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MADem

(135,425 posts)

68. I knew this guy who was, for lack of a better term, a grifter. He was raised Roman Catholic, but

Thu Apr 21, 2016, 11:42 PM

Apr 2016

he wasn't really religious. He did make a career out of being a user, though.

Towards the end of his life he hooked up with the JW's, and they always wanted him to go out banging on doors with them. He'd always have an excuse; his feet hurt, the doctor told him take it easy, bad heart, etc.

I knew this guy because he was always cadging rides, and I help people who need help on that score. This guy could easily afford taxi fare, though, so I stopped helping him out quite so much once I figured out he was just a user. I'd take him along if I was taking someone else who really needed the help, but I didn't go out of my way for him.

Anyway, he used those JW people six ways to Sunday. He'd always go to any event that had food, and take a plate home, but he'd be slow on contributing to the cause. I think he told them he was gonna leave his "fortune" to them, and when he died they had a service for his ashes, but the will gave what he had to his brother--LOL. I imagine the church peeps were pissed when they found out.

Takers getting took, I guess...!

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Raunchy Prince was actually a conservative Christian who reportedly opposed gay marriage [View all] MADem Apr 2016 OP

Anybody who saw purple rain. Hugin Apr 2016 #1

I never saw that film. I'll bet it will be on TV soon. nt MADem Apr 2016 #18

Until it comes on, start by looking up, "I'd die 4 U". n/t Hugin Apr 2016 #25

I've heard his music--just never saw the film. nt MADem Apr 2016 #29

For the record, he thought very highly of ellen degeneres, too. Hugin Apr 2016 #95

Really? nt MrScorpio Apr 2016 #2

So sez the WAPO--it's news to me. nt MADem Apr 2016 #19

Nope I knew of his views, it's been reported before. I was waiting to see how long it took m-lekktor Apr 2016 #3

I never followed the guy that much. I was aware of his music, I was aware of Charlie Murphy's MADem Apr 2016 #13

Nope I am sure this is news to many people not just you! nt m-lekktor Apr 2016 #15

When I think of "Prince" Go Vols Apr 2016 #67

Apparently he actually WAS a badass basketball player! MADem Apr 2016 #69

So true, and also his album cover of Dave Chappelle..."Breakfast can Wait"... Stellar Apr 2016 #104

I'll never listen to Purple Haze the same way again. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2016 #4

... Hugin Apr 2016 #5

Wolf Blitzer's been in a Purple Haze all his life! BuelahWitch Apr 2016 #7

LOL--Good old Wolf! Now that's a funny fuckup!! nt MADem Apr 2016 #10

Wolf is such a fuckin' tool HOPNOSH Apr 2016 #12

Let me add, a majority of my facebook friends are gay and all of them are sad and posting Prince m-lekktor Apr 2016 #6

Maybe they haven't looked at the WAPO yet. It was news to me, too. nt MADem Apr 2016 #11

well i have seen it mentioned in the gay press over the years m-lekktor Apr 2016 #14

I'm gay and knew this about him. Didn't change my opinion of him as an artist. I am beaglelover Apr 2016 #21

I feel the same! I am sad over his death as well. nt m-lekktor Apr 2016 #23

So what? It was his beliefs. His music was great. NYCButterfinger Apr 2016 #8

Why are you "so what"-ing me? It's new information to me, as I said (several times, now). MADem Apr 2016 #16

No, but it was his views. NYCButterfinger Apr 2016 #22

Well he was a bigot rockfordfile Apr 2016 #86

Lots of people were at one point against gay marriage npk Apr 2016 #9

President Obama didn't die of an overdose in a home elevator. MADem Apr 2016 #17

Your attempt to find an excuse to grave-dance are pretty sad, MADem. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #26

Wow--aren't you behaving in a sorry fashion, name calling me like that! Why are you doing that? MADem Apr 2016 #34

I called you by no name other than your own. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #46

You characterized me as a grave dancer for wanting to discuss an article in a major newspaper. MADem Apr 2016 #51

seldom agree with you, Go Vols Apr 2016 #59

Damn, gotta wonder who "hit the button?" MADem Apr 2016 #71

results Go Vols Apr 2016 #74

Thanks!! MADem Apr 2016 #77

One more for you. Action_Patrol Apr 2016 #103

I said that you're looking for an excuse to grave-dance Scootaloo Apr 2016 #76

And I said you were looking for an excuse to disrupt, and here you are, CONTINUING to do that. MADem Apr 2016 #79

I haven't told you how to behave at all. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #82

I agree she is acting shameful classykaren Apr 2016 #102

Isn't he just a piece of work, though? bvf Apr 2016 #98

You could say that... Scootaloo Apr 2016 #100

So is the ability to edit posts in a thread you've been locked out of a bug or a feature? Rob H. Apr 2016 #111

Whoa, is that the case? cwydro Apr 2016 #66

TMZ "I'm a LAWYER" usually doesn't get it wrong, and that's what they've got. nt MADem Apr 2016 #72

Fuck the Washington Post!... TeeYiYi Apr 2016 #20

Why is it tacky? It's not like he was trying to conceal this information. MADem Apr 2016 #24

