Rachel Moran*: amoral monster

January 20th, 2007

get a brain! Morans!

Anybody who has been blogging for a while knows how easy it is to write and publish something that in the clear light of day you may have been better off not to, as it reveals slightly more about you than you might want to, or it’s likely to be taken the wrong way, or because what you thought was hilarious others turn out to find just offensive. And if you’ve blogged, you also know that once you did post something like that, it’s very very hard to take it down again. You may delete the post, but it will have been noticed, read, reposted, discussed and judged already. Everybody who blogs will have these posts and they’re a bloody nuisance, but they can also be a good thing. If not for the poster, then for their readers.

Case in point: Majikthise pointed to a blogpost by one Rachel Moran, who wrote with some pride of how to deal with homeless people:

Eddie also had an interesting story to tell about a homeless man, in Naples, who asked him for a dollar. Eddie told him no and got in his Caddy and the homeless guy started punching the glass, so Eddie got out of the Caddy and the homeless guy punched him in the jaw and Eddie left the homeless guy twitching in the street.

[...]

He told us this story at Mastry�s during the second round and when he was done, me and Lil Sis went up to the bar to order more. I was waiting for the bartender to come around when this scraggly-haired homeless guy comes up behind Lil Sis.

He had his claw extended at her and he was probably about to touch her hair, because she is startlingly platinum blond and the light at Mastry�s flickered an excellent, sexy pale blue onto her hair, like she was in a video game where she was, like, the leader of a gang of fierce cougar-girl mutants or something.

[...]

We have decided that the homeless problem in St. Petersburg is becoming entirely out of control. Part of the problem is that a bunch of idiot liberal �Burgers will just stand there and let homeless people ramble on at them and then fumble for money or let themselves get yelled at when they don�t have any. I seriously know girls who are, like, afraid of downtown during certain times now, which is horrendous, because, for Christ�s sake, this is St. Petersburg, not Manhattan.

We are thinking about proving this nuisance and need for civil action by making a short film called �Eddie Rolls on the Homeless,� whereby Mark secretly videotapes me and Lil Sis in a variety of situations to see how many homeless people approach us and, then, how many of these situations escalate into harrassment. Then, he�s gonna videotape Eddie in the same scenarios, only Eddie is going to beat up every homeless person who escalates the contact after being told that his panhandling is illegal and annoying.

Quite clearly she has written this expecting approval and praise, but even in her own comments reactions are largely negative. She comes across as priviledged, vain, selfcentered and nearly psychotic and the friends and family she mentions look as bad, if not worse.

Oops.

Too bad for her, but good for us. It’s a revealing insight in how six years of Bushism on top of decades of has created a moral climate in which people like her, who does probably think of herself as a good person, can not only draw up plans to assault homeless people, the most vulnerable people in society, but do so openly and expect to be applauded for it! But what do you expect from a country whose leaders have started an illegal and immoral war, abandonded the victims of the greatest humanitarian disaster that hit their country in decades and have taken great pains to establish they are not bound by any laws?

In this context, I think Majikthise’s theory on “trickledown amoralism” is right:

I have a theory about crime that’s exactly the opposite of the “broken windows” theory. Broken Windows says you crack down on petty little crimes in order to stop bigger crimes. That’s bullshit. It’s the corruption at the top that breeds petty viciousness on the bottom. When people realize that the privileged can take whatever they want, a lot of folks will either cash in, or give up.

Read more about:
Rachel Moran, homeless, human rights

* Not the distinguished UC Berkeley law professor.

Categories: US politics, bigotry

24 Comments

Rachel* January 20th, 2007
I wrote with some pride about how to deal with the homeless? No, I wrote a really powerful post showcasing an extreme idea. I feel no pride or shame about the post.

My ideas about how to deal with the homeless aren’t actually quoted by you:

“Real alleviation of the homeless problem requires broad action - cops telling them to move along, shelters to get them off the sidewalks, feeding stations, mental health support, day labor programs. Your five bucks tells the homeless man that he can get by panhandling in St. Petersburg and, frankly, that is not OK with me.”

