The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Californian Elitist]

Meg has some Creole in her, but I’m pretty sure her grandmother is not actually Mexican.

 

[TP2000]

But are we surprised? Attacking women for their appearance is a rather regular “fun” occurrence on the Disneyland board.

I don't know that anyone here "attacked" her. She isn't bald. She has hair follicles that are creating hair shafts, as you can see in the photos. She had a hairdresser shave them down very close to the scalp for the Oscars.

It's not an unattractive look because she has an attractive face, but it's certainly an unusual hairdo to see on a woman at the Oscars. Or even on a woman at the supermarket.

The GI Jane joke was tacky, but most of Chris Rock's jokes are down at that level. The Oscars asked him to be a presenter anyway. I don't think Will Smith should have laughed, then stormed the stage and sucker punched the man.

I think a far better, classier, mature way to deal with the joke would have been for Will Smith to lean over, cup his wifes head in his hands, and land a big passionate kiss on her for the TV audience. The Dolby Theatre would've roared with approval, and Chris Rock would have to move on to his next target.

Instead, Will Smith got up and physically assaulted a man at the Oscars. Much tackier than the bad joke!

 

[TP2000]

If you can't control your anger there to the point where you jump on stage and later make a speech about being "disrespected" when you win an Oscars, you have a problem.

Exactly. There's some broader mental health issues going on there, aside from the anger management issues.

Add in the usual healthy dose of narcissism and privilege from Hollywood's elite, and you've got Oscars presenters being punched on national TV by the Best Actor winner. What's terrifying is that ABC continued with the broadcast, and the theater of elites pretended everything was fine and they are still the moral superiors to almost everyone else.

If you'd gone back in time 30 years and tried to explain last evening to anyone, they'd think you were nuts and that American society in the 21st century must have collapsed. Don't forget to Like & Subscribe!

 

[Parteecia]

Playing Muhammad Ali for a role versus actually being Muhammad Ali are not the same.

Are you saying he should have actually punched Rock? A man slapping another man isn’t “macho” enough?

Slapping is usually considered a girly move. Charging at someone to hit them was a macho move. I was surprised he didn't follow through.

As a woman who has lost at least 95% of my hair and will probably lose the rest to autoimmune issues I know all about how it feels. I also know that if my man had done the same (and he would not have) I would be so angry that he thought he had to do that to protect me.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I am not a regular on the Disneyland boards, so I may be missing something.

From a position of genuine curiosity, though, I have been interested to see the wildly different reactions to "the slap", particularly on Twitter. I guess it's clear from what I have posted on here how it came across to me, from the slap itself to Will Smith's Oscar acceptance speech, which I honestly found disturbing. It is seeming to me, though, that to a lot of people it looks completely different, and the outrage is reading to many as white liberal hypocrisy. As a white leftwing/liberal man, that might explain why I have a particular point of view on what I watched unfold live on television, I guess!

I'm not saying this to be provocative, but it is generally interesting to me to understand why it looks so different to different people as I am getting the impression it will be one of those issues that exposes some deep fault lines. A lot of people I follow are in Mexico, and it has even been interesting to me how many people who identify as radical feminists there seem to be generally supportive of the Will Smith in this situation.

 

[TP2000]

Slapping is usually considered a girly move. Charging at someone to hit them was a macho move. I was surprised he didn't follow through.

I saw him recoil with a closed fist and thought Chris Rock was going to be punched. But then at the last moment he sort of opened his hand and did a weird open hand slap. Chris Rock was able to rebound so quickly because it wasn't a real punch, but you could hear the skin contact and see the raw emotion to know that there was in fact an angry physical assault.

But I agree, it was an oddly wimpy way to end that thrown punch. Perhaps at the last second whatever tiny shred of moral compass Will Smith has left in his brain allowed his hand to open to lessen the blow.

Can you imagine if he'd kept his fist closed and knocked Chris Rock out cold onto the stage, perhaps seriously injuring him in the process?!?

