I intensely disliked Alan Jones for his divisive role in society, amplifying unacceptable (to me) opinions.
But your piece just now makes me realise again that things, and people, are just complicated. Well done for sticking your neck out Josh, you’re of a rare and brave breed.
I used to drive taxis in Sydney in the nineties, and was hit on frequently by gay men because like you I was young and strapping.
I’m totally heterosexual, investigated that and that’s just the case.
But I actually felt quite flattered, and of course I had agency to slap it away. And there would be laughs.
What I’m trying to say is that you very thoroughly gave a much needed insight in how humans work. Or not. It’s complicated.
Thank you for sticking your neck out, big fan, don’t hear too many people brave enough to speak the unspeakable.
This is a great episode. So much to think about. Once again, you bravely wade into a subject with intelligence and grace. Among other things, this made me think about the Kevin Spacey documentary that came out this year. Spacey's childhood seemed horrific –– maybe one of the most horrific things you could imagine may have happened to him (his father is alleged to have raped his brother, and it's implied Spacey as well). So it wasn't hard to see the connection between his sociopathic behavior and his past, and feel a lot of sympathy or at least understanding for how he came out. But I also thought a lot about his victims --- especially the ones who weren't in the biz and weren't gunning for roles – like the theater usher (if you've seen it, you'll remember him). Spacey's predatory groping and the power differential between the two them appeared to crush that guy's spirit in a really intense way. And it wasn't hard to hate Spacey for doing it. All of which is to say, as you point out – unwanted sexual advances are always wrong, but they can be a lot 'more' wrong, so to speak, depending on the power dynamics and the emotional state of the person at the receiving end of them. As you point out, you were a confident up and comer who even benefited from his attention without having to give anything up. I guess we will see if you were the exception or were other interactions more fraught and destructive...
Society changes and we need to accept that. Whatever is acceptable before might not be acceptable now. The power AJ had is a product of a failed society and whatever he was possible to do without checks and balances is just beyond comprehension. Misuse of power comes with people who have it. I am sorry to hear about your ordeal, and dispite you're justifying it, this is not behaviour that we should accept as the norm. Powerful people do this without scrutiny and without ethical standards.
Powerplay is emotional blackmail mostly, whether or not you're from rural QLD. It's not an excuse, we have too many excuses anyway in current society. People can present themself as a survivor, instead of continuing the self-hate.
Thanks you Josh, though, to light up the shadows. Appreciated.
The police is here to uphold the law, whatever the law is of the day accepted by society. No point to compare that.
You can blame the Catholic/Christian/Judism/Muslim in fact most religions for all the gay hate (and many other) of the last 1500 years.
There’s no way this is more uncomfortable than the one with the lady who called you racist, in which you spent an hour+ being way too polite and deferential as she berated you for having different opinions.
What a disgraceful commentary. So- just because Jones’ groping of YOU did not perturb YOU, then any abuse to others is of no importance? Get real! There are many, many people- including me- who know people who were victims, whose lives have been grievously affected, and who were too terrified by Jones’ power and vindictiveness to come forward. Your apologist stance is disgusting. You speak only for yourself and you are on the wrong side of what is right, what is decent and what is just.
You’ve hit the nail smack bang on the head - again - Josh. This needed to be said. I have waited a long time to hear someone say that some sexual misdemeanors are just that. A groped bottom should not ruin lives. Women have been dodging / managing unwanted sexual advances for millennia. It’s an annoying, tiring part of life. (And I also feel the need to add all the caveats about guilt/innocence, power imbalance, cruelty, violence, circumstances etc.). Bravo!
Josh this podcast was SUPERB. You have placed colour on this situation that the current monochromatic moral and political landscape desperately needed. If I didn’t know better I’d canoodle you not 3 but FOUR times WITHIN MINUTES whether you liked it or not! Thank you with a capital T and a big we love YOU.
At the risk of continuing to heap on the praise, I agree. An absolutely brilliant episode. At the end of the day, the people celebrating Jones’ demise and screaming about him being a ‘rock spider’ I’m quite sure have no understanding of the charges against us and are ultimately telling us much more about themselves than they are Alan Jones. Keep up the good work.
Unbelievably well framed Josh. "growing up in rural queensland...." was the moment I stopped multi-tasking and listened with intent. It helped me better understand something enough to change my starting position on this. Thank you.
Excellent to see this nuanced, intelligent commentary on this very difficult topic - when most of the media is beside themselves with malicious glee, celebrating Jones' downfall.
I intensely disliked Alan Jones for his divisive role in society, amplifying unacceptable (to me) opinions.
But your piece just now makes me realise again that things, and people, are just complicated. Well done for sticking your neck out Josh, you’re of a rare and brave breed.
