
That photog sure is taking a lot fo pics of Sean in various heroic poses. I guess it is for an article in Rolling Stone about “Real American Heroes”.
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/94 "2005-09-06T11:52:14Z")
> [@newcrasher](#):
>
> [Sean carrying victim](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/343547p-293308c.html)
>
> That photog sure is taking a lot fo pics of Sean in various heroic poses. I guess it is for an article in Rolling Stone about “Real American Heroes”.
And he gave them cash. He’s like **Spiderman** and **Edmacman** rolled into one!
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/95 "2005-09-06T11:54:56Z")
I praise the might wisdom of our leaders for letting Sean Penn in and keeping [these guys](http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/09/04/katrina.sick.redtape.ap/?section=cnn_latest) out.
---
### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/96 "2005-09-06T12:46:06Z")
> [@Daisy Mae](#):
>
> You’re a small woman bitching about a small man trying to make himself part of a story.
Well, at least we agree Sean Penn is a small man trying to insert himself into the story.
---
### Author:  [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/97 "2005-09-06T12:56:02Z")
> [@newcrasher](#):
>
> [Sean carrying victim](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/343547p-293308c.html)
>
> That photog sure is taking a lot fo pics of Sean in various heroic poses. I guess it is for an article in Rolling Stone about “Real American Heroes”.
Wait, so he has actually saved some people? Well, that’s a few more people than Bush has.
So, we’re pitting him for having his picture taken while he saves people? Okay. I suppose the condemnation of **newcrasher** is a small price to pay. Have at him.
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/98 "2005-09-06T13:02:16Z")
Stop and take heed, my Liberal Brothers and Sisters!
As one collective hive mind we must support our Bush-hating brother Sean Penn. No level of stupidity or arrogance or ego inflation is unforgivable as long as he is one of our liberal elite hivemind!
Support Sean Penn! He is one of us. Facts are irrelevent in any discussion when it involves one of our Liberal Brothers or Sisters! Rally around our Brother, for he is being attacked! Lie! Distort! Spin! Our brother Sean must be protected from these right-wing freedom haters!
Do not think! Act! Check whichever LeftyBlog you read regularly - your marching orders are secretly encoded in the webpage.
Praise Garofalo! Praise Franken! Praise Rhodes!
-Joe, can’t fucking stand Sean Penn
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/99 "2005-09-06T13:07:21Z")
> [@newcrasher](#):
>
> [Sean carrying victim](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/343547p-293308c.html)
>
> That photog sure is taking a lot fo pics of Sean in various heroic poses. I guess it is for an article in Rolling Stone about “Real American Heroes”.
What makes you think that picture was taken by Penn’s photographer? It seems to be attributed to something called “Warga News.”
And how many people have YOU saved? I can’t believe some people are so stupidly partisan that they’ll actually attack a “liberal” for not saving _enough_ people. If Penn saved one person, that’s more thn your fucking president saved and your [resident had a lot more photogs.
Dod Penn set up any fake food stations, by the way?
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/100 "2005-09-06T13:09:33Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Stop and take heed, my Liberal Brothers and Sisters!
>
> As one collective hive mind we must support our Bush-hating brother Sean Penn. No level of stupidity or arrogance or ego inflation is unforgivable as long as he is one of our liberal elite hivemind!
>
> Support Sean Penn! He is one of us. Facts are irrelevent in any discussion when it involves one of our Liberal Brothers or Sisters! Rally around our Brother, for he is being attacked! Lie! Distort! Spin! Our brother Sean must be protected from these right-wing freedom haters!
>
> Do not think! Act! Check whichever LeftyBlog you read regularly - your marching orders are secretly encoded in the webpage.
>
> Praise Garofalo! Praise Franken! Praise Rhodes!
>
> -Joe, can’t fucking stand Sean Penn
Why don’t you help us understand what he did wrong, dittohead?
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