As a woman who has lost at least 95% of my hair and will probably lose the rest to autoimmune issues I know all about how it feels. I also know that if my man had done the same (and he would not have) I would be so angry that he thought he had to do that to protect me.

Thank you for injecting sanity into this!

Again I say, the classy and instinctive reaction from Will Smith to the tacky GI Jane hairdo joke would have been to lean forward and kiss his wife for the TV cameras. But Will Smith apparently doesn't have that emotional capacity.

 

[TP2000]

But are we surprised? Attacking women for their appearance is a rather regular “fun” occurrence on the Disneyland board.

I just double-checked. I didn't see anyone in this thread attacking, or even mildly criticizing, Jada Pinkett Smith for her buzzed haircut.

The criticism in this thread the last 18 hours has been aimed squarely at Will Smith for assaulting Chris Rock on live TV, and to a lesser extent towards Chris Rock for making a tacky joke about GI Jane, among the endless tacky jokes that Chris Rock has made for decades and yet seemed to get him the hosting gig at last night's Oscars.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Slapping is usually considered a girly move. Charging at someone to hit them was a macho move. I was surprised he didn't follow through.

As a woman who has lost at least 95% of my hair and will probably lose the rest to autoimmune issues I know all about how it feels. I also know that if my man had done the same (and he would not have) I would be so angry that he thought he had to do that to protect me.

Slapping someone is still assaulting someone. That slap was pretty loud and he hit him hard enough to knock him back. Your comments about being “macho” are reminders of what’s usually considered acceptable for a man to be manly and that criteria can be unhealthy.

I’m sorry to hear about your own issues with your hair. I feel like as someone who has lost the majority of their own hair, you should understand how she may have felt in that moment, and maybe even understand why Smith wanted to defend his wife in that moment. It’s completely acceptable to not approve of your own man doing something like that for your own defense. But, personally, it’s also understandable for a man to want to defend their partner in that way, even though it was unacceptable in that time and place. We teach men to use their hands to defend their own honor and the honor of their women all the time. I think it’s interesting that you find it more appropriate for him to have punched him instead of slapped him, but at the same time, you don’t approve of him resorting to violence.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I saw him recoil with a closed fist and thought Chris Rock was going to be punched. But then at the last moment he sort of opened his hand and did a weird open hand slap. Chris Rock was able to rebound so quickly because it wasn't a real punch, but you could hear the skin contact and see the raw emotion to know that there was in fact an angry physical assault.

I felt for Chris Rock as I think he was thinking Will Smith was coming up to joke with him, so he was completely unprepared.

Again I say, the classy and instinctive reaction from Will Smith to the tacky GI Jane hairdo joke would have been to lean forward and kiss his wife for the TV cameras. But Will Smith apparently doesn't have that emotional capacity.

Or even just express his displeasure in some other way at the time. The thing that is really getting me about the reactions to this is the notion that sometimes it just happens someone says something inappropriate and you get mad and hit them. Particularly when it requires you to jump onstage at the Academy Awards in front of hundreds of millions of people without anything in your head stopping you.

 

[TP2000]

I felt for Chris Rock as I think he was thinking Will Smith was coming up to joke with him, so he was completely unprepared.

Yes, that was exactly it. Back in the 20th century, when Hollywood still had class and basic morality, stuff like this used to happen on occasion at fancy awards shows and it was hysterical! Chris Rock obviously thought something fun and wacky like this was about to play out instead of just being the latest victim of workplace violence...



And poor Redd Foxx, a very talented comedian himself, had to figure out what the heck those bozos were doing!

Or even just express his displeasure in some other way at the time. The thing that is really getting me about the reactions to this is the notion that sometimes it just happens someone says something inappropriate and you get mad and hit them. Particularly when it requires you to jump onstage at the Academy Awards in front of hundreds of millions of people without anything in your head stopping you.

No kidding. Take that childish crap back to the Green Room! Or, get your lawyers involved.

