http://www.synaesthetic.com/jarhead.html
Introduction
Alex Jones: Another Paranoid, Uneducated, Unemployeed White Male with an Inferiority Complex. Oh Joy !
Alex Jones is the name of a guy who for lack of a better description, is a personality at ACTV (now known as ACAC). He spends each and every possible moment on TV going on about this New World Order, about his super-patriotism and about how everyone except the most devoutly hyper paranoid right wing lemmings is trying to persecute him. he generally does this by equivocating anyone not conforming to HIS views as goosestepping nazis.
The first part of this page is devoted to revealing some things about Mr. Jones that he will vehemently attempt to deny. In the civilized world, we call these things, "facts".
The second part of my comments will be wholly and totally biased. Jones is a bully. Part of being a bully is being a coward at heart. I will spend my time proving that not so deep down that Alex Jones is an attention craving,delusional, disgruntled uneducated white male who ultimately believes in nothing.
My introduction to Alex Jones came from surfing through channels 10, 11 and 16. For those of you who are not subscribers to Austin Cablevision, these are the Austin Community Access Centers channels. Anyone who cares to take the time to become a producer of a live or dead (eg: recorded), show can do so by taking the classes and reserving a series time. I did such a thing many years ago and encourage as many people as i can to do the same.
Or you can be like Alex Jones. He simply asks various producers if he can show some tapes and/ or be a talking head for their shows. This is good for the producers because many producers have an idea of what their show should be like, but aren't really cut out for being on television. It is possible that Jones is now a producer; i do not know.
So there I was one night, flipping through the channels and there's this guy on TV who is taking calls (this was a live show). I honestly thought the guy was funny, not because of his sense of humor, but because a caller might say, "Hey Alex, there are too many damned Asians at UT". (sadly enough, there are enough lazy white boys at the University of Texas who are too chickenshit to compete against Asians in the race for a good grade in the academic arena. They would much rather piss and bitch and moan about it instead of studying). So this guy, Alex, would then start up with something like, "You are so right. These Communists are trying to subvert this country by coming here, squeezing students out of universities and distributing their propaganda."
Note that this is not an actual quote, but rather is indicative of the type of rhetoric that Alex Jones gives.
But later, he became much more incoherent. He started putting organizations and names to the forces that were persecuting him, though he never had any proof. One such story came from an event that he fabricated that will be explained in a bit.
So as far as i was concerned, this guy went the wayside of all other crackpot conspiracy theory nuts and religious zealots. And he faded into the background noise until he became a mere buzz of incoherentness.
Then... then he had to introduce himself to me.
One night, before it was time to make the set of my show, Alex starts hoopin and hollerin about some ratings he received as a result of this little hour or so of ranting he was able to do on KLBJ am. Apparently no one bothered to tell him what sort of people tend to listen to am radio, let alone what kind of people listen to am radio at night. Well, ratings are ratings and he was happy and proud that he had done so darn well. Okay, he's entitled to that. If you need ratings to have some sense of approval, and you need that approval to justify your esteem, then go for it.
So as he's about to leave the building, he sees me working on a computer. He SCREAMS at me, "HI! I'M ALEX JONES!" Now, being a Texan of a much higher caliber than the likes of Clayton Williams (who steadfastly refused to shake the offered hand of Ann Richards when she offered it to him before a debate for the governorship of Texas), i went to shake the hand.
Handshakes are important. You can tell a lot about a persons handshake, the way they use their eyes when they speak and on a more intimate level, the way someone uses their hands. Well, no sooner than had my hand joined with his when he withdrew it. "My name is She..." "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I'VE SEEN YOUR SHOW!" I honestly don't remember anymore than that. He stormed out of the door before any conversation could happen. Once again, he faded into the background; a noise much less significant than any gnat.
Like i said, "Handshakes are important".
Some weeks later i put a tagline on my show. It was custom to create and put some text on the screen (i worked with a static shot) that changed from week to week. This one week, i had gotten sick and tired of the irrelevant diatribes of the radical paranoid white trash hicks that now permeate the live shows of ACAC. So on my screen was the following tagline:
The access show without a delusional conspiracy theory.
So the show ended. Some people got a chuckle out of my tagline, but no one really remembered it. Heck, we never even once talked about the paranoid angry white male shows except to have an ocassional chuckle at their expense.
And again... weeks later after i'd all but forgotten about this tagline, Alex approaches a young man named Sean who was at the studio to take my show over (something i enjoyed doing; being in front of the camera all of the time can become very boring). Sean was about 14 years old. Jones gets into his face when i'm in the restroom. I walked out to see Jones grilling Sean. "DID YOU CONSPIRE TO BUY THAT SHIRT OR DID YOUR MOTHER BUY IT FOR YOU?!?" (verbatim) Sean had become an unwitting victim of the one i would come to call, "Jarhead Jones".
