Rico Is Right, You Have To Be Careful With False Narratives Because They Stick
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I had a principal in high school who was super serious with that cliche about thoughts becoming actions or whatever.
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
― Lao Tzu
As wise as this old chinese man was, he needed to expand it by another sentence. "Watch your narratives because they become written into history". It's all fun and games and jokes in the moment, but as the memory fades and the context is forgotten you're only left with the written word usually. You're only left with the main point of discussion.
Everyone is in our office today for some upfront. Erika, Big Cat, and all the important people from New York. It made me think about the last time everyone was in the office around it was March Madness. Rico was here. The lasting memory from my time with Rico is that it came out that he didn't pay his taxes. I was shocked. I am a Rico Ryder (not Ryder in terms of gambling, I can lose my own money just as easily, but a Ryder in terms being in his corner or coming in his hole on a personal level) so I couldn't believe that he ol' piece of shit Bosco didn't pay his taxes. That's all I could remember. Made me shake my head and then I did a search just to make sure I had my facts right.
He does, of course, pay his taxes even with the government taking extra sauce because of inflation. Imagine if I didn't know the details, the context, and I just got lazy and went off the narrative and my memory? I'd probably formulate a totally false opinion of a guy I like and find entertaining.
That can ruin a person's life and name forever. Long after they are dead. That is what happened to one of the first major film stars, Fatty Arbuckle.
He got accused of murder even though it was proven that he had nothing to do with it and 100 years later people still think he did it even though he was acquitted after three different trials.
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And do you know why his life was ruined? Because the story was selling newspapers. It was fun and sport to tease him and make up slanderous things. Even though he cleared his name his career was never the same. They ruined a man's life because it was profitable and funny. SAD! We did a podcast on Hollywood's first real tabloid scandal this week on Dogwalk. A cautionary tale that we should all considered before saying an internet personality is a member of ISIS (which Rico is not)