UPDATE: Added another clip.
I’M still shocked by this incident, and as the Wired blog Threat Level reports, “‘Don’t Tase Me, Bro!’ has become the newest cultural touchstone of our pop-cultural lexicon.”
Here’s the video for those who haven’t seen it yet.
University of Florida student Andrew Meyer was hit with a taser while asking the visiting Senator John Kerry questions.
Here’s another video that was the no. 6 most viewed on YouTube this week.
But was this a publicity stunt by Meyer? Read the New York Times’ “Taking Sides in a Tasing” story.
Here’s an excerpt:
But one of the officers said that “his demeanor completely changed once the cameras were not in sight,” shifting in a matter of minutes from the kicking-and-screaming coiner of the new catchphrase “Don’t Tase me, bro” to “laughing and being lighthearted.” Then, they say, he asked them whether the news media would be on hand when he arrived at the police station.
Moreover, one of the widely circulated videos of the incident was filmed with his own camera. As he pushed his way toward the microphone to put his questions to Senator Kerry, he handed his camera to Clarissa Jessup, a student he didn’t know, and asked her to record him.
Then, just as his diatribe was heating up, he turned to Ms. Jessup and said, “Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?,” according to the police report.
Still, regardless of whether this was a publicity stunt or Meyer genuinely wanted to get answers from Kerry, the question is: did any of his actions warrant the use of a taser on him? It wasn’t like he was a dangerous criminal, right?
September 27th, 2007 at 12:34 am
[...] you might expect in the Age of Mashups, the “Don’t Tase Me, Bro” incident has given birth to a slew of user-generated web content — and heck, even a [...]
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 pm
[...] @play : ‘Don’t Tase Me, Bro!’ [...]
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:17 am
I’ve personally witnessed crazy conspiracy-therorists go apeshit at UF’s speaking engagements in the past. They are usually wearing sweatpants; eyes as red as stoplights they slur out how they found this obscure internet site that can prove direct corrolation between IBM and George Bush’s cooperation with Nazi Germany.These people are usually sad, tragic figures that get out their question with a mental eyeroll from the speaker and a spattering of snickers from the audience.
I know that this video will be politicized like hell over the following days as an arguement platform for both liberals and conservatives. It will most likely be taken out of context and replayed in the light that fits the agenda of whoever it is that’s showing it.
I’ve seen people ushered off by the event staff, but never like this…
I guess my take on the whole fiasco is that while I admire the kid’s tenacity, he was kind of a moron. Sure he made everyone feel a little uncomfortable, but sometimes that’s what it takes to get an “honest” answer out of politicians. But it’s like, “Hey kid! Dude, if you’re going to get yourself arrested AND tazed, make sure it’s for something other than looking like a huge crybaby.”
MY BLOG
September 21st, 2007 at 9:08 am
[...] @play : ‘Don’t Tase Me, Bro!’ [...]
September 21st, 2007 at 7:33 am
Get yer ‘don’t tase me beanz’, their better than a t.shirt. :http://texschainmass.blogspot.com/