Panti Bliss: the new Ronnie O'Brien?

Snickers Man

Panti Bliss has come in 29th place on a Time Magazine reader's poll to determine the 100 most influential people in the world

In this he/she follows in the footsteps of illustrious compatriot Ronnie O'Brien, a once promising young footballer from Bray who actually spent a few seasons as a youth on the books of Italian giants Juventus.

When that club's supporters hosted an Internet poll to find the Juventus "Player of the Century" who do you think was up there with the likes of Zinnedine Zidane, Roberto Bettega, Paolo Rossi, John Charles, Michel Platini, Zbigniew Boniek?

Yep. Ronnie O'Brien, who by then was plying his trade in the USA.

Irish people can't resist an internet prank, it seems.

Indeed, flushed with their success they then moved on to a TIME poll to find the Person of The Century and the bould Ronnie finished quite high on that one too.

Now it seems that Irish internet pranksters have managed to get our local equivalent of the Shrieking Yale Girl into the upper echelons of a more recent Time poll.

Some people have too much time on their hands

Rothko

I just watched that video of the "Shrieking Yale Girl. I can't believe that people like that actually exist in the real world.

dublinman1990

Suas11 wrote: »

I just watched that video of the "Shrieking Yale Girl. I can't believe that people like that actually exist in the real world.

I watched the very same thing. She needs to retune her beliefs to make her live in the real world.

I mean getting offended over a few people wearing halloween costumes. I mean FFS; Get real with yourself missus.

Birneybau

Yes.

HeidiHeidi

It's not just an Irish thing.

Boaty McBoatface, anyone?

I'm tired of being told how great Panti Bliss is.

Wibbs

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I watched the very same thing. She needs to retune her beliefs to make her live in the real world.

Sure, though if she stays in American academia her beliefs will do just fine. Crazy though that is. The consistent characteristic of all these new hippy nutters is that mentally and emotionally they're basically barely adolescent children. And spoiled ones at that. If you view them like this it's easy to see where they're coming from. They're a generation and class(and often gender) that have been cosseted and pampered into believing their shít don't stink by parents and society. Add in social media that has weaponised attention seeking, affirmation, gossip and self importance and you have the perfect environment for growing temper tantrum never my responsibility idiots. As I said a percentage of the population that are12 year old only children with over indulgent parents trapped in an adult's body.

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm tired of being told how great Panti Bliss is.

These days I just tune that kinda thing out TBH. When he first came along and was noticed by the Irish Meehja I listened and read and felt a growing meh nothing to see here. The "speech" he made that was apparently "soooo life affirming"(by idiots on Facebook) I never saw the big deal about. I admire the fact he's made a name, living and life against a fair number of odds, so fair play there.

magma69

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm tired of being told how great Panti Bliss is.

HOMOPHOBE!

Sky King

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm tired of being told how great Panti Bliss is.

It annoys me that Panti Bliss is the defacto representative of the gay community. I am not sure why. I am not gay but if I was I would probably be p!ssed off that everyone who didn't know any better before now assumes that Panti Bliss is everything being gay means.

smash

Sky King wrote: »

It annoys me that Panti Bliss is the defacto representative of the gay community. I am not sure why. I am not gay but if I was I would probably be p!ssed off that everyone who didn't know any better before now assumes that Panti Bliss is everything being gay means.

Rory is very articulate man. I think he should drop the drag act completely.

Dirty Dingus McGee

I voted yes in the referendum and I never paid any attention to this ginnet. So he had no influence on me.

I suspect he had very little influence on anybody in reality it's just that he appeared on TV and at events a few times and the media kept on telling us how influential he was without having any way of accurately gauging his influence which I suspect was non existent.

gazzer

Sky King wrote: »

It annoys me that Panti Bliss is the defacto representative of the gay community. I am not sure why. I am not gay but if I was I would probably be p!ssed off that everyone who didn't know any better before now assumes that Panti Bliss is everything being gay means.

I love how Panti is all about equality but if you go into Panti Bar all the staff are Brazilian. No other nationality at all. Diversity only exists for Panti when there is no money to be made it seems. Every other gay bar in Dublin has a mix of nationalities working there.

RDM_83 again

Sky King wrote: »

It annoys me that Panti Bliss is the defacto representative of the gay community. I am not sure why. I am not gay but if I was I would probably be p!ssed off that everyone who didn't know any better before now assumes that Panti Bliss is everything being gay means.

Well before him David Norris seemed to be the representative so is it any worse.

smash

RDM_83 again wrote: »

Well before him David Norris seemed to be the representative so is it any worse.