I notice you also didn’t bother to quote the part where the same homeless person had been bothering the table while we are at the bar and didn’t deign to stop bothering us after being told very plainly we didn’t have anything for him.

I am astonished at how many people think that BAR TALK means my boyfriend is gonna film my sister’s boyfriend beating people up.

And contrary to your rambling opening, I’m not taking the post down. It’s on my MySpace page, it’s on my own blog and it’s at Sticks of Fire. I stand by everything in it, because I expect there are people in the universe who are not so literal as to think I am actually beating up homeless people.

The real point - agressive homeless people require aggressive action.

Sir, to be blunt, your only point with this post is some light slander, which is fairly weak.
Martin Wisse January 20th, 2007
Sorry Rachel, just the simple fact that y’all could joke about beating up homeless and film them shows what assholes you all are…

The only one who slandered you is, well, yourself.

Be proud of it.

But I wonder if you’ll still feel proud of it in ten years time when you’ve grown up and it dawns on you what’ve you let the world know about you…
Michael Hussey January 20th, 2007
I’m the one who started all this at Pushing Rope. Rachel is defending her post. I’m not surprised.
Michael Hussey January 20th, 2007
P.S.

Taking the post down. I saved the post on my blog. Writing about planning to film someone being beat up is not free speech. Sorry.
Lindsay Beyerstein January 21st, 2007
You say the problem of homelessness requires aggressive action. What kind of “aggressive action” do you have in mind against the homeless, Rachel?
Paul Hooson January 21st, 2007
I think it’s pretty clear that Rachel Moran has spent far too much time in bars, rather than in churches that have helping programs for the homeless and poor. Her values have been shaped by this amoral bar room view of the homeless, while I’ve brought many homeless or hungry persons to my own home to feed them and offered extensive help to Christian and Jewish organizations that help the homeless and hungry. I can live with myself. I don’t understand how Rachel Moran can though.
Kip W January 21st, 2007
The broken window theory is that if we arrest everybody who breaks a window, then the rich and powerful won’t have to have their eyes assaulted by the squalid sight of broken windows as they take the limo to the office.
Sine.Qua.Non January 21st, 2007
It is unfortunate that there are so many, with so much, in our society that regard compassion as an assault to their sensibilities. Their apparent sociopaths mentality is yet another factor in their attitudes and world views. To feel no remorse for even thinking of doing such a thing, not questioning yourself over this attitude, much less having a happy little bar discussion which turned into a plan of action to beat up homeless on video, and then post about the entire event and plan of action is no less than a call of action to like-minded narcissists who grew up with everything handed to them.

Words have power, Rachel. Be careful what you reap.

Rachel, I suggest you seek help. Do it now. I’m sure your Daddy has enough bucks to pay for group therapy for the lot of you, including him, most especially. Where else could you have learned such hideous attitudes.

Rachel, you and your friends are part of the problem, and certainly not part of the solution.
tbogg January 21st, 2007
This must be one of the “thought experiments” that tacitus was indulging in when he wanted to open concentration camps in Iraq.
Jill January 21st, 2007
“I am astonished at how many people think that BAR TALK means my boyfriend is gonna film my sister�s boyfriend beating people up.”

Except… it wasn’t “bar talk.” We didn’t overhear your sister’s boyfriend posturing about being such a manly-man that he wants to beat up homeless people. No, we read your blog post, which presumably was written after you engaged in this “bar talk,” saw nothing wrong with it, and decided to make your reprehensible ideas public.

And I second Lindsay’s question: What does “aggressive action” mean?

Madam, to be blunt, your only point with this post is some light idiocy, which is fairly weak.
kometes January 22nd, 2007
Rapists require raping. Suicide bombers require suicide bombings. Aggression requires aggressive action.

