Pepper Gold: Hero Of Ages

Totally Naked Commentary

This story was based on my encounter with Seattle’s Real-Life Superhero, Phoenix Jones. I had a terrible run in with him. I could have gotten over a lot of his bluster, but Phoenix Jones harassed the homeless on patrol. That was one of my biggest no no. I had an argument with Jones, and he wanted to fight me. Makes sense. He was a fighter and people solved things with their fist. I thought it was dumb and walked away.

I am not mad with Phoenix Jones. I was more mad at the the cavalcade of people who followed him. There were people I legitimately thought could see through his grift but didn’t. Those people only saw the outlandishness and bravado Phoenix Jones bought. So they hitched their wagon to Jones and lost.

The RLSH community was a popularity contest. It bothered me that I didn’t do enough to change a culture. I couldn’t. The community had some active people who did actual things. But there was a crap ton of incels. Phoenix Jones represented, to me, that style was more important than fundamentals in a niche culture.

Also, Rich Johnson of Bleeding Cool is a dickhead. The Wall Street Journal can go to hell too.