Jackass is a fandom, right?
So obviously we all know that Ryan Dunn from "Jackass" was killed in a horrible car crash early yesterday morning. And many family members, friends, and fans are in mourning right now. But then Roger Ebert had to speak up. Needless to say, many are pissed at his insensitivity.

Sadly, I kind of figured something like this was going to happen considering the stunts "Jackass" is known for (and we all remember the "Steve Irwin had it coming" wank), but still... that doesn't excuse Ebert's words at all.

Beware the comments in the MSN article, they are just as bad as Ebert's original tweet.

ETA: I would normally agree with the comments here as well, except that the police haven't actually confirmed that he was drunk. If it turns out that that's what happened, that's one thing. But... I'd rather wait to find out the results before I agree with one side or the other.

ETA 2: Apparently Ebert has apologized to Dunn's family and friends saying he tweeted too soon. From People.com

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rosehiptea
2011-06-21 09:27 pm UTC (link)

I'm glad he clarified his thoughts in a longer post, but I still don't think he deserved to have his Facebook taken down (though it is back up now.)

Was it insensitive to the family and friends? Yeah, I guess I can't deny that. But this portion of a comment on that post speaks to me:

As for thinking of Ryan's family? Shouldn't HE have been the first one to do that? Respect for family works both ways. If you worry about how your family will be without you, perhaps you should be thinking twice about driving at very high speeds in a car you can't control in a questionable state of competence.

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	sandglass 2011-06-21 09:30 pm UTC (link)
	See, that comment is something I can entirely agree with. The repetition of an empty slogan bugs me, but that comment really cuts to why it's so important to push drinking safely and in moderation. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	notjo 2011-06-22 02:36 am UTC (link)
	It's always faaaascinating to me what will be ruled by the powers that run websites what is offensive enough to warrant immediate action and what is not. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

eleutheria
2011-06-22 09:48 am UTC (link)

Seriously. Racists, rape apologists, and Neo-Nazis aren't offensive enough (and don't even get me started on some of the shit I saw on Facebook after Osama bin Laden's death), but saying that you shouldn't drink and drive on another website, even, apparently is.

I'm reminded of LJ during Strikethrough. Neo-Nazis and pro-ana people urging "thinspiration" on people? Not offensive enough. Harry Potter porn? OMG, bring it down!

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ekaterinv
2011-06-23 08:46 pm UTC (link)

No shit. I'm nearly as angry about the people wagging their fingers at Ebert for pointing out that drinking before driving, and speeding like that, are complete jackassery, as I am at the jackasses who drink and drive. I'm very close to someone who has a drinking problem and who has gotten behind the wheel drunk many times, and if he killed himself doing so and anyone tried to whisk that away supposedly in order to spare my feelings, I would go ballistic. I spent enough of my life trying to pretend a drinking problem wasn't there and wasn't traumatic -- the last thing I'd want is other people trying to pretend it away as well. Nothing like enabling a dead dude!

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