Yes to all of the above. I actually meant to weave Girard in - I read his stuff when I was doing medieval literature and history - you’ve reminded me that I forgot.
I look forward to the update😆, hopefully focused on how the periodic scapegoat allows the group to expiate their own crimes, whilst reinforcing their membership of the group/right side of history. That in the context of the point made below about "how many more such cases" is what struck me here when you mentioned scapegoat.
I feel the need to judge others is intricately intertwined with our physical need to feel safe from "predators". However, to wait and see what police investigation/court processes reveal is prudent yet of limited use. I say this because even these judicial processes are not always objective. Taking the word is of what is said by a court of law through its judgment as the gospel truth is a lawyer's obsession. To bide your time, read through the verdict and form your own independent opinion is a difficult task and it is comparatively easy to be a hypocrite who passes summary conclusion on others (who later may or may not be proven to be guilty). To be honest, I am also guilty of passing summary judgements on others. This post made me reflect on my own weaknesses as a human as I immediately judged Brand when I saw the headlines.
So did I, actually, as I related. My immediate instinct was to think he was guilty. I don’t know to what extent that was because I have always found him very arrogant and unpleasant. He may be guilty; I don’t discount the possibility. I will need to think about it.
I suspect that before the afternoon is out I will be projecting my qualities of non-competitiveness and indifference to worldly success onto the racehorses I have backed.
Thoughtful post - I wish there were more like it! Seems everyone else is rushing to denounce right now.
I’m no fan of Brand, but after seeing how some of the Me Too accusations panned out (Junot Diaz, Stephen Elliott etc) I’m much more cautious now and will wait for investigations to be done.
It is interesting that these have only come out once he’s started getting popular for speaking about less mainstream things. However, I’m keeping an open mind, he could well be guilty.
The second point does not in this case make me particularly more or less credulous but it does make me wonder how many more are out there but still, for now, "our [their!] kind of bastard".
So true! Isn’t it funny how the only big names Me Too got were Weinstein and Crosby? There just have to be more, and they are probably still working in the business.
And agree about the grossness of each side protecting their own. If they really think a particular action is a crime, it’s still a crime if someone you like has done it!
Fundamental proposition of the rule of law. It doesn’t matter if you like the person or not, it doesn’t matter if they’re your friend or not - the law is the law. We are all equal.
Yes, this is what I have just been saying to someone else. I don’t know if he’s guilty or innocent, currently. I may well end up deciding he is guilty, regardless of what a jury says, it’s just - I need to think about it.
Oh the other thing I’m trying to counter is that I’ve NEVER liked Russell Brand. Ever. Regardless of what his politics are. I’m trying not to let that taint my judgement.
Nice goat drawing!
That’s what my daughter said too!
She was like - DID YOU REALLY DRAW THAT?
The René Girard concept of the scapegoat is fascinating, and seems apposite here in a situation which could be likened to the mob eating its own.
I also never had any attraction to Russell brand either, he always seemed about 2 inches shallow and wholly self interested.
Says something about people who were fascinated by him though.
Yes to all of the above. I actually meant to weave Girard in - I read his stuff when I was doing medieval literature and history - you’ve reminded me that I forgot.
I look forward to the update😆, hopefully focused on how the periodic scapegoat allows the group to expiate their own crimes, whilst reinforcing their membership of the group/right side of history. That in the context of the point made below about "how many more such cases" is what struck me here when you mentioned scapegoat.
/joke I don't expect an update!
LOL, but... I will update you anyway, I am sure. About time I read Mimesis again.
I feel the need to judge others is intricately intertwined with our physical need to feel safe from "predators". However, to wait and see what police investigation/court processes reveal is prudent yet of limited use. I say this because even these judicial processes are not always objective. Taking the word is of what is said by a court of law through its judgment as the gospel truth is a lawyer's obsession. To bide your time, read through the verdict and form your own independent opinion is a difficult task and it is comparatively easy to be a hypocrite who passes summary conclusion on others (who later may or may not be proven to be guilty). To be honest, I am also guilty of passing summary judgements on others. This post made me reflect on my own weaknesses as a human as I immediately judged Brand when I saw the headlines.
So did I, actually, as I related. My immediate instinct was to think he was guilty. I don’t know to what extent that was because I have always found him very arrogant and unpleasant. He may be guilty; I don’t discount the possibility. I will need to think about it.
I suspect that before the afternoon is out I will be projecting my qualities of non-competitiveness and indifference to worldly success onto the racehorses I have backed.
Thoughtful post - I wish there were more like it! Seems everyone else is rushing to denounce right now.
I’m no fan of Brand, but after seeing how some of the Me Too accusations panned out (Junot Diaz, Stephen Elliott etc) I’m much more cautious now and will wait for investigations to be done.
It is interesting that these have only come out once he’s started getting popular for speaking about less mainstream things. However, I’m keeping an open mind, he could well be guilty.
The second point does not in this case make me particularly more or less credulous but it does make me wonder how many more are out there but still, for now, "our [their!] kind of bastard".
A bit worrying really.
Yes. There have been a few cases lately which have really given me the chills in this regard - people covering for their “own team”.
So true! Isn’t it funny how the only big names Me Too got were Weinstein and Crosby? There just have to be more, and they are probably still working in the business.
And agree about the grossness of each side protecting their own. If they really think a particular action is a crime, it’s still a crime if someone you like has done it!
Fundamental proposition of the rule of law. It doesn’t matter if you like the person or not, it doesn’t matter if they’re your friend or not - the law is the law. We are all equal.
Exactly! Weird how so many people don’t understand this.
Yes only two people both rather older. Very surprising if true!!
Yes, this is what I have just been saying to someone else. I don’t know if he’s guilty or innocent, currently. I may well end up deciding he is guilty, regardless of what a jury says, it’s just - I need to think about it.
Oh the other thing I’m trying to counter is that I’ve NEVER liked Russell Brand. Ever. Regardless of what his politics are. I’m trying not to let that taint my judgement.
He really is so unlikeable! But everyone is entitled to a fair trial I suppose. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.