# What Is Society Coming To? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568 "2010-02-19T00:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/61 "2010-02-21T17:31:18Z")
The Amber Lamps fan site. [http://amberlamps.co.cc/](http://amberlamps.co.cc/) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/62 "2010-02-21T18:05:36Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Sure there are amberlamps…you just have to bring dem! > > [http://www.byroncrawford.com/2010/02/bring-amber-lamps-artwork-inspired-by-epic-beard-man.html](http://www.byroncrawford.com/2010/02/bring-amber-lamps-artwork-inspired-by-epic-beard-man.html) Despite the tone of the OP, I am beginning to wonder whether you are decrying racism or wallowing in it. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/63 "2010-02-21T18:43:25Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > But seriously…it really isn’t obvious to me whom is “at fault” in the initial verbal exchange (and granted, it may not matter). > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Anyway, its kind of ambiguous whom started what > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I just wish I knew whom started what > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > The second video is the aftermath interview with EBM, whom, as you assert, seems pretty mentally unstable. “Who” “who is” “who started” “who started” “who seems” Perhaps I should have been more [inclusive](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549670). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/64 "2010-02-22T00:54:02Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Despite the tone of the OP, I am beginning to wonder whether you are decrying racism or wallowing in it. I’m not wallowing in racism. I do however reserve the right to find some humor in all of this. The whole thing is racially motivated, but that doesn’t preclude it from having some moments that I happen to find funny, even if on the whole, the entire episode says something about American society. I’m just not sure what that is! > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > “Who” > > “who is” > “who started” > “who started” > “who seems” > > Perhaps I should have been more [inclusive](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549670). Well see, I knew you were going to read this thread **CS** , I just _knew_ it, so I figured I’d try to get your goat yet again. ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/65 "2010-03-01T16:30:31Z")
and don’t for get the best part of the video… “he left his bag, les go through his stuff”. honestly crazy old man or not, he says that the big guy was the one that suggested shoe shine, then that it wasnt because he was black he just needed a shoe shine, then left when it became a problem. I definitely thought it was hilarious when he kicked that dudes ass, and thought it was hilarious when he beats the crap outta the news paper box in the second video, while all hopped up on adrenaline, with another guy raising his fists at him, then leaves. Of course i’d also consider the woman with the camera partly responsible, because she does nothing but egg it on, tapes herself going through epic beard guys bag, then denies even touching the bag in another video even though its all on tape. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/66 "2010-03-01T16:45:25Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Epic beard man? How about epic stupid man. He was an epic idiot, for sure. We all like watching a punk getting his ass whipped by some unexpected person, though. In reality, it’s hard to see the beard-guy as a victim, but I sure was cheering for him when he beat the stuffing out of that kid. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/67 "2010-03-01T16:59:56Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > He was an epic idiot, for sure. We all like watching a punk getting his ass whipped by some unexpected person, though. In reality, it’s hard to see the beard-guy as a victim, but I sure was cheering for him when he beat the stuffing out of that kid. True. The “tough guy” sure didn’t look so tough, with his “tough” ass on the floor. That should have been a clue that his “next time” talk was bullshit. Next time? He needs to give it up before he gets himself killed. Someone should tell him, tough talk is really pretty damn funny after some crazy old man has kicked your ass. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/68 "2010-03-01T17:09:23Z")
Meh…is it just me or are all the “Haha loved seeing the tough talker get his ass handed to him” posts kind of disturbing? I’m just not getting all the glee at seeing someone get hit. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/69 "2010-03-01T17:14:21Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Meh…is it just me or are all the “Haha loved seeing the tough talker get his ass handed to him” posts kind of disturbing? I’m just not getting all the glee at seeing someone get hit. Would it be better if he had trashed and injured someone as weak and helpless as he apparently thought Epic Dumb would be? Screw him, he wanted a fight and then couldn’t handle it. He’s a wannabe bully. He got off easy. He got what he was looking for and then didn’t have the skills or the balls to handle it. Fuck him. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/70 "2010-03-01T17:42:01Z")
