Althouse: "I'm watching this trial. It's a cautionary tale. It's a cautionary tale about believing in bullshit. Like: forming a narrative in your head, like: We're rebels together!"

April 28, 2022

"I'm watching this trial. It's a cautionary tale. It's a cautionary tale about believing in bullshit. Like: forming a narrative in your head, like: We're rebels together!"

ADDED: A similar, but different analysis:

34 comments:

RideSpaceMountain said...: You can be like Depp the Simp (Depp + Simp = Demp), or you can be like Dicaprio (48) who looks like Demp minus 30 years, not 10, and doesn't date girls over 25yo.

The warning is to be like Dicaprio. Don't be like Demp. Demp don't know diddly.; 4/28/22, 9:25 AM
Paul said...: Just rich f*cked up people.... that is all this is about. They are all druggies. All messed up in their minds. And yet people hang on their every word.; 4/28/22, 9:29 AM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: Absurd Western decadence.; 4/28/22, 9:31 AM
wendybar said...: I have no idea why anybody cares what two drug crazed Hollyweirdos do to each other, and then countersue. There are real life problems that we are going through and we are on the verge of WWIII, and yet THIS is what people care about??; 4/28/22, 9:31 AM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: We are supposed to take sides? I don't know these people. but I guess if I am forced to pick a side - Mr. Depp has more credibility.

She sort of blew it with the makeup lie.; 4/28/22, 9:35 AM
Rollo said...: Russell's probably glad that he and Katy Perry aren't in court relitigating their own brief marriage.; 4/28/22, 9:36 AM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: I suggest fast forward to about 9:00 mark and listen to Brand. He really is a sympathetic and grounded person.

Joe and his side kick just mocked it all. Certainly worth mocking. but. ugh.; 4/28/22, 9:47 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: Correction: "or you can be like Dicaprio (48) who looks younger than Demp by 30 years, not 10, and doesn't date girls over 25yo."

Drugs are a hell of drug, and Demp looks like just shaking his hand would get you high.; 4/28/22, 9:53 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Just rich f*cked up people.... that is all this is about. They are all druggies. All messed up in their minds. And yet people hang on their every word."

You might appreciate Brand's take.; 4/28/22, 9:57 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Brand's style is fascinating, but I wish his videos were half as long. I'm impressed that he maintains his intensity, but I always get tired of waiting for him to bring it in for a landing. I don't think I ever make it past the midpoint!; 4/28/22, 9:59 AM
Paddy O said...: CCH, thanks for that tip of going to the 9:00 mark, that is good stuff.; 4/28/22, 10:02 AM
Sebastian said...: "And yet people hang on their every word."

Some people. It's the modern circus. Other people's troubles are entertainment. Pretend as a pseudo morality tale, which in amoral times doesn't do anything for morality.

Brand does not face the politics of the case. At issue is Heard's attempt to exploit #MeToo to ruin Depp. Brandish calls for sympathy and understanding of complexity will go nowhere as long as the political calculation makes personal destruction a rational strategy. Regardless of the outcome of the case, Depp will at least change the calculation a bit.; 4/28/22, 10:23 AM
Rusty said...: Ann Althouse said...
"Brand's style is fascinating, but I wish his videos were half as long. I'm impressed that he maintains his intensity, but I always get tired of waiting for him to bring it in for a landing. I don't think I ever make it past the midpoint!"
He was much more entertaining when he was the darling of London theater and high on H. Funny as sh*t on TBQ but no one took him seriously.; 4/28/22, 10:44 AM
who-knew said...: I've been listening to some of Russell Brand's videos for a few months now ( I've probably played 15 or so). Don't always agree but he's really an interesting guy. I barely knew who he was when he was 'famous' as a comedian and back then what little I saw of him just seemed annoying and not funny. So it took me a while to give one of his new you tube rants a listen but now I'm glad I did. I agree with Ann that they are usually too long, though.; 4/28/22, 11:02 AM
John henry said...: Re the new dept of truth in dept of homeland security

I just found out who the director will be. She is tweeting up a storm patting herself on the back and claiming this has been in the works for some months and the timing of today's announcement is pure coincidence.

Nina Jankowicz is her name.

She's an American, I think, but used to work for the govt of Ukraine.

Where is Natalie jaresko? Former Ukrainian finance minister and prime minister candidate? And, possibly American citizen.

Will she turn up at dhs?

This gets stinkier by the minute.

John LGKTQ Henry; 4/28/22, 11:14 AM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: You're missing it if you don't keep abreast of this trial! It's looking likely that Amber Heard is going down in flames and taking #MeToo with her.; 4/28/22, 11:16 AM
Mattman26 said...: I'm fairly astounded at how much I've grown to like Russell Brand. It does go on for a bit, as Ann notes, but I have that problem with podcasts generally. I listened to Rogan interview Jordan Peterson recently, and it (Peterson in particular) was fascinating, but Jesus, four hours! I was on a road trip so it worked, but can't imagine making it a regular part of my life.

