Afroman?

[eyeballkid]

Ive had a girl come bump and grind on me on stage. It ended badly too. I didnt get her number.

 

[guy n. cognito]

And....she wasn't touching him or "rushing" him. She hadn't assaulted him in any way.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I agree. Like I said, I think he overreacted, seeing as he likely already knew who it was. That said, the good ol' TB dog pile seemed to come into full effect with this video, and I think someone needed to bring the opposing argument into discussion. We also had the waving of several overzealous e-penises saying how they'd be quick to use violence against Afroman if they saw this in person. All I can respond with is

It's interesting that you can find some level of validation for afromans actions, yet find absurdity in a violent reaction to his attack.

 

[2.6kHz]

Mob mentalities result in the salem witch trials. Just sayin. Wasn't it just this past summer there was a hit and run in NYC and a mob went after the driver? No one wins there.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

It's interesting that you can find some level of validation for afromans actions, yet find absurdity in a violent reaction to his attack.

Fighting violence with more violence, particularly when you're not an involved party or a member of the venue's/Afroman's security team, is an excellent way to get your butt thrown in jail for no reason other than you were wanting to look macho. It's not an interesting view to have; it's a smart one.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Fighting violence with more violence, particularly when you're not an involved party or a member of the venue's/Afroman's security team, is an excellent way to get your butt thrown in jail for no reason other than you were wanting to look macho. It's not an interesting view to have; it's a smart one.

Sometimes, violence has to be met with violence....its jus a reality. And it's not about looking macho. And in a case like this, it would be unusual for someone coming to her defense to be arrested. More importantly, who watches their girlfriend / wife get beat and worries first about criminal action?

Smart? No......

 

[superfunk47]

So many white knight tough guys in here, wow.

Pretty funny to see all the pro-violent/anti-violent about-faces within single sentences.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Violence should be met with violence only when the initiator refuses to stop their aggression. Had he continued attacking her, I would have grabbed his guitar and smashed him over the head with it. But he stopped once he knocked her down. So there is no reason to react with more violence.

BTW, the way he calmly returned to playing guitar after such an incident tells me that he is a pretty messed up dude. I don't know about you guys, but if I were in a situation that called for violent response, my adrenaline would be pumping. I would be shaking afterward. This guy didn't miss a beat. Psychopath anyone?

 

[guy n. cognito]

I see a big difference between instigating violence (especially for no reason against an unsuspecting party) and meeting violence with violence with a defensive mindset.

 

[2.6kHz]

Only time violence of any kind is OK is to prevent imminent harm to yourself or others. AKA you had a split second to react, not seconds to think. If she is no longer in imminent danger, and you jump on stage swinging, you are wrong. It's like shooting a fleeing burglar in the back. Surround him so he can't hurt her any more? Sure, have at it, nothing wrong with that.

 

[One Drop]

This thread is the first I've heard about the incident. A couple thoughts...

First of all, the notion that this is punk rock and it's all part of punk culture is absurd. Afroman is about as punk rock as my aunt Sabra. The girl who got punched was no mosh pit animal either. This article - Afroman Arrested After Punching Fan Onstage - tries to compare the assault to other cases of celebrity musicians and singers hitting fans, but this is not much like those. The girl didn't rush the stage, didn't grope or grab at him, nothing like that. She got up to dance and no one stopped her, that's all.

Second, the statement from him and his people is that the punch was an "involuntary reflex" caused by the girl's startling him with an invasion of his personal space, and by unspecified "outside uncontrolled forces." They should probably go looking up the definition of "involuntary" and "reflex." Nobody punches someone as an actual involuntary reflex. What they mean is that he didn't think before acting, which is no excuse. I'm sure the "outside uncontrolled forces" were probably pharmaceutical in nature.

They also say that he was on edge because he thought the girl was a guy who had been heckling him earlier. Apparently turning around to look and see who was there was out of the question.

