- Jun 19, 2003
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RIP Hunter S. Thompson
- Thread starter DainBramaged
- Start date
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
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Seems like an interesting dude. The only work of his that I'm familiar with is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
- Jun 19, 2003
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson
He was the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diary, Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga, as well as a veritable hoard of random magazine articles. He was also a contributor to espn.com.
He was the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diary, Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga, as well as a veritable hoard of random magazine articles. He was also a contributor to espn.com.
- Jun 19, 2003
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JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,550
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"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun ? for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax ? This won't hurt"
-Hunter S. Thompson
Artist and friend Ralph Steadman wrote:
"...He told me 25 years ago that he would feel real trapped if he didn't know that he could commit suicide at any moment. I don't know if that is brave or stupid or what, but it was inevitable. I think that the truth of what rings through all his writing is that he meant what he said. If that is entertainment to you, well, that's OK. If you think that it enlightened you, well, that's even better. If you wonder if he's gone to Heaven or Hell ? rest assured he will check out them both, find out which one Richard Milhous Nixon went to ? and go there. He could never stand being bored. But there must be Football too ? and Peacocks..."[24]
-Hunter S. Thompson
Artist and friend Ralph Steadman wrote:
"...He told me 25 years ago that he would feel real trapped if he didn't know that he could commit suicide at any moment. I don't know if that is brave or stupid or what, but it was inevitable. I think that the truth of what rings through all his writing is that he meant what he said. If that is entertainment to you, well, that's OK. If you think that it enlightened you, well, that's even better. If you wonder if he's gone to Heaven or Hell ? rest assured he will check out them both, find out which one Richard Milhous Nixon went to ? and go there. He could never stand being bored. But there must be Football too ? and Peacocks..."[24]
- Jun 19, 2003
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One thing that I have learned about him is that while I love his writings and such, he is not a person to be emulated, either in life actions or in his writing.
Amazing how celebrated a truly mediocre author, populist rabblerouser, and legendary substance abuser can become just by using content-free cynicism and biting satire to stroke the egos and superiority of certain political movements, eh? Had he not taken visceral shots at Nixon, nobody would have ever heard of Hunter S. Thompson.
Although, the guy was heavily armed and had a penchant for firing weapons around his home, so he couldn't have been all bad.
I guess you have to be dainbramaged to love his drivel. 
"Gonzo journalism" is an oxymoron and the product of a mentally-ill drug addict, not someone with a calculated move to alter the status quo. He is given MUCH more credit than he's due - I think, in part, due to a baby-boomer nostalgia about their wonder years. As someone once said, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is about as subversive as a fratboy loose in the french quarter during Mardi Gras. Thompson himself calls the book a "failed attempt" at gonzo journalism. Its a book for people who haven't done acid to try and live vicariously through one who has.
Is it any wonder suicide was his exit? The only other altnerative was a drug overdose.
"Gonzo journalism" is an oxymoron and the product of a mentally-ill drug addict, not someone with a calculated move to alter the status quo. He is given MUCH more credit than he's due - I think, in part, due to a baby-boomer nostalgia about their wonder years. As someone once said, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is about as subversive as a fratboy loose in the french quarter during Mardi Gras. Thompson himself calls the book a "failed attempt" at gonzo journalism. Its a book for people who haven't done acid to try and live vicariously through one who has.
Is it any wonder suicide was his exit? The only other altnerative was a drug overdose.
- Jun 19, 2003
- 23,454
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Originally posted by: DigDug
I guess you have to be dainbramaged to love his drivel.
"Gonzo journalism" is an oxymoron and the product of a mentally-ill drug addict, not someone with a calculated move to alter the status quo. He is given MUCH more credit than he's due - I think, in part, due to a baby-boomer nostalgia about their wonder years. As someone once said, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is about as subversive as a fratboy loose in the french quarter during Mardi Gras. Thompson himself calls the book a "failed attempt" at gonzo journalism. Its a book for people who haven't done acid to try and live vicariously through one who has.
Is it any wonder suicide was his exit? The only other altnerative was a drug overdose.
I understand that you don't care for him. This doesn't mean that his writing doesn't mean something to people. His book The Rum Diary got me interested in journalism. His book Hells Angels inspired me to follow through on my dream to buy a motorcycle and enjoy life. These are real things that have meaning in my life, whether you like him or not.
Oh, I don't doubt that it meant something to many folks. I just see the reason he's being deified. I've seen the word "genius" bantered about regarding him (not in this thread, I admit) and its truly ludicrous.
Out of curiosity, his book is what got you to enjoy life?
preslove
Lifer
- Sep 10, 2003
- 16,754
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Originally posted by: DigDug
I guess you have to be dainbramaged to love his drivel.
"Gonzo journalism" is an oxymoron and the product of a mentally-ill drug addict, not someone with a calculated move to alter the status quo. He is given MUCH more credit than he's due - I think, in part, due to a baby-boomer nostalgia about their wonder years. As someone once said, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is about as subversive as a fratboy loose in the french quarter during Mardi Gras. Thompson himself calls the book a "failed attempt" at gonzo journalism. Its a book for people who haven't done acid to try and live vicariously through one who has.
Is it any wonder suicide was his exit? The only other altnerative was a drug overdose.
That book is about, and demonstrates, the exhaustion and self-destruction that the 60s lifestyle lead to. It begins with an innocent desire to change the world (or sports journalism), but detours into a drug crazed nightmare. If you think its purpose was to celebrate the counterculture, you misread it.
Your post would be much better if you wrote mediocre a few more times.
Regarding the book and the "journalistic" assignment:
- Thompson.
Yes, so insightful, investigative and thought-out. And his book is lauded for its portrayal of the self-destruction of the counterculture/60's lifestyle? Right...
- Thompson.
Yes, so insightful, investigative and thought-out. And his book is lauded for its portrayal of the self-destruction of the counterculture/60's lifestyle? Right...
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