Sean, to his credit, shrugged him off by saying, "My mother bought it for me." Jarhead was momentarily stumped. "DID SOMEONE CONSPIRE TO MAKE HER BUY IT?!?" (again, verbatim), he cleverly responded . So there he was, this towering mass of anti-intellectualism steadfastly pointed at a 14 year old. And that was when he and i had words. I won't even bother to describe his attempt at rationale discussion. But to be fair, it was pretty sad of me to think that he'd listen to anything i said to him.
For a sample of this person's incoherent ramblings and social retardation, listen to the first 3 or so minutes of this Real Audio clip of him (note: this link appears to be dead. If i can find it again, i will change it). More specifically, listen to the first caller trying to give Jarhead Jones some support. If you feel the need, please listen to more. If you decide that this is the kind of reactionist, white trash plebian rhetoric that appeals to you, more power to you.
But that wasn't what really pissed me off about Jarhead. Sure, it takes an utter and complete coward to antagonize a 14 year old but what really set me off was this...
So one night, i'm flipping through the channels. I see a segment of a 60 Minutes show on one of the access channels. Here's the setup: a SWAT team working with University Police somewhere in Florida, I believe. there was a voiceover of this particular clip. The voices of the original interviewees were replaced with Jarhead Jones saying things like, "...AND SO WE'RE DOING ALL OF THIS TO FUND THE POLICE STATE AS MANDATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE NEW WORLD ORDER!" (note: this quote is of my own creation. Alex Jones is incapable of stringing together such a coherent thought... ask anyone who's listened to him)
This bothered me. It really bothered me. I have been a producer at ACTV for most of this decade and a fan of it for longer. Most of that time, i've been witness to ACTV being under attack by the right wing... People like Jones who love to cry, "I've got rights!", but when questioned or they cross a line, then all of a sudden they're helpless persecuted victims.
The concept of, "If you don't like what you see, exercise your right to change the channel!" has eluded these people. There's something about free speech being used by someone who is not subservient to the Radical Right that really pisses these people off. But i'm getting ahead of myself.
It may not be readily clear why this pissed me off, but that should be explained at length shortly.
I posted the following letter at the ACTV studio. The letter was torn down by Alex Jones within the hour.
An Open Letter to ACAC Producers
Dear Friends,
Some weeks ago, I watched part of a program on either channel 10 or 16. Someone had recorded a segment of a 60 minutes episode about a SWAT team that was part of a University campus in Florida (I believe it was Florida). This segment had been altered by a narrator speaking over the voices of those who were being interviewed. Whatever their original opinions and comments were, were lost to the voice of the narrator.
What bothered me about this show was not so much the fact that someone had shown someone else's work; in this case 60 Minutes. However, it is not unreasonable to think that CBS might find a legal reason to sue ACAC and the producers of the show that showed their for plagiarism and slander. This alteration was not satirical nor humorous and thus would not receive protection as such. Perhaps "Fair Use" would fall into this category, but given the fact that CBS' work had been altered by the narrator, I cannot help but to feel that the producer of the show put the institution of ACAC and thus, the community of other producers at serious risk of a lawsuit. For those of you who were part of ACTV/ ACAC a couple of years ago should remember the chilling effects that a lawsuit (the Infosex debacle), can have upon this establishment.
What I found so disturbing about this program was the fact that the person "narrating" this story appeared to be interested only in convoluting and distorting the journalism of 60 Minutes to fit his own theories. For those of you who did not see this show, the narrator spoke over the voices of those in the story, filling their dialog with his own ideas which were incoherent at best.
On a personal level, none of this disturbed me nearly as much as the fact that the narrator saw the 60 Minutes segment and those who were part of the story, as mere objects to be treated as puppets. He filled their mouths with words that weren't theirs, making human beings into inanimate objects that existed only for the sake of having them serve his own incoherent delusions.
By writing this letter, I hope to raise awareness that there are some among us (Producers), who are jeopardizing the foundation that we all work so hard to maintain. That is, the personification of Free Speech, the ability to bring contemporary issues to the community of Austin (especially live television), the coverage of local artists/ musicians and the opportunity to create content for visual media. As a collective of Producers, we have worked far too hard to let anyone jeopardize the freedom that we (still) enjoy.
Thank you for your time,
Shelly Tumbleson
Producer #1830 from 1992 to present.
When I wrote this letter, my goal was not to do any name calling. It was to raise awareness that there are factions of producers down here (at ACAC) who see Free Speech as an excuse to say anything they wish to, regardless of it's factual basis and regardless of the legal implications. By not pointing finger and naming names, I allowed those responseible for this "piece" to save face. The narrator was Jarhead, though to this day, I do not know who the producer was, nor the name of the show.
