Liam Neeson's real-life rape/revenge tale (See Staff Post)

[Desi]

His mindset reminds me of feelings some had after 9/11. People were attacking anybody brown. Pulling folks from taxis, assaulting kids in school, etc.
Luckily Liam came to a realisation that hurting people that weren't involved was not the correct path (that would be reporting the crime, etc).

 

[KoopaTheCasual]

I sometimes wonder, though, if he isn't trying to use his anecdote to stop other people from doing the same. People here are saying he shouldn't have even brought this up but is that not worth something?

And would people really prefer they remain ignorant of the dark hearts the surround us?

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No, I'm happy he's airing this out (wrong time and place though).

I can't stop myself in seeing him in a different light, and I understand the context of his upbringing making virulent racism a common practice. I understand all of this.

From Neesons, I want an actual statement on his RACISM, as I assume other black folks in this thread would appreciate.

We would also like random posters to stop tripping over themselves like crazy to excuse him.

 

[prophetvx]

Well you did speculate that he was genuinely remorseful.

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People generally don't tell horrifically dark stories if they're proud of it.

 

[Razmos]

There is "I'm angry and I'm going to hit a door" and then there is... this shit.
I have no idea what kind of thought process that could lead someone from "someone I know was raped by a black man, so I want to kill any black man"

Like I can't imagine that his mind would just go there unless he was already quite racist and this pushed him over a murderous edge.

It's all well and good that he thankfully didn't act on it, and his mindset might have changed since, but admitting this was such a weird thing to do, and the way it has been reported like he is some wounded veteran who has seen some shit and made some mistakes is questionable.

It's the worst example of toxic masculinity and racism, and i think it needs to be shown as such

 

[Moff]

Sounds to me like he was just looking for an excuse to kill a black man. Like that guy a few years ago who lured black kids to his house to kill them for breaking in.

This is a lot more than just a story about anger and revenge but he presents it as that and that is more than worrying.

 

[IggyChooChoo]

You've mispelled it. It's cosh, so like a club or a more lethal baton.

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Ah, okay, thanks.

 

[Vampirolol]

I have yet to see the self-reflection apply to race, just to his own violent impulses.

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Right. I also have to say that even the thought of "targeting a random person" should require a visit to a psychologist.

 

[Jessie]

I sometimes wonder, though, if he isn't trying to use his anecdote to stop other people from doing the same. People here are saying he shouldn't have even brought this up but is that not worth something?

And would people really prefer they remain ignorant of the dark hearts that surround us? Don't you want to know this dude is fucked up before going to see more of his movies?

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You're filling in the blanks of his intentions. He isn't doing a PSA on racial violence, he's trying to sell a movie.

 

[Nepenthe]

Arr you referring to me? I don't watch Liam Neeson's movies unless he's just an incidental supporting character.

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I was referring to you because you seem to be really invested in the fact that people aren't giving him a pass on this. You have nothing to lose from him getting cancelled.

 

[Powdered Egg]

His mindset reminds me of feelings some had after 9/11. People were attacking anybody brown. Pulling folks from taxis, assaulting kids in school, etc.
Luckily Liam came to a realisation that hurting people that weren't involved was not the correct path (that would be reporting the crime, etc).

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Yup. I'll go further and say this "kill anything Brown" racism made it easy as hell to convince the public to attack Iraq.

 

[Deleted member 45211]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

 

[HotHamBoy]

I was referring to you because you seem to be really invested in the fact that people aren't giving him a pass on this. You have nothing to lose from him getting cancelled.

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But there is a lesson here, possibly several, and I feel compelled to view the issue at as many angles as I can.

Please don't be reductive

 

[Ichi]

To everyone saying 'he learned from his actions' can you pinpoint exactly what he learned other than it was 'terrible'? To me it sounds like he learned revenge is bad, that's it.

This article is trash and so is the interviewer. Dude drops this in the middle of the interview and the interviewer doesn't push him on it further and even excuses him to a degree in the article.

One of his first thoughts in learning someone close to him was raped was 'what colour was he?' LMAO.

Him wanting revenge is understandable, not right but understandable. Him wanting to kill some random black dude who had nothing to do with it? FOH. This is the same BS mindset of the people who want to shoot up mosques because 'Muslims did 9/11'.

Trash.

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what? he is reflecting on his horrible mistake in the past that's why he brought it up - that revenge is a poison and it can cloud your judgement. he went out there because he was looking to hurt someone he can identify with the attacker of his loved one.

Like, people here are giving someone shit for thinking irrationally at a time of pain and so much anger - I mean who are you to tell them how they should have thought in those trying times? I mean, you can't ask a person that's on the edge to think logically. I can empahise because at times I feel like I could kill as well, and no not just exclusive to a race but hateful thoughts thrive in bad experiences.