Fuck everyone in Oakland. How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/71 "2010-03-01T17:51:20Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Would it be better if he had trashed and injured someone as weak and helpless as he apparently thought Epic Dumb would be? Screw him, he wanted a fight and then couldn’t handle it. He’s a wannabe bully. He got off easy. He got what he was looking for and then didn’t have the skills or the balls to handle it. Fuck him. I didn’t see him throw the first punch–was he really looking for a fight or were they just arguing? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/72 "2010-03-01T17:57:15Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Meh…is it just me or are all the “Haha loved seeing the tough talker get his ass handed to him” posts kind of disturbing? I’m just not getting all the glee at seeing someone get hit. I think it’s just you. That shit head supposed tough guy got up and went over to a 67 year old guy who had already removed himself from the situation. And then HE threw a punch at the guy. IMO if 1) you are the instigator 2) against a supposedly weaker foe and 3) actually throw the initial pinch and THEN you get your ass beat, well, that’s the universe dishing out some righteous justice right there. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/73 "2010-03-01T17:58:41Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I didn’t see him throw the first punch–was he really looking for a fight or were they just arguing? It’s right in the video. Just before the guy gets his asked kicked. How can you have not seen that? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/74 "2010-03-01T18:10:48Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > It’s right in the video. Just before the guy gets his asked kicked. How can you have not seen that? :rolleyes: It’s damn near impossible to miss. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/75 "2010-03-01T18:12:21Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > It’s damn near impossible to miss. Assuming, of course, someone doesn’t _want_ to see it. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/76 "2010-03-01T18:18:29Z")
The overall quality of the video kind of sucked. I just saw him go over to the bearded guy and then there was a punch. Why are you assuming I wouldn’t want to see it? ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/77 "2010-03-01T18:19:31Z")
That first punch me reminded of a kid getting the ‘last lick’ on his brother just before running into the kitchen to hide behind momma. It’s clear that the black guy thought EBM wasn’t gonna do shit. Talk shit, be out, and everybody walks away looking hard. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/78 "2010-03-01T19:05:35Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I just saw him go over to the bearded guy and then there was a punch. There ya go, that’s what happened. And then EBM threw about four solid punches in return and busted Amber Lamps nose. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/79 "2010-03-02T00:20:57Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > He was an epic idiot, for sure. We all like watching a punk getting his ass whipped by some unexpected person, though. In reality, it’s hard to see the beard-guy as a victim, but I sure was cheering for him when he beat the stuffing out of that kid. What “kid?” The guy who got beaten up was 50 years old himself. Also, there was **no** punch to Beard Guy’s face. He is just lying about that, yet several posters seem to have convinced themselves it’s true. Watch again. The black guy sort of half-punches, half-shoves Beard Guy in the _torso_, and Beard Guy goes off. And no, Beard Guy didn’t really “remove himself from the situation.” True, he walked to the front of the bus, but he also kept mouthing off (_after,_ let’s remember, seeming to have started this whole confrontation with the spit shine remark). The situation _should_ have ended when the black guy said “Get the fuck out of my face.” His body language at that point clearly suggested he wasn’t looking for trouble. But Beard Guy wouldn’t let it go. He just kept egging things on, with his pointedly racial remarks “You ain’t scarin’ _this_ white boy!” and later “You better sit your little black ass down!” (Note that the black guy hadn’t hurled any racial insults at this point.) I’m with you **Freudian Slit**. There is a little too much glee in this thread. And it stinks of racial scorekeeping. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568/80 "2010-03-02T03:00:22Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > What “kid?” The guy who got beaten up was 50 years old himself. > > Also, there was **no** punch to Beard Guy’s face. He is just lying about that, yet several posters seem to have convinced themselves it’s true. Watch again. The black guy sort of half-punches, half-shoves Beard Guy in the _torso_, and Beard Guy goes off. > > And no, Beard Guy didn’t really “remove himself from the situation.” True, he walked to the front of the bus, but he also kept mouthing off (_after,_ let’s remember, seeming to have started this whole confrontation with the spit shine remark). > > The situation _should_ have ended when the black guy said “Get the fuck out of my face.” His body language at that point clearly suggested he wasn’t looking for trouble. But Beard Guy wouldn’t let it go. He just kept egging things on, with his pointedly racial remarks “You ain’t scarin’ _this_ white boy!” and later “You better sit your little black ass down!” (Note that the black guy hadn’t hurled any racial insults at this point.) > > I’m with you **Freudian Slit**. There is a little too much glee in this thread. And it stinks of racial scorekeeping. Perhaps **Spoke-** , perhaps. That’s the inherent beauty/ugliness in all of this over this video. It isn’t exactly clear what was said prior to the camera rolling (which, I might add, was being filmed by a black woman actively cheering on Amber Lamps with her own racial comments, natch). Its nothing if not interesting. I was initially intruiged and disgusted that it came to be what it was, but then recognized the hypocrisy on both sides and also some of the comedic value of some of the outlandish behavior (again, on both sides). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-society-coming-to/529568.md?page=5)