They should put him in a dress and call him Granny Bliss

RDM_83 again

smash wrote: »

They should put him in a dress and call him Granny Bliss

Shudders!

The flying mouse

Snickers Man wrote: »

Panti Bliss has come in 29th place on a Time Magazine reader's poll to determine the 100 most influential people in the world

In this he/she follows in the footsteps of illustrious compatriot Ronnie O'Brien, a once promising young footballer from Bray who actually spent a few seasons as a youth on the books of Italian giants Juventus.

When that club's supporters hosted an Internet poll to find the Juventus "Player of the Century" who do you think was up there with the likes of Zinnedine Zidane, Roberto Bettega, Paolo Rossi, John Charles, Michel Platini, Zbigniew Boniek?

Yep. Ronnie O'Brien, who by then was plying his trade in the USA.

Irish people can't resist an internet prank, it seems.

Indeed, flushed with their success they then moved on to a TIME poll to find the Person of The Century and the bould Ronnie finished quite high on that one too.

Now it seems that Irish internet pranksters have managed to get our local equivalent of the Shrieking Yale Girl into the upper echelons of a more recent Time poll.

Some people have too much time on their hands

I never knew we won the UEFA championship, :D deadly. Https// en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_UEFA_European_Under-16_Championship

RobertKK

The list also includes Martin Shkreli...

pauliebdub

It's just a guy promoting his business interests like his book, dvd and bar. The panti act is his brand. I think he is tiresome at this stage and certainly doesn't represent the gay community.

5starpool

Well Ronnie O'Brien didn't finish high up in the man of the century poll. He was leading it due to the Irish campaign, but was removed any time he showed up in the leaderboard by Time.

... I'm kind of out of the loop about a lot of this, but what exactly did they do that was so influential, to be listed in the top 100 of the world, no less.

pickarooney

Who eventually won that BBC song of the century?

bobbysands81

Snickers Man wrote: »

Panti Bliss has come in 29th place on a Time Magazine reader's poll to determine the 100 most influential people in the world

In this he/she follows in the footsteps of illustrious compatriot Ronnie O'Brien, a once promising young footballer from Bray who actually spent a few seasons as a youth on the books of Italian giants Juventus.

When that club's supporters hosted an Internet poll to find the Juventus "Player of the Century" who do you think was up there with the likes of Zinnedine Zidane, Roberto Bettega, Paolo Rossi, John Charles, Michel Platini, Zbigniew Boniek?

Yep. Ronnie O'Brien, who by then was plying his trade in the USA.

Irish people can't resist an internet prank, it seems.

Indeed, flushed with their success they then moved on to a TIME poll to find the Person of The Century and the bould Ronnie finished quite high on that one too.

Now it seems that Irish internet pranksters have managed to get our local equivalent of the Shrieking Yale Girl into the upper echelons of a more recent Time poll.

Some people have too much time on their hands

Ronnie O'Brien was actually leading Time Magazine Man of the Century alongside Einstein, Ghandi, Mandela etc... when Time Magazine pulled him out of the competition.

bobbysands81

pickarooney wrote: »

Who eventually won that BBC song of the century?

The Wolfe Tones - A Nation Once Again.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2591357.stm

dav3

It's always amusing to see people get so worked up over drag queens and referring to them as 'he'. You do understand that they are just characters and certain traits may be over exaggerated for entertainment purposes?

It's a bit like going to a Christmas panto and being outraged by the carry on of the panto dame *clutches rosary beads*.

In this country at least, we have an almost endless news cycle of old men in suits acting like children, all in the name of politics. So when something different pops up on our news channels, I see it as a welcome relief, not something to get worked up over or have a rant about.

Wibbs

dav3 wrote: »

It's always amusing to see people get so worked up over drag queens and referring to them as 'he'.

Eh, it's a man dressed and made up as a camp stereotype of a woman, of course one would refer to such a person as "he". They're not transexuals.

You do understand that they are just characters and certain traits may be over exaggerated for entertainment purposes?

Getaway? Well I never...

It's a bit like going to a Christmas panto and being outraged by the carry on of the panto dame *clutches rosary beads*.

So long as I ain't involved in a decade of the anal beads I'm happy out.

smash wrote:

Rory is very articulate man. I think he should drop the drag act completely.

He is, but the drag act is what gets him in the door. He'd have to come up with another angle to remain visible and relevant. Not so easy.

El_Dangeroso

Isn't this just the classic Irish hating on anyone who does well for themselves outside of this country?

I mean does anyone have any actual legitimate criticism of the man or is it just the media reporting of which he doesn't have much control over?