Such enlightened thought. I’ll be in my cave…
Dee January 22nd, 2007
~I am astonished at how many people think that BAR TALK means my boyfriend is gonna film my sister�s boyfriend beating people up.~

So Rachel, basically you are full of shit and you cannot be taken at your word. Why does that NOT surprise me?

You are too young and stupid to know that pretty much what you give out is what you get back. Or, in other words, what goes around comes around.

So when the day comes that you are down on your luck and people treat you as you have treated others, do remember that you asked for it.
Progressive Gold » Blog Archive » Found: Wingnuts’ Missing Brain Cells January 23rd, 2007
[...] Damn. I know I’ve always said wingnuts were lacking something upstairs, but looks like Rachel Moraon and the other idiots just like her could have a physical excuse for theirr dreadful behaviour. [...]
Progressive Gold » Blog Archive » Hey, Rachel Moran! Ever Heard of Rehab? January 26th, 2007
[...] Tampa Bay’s very own spoiltbratblogger Rachel Moran once again amply demonstrates her qualifications for a spell with the nice people at the local ‘residential spa’. [...]
Lynda January 30th, 2007
Hey Rachel–
You’re a self-important psycho with a WAY-bloated sense of entitlement. Go ahead and “handle” the homeless problem in that reprehensible way you suggest. Or maybe you already have? From what I’ve read in the news, some homeless HUMAN BEINGS in YOUR town have recently been beaten to death. Hmmm, CrimeStoppers, anyone? I hope the cops find you and put you in prison. Then you’ll find out what it’s like to be on the receiving end. You’re a disgrace.
voxPOPULI February 4th, 2007
Here’s where everyone will get mad at me (and maybe rachel the most)….. but I read her whole blog after I read that initial post at sticks of fire.
I was .. you know, floored.
So I went on an info gathering session because according to me I need the biggest picture possible when I’m stunned so I can … react with certainty.

a. because I’m way new to the tampa blogosphere and wondered WTF?

b. I like to know as much as possible before I start my own fires

c. i don’t know anyone personally (yet) but due to this intersection of right/wrong I have landed firmly in some cool camps already !! (whew that sure took alot of work out of things and saved precious irreplaceable TIME)

and — (yeah I’m too soft, I know that’s why the PTB in Tampa think they can take my stuff by force instead of the old-fashioned way of reaching for their wallet)
—here’s where rachel* will get mad at me and most people will call me an idjit …. (or maybe not)

After I read every word at her blog and yeah I read them all (I was on break then for the semester, had time on hands)… I couldn’t help but like her reese witherspoonish-like foray into fashionista-fralala (even though I’m not much crazy about reese I laughed my ass off when forced to watch legally blonde and especially over her matchy outfits)

(and it’s soooo the opposite of me so … )

But …………. what I lingered over …. is this …

But, then, as Friday night wore on, Dad said he couldn’t make dinner,
********************************************************
I spent dinner eating vegetable pizza and listening to the styling sounds of Cleo Heart at the Old Northeast Tavern with Mark, instead.

********************************************************

At 8:15, I called him to confirm directions. He said Mikey hadn’t made the standby and Dad had to go get him at the airport and the two of them would be in the ‘Burg at 9:30.
***********************************************************
At 9:30, he didn’t pick up the phone, but that actually seemed OK, because the good old boys don’t hit the highlights in this town until eleven, by law or whatever.
*********************************************************
At 12:30, he called to say Mikey was having a hard time controlling a long-standing anger issue and Dad was trying to counsel him to “just finally do the time, so you can say you did it and be done with it,” and we would all of us have lunch at 1:30

**********************************************************

and I didn’t hear from Dad for the rest of the day.

*********************************************************

On Sunday, he wasn’t picking up his phone

*********************************************************

she couldn’t get in touch with Dad, either.

***************************************************

He finally called me this morning while I was at work, but all he said was, “Rach! Rach! You doin’ all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m working. Are you all right?”

And the phone went super-staticky and, then, dead. He didn’t pick up when I called back.

This is so normal, you have no idea. I ‘m not even a little bit worried.

