...maybe it's time to cancel The Naked Cowboy...

While being arrested in Daytona FL for panhandling this went down:

https://youtu.be/y5ezpoaFuVQ?t=267

I’m in favor of cancel culture when it’s used as a tool to take someone’s power and influence away, when they are actively using their platform to cause harm, or have demonstrated a pattern of abusing their position without remorse or signs of reformation. Naked Cowboy doesn’t really matter enough for that. He’s a joke. It’s not like any liberal people are still following him on social media anyway.

Also, unlike most people who get “cancelled,” Naked Cowboy isn’t employed by anyone, nor is he in a position where people have to collaborate with him professionally. So “cancelling” him would basically just involve...not giving him money, which most of us already do, and it’s a personal choice anyway. I guess you could stand near him with a protest sign to deter others from giving him money, but is he really worth it?

Updated On: 3/13/21 at 05:10 PM

Was he ever even remotely beloved in the first place?

Jordan Catalano said: "Naked Cowboy is a trump supporter who I haven’t paid attention to in years. I hate this “cancel” sh*t, though. If you don’t like someone or something than do what I’ve done and ignore them or it. But waging a war to “cancel” something just brings more attention to it. I mean this whole week I’ve listened to nothing but Eminem since the little children decided “boo-hoo he’s so mean and my poor sensitive wittle ears are too delicate to wisten to it.”

Children, adults, f’n everyone just needs to GROW UP. God impregnated Mary without her knowing. Y’all gonna #CancelGod ? (Actually I can get behind that one)"

Generally agree, but either you don't remember the Gospels or have developed a fifth one to suit yourself. According to the texts, God asked her first, and she said yes.

I am going to tread gently on two unrelated cans of worms.

The Gospels are the product of a patriarchy that has evolved to preclude a woman from having control over her own body. Maybe it should raise Doubt (that's the theatre nexus ) about that aspect of that Gospel?

In its original form, "cancel culture" was used to refer to things (including names) not living people, like taking down statues and the names of buildings, schools, holidays, and so on. I think that is a legitimate label, and one open to debate. The term was recently appropriated by the radical right [among a few others, e.g., Cuomo] to apply to calls for resignation, etc. I do not find this latter use of the term legitimate. Political opposition, boycotts, etc. are and have always been a part of our democracy and a very proper subject for debate. The object of such actions can defend themself to their heart's content.

What an odious individual. But did we have a better quality of Times Square habitué in days of "Rape Camp Elmo" and the True Israelites (who I still see from time to time)? I did miss the days of Moondog but he was a sublime anomaly who hung out around Columbus Circle. You go where your audience is and the Naked Cowboy and the Sesame Street hug-muggers have been appreciated by the tourist in Times Square. The fare inside the theaters is certainly more professional but its the same audience.

Cancel culture is hardly something new. It used to be called "shunning", and it was the one of the most severe social rebukes in etiquette's arsenal.

joevitus said: "Different people pose different arguments about how cancel culture began and what it is intended to mean, how it has been co-opted. But right on this site we've had two calls for people to be cancelled in something like 6 months. And this ain't no "radical right" site. So I take that as proof that cancel culture does exist and that its negative aspects are not simply part of a right-wing smear campaign against the left."

You seem confused. The "cancel culture" term is used by the radical right to OPPOSE cancellations, not endorse them. (It was, in fact, the centerpiece of the recent CPAC get-together.) What instances on this site are you referring to? (I am willing to bet a fully loaded sippy cup from the bar of a theatre of your choice that you cannot identify even one such instance.)

joevitus said: "Not confused, thought it seems you are misreading me. I get that you're saying the term is used by the right to oppose cancellation, but that doesn't mean cancellation doesn't exit, nor that it is a good thing to cancel people and works. We have someone on this thread saying cancel culture doesn't exist. Well, we've seen two calls in 6 months on this board for people to be cancelled. That isn't something the right wing is inventing or exaggerating to stop cancel culture. It's just real, specific evidence that cancel culture does exist. And I, for one, oppose it. If anyone doesn't want to support/endorse a work, great. When oneencourages a group at large to "cancel" something, one isperforming an act of mini-fascism."

Boy, you really like throwing around labels incorrectly, don't you?

First, I asked what instances you were referring to and you just repeated what you had said before. That's OK. Second, you are confounding "cancel" with organized opposition to a person or work. When someone says that Cuomo needs to resign, that is not cancelling culture. When someone organizes a boycott, that's not cancel culture. When someone tries, for instance, to get someone's name removed from a building, that's cancel culture. The radical right has co-opted the term. And fascism is a form of governance based on authoritarianism etc. If I knew what you keep referring to obliquely, I am confident I could show you that it is not a part of cancel culture.

HogansHero said: "joevitus said: "Not confused, thought it seems you are misreading me. I get that you're saying the term is used by the right to oppose cancellation, but that doesn't mean cancellation doesn't exit, nor that it is a good thing to cancel people and works. We have someone on this thread saying cancel culture doesn't exist. Well, we've seen two calls in 6 months on this board for people to be cancelled. That isn't something the right wing is inventing or exaggerating to stop cancel culture. It's just real, specific evidence that cancel culture does exist. And I, for one, oppose it. If anyone doesn't want to support/endorse a work, great. When oneencourages a group at large to "cancel" something, one isperforming an act of mini-fascism."
Boy, you really like throwing around labels incorrectly, don't you?

First, I asked what instances you were referring to and you just repeated what you had said before. That's OK. Second, you are confounding "cancel" with organized opposition to a person or work.When someone says that Cuomo needs to resign, that is not cancelling culture. When someone organizes a boycott, that's not cancel culture. When someone tries, for instance, to get someone's name removed from a building, that's cancel culture. The radical right has co-optedthe term. And fascism is a form of governance based on authoritarianism etc. If I knew what you keep referring to obliquely, I am confident I could show you that it is not a part of cancel culture."

I'm not confounding anything. The examples I gave are people here saying "Let's cancel X." That isn't organizing a boycott, that's cancel culture.

And I said "mini-fascism" because in fact it is operating on a social, not a government level. But the idea that only governments can be fascistic at all is a false conceit that has gained popularity by people who can't deal with criticism for cancel culture. You only want to "allow" approved works in your society? That's a form of fascism.

I've tried really hard to make amends with you, and to offer a friendly hand. But here you are yet again, when someone won't agree with you, going for the snide comments and insults. As Larry McMurtry once wrote, there are some people it won't even do to fart with. If you aren't nicer in real life, you must be very lonely.

joevitus said: "I'm not confounding anything. The examples I gave are people here saying "Let's cancel X." That isn't organizing a boycott, that's cancel culture."

Yes you are lol but whatever. Where are these examples? Not in any response I see. And yes you are mis-labeling. And no I have not been snide or insulting. Just trying to engage meaningfully on a subject worth discussing but I guess you don't want that, which is fine. Nothing for you to make amends about; I don't even know what you mean. Again, whatever.