Are you seriously... TeeYiYi Apr 2016 #30

Post removed Post removed Apr 2016 #36

we don't know it was heroin restorefreedom Apr 2016 #63

You're entirely right--or it could have been a Nurse Jackie addiction. MADem Apr 2016 #75

I think the case with PSH, and I could be mistaken, was quitting and starting back up too strong. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2016 #91

"Scootaloo got me booted out of my own thread". No, YOU got you booted from your own thread. cleanhippie Apr 2016 #109

Jehovah's Witnesses are not actually considered Christian by Christian churches. braddy Apr 2016 #27

I don't really know that much about them, save that they've disturbed my sleep on occasion. nt MADem Apr 2016 #28

I don't either, I know a lot about Mormons because of Romney and research, but not the Witnesses. braddy Apr 2016 #37

I don't think they're political, so we'll probably have no reason to learn about them in the context MADem Apr 2016 #40

True what you said, as a note, Eisenhower was born into a JW family, but some think it may have been braddy Apr 2016 #60

lol Go Vols Apr 2016 #65

those might be true facts...which does not make them 'news'... islandmkl Apr 2016 #31

It's news to me. If you aren't interested, hit HIDE THREAD and move along. nt MADem Apr 2016 #38

Who cares? He was an artist, not an authority figure tralala Apr 2016 #32

I do. MADem Apr 2016 #39

of course in the end it matters. It seems that the guy was a bigot rockfordfile Apr 2016 #88

All our heroes have some flaw Kelvin Mace Apr 2016 #33

Well, he's not really a "hero" to me, though I thought he was a talented musician. nt MADem Apr 2016 #41

Well, "hero" was too broad a word, Kelvin Mace Apr 2016 #48

Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, who were part of "the Revolution" ScreamingMeemie Apr 2016 #35

His alter-ego was Camille. glinda Apr 2016 #89

He used to go door to door proselytizing between tours Recursion Apr 2016 #42

Now that's .... fascinating. Wonder if I slammed the door on him? MADem Apr 2016 #44

Right? Even funnier is imagining the guy who listens but keeps side-eyeing that one missionary Recursion Apr 2016 #45

Do you live in Chanhassen? glinda Apr 2016 #90

I heard this years ago .... kwassa Apr 2016 #43

I guess you can't always escape your childhood...or maybe you don't want to....? MADem Apr 2016 #49

I think it was a later-life conversion. . kwassa Apr 2016 #52

I'm not really clear on the timeline, but I think his childhood was as an Adventist, and MADem Apr 2016 #54

Rev. Al Green kwassa Apr 2016 #64

Doesn't he still have a church in Memphis? redstateblues Apr 2016 #80

whoa really? OriginalGeek Apr 2016 #115

Jeez. Iggo Apr 2016 #47

He was one of the most talented musicians and performers I've ever seen. polly7 Apr 2016 #50

Why don't you leave this thread alone instead of telling people what to do? MADem Apr 2016 #53

Why would someone have to send me a pm for me to post on this thread? polly7 Apr 2016 #55

Mmm hmmm. nt MADem Apr 2016 #57

No idea what you're moaning about. nt. polly7 Apr 2016 #58

When Prince Got Political Zen Democrat Apr 2016 #56

OMG, that's not the most surprising thing about that article, either...!!!!!!!! MADem Apr 2016 #62

Even some non-Republicans liked Rudy though in MN. glinda Apr 2016 #92

JW's and SDA's have similarities. They think the rest of us are with the devil literally they do. bkkyosemite Apr 2016 #61

I knew this guy who was, for lack of a better term, a grifter. He was raised Roman Catholic, but MADem Apr 2016 #68

They have many blue collar workers they use to build their Kingdon Halls and they make them bkkyosemite Apr 2016 #70

HOLY SHIT! MADem Apr 2016 #73

I can start on the Mormons LOL..nah... bkkyosemite Apr 2016 #78

In 2012 Mnpaul Apr 2016 #87

His camp claimed right after the 2008 interview that he never said Lucinda Apr 2016 #81

Shameful post. morningfog Apr 2016 #83

Totally agree. Euphoria Apr 2016 #85

Certainly transparent, ronnie624 Apr 2016 #93

I disagree,with all the hagiography around (St. Ronnie of Reagan for example)... uriel1972 Apr 2016 #96

No, but you can maybe, possibly avoid shitting on them for awhile BuelahWitch Apr 2016 #97

I was always impressed by the talent he had and the ability EllieBC Apr 2016 #99

But no one is surprised at the post. DisgustipatedinCA Apr 2016 #110

Thanks for the info. All 840high Apr 2016 #84

You have to be sick rusty fender Apr 2016 #94

Enquiring Minds Meteor Man Apr 2016 #101

Wendy? Bluenorthwest Apr 2016 #105

I'm glad I've gotten into the habit of separating the art from the artist. LanternWaste Apr 2016 #106

... probably why he didnt like Lady Gaga. nm mr_liberal Apr 2016 #107

Could U actually imagine... GoldenThunder Apr 2016 #108

People are complicated. FSogol Apr 2016 #112

Doesn't change his talent, his great music, or Bettie Apr 2016 #113

Prince was something that you'll never understand gollygee Apr 2016 #114