Catholic Online Forum

I'm sure by now everyone has heard about Angus T. Jones.

The teenage star of the hit CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men blasted the show, calling it "filth" and asking people to stop watching it.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/men-star-angus-t-jones-blasted-series-filth-article-1.1208407

Now he has apparently reversed himself and apologized for his earlier remarks.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/11/27/angus-t-jones-apologizes-after-two-and-a-half-men-remarks/

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

The name "Angus" always reminds me of a juicy steak. Anyway, this sounds like two extremes. First we decry our behavior (a possible epiphany?), then we apologize for our outburst. Where is the balance in this man's life? Could he have made his point another way so he wouldn't look like a hypocrite now? Just my thoughts.

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

Seems to me it's a typical teen situation. Teen speaks out without thinking things through and without vetting his words to fit his audience; i.e. it's less about courage than it is about impetuousness and thinking he has something important to say. Teen gets quietly reminded that he is going to lose big if he does not cease and desist. Teen tries to backtrack and then clams up for the time being. Seems to me he has a career in politics nailed down.

I hope he has the courage of his convictions (if they are truly good convictions and not a publicity stunt) and he leaves the show when his contract is up, if not sooner (despite the losses he may incur). It is a disgusting show. We haven't watched it in years. It became too much back then. I can only imagine it has gotten worse since.

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Dean
Most people's sense of history goes back to breakfast time - Benjamin Netanyahu

Good assessment Dean. I have never seen that show but can only imagine. It's a shame how "rotten" sells these days.

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

Was he right when he spoke out against the show, essentially biting the hand that feeds him, or when he backed off?

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

What a dip.

The show sucks.

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-Lou (Louis)

ORA et LABORA
Totus Tuus
Cacciatore/Fungaiolo

So you agree with Mr. Jones I see.

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Jeff Stevens

Well, I think it would be better to say that I used to agree with him.

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-Lou (Louis)

ORA et LABORA
Totus Tuus
Cacciatore/Fungaiolo

David,



Both, actually. It was ungracious and disloyal of him to speak so ill of the program from which he has profited so handsomely. Even so, no worthy construction can be placed on his backing down; it just looks as though someone has told him either to retract or to stand to lose lotsamoolah. (Ergo, kid backs down.)

I don't like the show. Not that I have any particular moral objection. I simply find it vulgar, moronic and (most unforgivable of all) boring.

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

It's not a good show. The whole premise, of getting an actor with a history of substance abuse to play a person who's a drunk and a womanizer as the central theme of the show was an obviously bad idea from the word go. When that actor started having severe problems with substance abuse again, it was obviously fruit of the poisoned tree.

That the child involved would discern that fact as he grows up is not a surprise.

However, the stories I've heard say he's under the influence of some religious organization. I'm inclined to think this is a little like when Michael Jackson supposedly turned over a new leaf and tried to get a lot of his older records taken off the market. (Does anyone remember that?)

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Rose West
"May God help us not to spoil His work" (Bl. Mother Theresa)

I think he may be trying to condemn the show, but not the people. Maybe along the line of condemning the sin but not the sinner. He senses the difference but is young both in years and as a Christian; so is unskilled expressing the distinction.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Joe,

Are Seventh-day Adventists Christian? Isn't belief in the immortality of the human soul fundamental to Christianity? And what of their annihilationist view of hell?

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

I disagree that Angus has reversed himself. Rather, what he did was apologize if his remarks seemed to show "indifference" and "disrespect" to his "colleagues." He speaks of being grateful for the "opportunity" given to him.

That is basically saying, "I'm sorry if I have belittled the fact that people show up to work, they work hard, they're nice people, they allow me to act and make money, and they have been an amazing team."

Not once does he praise "the show" or reverse his comments that it is "filth." Not once does he apologize for even calling the show filth, nor does he give any recommendation that people watch the show.

It was a very well written statement, because it appears like a reversal when it isn't. Even better, it praises the people he works with as good workers, without denying that the end product of their work is still filth.

It reminds me of the time Pope John Paul II had to speak to Lutherans and called Martin Luther a "religious genius." Afterward, a Lutheran commentator said something along the lines of "notice the Pope called Luther religious, but did not even hint that he was holy. Notice he called Luther a genius, but did not say he was wise. It was a nice way of not complimenting the man while it sounds as if you are complimenting him."

That's similar to what Angus' writers have done.

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Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Angel

Father Angel - I should have waited for your post. You state very clearly what I was fumbling for.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Fr. Angel,

The word disingenuous comes to mind.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

David,

I don't know how disingenuous it was. It seems to me that it was quite responsible to show respect to fellow actors on a set even while you disagree with the moral direction of a TV show.

Do we no longer laud young people who have let loose like a canon and then decide to do some damage control and show that their words could have caused hurt among co-workers? I think Angus did the right thing. He said, about co-workers, what needed to be said to begin with (they're good people just doing their job), without going back on his moral convictions.

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Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Angel

That's the part that made me think disingenuous.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

David,

I found this definition for disingenuous:


Angus' statement is both candid, and I would assume sincere because I have no other evidence for judging his motives. When someone publishes a comment which is meant to distinguish between praising the workers but not the job, showing esteem to the sinner while not praising the sin, a different word comes to mind.

I am thinking of the word "diplomatic." Along with that we might apply the adjectives of good diplomacy: skillful, clever, and prudent. It showed very poor judgment to attack his workplace without making any distinctions or showing gratitude for the goodness of his friends at work.

It showed very high social intelligence to realize this was not gracious, that feelings were probably hurt; and it showed true manliness to issue a statement which showed remorse. We are no longer dealing with "half" a man. I think Angus has arrived at manhood.

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Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Angel

Father,

It seems to me that a statement crafted to appear to mean what it doesn't falls into the "not candid or sincere" category. And if one feigns ignorance of the real meaning, well...

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx