Hunter S Thompson....Any fans?

[Danus]

I know many might think this odd of someone who is a Christian, but I'm a huge Hunter Thompson fan.

Some of you might wonder; "Who the heck is Hunter S Thompson?" to anyone asking this, it's a perfectly good question, but you might want to simply move on.

I don't intend that in a mean spirited way, but if you look him up and learn a little on the surface, your not going to get him.

His thoughts and writings need a little more chewing time to fully absorb what his bizarre voice is trying to say.

Hunter Thompson was a writer of sort. Some what journalist, somewhat novelist; a voice some may call liberal, to which I'd disagree, but defiantly a social-political-economic anarchistic voice; an honest voice of little reason, but plenty of observations about the evil in the world as he saw it.

So, any fans?

 

[AirDancer]

You're absolutely correct, Danus: to look him up on the 'net and read that various blurbs, one won't get a realistic essence of Thompson.

Have you read his book "Hell's Angels" ? It's curious. For that matter, much of what he wrote was curious. Thought-provoking, in many cases.

His life was woven with some of the same threads as Ernest 'Papa' Hemingway's. Their lives ended in similar fashion.

 

[Mike]

So, why do you have a picture of Johnny Depp?

Some of you might wonder; "Who the heck is Hunter S Thompson?" to anyone asking this, it's a perfectly good question, but you might want to simply move on.

I guess I'll be moving on...

 

[Christ_empowered]

I always enjoyed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. For all the drug use and general sin, he has keen insight into the seedier side of society and human nature.

 

[Danus]

So, why do you have a picture of Johnny Depp?

I guess I'll be moving on...

..Well, deep did portray Thompson in two movies, but that pic is the real Hunter Thompson.

You're absolutely correct, Danus: to look him up on the 'net and read that various blurbs, one won't get a realistic essence of Thompson.

Have you read his book "Hell's Angels" ? It's curious. For that matter, much of what he wrote was curious. Thought-provoking, in many cases.

His life was woven with some of the same threads as Ernest 'Papa' Hemingway's. Their lives ended in similar fashion.

I've not read it. I've read excepts from it. I'm more familiar with his articles, but I have "My Time With the Hells Angels" on my list. That's the book that sort of launched him into notoriety, and I understand he paid a heavy price for the research.

Some talk show host interviewed Thompson about the book and had one of the guys who beat him up on the show. I remember seeing that, Thompson was uneasy.

I have a funny story my Mom and Dad tell about the hells angels.

I was a baby at the time, circa 1967-68. We where traveling west to California to visit family in LA. My dad stopped out side Barstow, I think, for gas. He went inside for something, and a group of hells angels swarmed the place, and where getting gas.

They noticed our car. One sat on the hood and a few others where looking in the car and making faces at me. In the car are my mom, older brother and sister and me.

My mom says I was laughing. I guess I thought they where funny and they thought it was funny that I was laughing, but my Mom was mortified.

My dad came back to the car with his 1950's jar-head hair cut and told them sternly to get away from his family. They did and we moved on down the road, but my mom was freaking out thinking they where going to catch up to us and do something....


Here is a fitting quote: "In a closed society where everyone is guilty, the only crime is getting caught." - HST - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

 

[Danus]

I always enjoyed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. For all the drug use and general sin, he has keen insight into the seedier side of society and human nature.

If you liked that movie, check out "Where the Buffalo Roam". Bill Murray play's Thompson in that one. The movie is based on his book; "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail."

Here is a quote from Thompson you might get a chuckle out of; "If you're going to be mad in this world make sure your getting paid for it. Otherwise they'll lock you up, and throw away the key."

Thompson describing the hell's angels - "A man who has blown all his options can't afford the luxury of changing his ways. He has to capitalize on whatever he has left, and he can't afford to admit — no matter how often he's reminded of it — that every day of his life takes him farther and farther down a blind alley... Very few toads in this world are Prince Charmings in disguise. Most are simply toads... and they are going to stay that way... Toads don't make laws or change any basic structures, but one or two rooty insights can work powerful changes in the way they get through life. A toad who believes he got a raw deal before he even knew who was dealing will usually be sympathetic to the mean, vindictive ignorance that colors the Hell's Angels' view of humanity. There is not much mental distance between a feeling of having been [EDIT -"gotten a raw deal] and the ethic of total retaliation, or at least the random revenge that comes with outraging the public decency......Is this not blatant honest and brilliant ? You could give this advice to your daughters when they start dating.