I am not excusing him and he isn't excusing himself, either. He has deep regrets and with how he conveyed it you can surmise he is ashamed of it. If that isn't growth then idk what is. Look, the guy shared something shameful and regretful in his past because of trying to enact revenge. He isn't excusing his actions and he isn't asking for sympathy. He said it because it is a lesson he has learned. He is admitting it was wrong, jesus. People here act like the dude just casually told a story over a beer while he's laughing and acting all proud over it.

 

[skillzilla81]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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lmao.

 

[andymcc]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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what

 

[Kinthey]

You're filling in the blanks of his intentions. He isn't doing a PSA on racial violence, he's trying to sell a movie.

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I'm not sure selling the movie was really on his mind when he shared this extreme anecdote. He comes off as pretty sincere to me.

 

[Razmos]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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Speak for yourself

 

[Renna Hazel]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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Joke post, right?

 

[Nepenthe]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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I can safely say that I have never wanted to kill my own people for any of the crimes committed upon me by my own people.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

So 50 years ago, a relative of his was raped..and out of anger, he walked around town wanting to kill someone of the same color, but after a week, he found he was misguided, irrational and ashamed. Seems like he carried around that guilt for years and basically dropped it in some random press junket.

That is a ton of shit to work through, I'd like a follow up interview, because it feels like there needs more.

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We don't even know if it was 50 years ago, which is rather part of the problem. The Troubles as a reference is merely for his background; he had returned from 'overseas' when it happened, but that could be anything from being in England for a couple of years, to coming back off a Hollywood flick. The context isn't there.

 

[HylianSeven]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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Are you serious right now?!

 

[uzipukki]

But there is a lesson here, possibly several, and I feel compelled to view the issue at as many angles as I can.
Please don't be reductive

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To be honest, I haven't seen you view this issue from the angle of black people yet.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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So all of us are racist and extreme trauma to someone else will make us want to kill a black person. I get that right?

 

[John Doe]

This thread is just a timely reminder that black people are supposed to instantly forgive and forget any instances of past racism.

Someone walked around looking to kill a random black man? Sorry you're not allowed to be angry about a mindset that has led to 1000s of innocent black men and women being killed over the years. It happened 40 years ago and I'm sure the guy has changed.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Yup. I'll go further and say this "kill anything Brown" racism made it easy as hell to convince the public to attack Iraq.

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Yep, I remember seeing a video of that era of people openly saying variations of "kill all those towelheads" on television

 

[Order]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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So this is what we're doing now

Fuck it

 

[Nepenthe]

Like, people here are giving someone shit for thinking irrationally at a time of pain and so much anger - I mean who are you to tell them how they should have thought in those trying times?

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The actual rape victim didn't go out with a weapon looking to hunt us down.

Fuck out of here.

 

[ZeoVGM]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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yo what

 

[Emmert]

If you're dismissive of peoples' concerns about what Liam said when he didn't acknowledge the racism aspect of what he was doing was, you're either a dumbass or racist.

 

[HotHamBoy]

To be honest, I haven't seen you view this issue from the angle of black people yet.

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That's because that's the easiest stance to take for me. I'm challenging myself here.

Edit: i'll never know what it's like to be persecuted for how I look, or my sexuality or my religion, etc. But I've also never held any contempt for people based on those criteria, not have I ever had a murderous (or even violent) impulse. I can't personally relate to either of those aspects of this story.

What I can relate to is being ashamed for things I've thought or done in the past and hoping I've become a better person who is conemplative of his own sins

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

1. Baffling to even bring it up.

2. I would like him to be questioned further on this.

3. I personally think he was trying to make a point that racism and revenge don't work, but he comes off as a psychopath looking for any black person to have a go.

4. You can't expect people to be OK with this.

 

[MrBadger]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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No, not all of us are racist. Not all of us see it as normal behavior to want a black person to give you an excuse to kill them.

 

[Jessie]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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It's unsurprising that he wanted to murder a random black man?

That's dehumanization at its worst.

 

[Deleted member 52442]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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ur done

 

[SurrenderDorothy]

That's messed up. The fact that he pondered on getting any black man is the most fucked up thing here.

I don't know what to think, tbh. Man was a racist cunt but now?

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

Click to shrink...

 

[Kappa]

what? he is reflecting on his horrible mistake in the past that's why he brought it up - that revenge is a poison and it can cloud your judgement. he went out there because he was looking to hurt someone he can identify with the attacker of his loved one.

Like, people here are giving someone shit for thinking irrationally at a time of pain and so much anger - I mean who are you to tell them how they should have thought in those trying times? I mean, you can't ask a person that's on the edge to think logically. I can empahise because at times I feel like I could kill as well, and no not just exclusive to a race but hateful thoughts thrive in bad experiences.

I am not excusing him and he isn't excusing himself, either. He has deep regrets and with how he conveyed it you can surmise he is ashamed of it. If that isn't growth then idk what is. Look, the guy shared something shameful and regretful in his past because of trying to enact revenge. He isn't excusing his actions and he isn't asking for sympathy. He said it because it is a lesson he has learned. He is admitting it was wrong, jesus. People here act like the dude just casually told a story over a beer while he's laughing and acting all proud over it.

