Ebert's tweet on Dunn death spurs cyber-maelstrom

[proud2BlibKansan]

It was only one tweet. Seven words regarding the death of a minor celebrity who made his name by taking risks.

"Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive."

That's all it took for Roger Ebert to spawn a cyber-maelstrom, causing fans of the deceased - Ryan Dunn, a "Jackass" stunt crew member who died in a high-speed crash Monday - to viciously attack the renowned Chicago Sun-Times film critic.

Investigators have not said alcohol was a factor in the one-vehicle crash, which happened in Pennsylvania, but they did say Dunn's Porsche might have been traveling as fast as 100 mph. Not long before the crash, Dunn put a photo on Twitter that showed him drinking with friends.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/21/2966728/eberts-tweet-on-dunn-death-spurs.html#storylink=omni_popular#ixzz1Q0PcffpR

[trotsky]

1. Despite being unable to say a word...

Roger Ebert is one of the strongest voices in America. Perhaps he jumped the gun in saying what he did before an official report came out, but his message is a good one.

[Initech]

18. Good message, wrong timing, wrong way to say it.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Using the Vernacular of The Day, I am on Team Ebert

His comment was mild and 100% true.

"Viciously attack?" What a Crock.

Assholes don't murder their fucking friends in the name of a good night's party.

[Patiod]

12. +1

[tabasco]

3. Roger's 100% correct.

Anyone who gets their panties in a wad because of what he wrote is an idiot, too.

[justiceischeap]

4. I'm with Ebert...

Dunn tweeted a photo of himself drinking hours before the accident, I'm sure he came to the logical conclusion from that photo. Though, I guess Dunn driving in excess of 100mph may have hit a wet spot in the road and crashed into the tree.

[soleft]

11. Friends don't let jackasses drive 100 miles per hour

[TorchTheWitch]

13. the road wasn't wet

He was trying to make a not very visible exit and was going FAR too fast to do so, crashed through the guard rail and went into what is essentially a forest in a deep ravine taking out several trees before finally hitting a big one head on. Dunn always drove way to fast and everyone that knew him knew that. You'd have to be nuts to get in a car with him at the wheel even if he was stone cold sober.

Sad that he and his friend died, but I'm happy he's now finally off the road and he didn't kill anyone else that may have been on the road. I'm not feeling much sympathy for his passenger either... Zac knew he drove like a shithead and that he was drinking and got in the car anyway.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. This is what our country has been reduced to: Fury at unfiltered Truth.

No dispute:

1. Ryan Dunn was drinking before the accident. He even tweeted photos of himself imbribing.

2. Ryan Dunn was driving 130 mph shortly after drinking.

3. Ryan Dunn likely died as a result of the collision from driving at 130 mph after drinking.

4. Ryan Dunn killed his passenger as a result of the collision from driving at 130 mph after drinking.


The only thing subject to dispute is whether someone could have or should have stopped Ryan Dunn from leaving the bar to drive after he consumed alcohol.

With regard to Bam Margera, he wasn't defending co-star Ryan Dunn as much as he was defending the brand of "Jackass". The consequential tweets are nothing more than herd mentality. The tweeters didn't spend 3 seconds thinking about why Dunn died.

Perez Hilton calling Ebert's remark "insensitive" is downright comical.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Dupe/Delete/Sorry

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Hey Ebert was kind, very kind.

Far harsher words could be used about this. Dunn was a jerk, and many people enabled his idiocy, which endangered others as well.

[CreekDog]

31. It's not that they approved of his idiocy, but it did make them a lot of money

:eyes:

[n2doc]

9. Dunn had been drinking, and was driving at 130 mph

Ebert was correct, if blunt.

[Odin2005]

10. What a bunch of jackasses.

[Nye Bevan]

14. I give Roger two thumbs up.

Roger, you are correct, and don't let the jackasses tell you otherwise.

[a kennedy]

17. Ditto that.....

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Roger Rocks.....

[rusty fender]

15. The truth hurts

:hurts: :thumbsup:

[Catherine Vincent]

16. Will this be the next movie?

Maybe not but I find it odd a pic was tweeted of he and his friends drinking before they headed out. Do drunks normally do this?

[Rex]

19. It is sad he died, but for a group of people that thrive on chaos.

Their reaction seems a little strange to me. Maybe a little guilty feelings over the ten zillion times he drove drunk (with some of them) BEFORE his last time to drive on this earth.

[truebrit71]

20. Nothing wrong with what he said...

..Dude was hammered, and his friends let him drive, now they are dead. End of story.

It sucks that this drunken asshole wound up killing his friend as well, but hey, them's the breaks...should have picked a better friend...

No sympathy whatsoever for the drunken dead asshole though...

[WCGreen]

22. Really...

They came out with the BA .196

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=654622>1=28103

[JI7]

21. I side with Ebert on this one, the guy put others in danger, in fact didn't a passenger die also ?

he could have killed many other innocent people.