I mean he just made a speech based on his own experiences that struck a chord with people and has capitalised on that. What a monster right?

RobertKK

Gay or straight, or whatever else. What is the appeal of a drag queen?

AnonoBoy

Was the long list not chosen by Time initially?

Dirty Dingus McGee

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Isn't this just the classic Irish hating on anyone who does well for themselves outside of this country?

I mean does anyone have any actual legitimate criticism of the man or is it just the media reporting of which he doesn't have much control over?

I mean he just made a speech based on his own experiences that struck a chord with people and has capitalised on that. What a monster right?

But I think some people suspect his influence has been completely over stated and that it was purely a media decided to attribute him with this influence and that he doesn't deserve anywhere near the credit he has received.

The_Kew_Tour

If ever they're a person more overrated in life it's him

edbrez

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm tired of being told how great Panti Bliss is.

I've seen him in the street, he wears all that make to hide the emotional scars.

spurious

When did Rory O'Neill/Panti Bliss ever claim to represent the gay 'community'?

AnonoBoy

spurious wrote: »

When did Rory O'Neill/Panti Bliss ever claim to represent the gay 'community'?

He never did.

But like all things - when someone gets a load of coverage people just tire of them.

Personally I'm not bored of Panti. I can understand how people felt moved by her speech and it was a right place/right time kinda thing.

The funny thing is if the Iona Institute hadn't threatened legal action after that Saturday Night Show interview Panti would still be just a drag queen running a bar in Dublin as opposed to an internationally known drag queen giving talks around the world. David Quinn must be really annoyed at himself!

keano_afc

I don't think we'd hear from him as much if it weren't for the likes of the Journal and the sainthood they've bestowed on him.

edbrez

That man is mentally unwell.

Zaph

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Ronnie O'Brien was actually leading Time Magazine Man of the Century alongside Einstein, Ghandi, Mandela etc... when Time Magazine pulled him out of the competition.

He was removed for being a frivolous candidate, as was Gordon Hinckley, who was president of the Church of Latter Day Saints at the time. Basically the Mormons did the same as the Irish and stuffed the vote, but some got a bit annoyed about Hinckley being removed while Elvis was top of the list for a while. Time Magazine had an online forum at the time devoted to the poll which was massively entertaining and involved much outrage (both real and of the faux variety) from large numbers of Irish guys and mainly American Mormons. Iirc both groups subsequently ganged up on the Elvisites. :pac:

Mr. CooL ICE

edbrez wrote: »

That man is mentally unwell.

Care to explain?

Snickers Man

The flying mouse wrote: »

I never knew we won the UEFA championship, :D deadly. Https// en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_UEFA_European_Under-16_Championship

You didn't?

How old are you? We won the under 18s Euros as well. And came third in the Under 20 World Cup. All within a space of 3-5 years.

Coach of all three teams was one Brian Kerr.

ohmplate

Well done everyone here.

Snickers Man

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Isn't this just the classic Irish hating on anyone who does well for themselves outside of this country?

I mean does anyone have any actual legitimate criticism of the man or is it just the media reporting of which he doesn't have much control over?

I mean he just made a speech based on his own experiences that struck a chord with people and has capitalised on that. What a monster right?

Who called him a monster?

I think there is a body of opinion, widely expressed here, that his reputation as an influential personality is exaggerated. That's not to demonise him. But if somebody is talking nonsense, and receiving acclaim for it, is it all the fault of the media or does some of the blame lie on the person who made the utterances in the first place?

You want me to parse his entire "Noble Call" speech for self-absorbed, bland, trite and utterly impertinent soundbites? I could do it easily. There wasn't an ounce of insight in that whole rant.

None of the foregoing is any sort of argument against the basic cause he espoused, namely gay equality and in particular marriage equality. But I can think of many more genuinely courageous, humorous and empathetic campaigners who were far more influential for far longer than Panti.

Snickers Man

Snickers Man wrote: »

Now it seems that Irish internet pranksters have managed to get our local equivalent of the Shrieking Yale Girl into the upper echelons of a more recent Time poll.

How exactly is Panti Bliss our equivalent of her? Who did Rory O'Neill ever shout abuse at or try to ban from wearing a costume? I seem to recall him giving a decent speech about how homophobia can make you feel like shít, and an interview in which he shockingly referred to well known homophobes as homophobes, and.......well, that's about it.

If people are sick of hearing about Panti (and, yes, she does seem to get a lot of media coverage) surely it's not that difficult to just tune it out? If an article appears about her in a paper or online it requires much less effort to simply skim past it and not bother commenting, than it does to comment on how sick you are about hearing about her.