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You convinced me. THANK GOD he was so lucky that a "black bastard" never crossed his path and he murdered an innocent man that happened to have a darker skin color and inoccently threw away his future super successful career that makes him rich and famous and allows me to watch my revenge porn movies on the big screen. What would I have done. I'm so glad that he got so lucky in his week of looking for a victim

 

[Korigama]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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Uh, you what now?

 

[Deleted member 5028]

Okay, that is some COMPLICATED shit to work through and I don't even know what to think

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Especially given the environment he was in. Northern Ireland was a place where it was really easy to be others, and that in turn has a knock on effect. It's a common story for many people his age sadly. Good for I'm on admitting it but gosh isn't that the worst month to do so.

 

[sirap]

I'm not sure selling the movie was really on his mind when he shared this extreme anecdote. He comes off as pretty sincere to me.

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Yeah if selling the movie was his intention Neeson sure picked the worst possible tangent to jump on.

Y'all know Tom Bateman only had one thought in his mind and it was FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

 

[TheGreatDirector]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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Uhhhhh

What

 

[Nepenthe]

This thread is just a timely reminder that black people are supposed to instantly forgive and forget any instances of past racism.

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Yep.

The moment we say "this is unforgivable" is the moment white people will be scared to death of what the answer is to "What should the consequences be for continuance of centuries of black-directed racism and violence?"

None of these cowards want to deal with that. So beg for forgiveness to pass the buck along.

 

[Wackamole]

I think he was admitting that it was a horrible reaction.

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I think i know.
What's your point?

 

[Renna Hazel]

what? he is reflecting on his horrible mistake in the past that's why he brought it up - that revenge is a poison and it can cloud your judgement. he went out there because he was looking to hurt someone he can identify with the attacker of his loved one.

Like, people here are giving someone shit for thinking irrationally at a time of pain and so much anger - I mean who are you to tell them how they should have thought in those trying times? I mean, you can't ask a person that's on the edge to think logically. I can empahise because at times I feel like I could kill as well, and no not just exclusive to a race but hateful thoughts thrive in bad experiences.

I am not excusing him and he isn't excusing himself, either. He has deep regrets and with how he conveyed it you can surmise he is ashamed of it. If that isn't growth then idk what is. Look, the guy shared something shameful and regretful in his past because of trying to enact revenge. He isn't excusing his actions and he isn't asking for sympathy. He said it because it is a lesson he has learned. He is admitting it was wrong, jesus. People here act like the dude just casually told a story over a beer while he's laughing and acting all proud over it.

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Wanting to kill someone isn't the issue in this story. It's who he wanted to kill.

 

[Ichi]

The actual rape victim didn't go out with a weapon looking to hunt us down.

Fuck out of here.

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huh? what's your point? only the victim can enact revenge? or that people should process their thoughts the same as you? the point of the story was a hurtful incidence caused him to plant misplaced hatred on the innocent, which was the wrong way of dealing with the pain. so yeah, i guess fuck out of here to that, huh? your logic doesn't even make sense. so what if the victim didn't do anything? if your daughter got raped, you aren't supposed to harbour hatred because your daughter chose to forgive?

 

[EdibleKnife]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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As a black person, I have to ask: who is 'all of us'?

 

[KoopaTheCasual]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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As a very dark skinned black guy, I wanna take this time to actually defend Battersea's post. And this goes for black folk too.

Colorism is so fucking pervasive in every single culture/industry/marketing campaign/etc across the world. We are raised from external forces since we're kids to think darker is "uglier". Look at all those studies videos of black girls having to point out, which model/picture is "pretty". It's fucking heart-breaking.

A lot of it is explicit, but a ton of it is implicit, and i HOPE that's what Battersea is touching on.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

No, not all of us are racist. Not all of us see it as normal behavior to want a black person to give you an excuse to kill them.

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I did some googling and apparently implicit bias is a thing and it has to do with those test were they make you associate faces with positive or negative words

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

It's moments like these when I realise a good chunk of people have never felt the all-consuming nature of blind rage and anger. It overwhelms the senses, compassion, and reason. Carl Jung talked about the inherent darkness in the human condition but it seems most people don't have the capability to understand it without direct experience, and by extension someone else's struggle with it (and the murderous intent it can encompass).

How simple the world must be to them.

 

[Gotdatmoney]

"When I need to learn a lesson and self reflect, I go out there looking to fuck up some niggas. Its good for the soul ya know"

If I read another "I'm not excusing but" post, I fucking swear. Some of yall looking like clowns.

 

[Cordy]

All of us have an implicit bias against dark-skinned people. It's unsurprising that extreme trauma and anger will turn this bias into racial violence.

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