# 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:** 6
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/101 "2005-09-06T14:07:09Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#):
>
> Why don’t you help us understand what he did wrong, dittohead?
I assume you’ve gone off your meds or something recently.
I’m not a dittohead, and one of my fondest hopes is that they’ll one day discover Dittohead Prime in a coma from an oxycontin-induced overdose.
I was being sarcastic, mocking the other side’s continual defense of the indefensible - presumably a matter of inertia and habit more than anything at this point.
You’ll notice that very few Damned Libruls are actually playing the “defend at all costs” game in regards to Sean Penn. Which I just don’t get since all we Damned Libruls are a gigantic hivemind.
Other than that, I really can’t stand that pretentious fucker Sean Penn.
-Joe, shouldn’t need to explain himself when he’s around 1200 posts
---
### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/102 "2005-09-06T14:13:36Z")
> [@ivylass](#):
>
> **Daisy Mae** , he brought his personal photographer and the rest of his entourage with him. Why the hell is he doing that unless he wants to be photographed “rescuing” someone? And exactly what training has he had in search and rescue?
>
> He’s using this disaster to plump up his own image. If he really wanted to help, he would have written a check or volunteered to serve meals in a shelter, _sans_ photographer. I find his motives suspect and pitiful. How low must his self-esteem be that he has to insert himself in such a public way to be a part of this tragedy?
Maybe because he’s writing an article, doing a documentary, or honestly trying to help? Jesus christ. You people need to find something real to bitch about. If there’s someone he CAN help…someone who the rescue workers overlooked, someone who could use some assistance, he’ll be there to help. No one’s bitching when network newspeople get in there to record the event. They’re not helping anyone directly. Why are you picking on someone who’s trying to do the right thing?
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/103 "2005-09-06T14:26:29Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#):
>
> Maybe because he’s writing an article, doing a documentary, or honestly trying to help? Jesus christ. You people need to find something real to bitch about. If there’s someone he CAN help…someone who the rescue workers overlooked, someone who could use some assistance, he’ll be there to help. No one’s bitching when network newspeople get in there to record the event. They’re not helping anyone directly. Why are you picking on someone who’s trying to do the right thing?
Because he’s a pretentious publicity whore? Because his actions aren’t a whole lot different that Dubya’s “I’m here now, everything is okay. Ain’t I a great guy for showing up?” schtick?
That is, of course, IMO. Which I consider is probably right. If I didn’t consider my opinion right I’d probably change it. Since I’m right, I probably won’t.
-Joe, circular reasoning 201
---
### Author:  [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/104 "2005-09-06T14:29:15Z")
Jesus Christ, this dimwitted, hysterical overacting midget couldn’t sail five feet before sinking his fucking boat…and he was off to rescue others?
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/105 "2005-09-06T14:34:26Z")
Yeah…how DARE he go off to rescue others?
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/106 "2005-09-06T14:35:43Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> I assume you’ve gone off your meds or something recently.
>
> I’m not a dittohead, and one of my fondest hopes is that they’ll one day discover Dittohead Prime in a coma from an oxycontin-induced overdose.
>
> I was being sarcastic, mocking the other side’s continual defense of the indefensible - presumably a matter of inertia and habit more than anything at this point.
>
> You’ll notice that very few Damned Libruls are actually playing the “defend at all costs” game in regards to Sean Penn. Which I just don’t get since all we Damned Libruls are a gigantic hivemind.
>
> Other than that, I really can’t stand that pretentious fucker Sean Penn.
>
> -Joe, shouldn’t need to explain himself when he’s around 1200 posts
I still can’t figure out why helping people is a bad thing, even if you swallow all the spin that he was doing it for publicity.
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/107 "2005-09-06T14:36:09Z")
> [@Stephe96](#):
>
> Jesus Christ, this dimwitted, hysterical overacting midget couldn’t sail five feet before sinking his fucking boat…and he was off to rescue others?
Maybe you’re tall and a great sailor, but there’s an element of that old pot/kettle thing here.
---
### Author:  [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/108 "2005-09-06T14:38:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Maybe you’re tall and a great sailor, but there’s an element of that old pot/kettle thing here.
