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When Anthony Bourdain came to Boston
By adamg on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 11:49am
Will Ritter recounts Bourdain hired him in 2011 for three days to take him around to "the 'shadiest' bars and restaurants in Boston for his show:"
I loved Kitchen Confidential (read it), so I expected him to be funny and brilliant, which he was, but he was also really kind. ... We just lost a truly great poet and person to the darkness that paces just a few feet behind any of us.
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Comments
I Loved That Show
Here is a profile of him done by The Scribe of Beaumont Street Himself; Pat Keefe for the New Yorker from last year;
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/13/anthony-bourdains-moveable...
Deleted a couple of comments (and their replies)
If hatred of Hillary Clinton is what gives you life, bully for you, but find some place more relevant to discuss it than here. Thanks.
Thanks, Adam
The comment was wildly inappropriate. Fish gets away with too much.
Edit: Now that he's re-commented, I won't hold back. Ban him.
Thanks for not banning him, Adam
I personally respect that you set the bar so high for banning commenters.
The echo chamber gets old.
Keep up the good work. You clearly don't need anyone telling you how to run your own website.
Hi anon.
Let me make sure you comprehended why I said what I did. Fish posted something quite toxic and essentially tried to subvert to conversation to be about hating Hillary Clinton, because he needs help. Adam removed the comment. Fish went on to post it again. That he posted it again is why I would suggest at least a time out for Fish. It's not about his views. I'm against them, that's easy enough to see. It's that Fish has no respect for any rules that Adam is allowed to make for his own website. Adam actually removed the reposted comment, too.
So before you go off about echo chambers and free speech make sure you understand the situation and what someone else is saying within that context. Oh, and if you support what Fish usually spouts in this based solely on the notion of it not being an echo chamber or solely in the name of free speech, that's rather morally and ethically bankrupt. The rhetoric Fish spreads is hateful and dangerous. I don't find much sympathy for him.
I saw the comment
Nothing crazy enough to call for a ban on the commenter.
And you specifically said ban, not time out.
Big difference between deleting a comment and its thread when said comment hijacks the subject vs. banning a poster.
And I have no interest in your opinion of my opinion of Fish's opinion.
Adam drew a line in the sand.
Fish crossed it. Pretty simple stuff here. Also pretty sure bans don't have to be permanent. I also don't have any interest in your seeming interest of enabling Fish.
I doubt you saw the initial comment
Toxic, off topic,and totally inappropriate.
If you saw the comment with the link, that was a REPOST of the same comment, with just a link and without the batshit crazy editorializing that went with the first two that Adam had already axed.
Adam had already drawn the line when he spiked the first two. The cryptically reformatted post after that removal and after Adam explained the removal crossed the line.
Your line and Boo’s line, right?
Not Gaffin’s as he didn’t ban him as far as I know.
My original comment stands. Hate the talk of bans by other commenters on UH.
It’s really that simple.
And more importantly,RIP to Mr. Bourdain and condolences to his loved ones.
A good man gone too soon.
Nah, still Adam's line.
His remedy to the solution was just to remove the other comment. His choice, and a decision I can't speak to, but still his line. If it were my line, I'd probably choose differently. That said, I respect Adam's judgment.
Let's back up, Boo
The comments crossed your line that called for banishment.
Same comment only crossed AG's line for deletion of said comment.
Thus we're talking about different lines. Lot of semantics coming into play after your original post to banish Fish.
You edited your original comment and then called for a ban. Don't backtrack.
My argument is I'm for Adam doing whatever he wants with his site.
I'm against anyone else telling Adam how to do anything. Simple.
This has nothing to do with Fish, or you (or Swirly.)
(And by the way it seems like a bit of grandstanding to call such attention to your post and position.
I've been reading this site for over ten years and I send AG emails when I want to raise editorials issues with him.
I don't take a heroic stand in the comments.)
Thanks for all the info on your feelings and how at the end of the day you respect AG's judgement.
If you really respected his judgement we wouldn't be having this debate.
A family member met and had a
A family member met and had a beer with him at the Eire Pub. Bourdain got a kick out of my very Irish named family member drinking a Guinness at the Eire and happened to have his dog with him also named after an Irish drink. They spent some time talking and I was told he was the nicest, friendliest, down to earth fellow who you automatically feel comfortable around.
What a loss, he must've been so tormented yet hid it well. You just never know what goes on in others private thoughts.
Classic Bourdain!
"At least when the left is angry with me on twitter, they can spell."
I enjoyed some of his shows, and his observations. He had a great way with words. Him being mildly crass and honest about the Clinton / Weinstein thing is spot on.
In my travels I've done to at least 3-4 places e featured on his shows, the smaller quaint cheaper places were always the best.
Also, another classic is when he insulted Paula Deen and some other hacks. He told it like it was.
He had definite Massachusetts connections.
I know (personally) three people that committed suicide. All of them came as a shock.
My heart goes out to his friends and loved ones.
Life is a gift.
So sad
I planned at least 2 trips around places he'd showcased on his show and got engaged after dinner at one place he taught me about. It's a huge loss for food, TV, and humanity.
Don't do drugs.
https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/anthony-bourdains-career-advice-do...
The things you do early in life can still come to haunt you later in life. Don't do drugs. Think about what you are doing always.
Thanks, dad.
Thanks, dad.
awesome.
but you know, the things that might lead one to start doing drugs are very likely the same things that lead to other self-destructive behavior.
In other words, drug use is not a cause, but another symptom.
the rigorous science of afterschool specials notwithstanding, drugs don't necessarily cause suicidal tendencies to manifest out of nowhere.
Provincetown
First episode of Parts Unknown I ever saw. Of course, the LGBT scene and carnival artsy atmosphere were featured. And Bourdain shared a lot of old P-town hedonism anecdotes from when he was a kitchen schlep there in the 70's. But what made a really strong impression was that he devoted a big chunk of the show to the fishermen of Provincetown, especially fishermen of the Portuguese community. And really talked up the 'forgotten man' aspect of these guys and their trade and traditions amidst all of the gay party scene, riding around in the boats with these guys and telling their stories. So first impression of Bourdain = This guy's got a blue collar heart - A too rare thing.
Blue collar heart
Great phrase. Thanks.
We could use a lot more of that in our town these days. And on the website we rely on to tell and talk about it:
I remember that
Because I lived in Southie at the time, and he went to the Quencher on I Street, across from my house. I was so bummed because I didn’t get to see him when he was there.
Commentary
RIP I like how he would go like anywhere and try anything did he go 2 any urban spot's in Boston
For his show??