I posted my letter on the producers board here at the studio. This board is a place for us to communicate to one another; whether it be a call for talent or an announcement or a statement; this board is a sanctuary for us to post our thoughts. However, in true paranoid fascist behavior, Jarhead removes my posts as soon as he can; provided that I'm out of sight. In true paranoid fascist behavior, free speech is good and well as long as no one stands up to challenge his delusions. Then again, he berates me (behind my back, of course), as untalented because i've only done 6 years of live television instead of of being a shock jock on the local white trash ranting radio station [which, as of the summer of 2000, went out of business].
Because of this behavior, I decided to spend some time on my last show talking about the mental deficiency and cowardice of these people. Such as, has anyone ever wondered why only uneducated to semi-educated white males call these shows? Perhaps they're not capable fo taking charge of their lives and thus need to blame someone else for their failures? They have a victims mentality. That is, everything that happens to them is the fault of someone else. It reveals their level of immaturity. I have heard this tripe before. Historically they have used words like, "degenerate", "subversive" and "immoral". They call themselves patriots, freedom fighters, avatars and all too often, they proclaim their actions, regardless of the cost or outcome, as the will of God.
But there's more, so much more...
A fellow producer related the following story to me. The names have been changed, except for a couple. The following is an excerpt of that letter. Bracketed "[ ]" areas are my own clarifications.
His incessant pestering of me was completely centered around "what an asshole you [ in reference to me ] are." At least 4 times during this mono-syllabic diatribe, he asked me not to tell you that he said this. OK Jarfuck.
He challenged a man to "step outside"... the man (Steve) took him up on it, and whipped him like the little bitch that he is. Not being able to accept defeat... he claimed that 4 men with knives attacked him to stifle his free speech. OK... maybe many of us have been that humiliated in our lifetimes... But THEN he got Daddy to call in a favor, and
he actually got the FBI to go to Fringeware to find Clayton's address. (Clayton is the first guy that he first tried to lure outside) He did this by concocting a story of him being one of the leaders of a "terrorist" organization called Anathema, which is affiliated with Fringeware."
As the months went on, my source was harassed by [Alex Jones], who tried to coerce him into believing that he had indeed been attacked by these guys with knives. Finally he [the source], explained that he knew the real story of what happened and that if Jarhead didn't shut up about the incident, he would call every radio and television show in town and explain what really occurred.
After this letter, I received a more detailed account of what happened:
"This is a long story, but the details make it so much more enjoyable! I'll be as brief as possible. This guy Clayton, a.k.a. SpaceHitler, had been pranking everybody at access for 7 years. (the "die-die-die guy"), including you. His favorite target was Jarhead. One Monday night Jeff Davis had his "Patriot Fun Show" Jeff dressed as Elvis, Jarhead dressed as a Booger Elf. Jeff's daughter/call screener, Crystal loved his pranks... and put one through on this night. After Jarhead was freaking out at the call, Clayton (henceforth referred to as C) called back. Crystal invited him to the show, saying that if Jarhead started anything... there were people there to stop it. C called me for a ride. As hard as it was, I declined. No way was I gonna put C and Jarhead together in one building. He found another ride, and brought along a crazy skater friend of his. (C is legally blind, so he doesn't drive)
Upon arriving, C and co.(a total of 3 guys)were talking to whoever was at the desk, and Sir Jarhead the Booger Elf, a.k.a. Jarhead, recognized his voice... and began to berate him as best his little mind could manage. C is actually very smart, and was calmly pointing out Jarhead's swelling example of fascism.
Jarhead became louder, and louder begging C to step outside. That is when Steve, said, and I quote. "I can't believe you're acting like this because he called you a Jarhead." He spun around and focused his fury on Mystery S. When he said "step outside, and I'll whip you like my bitch." Mystery S said OK, let's go... and led the way. Jarhead hesitated, then followed. As did Charlie (of The Show with No Name) and Kanya (no name co-host, & play toy) with C, and the driver.
Jarheads next brave move was to announce that he had a gun, and began foraging around in his truck. Steve said, oh, now your gonna shoot me you pussy. Jarhead came from the truck with his hand in his pocket, and slowly advanced towards Steve. Steve retreated 2 or 3 steps, then said, "Then shoot me" and promptly nailed Jarhead with a right hook. They both just stood there for what seemed like a long time, then Steve let many more fly.
