Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan By now you've probably heard that Ryan Dunn, one of the cast members of Jackass, died in a high speed crash in his Porsche. He Tweeted a photo of himself with friends drinking earlier in the evening, so once the lab results return, everyone will know if he was indeed drunk driving. At the very least, he was speeding in excess of 100 mph. This is a "world event" in that Roger Ebert took a lot of heat for commenting about the death on Twitter: "Friends don't let jackasses drive drunk." There has been considerable, instant backlash for Ebert saying this. He later apologized for posting too quickly. Was Ebert right for saying it? Or was it too soon or insensitive to say something like that?
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Ebert was completely right and shouldn't have to apologize. You do something as reckless and stupid as drunk driving you deserve all the scorn that is heaped upon you, even if you kill yourself which Dunn did, but he also killed his passenger and is lucky nobody else was killed. I have absolutely no sympathy for what happened to him. His passenger yes, especially if that person was counting on Dunn for a ride. I give Ebert a thumbs up for his stance.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I thought it. I'm learning lately that maybe my sensitivity meter needs recharging though. I'm having problems working myself up for people that do and say reckless things. So I think must people will say a respectable amount of time should have passed before being critical of his choices.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS I think it was absolutely horse poop that he posted that just within hours of the incident. He didn't think about the other people affected by Ryan's death who just had heard about it and were starting to grieve. Now they are supposed to feel guilty because they couldn't stop him from driving away? I think it's fine if Ebert had the thought, as I'm sure a few of us did, but to publicly state it through a social network like Twitter, where at that moment the death was being prodominantly tweeted about? That was in poor taste in my opinion.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I'm torn. Lives were lost, friends family (and fans) are grieving. But this kind of death is 100% preventable. If more and more people stand up for responsible driving and make a public stand against drunk driving our roads will be safer. If he and his passenger had only taken a cab... Ebert's tweet and his timing may not have been "sensitive" but getting in that car really was a "Jackass" move.
Originally Posted By ecdc I follow Ebert on Twitter. He's awesome. I don't think he was wrong and I don't think he was wrong to post it so soon after the death. I'm astounded at how many people drink and drive. The only thing I question Ebert for is whether or not he knew the guy was drunk. My understanding was that Dunn had posted a Facebook picture of himself at a party drinking. That does not equate to "drunk while driving." He may have had only one for a photo op and then planned on being the designated driver. Wait until alcohol is declared a factor.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost If it turns out that he was over the limit, and my guess is that he was, then whatever Ebert said was not only appropriate but solid. If the friends of Ryan did not stop him from driving then they should feel guilty. It could have been prevented. They are as responsible for those deaths as he was. So feel guilty, maybe next time they will do something to prevent instead of being offended because someone called them on it.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb But I'm sure he's got a heartbroken mother and she is reeling right now. This sort of tragedy is always hard, but throw a spot light on it... I can't imagine. I'm not defending drunk driving, but I see where the "insensitivity" comes into play.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Yeah, the other thing is that you can't put that guilt on all his friends who weren't even there, and I think they're the ones reacting. I don't know, and I doubt Roger knows, if he was over the legal limit, and if he was, if this was a habitual pattern of drinking and driving. It is astounding that so many people still drink and drive after years and years of awareness campaigns, tougher laws. So Roger Ebert wasn't wrong, but the timing could have been better. By using the words in the way he did, it came off as dismissive of these two lives, and I don't think that was the intent at all.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I was not intending to put the guilt on friends that were not there but let's not quickly forgive Ryan himself for irresponsible reckless behavior, even if sober...100 miles per hour...really? Ebert didn't cause Ryan's mother terrible grief, Ryan did. Did she deserve it? I would guess not. It could be said that having a thread all about it, might be insensitive as well. Should it not be commented on? Chances are that his mother doesn't "tweet" so the only way she hears about it is through the media. Who is really being insensitive.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>but let's not quickly forgive Ryan himself for irresponsible reckless behavior, even if sober...100 miles per hour...really?<< No, you're right about that.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Someone from Jackass did something stupid and reckless? Shut the front door.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Someone from Jackass did something stupid and reckless? Shut the front door." I know, right? Who coulda seen this one coming.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones When you drive 100 MPH you might expect some people to make a few comments whether or not you slam into a bunch of trees and burn yourself and your passenger to a crisp.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I can see both sides of this one. On one hand, Ebert's totally right, and yes, I think a lot of people were thinking it. Frankly, I think when you put innocent people's lives at risk the way this guy did, you kind of deserve what people say about you. (Even if he wasn't drunk, he was still breaking the law and endangering lives by speeding.) On the other hand, this was still a person who lost his life and has a lot of people grieving for him, many of whom weren't there to stop him (if he was driving drunk, which we don't know at this point). I guess the sentiment is correct, but he could have used more sensitivity in the delivery.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>> let's not quickly forgive Ryan himself for irresponsible reckless behavior, even if sober...100 miles per hour...really?<<< I don't think anyone here is calling for anyone to forgive Ryan, he was driving in an unsafe manner, it cost 2 lives. It's not my place to forgive him anyway.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I think a little truth and insensitivity might go a long way in saving more lives. If you drink and drive you may kill yourself...which would be bad. If you drink and drive you may kill someone in my family...which would be a tragedy.