Or perhaps I’m a lousy sailor…and that’s the reason I wouldn’t even begin to think about sailing off to rescue anyone!
Just because Jeff Spicoli thwarted that convenience-store robbery two decades ago doesn’t mean Sean Penn is now RescueMan!
---
### Author:  [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/109 "2005-09-06T14:45:09Z")
> [@Stephe96](#):
>
> Jesus Christ, this dimwitted, hysterical overacting midget couldn’t sail five feet before sinking his fucking boat…and he was off to rescue others?
Well, you are dimwitted (to be generous), hysterical and over-reactionary, yet you are able to post nonsense to a message board (assuming you don’t have someone doing it for you). Why not set your aims higher and see what you can achieve too?
I don’t know a thing about Sean Penn, so I’ll grant for discussion that he is a self-aggrandizing bastard. Fine. He’s a self-aggrandizing bastard **who has actually rescued others**.
and on preview:
> [@](#):
>
> Or perhaps I’m a lousy sailor…and that’s the reason I wouldn’t even begin to think about sailing off to rescue anyone!
>
> Just because Jeff Spicoli thwarted that convenience-store robbery two decades ago doesn’t mean Sean Penn is now RescueMan!
Well, let’s further qualify the most accurate statement.
Sean Penn is a self-aggrandizing bastard who once played a role in _Fast Times at Ridgemont High_ and **who has actually rescued others**.
We can keep this game up all day, but the last little bit won’t change. I think it makes people like you look like petty, sniping little pussies, but hey, whatever sinks your boat.
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/110 "2005-09-06T14:45:18Z")
That’s right, Stephe96, you’ve got it figured out.
- Bush’s declaration of emergency proves he has divine right to rule
- Mayor’s declaration of emegency means nothing
- Sean Penn’s technical difficulty in trying to rescue people is to be ridiculed
- Bush flying in Marine One over the city, halting rescue operations to secure his air space, is just fine.
Whatever Bush does is praiseworthy, whatever anyone else does is counterproductive.
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/111 "2005-09-06T14:55:23Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#):
>
> I still can’t figure out why helping people is a bad thing, even if you swallow all the spin that he was doing it for publicity.
Who did he help? How is his ass tooling around in a leaky boat helpful? What’s the likelihood of a guy who has no idea what he’s doing needing to the be the next one rescued? Maybe if you don’t bring a photographer you can bring out that extra person or bring another 200 pounds of food or water?
Can Sean work a camera? If so, the only reason to bring a photographer is to make sure you get pictures of **Supersean** helping the poor downtrodden.
Kind of like his other recent publicity stunts, but this time he didn’t need to bring his passport.
-Joe
---
### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/112 "2005-09-06T14:56:29Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Because he’s a pretentious publicity whore? Because his actions aren’t a whole lot different that Dubya’s “I’m here now, everything is okay. Ain’t I a great guy for showing up?” schtick?
>
> That is, of course, IMO. Which I consider is probably right. If I didn’t consider my opinion right I’d probably change it. Since I’m right, I probably won’t.
>
> -Joe, circular reasoning 201
Do you have anything to back up your accusation that he doesn’t care about anything but publicity? One shred of evidence that he doesn’t care about helping anyone? One bit of proof that he wants people to SEE him doing good rather than recording his efforts for an article or documentary? Didn’t think so.
---
### Author:  [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/113 "2005-09-06T14:57:50Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> That’s right, Stephe96, you’ve got it figured out.
>
> - Bush’s declaration of emergency proves he has divine right to rule
>
> \*\*Never said it. \*\*
>
> - Mayor’s declaration of emegency means nothing
>
> \*\*I think you mean “governor’s” declaration of emergency. I’ve never said it “means nothing.” I’ve simply said that Governor Blank-Stare failed to implement her own state’s evacuation plan. \*\*
>
> - Sean Penn’s technical difficulty in trying to rescue people is to be ridiculed
>
> **Lots of people on this thread are making fun of Penn. Why not criticize them, too?**
>
> - Bush flying in Marine One over the city, halting rescue operations to secure his air space, is just fine.