Back to Brand: he's very bright, and very humanistic, and--at least if this clip is any indicator--right about a lot.; 4/28/22, 11:54 AM
Earnest Prole said...: My only questions are what kind of man brings a nutty, slutty wackjob into his life, and what does that say about Elon Musk?; 4/28/22, 11:56 AM
cubanbob said...: They are both crazy but she is beautiful. What does Depp who can't keep a buck in his wallet expect to gain after the no doubt quite expensive litigation is over? That's assuming he wins? I doubt that Heard has anywhere near the wealth he is seeking. For those familiar with the hot and crazy matrix Amber Heard is the poster girl.; 4/28/22, 11:59 AM
Tina Trent said...: Most women probably wouldn't mind watching Russell Brand talk incessantly. It's what women want.; 4/28/22, 12:05 PM
Tina Trent said...: John Henry: Oleg Atbashian explains the implications of the Ukraine invasion in the context of dysfunctional relationships and the seductions of propaganda. See Liberals, Conservatives and Russia: the Drama Triangle. Surely he can answer your other questions.; 4/28/22, 12:48 PM
John henry said...: Don't know how I posted that comment about our new MinTru here.

I had posted it yesterday in another comment thread.

Apologies

John LGKTQ Henry; 4/28/22, 12:58 PM
RideSpaceMountain said...: @Tina Trent

"Most women probably wouldn't mind watching Russell Brand talk incessantly. It's what women want"

Russell Brawndo has what women crave. He's a radio host. He's got electrobytes.; 4/28/22, 1:36 PM
Readering said...: Something tells me this will not bring closer the day when arguments are filmed at USSC.; 4/28/22, 1:40 PM
Tina Trent said...: Precisely, RideSpaceMountain! I especially enjoy it when Brand goes on Rogan's show: two perfect male specimens, entirely different, but capable of communicating and emoting with each other for hours.

Now I feel guilty for objectifying them. I DO listen to the words.; 4/28/22, 2:11 PM
Earnest Prole said...: two perfect male specimens

I'm a little surprised how tall Joe Rogan is in real life. I mean, he’s a little fellow, but not circus-midget little, as his reputation would suggest.; 4/28/22, 2:37 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: cubanbob said...

What does Depp who can't keep a buck in his wallet expect to gain after the no doubt quite expensive litigation is over?

He gets to tell his side of things. Based on some of what I've saw from him when he was on the stand that seems to be the purpose of the suit. And some of what his lawyers have brought in as evidence have made her look very bad.; 4/28/22, 2:50 PM
PM said...: I'd love to have Russell Brand narrating me making and eating a breakfast burrito.; 4/28/22, 3:00 PM
Rusty said...: " What does Depp who can't keep a buck in his wallet expect to gain after the no doubt quite expensive litigation is over? That's assuming he wins? "
No waking up next to crazy b*tch that sh*ts in the bed. That can be worth quite a lot.; 4/28/22, 4:10 PM
Another old lawyer said...: The headline on this posting brought to mind the radicalism of the late 60s. I'm too young to have lived through that, but have been listening to a really long series of The Martyrmade Podcast about Jim Jones of the People's Temple, "God's Socialist." In part 5, The Wounded King, the podcaster spends at least an hour talking about 1968 and 1969, with a focus on The Weatherman / Weather Underground and how they came from middle/upperclass families. Ultimately, it seemed that they all got caught up and believed their narrative that they were rebels that would be the vanguard of a violent overthrow of the US government and also affect a fundamental change in US culture. Pretty clear that was bullshit.

Though one can certainly argue that some of them survived, that the struggle continued and continues, and that they've had much more success using different, less explosive methods.; 4/28/22, 6:39 PM
Another old lawyer said...: What does Depp expect to gain? I believe the ability to work in that town again, to make further millions. Reports suggest he was dropped from the last Harry Potter movie (bullet dodged, and I think he got paid under his contract with WB) and that he can't get hired because of the accusations of the physical abuse of Heard.; 4/28/22, 6:45 PM
walter said...: I hope they both get product endorsement deals.
Tesla for Depp. Her? Hmmm. Immodium?; 4/28/22, 7:31 PM
Gahrie said...: My only questions are what kind of man brings a nutty, slutty wackjob into his life, and what does that say about Elon Musk?

It's pretty apparent that Elon is somewhere on the Autism/Achberger's spectrum.; 4/28/22, 10:25 PM
mikee said...: Depp and Heard did things in private that became public. The issues came to judicial notice, partly because of the money involved. Pundits and reporters are covering the trial. Now a blogger has asked us to think about the punditry reporting on the trial of the private misbehaviors of Depp and Heard. It isn't quite meta, but it almost gets six steps of separation from Kevin Bacon.

Now, it is Friday afternoon and I'd rather relax in preparation for the weekend.; 4/29/22, 5:06 PM