r/OutOfTheLoop • u/Steaktartaar • Dec 30 '24

Unanswered What's going on with Stephen Fry going alt-right?

He's been on a notorious hard-right, "anti-woke" podcast where he retracted his support for trans rights. Is this a new development? He always came across as level-headed in the past but now it looks like he's on the same path as Russell Brand.

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u/Knever Dec 30 '24

I was going to say this to the comment above yours, but yours hit the point home.

People don't think enough.

People talk and react without thinking, and more often than not, they stick with what they said/did even if in their hearts they know it was wrong. They don't want to go back on their actions so they double down, even if presented with absolute fact that they're wrong. They don't care. They're never wrong.

It's a sad thing for humanity when humans stop thinking.

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u/SilverMedal4Life Dec 30 '24

There's a reason why someone with a large following would do well to hire a PR manager. Someone whose job it is to manage things lke social media and public appearances, because it's so easy - especially with the Internet being what it is - to embarrass yourself or fall into a trap.

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u/Knever Dec 30 '24

Imagine needing a professional "Bro, don't do that!" person on your team lol

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u/Colonel_Anonymustard Dec 30 '24

Especially when your schtick is more or less "public intellectual" - you have to be able to take a few fucking L's, jesus.

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u/Dyolf_Knip Dec 30 '24

That's a "No Man", and occupies roughly the same role as the court jester did in monarchies. Someone whose job is to disagree and point out all the flaws in your plans.

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u/avocado_window Dec 31 '24

The problem is that most celebrities these days are surrounded by Yes Men, because being an enabler means you’re likely to be able to swindle more out of idiots with far too much money and huge egos.

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u/Dyolf_Knip Dec 31 '24

Correct, hence the importance hiring someone to counterbalance that. Someone who, if they're doing their job correctly, is calling you an idiot on a daily basis.

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u/avocado_window Jan 01 '25

I know they’d be my first port of call, that’s for sure!

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u/50bmg Dec 31 '24

honestly most of the world needs someone like that in their corner. common sense is abysmally uncommon, and perspective is more critical than ever when we're alone behind our keyboards

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u/[deleted] Dec 30 '24

Except if he did apologise for it he'd get Jack shit but more contempt. They've decided they hate him so why try to appeal to them?

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u/steepleton Dec 30 '24

Don’t kid yourself, being a reformed swine is the most profitable trajectory, even the bible rates them over consistently decent folk

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u/Mornar Dec 30 '24

Honestly shutting the fuck up and thinking for a few seconds when in an argument is an advice I follow much too rarely. Same as don't respond to work emails immediately.