Third, I'm not surprised that no one in the crowd decked him. It's pretty clear from the one guy that did get up that getting on the stage was not that quick and easy to do. Also, the punch was so unexpected and out of the blue, you have the "startle" moment when people are registering what just happened and try to figure out how to respond. Usually, the kinds of things that people are talking about, you can see trouble coming. You're in a bar with some ugly drunks, a skeevy character comes up to you, whatever - you're braced for trouble and ready to go at it if someone starts something. This wasn't like that. Sheer surprise, plus probably a fair dose of pharamaceuticals in the crowd, and no one knows what to do or what just happened. I once had a guy try to pick my pocket as I was walking down the street. Literally looked down and his hand was in my pocket, going for my wallet. I whipped around and stared at the guy, my brain racing to process what was happening, and thinking, "I should deck him." But before the signal reached my body to act, he ran off. Afroman kept playing after hitting the girl, but pretty quick the house lights came up and the cops arrived.

Finally, I'm a peaceful guy, I don't get into fights. But frankly, I think there is a place for decking a guy who crosses the line like this. I don't believe in a Big Brother state where the only acceptable response to someone doing wrong is to call the authorities. People need to know that there are more immediate, visceral consequences that are going to happen if they don't treat people right. Decking the guy may not make the world a better place, but a world where you can do what you please and be confident that no one will deck you, no matter how outrageous your action, is definitely a worse place.

Once again leave it to you for an intelligent and reasoned response, free of rancour and insult, to a lot of pretty whack comments. I wish i had the self control. Maybe if I punched people more often as an outlet...

 

[paste]

It's funny that out of the hundreds of people at that venue, no one did a thing - yet here on the internet, here on this small forum, we have a bunch of tough guys willing to step in and be the "man". Grow up.

 

[bigfatbass]

I did not say my projected reaction would be the right, nor sane thing to do. Quite the opposite. We all have innate fight or flight instincts, and all of us to varying levels. I know myself, and even though I am a grown man in EXTREMELY questionable physical condition, I'm predicting my reaction would be to go flying at whoever it was who hit my wife. I also said nothing about mob mentality, or that the crowd should attack him en masse. I was being completely forthright in my assertion that I would indeed lose my sanity in that moment. Not saying anyone else would or wouldn't, and not being internet tough guy. I know me, lol.

Just a few years ago I shoved off 2 drunk college boys who thought my wife and I were in their seats at a concert. I was pissed but polite, and reaching for my stub to show them, when one of them plowed into her in attempt to just force his way into the space. I shoved him in the chest back into the aisle and held my ticket in his face. When they realized they were harassing people 2 rows away from their actual seats for no reason, they were actually quite apologetic, and we all went about enjoying the show. Yes, they were both bigger than me. Yes, I am barely able to run 20 ft let alone defend myself. That being said, my uncontrollable instinct in the moment was to go bull frog on these idiots, and puff up right back in their faces. Again, not the sanest thing to do, but was I supposed to just give them our seats because they are too stupid to count what row they were in? No, I firmly stood my ground just enough to let them know I was not going to be an easy move. That is actually a complete lie, but never tip your hand. Especially when one barely works.

For the record, I have not been in a physical altercation, in a bar or otherwise, in 30 years. In my biz, that is not as easy as you'd think.

 

[monkeyfinger]

From what you describe, you are justified in reacting the way you did IMO.

 

[monkeyfinger]

BTW, I believe that is referred to the 'stand-your-ground' doctrine.

 

[superfunk47]

After growing up in Palmdale and doing a nice stint in prison you might be surprised by your reactions to things like someone sneaking up on you while you're in the zone or having just laid out said person.

 

[One Drop]

After growing up in Palmdale and doing a nice stint in prison you might be surprised by your reactions to things like someone sneaking up on you while you're in the zone or having just laid out said person.

Interesting take on things, good point.

Doesn't account for his ridiculous nonchalance after the fact, though.

 

[bigfatbass]

Even though I'm the one citing moments when instinct takes over, I don't believe this is some case of his prison yard spider sense tingling. That is ridiculous. He is in a room full of stoner college kids. That punch could have killed her.

I also think anyone who says if they were just a random member of the crowd, they would have rushed him, is almost as ridiculous.

 

[monkeyfinger]

After growing up in Palmdale and doing a nice stint in prison you might be surprised by your reactions to things like someone sneaking up on you while you're in the zone or having just laid out said person.

A prison is a battle zone. Different standards of behavior.

 

[2.6kHz]

Doesn't account for his ridiculous nonchalance after the fact, though.

The fact that he was probably whacked out of his gourd at the timedoes though. Guessing he smoked enough to blind a herd of rhinos.