Adam Baldwin, the conservative “actor” who was apparently just being himself in his role in Firefly, has announced yesterday that he is leaving Twitter in protest over their announcement of a Trust and Safety Council to reduce online harassment (I’ll believe they are going to do that, when they actually do that). Unfortunately, after deleting all of his past tweets — but leaving his account open and enabled — he then proceeded to tell us in 17 tweets on Twitter (so far) that he’s going to stop making tweets on the Twitter.
Tell me, O Veterans of the Internet, how often have you seen that happen? It’s classic troll behavior. “Your board/forum/blog sucks! I’m leaving!” Then they keep coming back, sometimes under a new pseudonym, or 40 new pseudonyms (hi, Reap!). It’s so awful that they can’t bear to abandon it.
He’s not really leaving. If he were leaving he’d close his account and stop babbling. But then, hypocrisy never seems to bother right-wing jerks.
I used to be a regular at a small hole on the internet called bannination.com (no zombn.com). People left in a huff all the time. Most would be back in days.
No, he was definitely acting – Jayne Cobb was occasionally funny, and appeared to be genuinely moved by his reception from the people of Canton, and to sympathise with their plight.
Too many, going all the way back. I’ve never understood the point of people insisting on repeatedly showing up at a place they proclaim to hate, or protest in one way or another. They never seem to understand that they’re constantly undermining their supposed stance.
I’m not understanding the scare quotes. Is he a bad actor, or are you denigrating his acting because your negative view of his politics has tinted your view of him in general?
Dunc @2,
Perhaps Baldwin associates the people of Gamergate with the people of Canton. He’s helping them with their “plight.” I’ll never understand reactionaries who see themselves as oppressed.
Because he wasn’t acting. Jayne Cobb was a regressive asshole, while Adam Baldwin is also a regressive asshole. No challenge at all just being yourself.
Most assholes, I’ve known, are, by definition, exquisite actors. How else do you get people close enough to be an asshole at them? I’ve seen obnoxious fools; and “seen” literally. Never got closer than within eyesight.
Assholes act like conventional people to lure one into confidence and friendship, and then unleash themselves to be the jerk they are.
Regardless, it is always distressing to hear that the character of Jayne, who was an asshole character, was not far enough removed from the actor’s own personality.
PZ, I hope you don’t think I’m a sock puppet for Reap. I’m a person you’ve met IRL, from Winona State!
Oooookay, so if an actor’s politics vaguely resemble those of the character being played… it isn’t acting??
welcome to the internet, Holms. You may find that people here are snarky.
Sounds like Jayne needs to go back in the airlock, didn’t learn his lesson the first time.
He keeps trying to flounce, but he just can’t stick the dismount.
Do you think he might be auditioning? It appears that Donald Trump might meed a running mate…
::shudder::
Re: “It’s classic troll behavior. “Your board/forum/blog sucks! I’m leaving!” Then they keep coming back”
Way back in the Compuserve days, I dubbed that behavior as a “Beckett Exit” after the repeated bits in “Waiting for Godot” when a character says “I’m going” and the stage direction is “He does not move.”
@just john #14:
Today’s laugh x 10! Much obliged…
@9
I think you’re reading a little too into it. PZ’s just remarking on the fact that he’s just as much of a douche as his character was.
Back in my cashier days, I’d get people like this on a nearly hourly basis: people who explode at the inhuman treatment they get (i.e., we can’t accept their expired coupon, the auto center isn’t 24/7, we don’t have the CEO’s personal cell number, etc.), and almost all of them say something along the lines of, “I’m never coming back here again!”
Then they explode again when we don’t react.
It makes me wonder, what exactly do these dopes expect us to do? Drop to our knees, grab their leg, and desperately beg them not to leave? Half of the time, I’m trying to keep myself from blurting out the fastest routes outta there!
As for Baldwin, I’m almost tempted to sign up for Twitter just so I can make #dontletthedoorhitya (I’ll settle for letting other users start it).