[GoneOffShore]

23. I'm with Ebert

[lynne]

24. He ended up being correct but his timing showed lacked of empathy -

- for Dunn's family and friends. Not that Ebert is concerned about those things BUT he has had such issues with his own health that you would think he would have more consideration for the feelings and grief of others.

[Johonny]

27. Isn't the whole Jackass show built on lack of empathy?

That's the only thing I don't get. You had a group of guys willing to do crazy (and usually rather mean spirited) stuff to each other on purpose and sometimes without their knowledge. And they laughed it all off as fun and games. When did all these Jackass suddenly get all empathy driven? I don't get how their response isn't to blow Ebert off. Why would they care what he has to say? It seems so retro to the Jackass mentality.

I personally think they're mad not due to his lack of empathy, but rather that Ebert implies this guy was headed for disaster and his friends did nothing to prevent it. Some people are just going to kill themselves drinking and driving no matter how many friends tell him they are headed for disaster. The Jackass gang has previously worked pretty hard to save some on the show from drug problems. So Ebert's comments aren't entirely fair.

[lynne]

38. The show has nothing to do with the grief Dunn's friends and family are now feeling -

- and Ebert knows that. You may have something, though, that some are angry that Ebert implied that no one helped prevent the accident.

Either way, Ebert's statement was hurtful and inconsiderate towards those that Dunn left behind. I expected Ebert to have a little more class than that. Frankly, it made him sound pretty much like a Jackass himself.

[Beaverhausen]

52. His friends and family were probably well aware that this would happen

Not saying it makes it any easier for them, but this guy lived on the edge. It was probably just a matter of time and they must have known it.

[MouseFitzgerald]

25. Its fucking disgusting

Ebert can be a real heartless psycho sometimes. No one is trying to claim that the circumstances surrounding Dunn's death were good. No one is trying to make the case that it is alright to drink and drive. What has happened is that an entertainer beloved by many people is now fucking dead and hes not coming back.

I dont understand who it is Ebert thinks hes lecturing, Dunn is dead, you aren't going to convince him not to drink and drive anymore, its over. Why would anybody use this guys death as an opportunity to lecture people about the most obvious thing in the world. Does he not think that Dunn's friends and families aren't aware that drinking and driving caused this, does he think they dont feel like shit over the fact that he took someone with him? What is Ebert trying to prove other than the fact that he is a scumbag?

I also love all the righteous indignation from people who apparently are incapable of feeling any sympathy for someone who dies while drinking and driving. So, everyone giving Dunn shit has never drove drunk before? Bullshit, everyone drinks and drives at least once in their life. How would you feel if your father died in a car crash while drunk? Would you just say "tough luck, guy should have known better, he gets no sympathy from me". I dont understand why people are so inclined to attack people for doing things that they themselves have also done.

[PeaceNikki]

26. The waahmbulance is on its way.

He fucking killed another guy, too and he's damn lucky he didn't kill others. What Ebert said wasn't *that* fucking insensitive, ffs. The internet isn't a place for those with such thin-skin.

[MouseFitzgerald]

28. So, you have never drove drunk before?

Would you feel the same way if a friend of yours died while driving drunk? Would you call him a moron and refuse to feel sympathy for them?

I dont understand why you cant accept that what Dunn did was wrong and he paid for it with his life. Now hes dead, and everyone who cared about him is in mourning and you have decided that rather than simply saying "wow its a shame hes dead" you have decided to use his death to attack him for his lack of intelligence.

[PeaceNikki]

29. Who called him a moron? Who refused sympathy? You're being a drama queen.

Ebert's tweet read: "Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive."

He said none of the things you imply. It is a fantastic opportunity to remind people not to let their friends drink and drive. If that sentiment offends you, you're an idiot. If you're offended that the word "jackasses" is in there, that's ridiculous. That is how they identify themselves.

[katnapped]

30. Yes, the poor thing

Never sped or drove drunk in his life before so it's such a shame this happened.

Oh...right...

Sorry, no sympathy for people who should know better but keep doing stupid shit again and again thinking they're invincible.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. 1.- No I have never driven drunk

2.- Drinking and driving do not mix

3.- Friends do not let friends drive while drunk. I guess MAD is also insensitive for THAT message.

4.- As a former medic I had to make those calls at times to let insert relative here, mostly parents, that their kid was in the trauma unit due to drinking and driving

5.- Yes my cousin did that stupidity and paid with it with a major head injury.

STILL EBERT IS RIGHT... and if the guy died... so be it... HE DID SOMETHING THAT MORONS DO...

I think I have picked up, scraped off the road, et al, far more drunks that did something really stupid more than you have. Or rather also the other consequences, those they have injured... the coroner got the other half, those they killed.

[tabasco]

39. Oh the poutrage!

LOL.

[REP]

41. Actually, I never have driven drunk yet I do feel sympathy for Dunn, his family and friends

As well as for his passenger and his friends and family.

