Stupid Arguments for $1,000: The Social Issues Riot vs. The Sporting Event Riot

Could we please stop comparing riots involving people who are upset about social issues to riots involving people who are upset/happy about sporting events? The only thing those scenarios have in common is that in each case the people who are rioting are idiots. I have no problems with a protest. I don't care if people have a parade or a party. Only a fool wreaks havoc and destroys things or hurts innocent people out of anger or joy.
I will also point out that when I've seen coverage of people rioting after a sporting event, the general vibe of the report was something akin to "look at these dumbasses" and not "check out these merry people showing their enthusiasm for sports. Hooray for them!"

Protest is Good, Riots Pretty Much Suck

I try to stay away from social issues (as well as politics and religion) because those are things that I'm passionate about that DO NOT sell books.  Yet sometimes I feel the need to speak out, and the recent events in Baltimore and much of the social commentary I've seen regarding such events makes this one of those times.  Keep in mind, I'm just some guy who writes books and makes movies, so I could be wrong about any or all of this.  Regardless, for those who are interested, these are a few things kicking around in my brain as I watch Baltimore burn:

I think that there is a need for protest.  I do believe that America has a serious issue in regards to how the police is treating civilians in 2015, and no group is more at risk than members of the black community. 

I also think that officers of the law have one of the hardest jobs on the planet and for every three scumbags in blue, there's at least one worthy soul.  Maybe the scales are balanced, maybe the lousy cops are even outnumbered by the good guys, but I'm not sure.

I think that a dignified protest sends a powerful message--particularly when the amount of people participating is a massive figure.  A multitude of wronged people respectfully expressing their frustration is a driving force for reflection and change.

I also think that it doesn't take many idiots who prefer a good old-fashioned riot to totally change the narrative.  Willful destruction and violence, as well as theft and brutality, serve no real purpose in such a scenario, unless that purpose is to degrade the efforts of those engaged in a peaceful protest.  While a peaceful protest can change minds, I believe that riots and rampant mayhem only reinforce the various prejudices that cause some members of our society to feel that the mistreatment of other members of our society (be they black, poor, or anyone who isn't wearing a badge) is warranted.

I think that many of those fools who are turning to violence and petty crime think they are cranking up the volume on the message being delivered when in fact they are simply drowning it out.

I believe the media sucks.  I hate the media.  I blame the media for many of our problems.  Yet I don't necessarily blame the media for focusing on rioters as opposed to protesters.  Generally speaking, no matter how large a group is, and no matter what the group has gathered for, if a small contingent of that group engages in bad behavior, that will always be the story.  It makes the actions of those selfish souls that much more disappointing.  I can't believe I'm going to bat for the media here, but a dignified display of unity will never generate more headlines than some asshole setting something on fire or smashing something.  That's not the world we live in--and maybe the media deserves a lot of the blame for that, but I digress.

I don't believe in taking shit.  As a society, I believe that we should stand up to bullies.  Yet I don't think that it makes much sense to bully someone else if we are bullied.  Punch the bully in the eye and I applaud you.  Punch some random soul in the eye and you just became another bully. 

I believe that this shit is very complex and there are no easy answers to many of the problems we currently face as a society.  I don't believe that destruction is going to provide any meaningful answers at all.

I believe that I would rather be blogging about a horror movie, yet I don't believe that ignoring situations such as the chaos unfolding in Baltimore is worthwhile.  We need more people trying to have rational discussions about the issues that led to this dismay and looking for legitimate solutions.

To sum this up, I believe that police reform is necessary and I applaud anyone engaging in a respectful demonstration toward that end.  I do respect many officers of the law (who are already doing a fantastic job) as much as I am disgusted by those cowardly public servants who would tarnish their office.  I am also every bit as proud of those peaceful protesters as I am disgusted by those selfish individuals who would use an occasion like this to wreak havoc and distract from their peers who are going about this the right way.

The Audacity of Dope by Monte Dutton

 It isn’t often that you happen upon a main character like Riley Mansfield.  Hell, to be completely honest, Riley is a true one-of-a-kind.  When was the last time you read a good book centered on a plucky pot-smoking musician who likes to live by his own rules and doesn’t really give a damn about fame or fortune?  All Riley is looking for is a good time, but he finds himself at the center of a brewing storm in Monte Dutton’s unique and compelling novel.    

In The Audacity of Dope, Riley goes from being a folk singer to a folk hero, though he wants no part of the acclaim that comes with his new role.  Politics are front and center throughout, but the author’s views on Republicans, Democrats, and the media never get in the way of a good read.  Sure, there are a number of potent and relevant themes embedded in the text along with Riley’s songs, and Dutton pulls no punches when it comes to skewering the establishment.  Yet his primary goal here is to deliver an entertaining yarn and he does a great job in that regard.  The story that emerges is mostly a comedic effort with a dash of suspense and a dash of romance thrown in amid all the political intrigue to round things out. 

The players are likable and the locales are inviting.  Monte has a distinct flair for fleshing out his characters with pitch-perfect dialogue that calls Elmore Leonard’s work to mind.  The prose is crisp and keeps things moving, making The Audacity of Dope a quick and enjoyable read.  Though there are a number of characters, agencies, and subplots in play, it is a credit to Dutton’s ability that he is able to spin this intricate yarn without it ever growing too complex or cumbersome.  Make no mistake, there is an awful lot happening, but the book is engaging and easy to follow from start to finish.

The Audacity of Dope will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good buzz or a good tune, and it will also greatly please those who enjoy vibrant characters and sound writing.  I had a great time hanging out with Riley Mansfield and I strongly recommend his story to anyone who digs sex, drugs, or rock and roll.  Truthfully, if you don’t enjoy at least one of the things on that list, you ought to go ahead and dig yourself a hole.

You can score a copy of The Audacity of Dope here.

Looking for a good book?  Take a hit of Monte Dutton'sThe Audacity of Dope.

Why Video Game Previews Bother Me

Yeah, so this is just a little rant, but I felt like sharing.  It's Valentine's Day, and I should be cuddling my wife or baking heart-shaped cookies, but I'm too much of a geek for that.  I'm surfing the net and I've been checking out reviews for some video games I was looking to snag.  Unfortunately, this has reminded me of a troubling trend that I can't seem to wrap my head around.

Let's just start with an example and take it from there: I wanted to pick up the new Aliens game, which looked pretty cool and had received a ton of hype from various magazines and websites that offer up video game previews and reviews.  Now, the game is out, and it is getting killed.  I'm not trying to say that it isn't getting many good reviews, because as far as I can tell it isn't getting ANY good reviews.  This thing is being slaughtered.  This leads me to second-guess my decision to purchase the game, and it reinforces the notion that I'm only wasting my time when I try to scope out the video game landscape unless I rely on demos and word-of-mouth.

See, this isn't news to anyone who follows games, and it's incredibly frustrating.  Why is it that virtually every game is built up (sometimes over the course of a few years) with pieces that marvel over the stellar graphics and the innovative gameplay, only for most of these games to be released only to garner poor reviews by the same media outlet that was just in hype mode a few weeks ago?  Seriously, you'll read about cool visuals and intriguing mechanics, and then the review will come out blasting the poor graphics and the stale gameplay.  It's maddening.  I also scope out previews and reviews for the music I enjoy and the movies I watch, and I seldom see the same kind of behavior.

Does this irk anyone else or is it just me?