This tragedy is evidence of some serious mental health issues for Will Smith. Plus a lack of basic adult judgement skills. And also evidence of a massive ego untethered to reality. Can you imagine what must happen if his dry cleaner screws up his starch request?!?

 

[Parteecia]

Slapping someone is still assaulting someone.

Either was completely unacceptable. I was just musing as to why his macho charge ended in a girly slap.

But, personally, it’s also understandable for a man to want to defend their partner in that way, even though it was unacceptable in that time and place. We teach men to use their hands to defend their own honor and the honor of their women all the time. I think it’s interesting that you find it more appropriate for him to have punched him instead of slapped him, but at the same time, you don’t approve of him resorting to violence.

It's not understandable to me in this day and age. It's wrong. I was really hoping men weren't still being trained to assault in order to defend a woman's honor against words. I'm glad that the men I know don't feel that way and the women I know can defend themselves against words pretty well all by themselves. And I'll bet Jada fits this category.

Again, musing but not condoning any violence. Any.

 

[TP2000]

There's now an "emergency meeting" by the Academy "investigating" Will Smith's physical assault of an Oscar's presenter.

Somehow, I think it's best we not hold our breath on this one...

Emergency meeting called as Oscars look into Will Smith ‘consequences’

An investigation into Will Smith’s Chris Rock hitting incident is now open

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Parteecia]

There's now an "emergency meeting" by the Academy "investigating" Will Smith's physical assault of an Oscar's presenter.

Somehow, I think it's best we not hold our breath on this one...

Emergency meeting called as Oscars look into Will Smith ‘consequences’

An investigation into Will Smith’s Chris Rock hitting incident is now open

www.independent.co.uk

Will did finally release an apology to Chris.

Will Smith has issued an apology after slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars stage Sunday night.

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

The post continued, “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”

Will Smith Apologizes to Chris Rock for Oscars Slap: ‘I Was Out of Line and I Was Wrong’

Will Smith has issued an apology after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.

variety.com

 

[Californian Elitist]

Either was completely unacceptable. I was just musing as to why his macho charge ended in a girly slap.


It's not understandable to me in this day and age. It's wrong. I was really hoping men weren't still being trained to assault in order to defend a woman's honor against words. I'm glad that the men I know don't feel that way and the women I know can defend themselves against words pretty well all by themselves. And I'll bet Jada fits this category.

Again, musing but not condoning any violence. Any.

I get you.

I don’t condone what he did and I hate that he chose to do what he did, but I also understand. I don’t think Jada was upset by her husband’s actions at all, based on the photos they took afterwards.

 

[TP2000]

Will did finally release an apology to Chris.

Will Smith has issued an apology after slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars stage Sunday night.

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

The post continued, “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”

Will Smith Apologizes to Chris Rock for Oscars Slap: ‘I Was Out of Line and I Was Wrong’

Will Smith has issued an apology after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.

variety.com

Yeah, funny how widespread Day After outrage and an investigation of him by the Academy can do that, isn't it?

I don't think there's enough rolling eye emoji's on the Internet to respond to that "Sorry, not sorry cause you were mean" prepared statement his publicist wrote for him this afternoon.

And he ends it with... "I am a work in progress." He's 53 years old!

 

[Parteecia]

I’m sorry to hear about your own issues with your hair.

Thank you. I had thick wavy amazing Mexican hair, long down to my knees, too much to put both of my hands around, and far too much to fit under a flimsy Fritos kitchen hat. Now it fits between my thumb and forefinger squeezed together with room to spare.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yeah, funny how widespread Day After outrage and an investigation of him by the Academy can do that, isn't it?

I don't think there's enough rolling eye emoji's on the Internet to respond to that "Sorry, not sorry cause you were mean" prepared statement his publicist wrote for him this afternoon.

And he ends it with... "I am a work in progress." He's 53 years old!