That doesn't mean I approve of the actions that lead to the deaths.

Ebert's tweet could have waited, but I don't think it was all that harsh.

On the other hand, I used to read News of the Weird all the time ... until the murder of one of my friends was one of the "funny news items." When it's a friend, it does change how you look at things.

[eShirl]

50. NO. Have you?

[ergot]

32. I just hope he didn't propagate any genes

Good riddance anyway.

[XanaDUer]

44. He didn't lecture anyone

a "tweet" is less than 140 characters.

Two human being lost their lives for nothing. That is sad. Ebert is just speaking the truth.

[Obamanaut]

45. Drinking alcoholic beverages impairs judgement. This is a well documented

fact.

Consuming these beverages is a conscious decision. Getting behind the wheel of an automobile is a result of that impaired judgement. The excessive speed and/or erratic control (or lack of) is a result of impaired abilities - also caused by the alcoholic beverage.

I can feel sorry for the passenger and the families of both dead people - but not the driver.

He bought his ticket, he took his ride. It just turned out differently than he might have hoped.

[Missy Vixen]

47. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten behind the wheel of the fucking car in the first place

I don't feel the tiniest bit of sympathy for Ryan Dunn. I feel sorry for his passenger. I feel sorry for anyone who was on the road that night. Two people died as the result of his irresponsibility. That death toll could have been much higher.

>Bullshit, everyone drinks and drives at least once in their life.<

I have NEVER gotten behind the wheel of a car after even one drink. I won't ride with anyone who does. If you can afford to go out drinking (and Dunn was driving a Porsche, was he not?), you can afford cab fare or a designated driver.

In the meantime, it's unfortunate that you choose to paint everyone with your irresponsible and dangerous behavior behind the wheel of a car.

[TorchTheWitch]

54. I have no more sympathy for Zac than Ryan

Zac knew Ryan always drove too fast and too stupid either drunk or sober, he knew Ryan was drinking and how much and he got in the car anyway. I feel bad for their families and friends for losing someone they loved and so horrifically.

[Codeine]

48. Not everyone drinks and drives even once.

I don't drink, so it naturally follows I've never driven drunk. I hate it when people assume everyone is as stupid and irresponsible as they are.

[TorchTheWitch]

53. no, everyone does NOT drink and drive at least once in their life

I've never once been drunk in my entire life and I'm 46. I have never drunk alcohol. I've tasted alcohol drinks but never in my life consumed an entire drink. I'm hardly the only one. Plenty of people drink but don't drive. I know a number of people that drink like fish but never drive drunk and never have because A) they don't drive at all or B) they do their drinking at home or C) they don't get behind the wheel until they've sobered up.

I do agree with you that it was insensitive of Ebert to say what he did particularly before it was known whether or not Dunn was drunk at all. The big issue here is not so much his drinking and driving it is that he drove like a shithead as a general rule either drunk or sober. The accident happened not because he was drunk but because he ALWAYS drove way too fast and way too stupid, and this time he didn't get lucky. People that normally drive that way are a horrific accident waiting to happen either drunk OR sober. Dunn could have been stone cold sober and he STILL would have gotten into this terrible accident because he was driving so damn fast (as was his general rule) - NOT because he was drunk.

Yes, people that drink and drive are assholes, but people who drive like a freaking nutter as a general rule either drunk or sober as a judge are much worse.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Tell the truth and get attacked for it

as a former medic I got tired of the many kids, most of them NOT famous, who we had to scrape from the road. Why? They were drunk.

Hell, my cousin went through a windshield for drinking, driving and speeding.

This is the brutal truth... drinking and driving do NOT mix.

Just don't do it!

[Shagbark Hickory]

34. Ebert is a douche of the highest order.

Inappropriate comment

[PeaceNikki]

36. What about it was inappropriate? Seriously can't find it.

Ebert's tweet read: "Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive."

It is a fantastic opportunity to remind people not to let their friends drink and drive. That sentiment offends you? If you're offended that the word "jackasses" is in there, that's ridiculous. That is how they identify themselves.

Bam Margera's mom is quoted as saying, "I know the entire 'Jackass' family is devastated and all of West Chester is devastated." GASP!! She called them jackasses!!

[Shagbark Hickory]

43. Ok. The tweet was justified. But he's still a douche.

His movie reviews are very douchesque.

[tabasco]

40. Projection.

'nuff said.

[Shagbark Hickory]

42. Guilty.

[Blue-Jay]

37. I agree with Ebert, and I'll go one better.

Darwin approves.

[alarimer]

46. Ebert was correct, as it turns out.

And that Dunn guy deserved what he got. He passenger didn't, probably. But that's one piece of filth that is no longer endangering anyone else. What a complete fucking asshole.

[LisaL]

49. He sure was correct.

Dunn's alcohol was 0.196%, more than twice the legal limit.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/22/ryan.dunn.drunk/

[Kaleva]

51. +1 for Ebert