Danny the Fridge stalks his prey…
[UPDATE: This story was, it now turns up, just another hoax. Fred Phelps doesn’t even have a son. I hate web hoaxes, whether I’m sucked in by them or not. But I’m cutting this one a little dispensation, because I needed a good laugh, and this sure provided it. ]
I am awash in shame. Since early this morning I have been bursting into uncontrollable laughter at another human being’s pain, as he was subjected to an experience of unimaginable existential and surreal horror. It is schadenfreude beyond question, not unethical in itself—feelings are not unethical—but taking joy in the misfortune of others is not a sound foundation for ethical conduct.
I’m not going to rationalize this: I should feel sympathy for the victim. Nonetheless, and even though he was attacked without provocation, and for exercising his First Amendment rights, there are some unusual mitigating circumstances:
- The victim was David Phelps, son of Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church infamy.
- He was ranting on during a radio interview in a mobile studio, and had just said, “God hates fags.”
- Suddenly, a 500 pound naked man known as “Billy the Fridge” burst out of a bathroom roaring, “Leviathan! Leviathan!” (see, now I’m laughing again: I’m a horrible person…) and..
- …proceeded to sit on Phelps, saying, “Who’s your Daddy now, Davey?”
- An eye-witness later claimed that he saw Phelps being pursued down the street outside the mobile studio by a naked fat man.
That last part was the one that got me. There, see, I’m laughing again.
We have been puzzling about what to do about the Westboro Baptist Church and its disgusting ritual of shouting anti-gay epithets at the funerals of fallen U.S. soldiers, and I admit that having a 500 pound naked fat man sit on him never occurred to me. I can’t condone it; it is assault and battery, and both a crime and a tort. Nor is it ever ethical, if you are a 500 pound fat man, to chase someone down a street. Indeed, it is arguably not even ethical to be a 500 pound naked fat man, at least in public. It is certainly wrong for any of us to sanction such behavior by cheering it on, or doing anything to encourage other naked obese people to ambush, sit on and pursue members of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Just wrong.
And now I’m laughing again.
I’m so ashamed.
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Pointer: Fark
Facts andGraphic: The Daily Mail
Ethics Alarms 
I think you’ve made your case quite well, so will not comment upon it.
I will say that Phelps must really be a weanie if a 500-pound naked man can successfully chase him down the street.
He’s apparently imaginary, so he can’t run very fast, having imaginary legs.
Agreed. If Phelps can’t outrun a 500-pound man, he needs to either improve his overall health or add a but of muscle mass — to compensate, of course, by the amazing lack of brain mass he continually demonstrates.
BILLY the Fridge. It’s probably best not to wonder who Danny might be.
Danny the Fridge was the 700 pound naked guy chasing Billy.
Turns out to be a fake, as clicking on the linked article will now reveal.
Too bad. But I still began the morning with about 30 minutes of laughter.
And I still feel bad that I didn’t feel sympathy for what supposedly happened to David Phelps.
Did I mention it turns out to be a publicity stunt for a live crucifixion? Sigh.
Yes, removing wool from my eyes as well.
“but taking joy in the misfortune of others is not a sound foundation for ethical conduct.
I’m not going to rationalize this: I should feel sympathy for the victim.”
The day isn’t over Jack. Some individuals representing a particular brand of irrationality are very creative at inventing exceptions and justifications/rationalizations that could skew your mirth into completely ethical sounding reasons.
Of course, had the scenario been slightly different and it ended with Fred Phelps slipping and falling on ice, with feet and hands pointing skyway. I’m sorry, I can’t find any ethical rule strong or absolute enough that would keep me from laughing wholeheartedly at that.
I am devastated that it was a publicity stunt!! Nooo!!! “Leviathan! Leviathan!” Genius.
What’s a little hoax when there’s a good laugh to be had? Thanks for sharing.
My reaction was so very different. I know a number of folks immediately thought this was some sort of parody or internet gag, but my mind didn’t go that direction. I was thinking from the perspective of my trained response to the sight of a stranger bursting into a room with me and attacking me.
He may not have died from the approximately seven new orifices in his body, but his life would surely have been different from then on. And all to make some sort of opaque point. Then I found out it was parody…