The fact that this is his second apology insinuates that he’s not saving face. Will Smith is not known for being a violent person. He has been generally thought of as a positive and favorite amongst celebrities for decades. This was clearly out of character for him.

At what age do humans stop growing and changing? Is it 23? 33?

 

[TP2000]

The fact that this is his second apology insinuates that he’s not saving face. Will Smith is not known for being a violent person. He has been generally thought of as a positive and favorite amongst celebrities for decades. This was clearly out of character for him.

At what age do humans stop growing and changing? Is it 23? 33?

A young man might rumble behind the gym and punch another guy who stole his girlfriend at age 16 to 19. A young man gets into a drunken bar fight or two with his buddies in his early 20's, again often involving a girl (or lack thereof). But by the time a man is around 25 his newly adult brain should be taking over the hormones and bring about mature self control.

An extremely wealthy and privileged 53 year old man at his industry's most famous gala who punches a comedian on national TV is not a "work in progress", he is in need of immediate professional help.

 

[ParkPeeker]

I am not a regular on the Disneyland boards, so I may be missing something.

From a position of genuine curiosity, though, I have been interested to see the wildly different reactions to "the slap", particularly on Twitter. I guess it's clear from what I have posted on here how it came across to me, from the slap itself to Will Smith's Oscar acceptance speech, which I honestly found disturbing. It is seeming to me, though, that to a lot of people it looks completely different, and the outrage is reading to many as white liberal hypocrisy. As a white leftwing/liberal man, that might explain why I have a particular point of view on what I watched unfold live on television, I guess!

I'm not saying this to be provocative, but it is generally interesting to me to understand why it looks so different to different people as I am getting the impression it will be one of those issues that exposes some deep fault lines. A lot of people I follow are in Mexico, and it has even been interesting to me how many people who identify as radical feminists there seem to be generally supportive of the Will Smith in this situation.

A lot of the younger generation of my family/extend family is “liberal” but I doubt that most of them are more on “will’s side.” I don’t know what you mean by “radical feminist” but it sounds like gender critical feminists (jk Rowling) which I’m definitely not. I will say that I’m super left if you know what I mean. And even though I do try my best to not be biased, most of the time it doesn’t work. So Chris’ jokes ring a lot more problematic to me than most others.

I also cannot completely communicate to others why I feel the way I do, but I don’t feel any type of hate or animosity towards the speech Will Smith did, no matter how “bizarre” it should sound to me, I don’t find it weird nor am I mad at him. And even though I know intellectually that the slap wasn’t the right thing to do, I’m not upset at him. I think it has to do with the fact that I find Chris’ jokes to be problematic, but I really can’t communicate why I’m not upset about Will’s slap, intellectually it doesn’t make sense to me.

No matter how “neutral” I want to see myself as in this situation, saying and knowing that they were both in the wrong etc, I know that some part of me must think Chris is more in the wrong because I’m gravitating towards defending the other side, but I don’t know how to explain my bias as to why I feel Chris is more in the wrong.

I don’t like violence, and the slap crossed the line, but somehow not enough for me to cross to Chris’ side overall. And I’m aware of how insane that looks to a lot of folks. Anyways he apologized so I feel a little more secure in my position, a little less like the ‘crazy side.’

The reactions to this are super interesting to think about for sure.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Thank you. I had thick wavy amazing Mexican hair, long down to my knees, too much to put both of my hands around, and far too much to fit under a flimsy Fritos kitchen hat. Now it fits between my thumb and forefinger squeezed together with room to spare.

You’re welcome. I could tell in that photo that you posted of yourself that you had a ton of hair. Again, I’m so sorry to hear about your health issues related to your hair. Hair is a big symbol of beauty, especially for women. I think we are attached to our hair in ways that men aren’t and we are more sensitive about our hair.

I remember when a hair stylist pulled my hair so tightly that she created a very noticeable bald spot. I freaked out over that and nearly cried. I can’t imagine losing all of my hair.