Back to ME (vox):
This is completely unacceptable behavior and I don’t care if he’s a rockstar and she has a merc in every color. It’s possible that she’s doing pretty good, considering …..

I’ve had strangers be more considerate and while it’s funny and she loves him and it’s probably not always like this — it’s just not how daddy should treat his little girl.
But, I’m the one that goes to weddings and whenever it’s the dad-daughter dance I watch with some kind of something bordering on awe …

And those who know her better have no need to disavow me of this feeling.
I’ve been wrong before but kindness is the first thing I reach for. And it’s possible that those who really know her have used all that up. And it’s entirely possible I’m a dumbass >>>HAHAHA
And, I totally DUG the picture on the top of the post (that was too damn funny)
Never mistake kindness for weakness …

anyhoo …. that’s where I got stuck. While quietly agreeing with everyone, that runs through my head ..
voxPOPULI February 4th, 2007
Please edit the above post to your satisfaction. I’m sorry it took alot of room.

I’ll save it and post it elsewhere. Please excuse the largeness of it.
(sorry and on my first post, too…)
M Dot Again February 16th, 2007
The only thing you liberal vermin need to know is that…they are not “homeless” people. They’re bums. And they belong either in jail or in a mental institution. Or better yet, take every single illegal immigrant and kick them out of my country. Then take these bums and give them jobs picking in fields.
Palau February 18th, 2007
VoxPOPULI: we don’t do editing comments.

M Dot Again:

*Your* country? And how many generations have your family been there? I bet not more than three, if that, since your ancestors were homeless, immigrant bums themselves.

And I’m not a liberal. I’m a socialist, and fuck you.
M Dot Again February 20th, 2007
If you’re socialist then go move to a socialist country. The USA is and will always be a capitalist country. Alright, I’ll let you get back to smoking your pot whilst laying on the couch watching Aqua Teen Hunger Force. “Number one in the hood, G.”
Xanthippas February 20th, 2007
M Dot’s done commenting for tonight. He pm’d me to say he’ll be spending the rest of the evening masturbating to his bumfights DVDs.
Burger May 9th, 2007
Rachel must be insitutionalized….she is a conflicted bipolar mess. Someone research arrest records in florida and tennessee….violence and drugs….
Burger May 10th, 2007
mark said…
I’m amazed you gave me credit for paying for the parking and buying you a t-shirt.
But you and Bill O’Reilly could make passionate love in your mutually held notion of a “no spin zone.”
Don’t you respect your blogging audience enough to let them know that you went to Tenessee as a dedendant in
a domestic battery case?
Are you afraid to tell them that the only reason I was at the same place, at the same time, was because I was
subpoenaed to testify against you as the victim of you bi-polar/alcohol fueled rage?
Why did you leave out the amusing story about your attorney being held in contempt for witness tampering?
I dare you to be brave enough not to delete this comment.
May 9, 2007 2:33 PM

rachel said…
Burger May 10th, 2007
Rachel said…You blacked the fuck out, started calling your mom a cunt for NO REASON and then shoved me around a hotel
room for an hour. You better believe I’m gonna punch you. That was never a secret. I just didn’t bother to tell
the world at large.
As to tampering and contempt, I know, it was sorta funny (U-Turn for Jesus!), but let’s keep in mind that I got
him held in contempt, because the tampering involved you asking me to write a letter saying I didn’t want you
prosecuted in FL and that you actually left court, drafted the letter and then text messaged me to come get me.
‘Cause, really, nutso, do you think you’re gonna use one of your violent episodes as leverage over me for an
even worse episode? No fucking way.
I mean, really, is that what you want me to admit?
Done and done.
Perhaps what really needs to be admitted is that you live in a world of drinks and denial. That you need some
motherfucking AA *hard* and that you most certainly did break my finger and all the sleeping with Heinz and
being bipolar in the world doesn’t give you any kind of dumb-ass defense.
Dead-end-ant, indeed. Peace in our times. 615-642-1700.

Prog Gold

Rachel Moran*: amoral monster

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