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January 24, 2005
Breakdown
Justin Hall is basically one strange (I originally said "narcissistic" but decided that that part is just my opinion; "strange" is, I think, incontrovertible) guy who, if I understand correctly, decided to turn his life into something of a work of performance 'art' (of course, modern 'art', in the worst, worst sense) by living it out on the web for all to see. I've followed his story on and off for a while. I'm fascinated by the bizarre web budget renta celebrity phenomenon that is Justin Hall. I realize Mr. Hall is a rather singular character, but the relatively uncritical following he has enjoyed (through various venues; he actually appears to be respected by some seemingly serious people ) speaks volumes about the social and personal norms of this confessional age. I don't know which is sadder: if his weblog is sincere (whatever that means in his context) or all just a made up performance. Now watch him utterly break down.
But wait! This is still just the same old story from him: even in the midst of this utter breakdown he still gathered himself together enough to make this film and add captions to it. God.
This kid's life and latest rant essentially highlight much that is wrong with my generation-or at least with the males of my generation. He is in all likelihood a powerful caricature of many of us, I am sorry to say.
As a group, we are not men. No sir. We are not men.
I know I'm going to sound corny here, but what happened to the strong silent type? The people who didn't wear every last goddam emotion on their sleeve? Who had a shred of dignity? The Gary Coopers? The Steve McQueens? What happened to Shane?
And what about some kind of mental toughness? I'm sorry for sounding like a macho cliche, but he is unashamed of crying like some sissy (and, if you read the comments at many sites posting the video, why should he be? Most people think his blubbering is an act of courageous art). Where in my generation are the kind of guys who took Iwo Jima? Who raised decent children? Who were as committed to others as to themselves? Who were a source of strength, rather than weakness? In the age of Nelson, it was often remarked that "the ships were wood, but the men were iron." What will they say of my generation in years to come? "The protocol was TCP/IP, but the men boys were jello"?
This is just the pathetic exclamation point on the whole spoiled, self-indulgent mess that is my generation, wouldn't you say?
Update: To the person who wrote me earlier: why yes, I am quite Archie Bunker-esque. What's your point?
Posted by dag at January 24, 2005 11:33 PM
Comments
Well, I for one have never seen this guy's weblog, and to be honest, don't really care to. I made it through an entire minute of that video before I shut it off. The simple fact is, I simply don't give a shit about this guy or what he thinks.
Most weblogs can roughly be divided into two categories. There are the narcissists that use their weblog to constantly be about them, and their whiny piss-ant lives, and then thare are those that use their weblogs as a big giant bitch-fest.
What I like about this weblog is that it's a nice forum for actual presentation of intellectual discussion (well, most of the time, there are the occasional posts about pornographic equipment rodeos, but that's a topic for another day).
As your Rabbi (all of you), allow me to impart one pearl that I've always lived by: Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people. Weblogs are prolific because it gives everyone that has one a forum to be the "expert" or the "knowledge". The truth of the matter is that we're all just little piss-ants that pontificate about one thing or another. We all seem to think that everyone is entitled to our opinions, when the truth is most people just don't care.
Well, there you have it. If you don't like it, I'll kick you squah in the nuts, and you'll cry like Nancy Kerrigan.
Screw you, Triangle Thief!
- The Rabbi
Posted by: The Good Rabbi at January 25, 2005 02:27 AM