I used to drive taxis in Sydney in the nineties, and was hit on frequently by gay men because like you I was young and strapping.
I’m totally heterosexual, investigated that and that’s just the case.
But I actually felt quite flattered, and of course I had agency to slap it away. And there would be laughs.
What I’m trying to say is that you very thoroughly gave a much needed insight in how humans work. Or not. It’s complicated.
Thank you for sticking your neck out, big fan, don’t hear too many people brave enough to speak the unspeakable.
This is a great episode. So much to think about. Once again, you bravely wade into a subject with intelligence and grace. Among other things, this made me think about the Kevin Spacey documentary that came out this year. Spacey's childhood seemed horrific –– maybe one of the most horrific things you could imagine may have happened to him (his father is alleged to have raped his brother, and it's implied Spacey as well). So it wasn't hard to see the connection between his sociopathic behavior and his past, and feel a lot of sympathy or at least understanding for how he came out. But I also thought a lot about his victims --- especially the ones who weren't in the biz and weren't gunning for roles – like the theater usher (if you've seen it, you'll remember him). Spacey's predatory groping and the power differential between the two them appeared to crush that guy's spirit in a really intense way. And it wasn't hard to hate Spacey for doing it. All of which is to say, as you point out – unwanted sexual advances are always wrong, but they can be a lot 'more' wrong, so to speak, depending on the power dynamics and the emotional state of the person at the receiving end of them. As you point out, you were a confident up and comer who even benefited from his attention without having to give anything up. I guess we will see if you were the exception or were other interactions more fraught and destructive...
Society changes and we need to accept that. Whatever is acceptable before might not be acceptable now. The power AJ had is a product of a failed society and whatever he was possible to do without checks and balances is just beyond comprehension. Misuse of power comes with people who have it. I am sorry to hear about your ordeal, and dispite you're justifying it, this is not behaviour that we should accept as the norm. Powerful people do this without scrutiny and without ethical standards.
Powerplay is emotional blackmail mostly, whether or not you're from rural QLD. It's not an excuse, we have too many excuses anyway in current society. People can present themself as a survivor, instead of continuing the self-hate.
Thanks you Josh, though, to light up the shadows. Appreciated.
The police is here to uphold the law, whatever the law is of the day accepted by society. No point to compare that.
You can blame the Catholic/Christian/Judism/Muslim in fact most religions for all the gay hate (and many other) of the last 1500 years.
A lot to digest in this one, holy shit.
“The casting couch is the casting couch for a reason.”
WHAT IS HAPPENING
There’s no way this is more uncomfortable than the one with the lady who called you racist, in which you spent an hour+ being way too polite and deferential as she berated you for having different opinions.
Fascinating episode. Just shows that there are complex nuances to every thing.
What a disgraceful commentary. So- just because Jones’ groping of YOU did not perturb YOU, then any abuse to others is of no importance? Get real! There are many, many people- including me- who know people who were victims, whose lives have been grievously affected, and who were too terrified by Jones’ power and vindictiveness to come forward. Your apologist stance is disgusting. You speak only for yourself and you are on the wrong side of what is right, what is decent and what is just.
Impressive, masterful and deadly accurate.
You’ve hit the nail smack bang on the head - again - Josh. This needed to be said. I have waited a long time to hear someone say that some sexual misdemeanors are just that. A groped bottom should not ruin lives. Women have been dodging / managing unwanted sexual advances for millennia. It’s an annoying, tiring part of life. (And I also feel the need to add all the caveats about guilt/innocence, power imbalance, cruelty, violence, circumstances etc.). Bravo!
This is fantastic, Josh. Really powerful. I'm a straight bloke but I was just applauding you all along. Your most important contribution so far.
Josh this podcast was SUPERB. You have placed colour on this situation that the current monochromatic moral and political landscape desperately needed. If I didn’t know better I’d canoodle you not 3 but FOUR times WITHIN MINUTES whether you liked it or not! Thank you with a capital T and a big we love YOU.
At the risk of continuing to heap on the praise, I agree. An absolutely brilliant episode. At the end of the day, the people celebrating Jones’ demise and screaming about him being a ‘rock spider’ I’m quite sure have no understanding of the charges against us and are ultimately telling us much more about themselves than they are Alan Jones. Keep up the good work.
Yeah, wow. That’s an outstanding monologue and a superbly human response, Josh, so full of nuance, empathy and clarity.
Unbelievably well framed Josh. "growing up in rural queensland...." was the moment I stopped multi-tasking and listened with intent. It helped me better understand something enough to change my starting position on this. Thank you.
Excellent to see this nuanced, intelligent commentary on this very difficult topic - when most of the media is beside themselves with malicious glee, celebrating Jones' downfall.
With you 100% Josh.