| OPTIONS: |
| add to favorites |
| rate & comment |
| submit your own |
| edit your own |
| email to a friend |
| print |
|
| Better Off Undead vs. An Asshole At The Post Office Round 1 |
 | | | | | |
|
This is a true story that happened to me in March 2008 involving a special feature on the DVD of my film Better Off Undead (shameless plug: myspace.com/better_off_undead). This story takes place in Oshkosh, WI.
I posted this as a blog the same day it happened. |
SUBMITTED BY: John Pata
SUBMITTED ON: August 6, 2009 |
|
 |
| TYPE: |
| Story |
|
| GENRE: |
| Observation |
|
| DEDICATION: |
| To All The Close Minded Fucks Living In The World Today |
|
|
|
|
| STORY: |
First, I want to make it clear that this is by no means exaggerated or made up. This actually happened. And I want to say this is not intended to be offensive, so please, do not let this represent Better Off Undead.
Here we go.
So this morning, I get my ass out of bed early so I can go to the post office before heading off to work. Let me point out, I am not a morning person. Every time I need to get up even earlier, it is a challenge and I am usually not very excited. Anyway, I go down to the post office and start packing a box that I am shipping to my friend Jon. Jon runs Kitley’s Krypt, a website that is all things horror. Whether its news, reviews, interviews, trivia…they have everything. He also goes to conventions and sells some awesome rare/out-of-print reference books and posters. He offered to take some copies of BOU to HorrorHound Weekend and Cinema Wasteland, since we can’t make it. Thanks again Jon.
So there I am, packing up this box full of DVDs, fliers, postcards and business cards, listening to The Misfits, minding my own business. All of a sudden this arm reaches in the box and pulls out a DVD. "What the fuck" I think to myself as I take off my headphones and find a for lack of a better term, yuppie 55-60 year old man holding the DVD.
"Better Off Undead? What the hell is this?" says the man. Instantly, I realize he really isn’t that interested, but I humor him.
"That is a little zombie movie made here in Oshkosh." I reply.
"Huh, made here is Oshkosh, who the hell made it?" He questions.
"I did." I answer.
"You? Who the fuck are you?" The older man quickly asks.
"John Pata."
"I never heard of you…hell, I never heard of this movie. Must be a piece of shit." He says.
*Again, this is completely true.
I feel that I am good at detecting sarcasm or when people are just joking, this man, I could tell was not.
I’m not a fool. I know this movie is not for everyone. Some people really like, some people don’t. So I am not upset, offended or taken back by his remark. I just merely finish packing up the box, as the older gentleman turned over the DVD and starting reading out loud the special features.
"Cooking on set…Shopping with Satan? Oh, this sounds like a family oriented movie." At this point, I could feel him getting worked up. And then it came.
"Better Off Gay?!?"
I looked up at him and he proclaimed, "Better off dead than gay you fucking faggot!"
Politely, I responded, "The world would be better off without close-minded fucks like you."
Instantly he jumps into a fit of rage and out comes, "You god damn piece of shit! You and the youth are bringing the country down. It’s people like you ruining everything this country is." And he begins walking away.
At that moment I had enough, so I replied with, "Go choke on George Bush’s cock!"
Again, this is in the middle of the post office.
Let me say, I could have handled the situation better, I know this. Was I out of line for acting this way? You could say so. I did not handle it the best, I admit it. There was no need for me to say this, and there was absolutely no need for him to spew out his bigoted words. Was I pissed he assumed me to be gay? Fuck no. I was pissed because he felt the need to express a very demeaning insult, which was completely unnecessary.
For those that don’t know, Better Off Gay is an extra on the DVD where I re-edited and re-scored a scene in which I dubbed over all the voices, turning it into a little segment about 2 guys trading off blow jobs for hand jobs. To be honest, Better Off Gay is probably not the most accurate title, but I couldn’t think of anything else. This was in no way intended to be offensive, degrading or demeaning to anyone, especially the gay community. But I know, everyone takes everything differently. This was something I did as a joke on the actors. I showed this unannounced at the private premiere before the movie. So when everyone thought the movie was about to begin, they got this. I know people have had problems with this. As I said, this was not meant to be taken in a negative way. I have people in my life, people that are very close to me and I care for deeply, who happen to be gay. Sexual orientation is not important to me, and is nothing you should be discriminated for, just like the color of your skin. I am extremely passionate for gay rights, and homophobia or "gay bashing" is guaranteed to set me off.
Also, I know everyone has their own values/beliefs/opinions. I know people do not agree with me, as I do not agree with others. However, there is a difference between not agreeing and not respecting. I respect other views, but if you want respect, you must give respect.
"You and the youth are bringing the country down." That’s right, they call us problem child, we spend our lives on trial, we walk an endless mile. WE ARE THE YOUTH GONE WILD! Okay, enough Skid Row.
All fucking day I was pissed. It’s 2008, and yet we have people walking around like this. How can that be? I just couldn’t believe the disrespect this man had for a complete stranger, not knowing anything about me. Now, I say that, yet I am just as guilty for being disrespectful. But he started it!
I finally was able to get over my anger, and I found a little bit of humor in it. I found humor because I realized something:
Better Off Undead, offending people who haven’t seen it since 2007. |
|
|
|
| COMMENTS:
Rated on: August 6, 2009 11:18pm by cryptkickerHere's a piece of tasty justice that doesn't quite make it better, but it is somewhat soothing... yes, there are close-minded, fear-monging people like this out there still. LOTS of them. But they're going to die soon. Alone. Pathetic. And guess what they're not coming back as? Undead!! They just get to rot.
Good for you!
| |
|
|