Jarhead tried to throw one... that's right, one punch which grazed Steve's nose... like flicking at a booger. At this point Iggy came out of the studio. Jarhead saw him, and screamed for him to go get Bob. Iggy ran in to do his masters bidding. Steve hit him a few more times. By now Charlie had convinced C and his friend to get out of there. They got in the car, and split. (with Steve) Bob came running out, to see Jarhead bleeding profusely, and shouting "they jumped me with knives!" Charlie disputed this, so Jarhead spit blood on him...So Charlie, bless him, punched him right in that mason jar of a head. When the cops came, Jarhead was ranting and changing his story with each breath... began to talk of his importance... and his families wealth... and his relatives in the FBI!!!
Nearly getting himself arrested. Herman saw the security tape of the incident, and related it, blow by blow, to (name deleted) and I the next night. The next day the Idiot Cause Jumpers Brigade took over the airwaves. Greg Ericson...Jeff Davis etc. Most notably, Terry Liberty Parker. He called every show claiming Jarhead had been attacked in the parking lot by 4 guys with knives... held his own, breaking the biggest guy's nose. (Jarhead's version, of course.) And crying out about what a "Chilling Effect" this will have on free speech in Austin. Several of us called around to these same shows, telling the real story. We were cut off almost immediately on most shows. Terry began to call this a blame the victim campaign... and likened it to blaming a rape victim for the assault due to the length of her skirt.
About a week after this began, I called Terry Liberty Parker at his home and let him have it. He would not hear anything I had to say. So I told him that if it took me the rest of my days, I would rub his nose in the "chilling effect" I (we) did. At one point TLP stopped hosting his 30 min Libertarian insert before Smash the State, thinking it would stop. It never has.
Jarhead tells a whopper when he recounts this story... It seems to grow exponentially each time I hear it. What a pussy. He created Social security fraud, child pornography, and terrorism charges so he could bring in the Feds. The guys at Fringeware told the Feds, fuck you... bring a warrant. To the bureaus credit, they let it drop.
To this day, these delusional buffoons still reference this "event" as proof that what they do is gravely dangerous. I have 6+ hours of footage of all of the flap on access that I have titled Jar Wars. So you see... lots of people do know the truth. That is why Jarhead freaks out so bad when somebody throws it in his face. The scary thing is that I believe Jarhead truly thinks his version IS the truth!
For many weeks we lampooned these idiots on Night Talk. Clayton would call in as Jarhead, recounting how Ninjas with light sabers descended upon him to stamp out his free speech. You gotta hear some of these calls."
I also found out that Jarhead left the studio with a lot of his blood decorating the lobby. He didn't even have the courtesy to clean his own mess up.
Are you suprised at any of this? Neither is anyone else.
Before i go any further with letting Alex Jones make even more of an ass of himself than he has already, i wanted to present a couple of items for your consideration.
The DSM-IV, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, is the benchmark for helping mental health experts determine the nature of a persons sickness. This book is readily availible at any decent bookstore.
I found this passage last year and i thought it had Alex Jones written all over it. It describes the features of a manic episode. Now i'm not an expert at diagnosing these sorts of things but you may be (or you may just think you are). Read the following excerpts and decide for yourself if they resemble our favourite dunderpate or not.
Inflated self esteem is typically present, ranging from uncritical self-confidence to marked grandiosity, and may reach delusional proportions (Criterion B1). Individuals may give advice on matters about which they have no special knowledge (e.g., how to run the United Nations). Despite lack of any particular experience or talent, the individual may embark on writing a novel or composing a symphony or seek publicity for some impractical invention. Grandiose delusions are common (e.g., having a special relationship to God or to some public figure from the political,religious, or entertainment world).
Manic speech is typically pressured, loud, rapid and difficult to interrupt (Criterion B3). Individuals may talk nonstop, sometimes for hours on end and without regard for others wishes to communicate. Speech is sometimes characterized by joking, punning and amusing irrelevancies. The individual may become theatrical, with dramatic mannerisms and singing. Sounds rather than meaningful conceptual relations may govern word choice (i.e. clanging). If the persons mood is more irritable than expansive, speech may be marked by complaints, hostile comments or angry tirades
Now, i'm not saying that Jones *IS* a manic depressive or that he is constantly having manic depressive episodes, but i do think that there are grounds for suspecting him of being afflicted with manic depression and/or other psychosis. But there's much more, both before and after the above quoted paragraphs. For a fair estimation of how accurate a Manic Episode is to the behaviour of Alex Jones, please read up and make your own decision.
Judging from his behavior, i suspect Jones of being afflicted with one or a variety of mental ailments, but
a cocaine habit might induce the same type of behavior.
Should people take pity on Alex Jones? That's a tough one. Whatever afflictions he has, he appears to do nothing to try to overcome them. So while i have a tough time finding any pity for him, I think it's appropriate for people to find him pitiful.