>
> \*\*This sounds like a Move-On-Dot-Idiot talking point. If he doesn’t go “he doesn’t care.” If he does go “he’s disrupting rescue efforts.” \*\*
>
> Whatever Bush does is praiseworthy, whatever anyone else does is counterproductive.
Show me where I’ve ‘praised’ Bush for anything.
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/114 "2005-09-06T15:04:58Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#):
>
> Do you have anything to back up your accusation that he doesn’t care about anything but publicity? One shred of evidence that he doesn’t care about helping anyone? One bit of proof that he wants people to SEE him doing good rather than recording his efforts for an article or documentary? Didn’t think so.
Why else bring a photographer?
Three possiblities where this is involved.
1. No camera. No need for a photographer. More food and water brought in. Another space on the boat for bringing people back out. If something horrible is seen you only have his witnessing of it and, therefore, it will be dismissed as ‘Librul hysteria’.
I can understand why #1 is no good.
1. No photographer. Sean takes the pictures himself and, lo, we still get shots of poor people suffering because of Bushie Badness.
Therefore, the help from #1 is only diminished a little bit (the weight of a camera bag) and if something horrible is seen in the wreckage - pretty damned likely - there will be photographic evidence of it.
1. Bring Photographer Pete. Less food/water/medicine brought in. Less survivors brought out. You get to take pictures the exact same way as if a photographer hadn’t been brought it except in this case you get some shots of Sean doing heroic things.
The least helpful scenario in terms of helping these poor people and, if something goes wrong, gives an additional person that needs to be rescued if, say, the boat sinks. The benefit? Well, Sean gets to be in front of the camera.
Unless you can tell me why option #3 is the best choice?
-Joe
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/115 "2005-09-06T15:05:02Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> - Sean Penn’s technical difficulty in trying to rescue people is to be ridiculed
Technical difficulties? Would that be
- Putting a round plug in a round hole, or
- Setting off presumably to rescue people in a boat so filled with unbeneficial persons that in fact you can’t fit another single person in.
If you’re really there to help save lives, at least bring your wits with you.
---
### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/116 "2005-09-06T15:05:48Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Who did he help? How is his ass tooling around in a leaky boat helpful? What’s the likelihood of a guy who has no idea what he’s doing needing to the be the next one rescued? Maybe if you don’t bring a photographer you can bring out that extra person or bring another 200 pounds of food or water?
>
> Can Sean work a camera? If so, the only reason to bring a photographer is to make sure you get pictures of **Supersean** helping the poor downtrodden.
>
> Kind of like his other recent publicity stunts, but this time he didn’t need to bring his passport.
>
> -Joe
As soon as you can show me how his efforts HAVEN’T helped anyone (or how yours have helped more than his, for that matter) we might have something to discuss.
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/117 "2005-09-06T15:07:18Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> Why else bring a photographer?
If he’s writing about it for a magazine - I don’t think anyone’s disputed that he is - you need pictures, period.
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/118 "2005-09-06T15:09:00Z")
> [@lieu](#):
>
> Technical difficulties? Would that be
>
> - Putting a round plug in a round hole, or
> - Setting off presumably to rescue people in a boat so filled with unbeneficial persons that in fact you can’t fit another single person in.
> If you’re really there to help save lives, at least bring your wits with you.
So he’s not sailor of the year. Give him credit for trying. There are doubtlessly other private watercraft in the rescue that may have had an engine blow or have other issues.
---
### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/119 "2005-09-06T15:14:58Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#):
>
> As soon as you can show me how his efforts HAVEN’T helped anyone (or how yours have helped more than his, for that matter) we might have something to discuss.
Never said he didn’t help anyone.
I said he could have done a better job if he wasn’t more interested in good publicity for Sean.
Unless, of course, Penn can’t work a camera.
-Joe
---
### Author:  [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-brings-personal-photog-on-rescue-mission/320193/120 "2005-09-06T15:15:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> So he’s not sailor of the year. .
Actually, I think “Sailor of the Year” is the perfect title for Sean Penn. It will make a great caption for that shot of him bailing out his boat with a Dixie cup.
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