Whilst my heart goes out to anyone who suffers so intensely as to feel there is no other option but suicide, I won't be participating in the current wave of hero worship, that is the deification of Anthony Bourdain.
I see a narcissistic, rich white American male, completely unaware of his privilege. He often travelled first class, hopping from one 5 star hotel to another, fetishising poverty whilst being simultaneously insulated against it, to offer us sushi bites of culture viewed through a macho colonial lens.
In one of his books, Bourdain bragged about eating an endangered bird. He also harboured a special dislike for vegetarians and vegans and ate foie-gras (a delicacy borne of shocking cruelty) especially to annoy animal rights activists.
More about fois-gras in the link below:
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I am a long time fan of Anthony Bourdaine. I'm really hurting from the loss. I admired him and been inspired by him for years. i am going to miss him tramendously. I still don't understand the suicide, and a part of me is very angry at him for it (that's kinda part of suicide, right...). I am hoping to learn more about it in the future.
Yes, like all people, he had flaws, but he had a lot of great qualities and I appreciated and connected with his insights. And he was beloved be me, my family, and so, so many of my friends. Please don't trash on him just after he obviously fell to such a low and dark place. I am troubled to feel a certain bit of a dancing-on-his-grave quality coming through in the language of your post, that i think is ... Unworthy of you. I read a lot of your posts and I don't always agree with your take, and sometimes they can come off a little preachy... But I don't respond with criticism because I think, generally, you put thought into what you say, even if I disagree. I'm not so sure on this one.
To say that he was, "a narcissistic, rich white American male, completely unaware of his privilege. ...travelled first class, hopping from one 5 star hotel to another, fetishising poverty whilst being simultaneously insulated against it..." suggests to me you may not be super knowledgeable about his body of work, his life, or his perspectives. Why go in and turn the knife like that on someone you don't really know very well; and do it a day after his sad death? That bothers me and I'm going be honest, I am more than a little disappointed in your post.
I will miss you Anthony! You would have always been welcome in my home.
MrLink
Level 8
June 10, 2018
2
I've said everything I have to say about him in other responses. I take no pleasure in upsetting people, which, ironically is something Bourdain did take pleasure in.
And you are correct in pulling me up about "dancing on his grave". You are right to do that. But that is something I would never do.
But after being bombarded with the wall to wall worshipping of this guy, through the media and this site, and reading about how - in contrast - he felt entitled to ridicule vegans and vegetarians, painting them all as selfish, rude, ungrateful attention seekers - and - when I learned that he deliberately ate foie-gras to piss animal rights activists off - he lost the benefit of the doubt that I usually reserve for everyone.
He was an enigmatic, charming, entertaining narcissistic bully. He was also kind too. I've read about his altruistic acts. No one is black and white.
Ultimately, I've also had enough of the 'civilised white man travels world' meme. There are so many - Rick Stein, Paul Theroux, Nigel Slater and some of them are rude and obnoxious, like Gordon Ramsey.
My thoughts instead go to the geese and the ducks who die brutal deaths in warehouses for travel chefs who smirk.
Here are some links that offer a different perspective.
@Ellatynemouth Militant vegans, I've decided, are some of THE most obnoxious people on earth. Bourdain couldn't if he tried, be so insufferable. Ugh. I'm done. Enjoyed your posts up until now. Sanctimonious nincompoops abound. I've no patience for that.
@Ellatynemouth you, madam, are simply ridiculous.
While I don't agree with, won't eat certain things like veal, cephalopods, sea bass etc he wasn't the poster child for evil incarnate. There ARE militant vegans that are nothing short of obnoxious and misguided so on that I concur. AR nuts are also misguided, no pets? No purpose bred animals, ever?! Seriously. If only they'd focus their attention on human overpopulation I could get behind some of their missions.
From the above link...he has a point you know, when visiting other cultures, one doesn't dictate what you're going to eat without being rude in many cultures. Unless it's life threatening to you.
"“They make for bad travelers and bad guests. The notion that before you even set out to go to Thailand, you say, “I’m not interested,” or you’re unwilling to try things that people take so personally and are so proud of and so generous with, I don’t understand that, and I think it’s rude. You’re at Grandma’s house, you eat what Grandma serves you.”
""I’d like my daughter and her mom looked after, both while I’m alive and after," the author wrote. "They shouldn’t have to worry if something bad happens, so my investments and savings are based on that. I’m super-conservative. Money doesn’t particularly excite or thrill me; the making of money gives me no particular satisfaction."
The above quote is very telling...
*"The New York native also promoted causes that focused on LGBTQ representation in the city, and partnered with the Make-A-Wish foundation to help young people struggling with cancer. Hannah, a 16-year-old from Arizona with Hodgkin's lymphoma, wanted nothing more than to meet the acclaimed foodie, according to the foundation.
“When I was first told about Make-A-Wish Arizona, I started thinking—if this is my bucket list, who would I think, ‘I’m so happy I had a chance to meet them’ when someone asked,” the teen said. “Anthony was on the top of my list.”
According to the teen, Bourdain more than delivered.
“It was like a fantasy. The limo picked us up around noon and took us through the streets of New York. I don’t think it really hit me until I arrived at the restaurant and saw him,” said Hannah. "...“We were there for almost three hours but we never stopped talking.” *
Yep, he was pretty evil......
Qualia
Level 8
June 9, 2018
1
Firstly, a vegan already knows this stuff. They just care about animal welfare. They are not out to deliberately offend. Just as Muslims don't eat pork, celiacs avoid gluten, lactose intolerant avoid dairy and Hindus avoid beef. Vegans will stay away from places that will be problematic.
I am almost a vegan, yet I have never once, in my entire life lectured a meat eater. And yet here you are feeling entitled to lecture me and belittle me.
@Ellatynemouth Unless "militant vegans" applies to you not seeing how I was belittling or lecturing you. I agree with you on quite a lot of other things.
You've made a blanket statement about a man as if he was evil incarnate, so.... we are not always one thing and felt that should be pointed out.
To deign that a vegan (blanket statement) knows all this stuff. ..There are those that think it's a-ok to force carnivores & omnivores to be on this narrow fare. So yeah. Individualist here.
Anthony would have had a hard time getting me to eat veal or any of the things I listed, and I consider myself an omnivore.
I never said he was evil. I just cannot stand to see him being cast as some kind of Princess Diana type martyr.
I have friends and family who eat meat. I have never lectured them. I've never tried to proselytize. I just keep quiet.
In fact some of my friends tease me about being vegan. I laugh it off.
Bourdain is making a blanket statement. He implies people like me are problematic. That we are rude in social situations. That's unkind.
There has been wall to wall adoration for Bourdain, which is impossible to escape. When I read one of his quotes I just snapped:
"If you don't like sex you can't cook".
If he has the freedom to offend with his nonsense, then I have the freedom to air my thoughts too.
Yes. I have no doubt they exist.
@Ellatynemouth People who loved his shows are in shock that someone who seemed to have it altogether offed themselves. There is no deification here, just sadness. It's fresh & we're going to see it here for a few days. Maybe more since his girlfriend hinted that he was triggered by someone...
She might crack & spill adding to the furor of his passing.
I never heard of the guy until now. I respect his decision. No agony necessary.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
June 9, 2018
1
The being an asshole part yeah valid but I don't think it's fair to act like wealth and privilege means your depression is less valid.
LadyAlyxandrea
Level 8
June 9, 2018
2
I agree.
I agree with you! I saw him as a ''tourist,'' rather than as a genuine traveler.
LucyLoohoo
Level 9
June 9, 2018
1
Interesting ''boner'' photo he chose to represent himself.....
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