Rory O'Neill's isn't a full-time activist, he's a business man who dabbles in activism. The more favourable media coverage and exposure he gets, the more people are likely to be going to spend their money in Pantibar. Anyone in his position would most likely do the same. Or do you think he should flat out refuse to give any interviews or do any promotional work, just so he doesn't annoy people who seem to be very easily annoyed?

Snickers Man wrote: »

Who called him a monster?

I think there is a body of opinion, widely expressed here, that his reputation as an influential personality is exaggerated. That's not to demonise him. But if somebody is talking nonsense, and receiving acclaim for it, is it all the fault of the media or does some of the blame lie on the person who made the utterances in the first place?

What nonsense would that be? Did he say something particularly controversial or stupid that I missed?

You want me to parse his entire "Noble Call" speech for self-absorbed, bland, trite and utterly impertinent soundbites? I could do it easily. There wasn't an ounce of insight in that whole rant.

Ok, go on then.

Maybe it's not Martin Luther King stuff but there was clearly more than an ounce of insight if it was able to strike a chord with so many people.

RobertKK wrote: »

Gay or straight, or whatever else. What is the appeal of a drag queen?

I've never really gotten the appeal of it myself. But if people enjoy it then fair enough, as pursuits go it's a pretty harmless one.

newacc2015

keano_afc wrote: »

I don't think we'd hear from him as much if it weren't for the likes of the Journal and the sainthood they've bestowed on him.

I dont particularly like him. But what happen after the Saturday night show was ****ed up. Who could ever think that an everyday person could make a single comment on national TV and be slapped with several letters from various solicitors/ individuals.

Regardless of whether you like him or not. He highlighted that free speech isn't so free in Ireland. No one should be slapped with lawsuits over their opinion

doc11

newacc2015 wrote: »

I dont particularly like him. But what happen after the Saturday night show was ****ed up. Who could ever think that an everyday person could make a single comment on national TV and be slapped with several letters from various solicitors/ individuals.

Regardless of whether you like him or not. He highlighted that free speech isn't so free in Ireland. No one should be slapped with lawsuits over their opinion

You can say whatever you like but you can't Defame someone cause they don't share your opinion.

Wibbs

RobertKK wrote: »

Gay or straight, or whatever else. What is the appeal of a drag queen?

It's an interesting subject and something with very deep roots across time and cultures. Precious few cultures didn't have men(straight as well as gay too BTW) in drag exaggerating what are seen as feminine traits. It does appear to fill some sort of need within humanity.

Deleted User wrote: »

If people are sick of hearing about Panti (and, yes, she does seem to get a lot of media coverage) surely it's not that difficult to just tune it out? If an article appears about her in a paper or online it requires much less effort to simply skim past it and not bother commenting, than it does to comment on how sick you are about hearing about her.

What nonsense would that be? Did he say something particularly controversial or stupid that I missed?

Gender pronoun confusion ahoy.

BunkMoreland

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

Care to explain?

He's a male who wears a dress. What more explanation do you need?

fryup

the guy is a pain in the hole (if you pardon the pun)

i had the misfortune of briefly meeting him in a cafe and he was the most ignorant self centred obnoxious prick i have ever come across....i actually was half hoping that the referendum proposal would be defeated just to see the look on his smug face

Poor Uncle Tom

WOW!

Somebody shows up in a poll and it makes them a target for hatred.

I thought that was reserved for politicians.

arayess

the beatification of Panti by the media I find nauseating not to mention the sycophantic hi-5s thrown about social media to every utterance by a hoarde of people just waiting to hop on the next bandwagon.

Panti doesn't speak for ireland or even a portion of ireland.
The marriage referendum would have passed panti or no panti

Campaigning for gay rights in the last 10-15 was no big thing.

The bravery was shown by people like david norris and the original gay rights campaigners back in the 1970s and 1980s when there was real opposition to gay people.

Panti is the emperor without clothes and the masses are too blinded or to fearful of being labelled to call everybody else on it

iguana

doc11 wrote: »

You can say whatever you like but you can't Defame someone cause they don't share your opinion.

But he didn't defame anyone because in order to defame to someone you must say something false that makes the 'right-minded' public change their opinion on the person. Saying that someone who the majority think of as a homophobe, is a homophobe is not in anyway defamation.

MRnotlob606

Panti Bliss has been made look like Martin Luther King by the Media.

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^^^

exactly,

he's one trick pony..he's a man who dresses like a woman, i mean HELLO he hasn't found a cure for cancer or anything, like get a grip everyone