R.I.P Hugh Hefner

[regan is true fullback]

Hugh Hefner dead: Playboy founder dies at 91 - News.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/.../celebrity... ... 9dffbf59ed

sad to see. the last of the ratpackers, albeit the one who had the "loser kid with all the toys" role. the cool kids, like Frankie and Dean would allow themselves to play with his toys provided they turned up at his birthday party occasionally...

What can I say: in spite of his drawbacks, by supporting sexual liberation and anti racism, he did far more for the human condition than Andrew Bolt, Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Packer, Bob Santamaria, Steve Breitbart Guy, Miranda Devine, Paddy MacGuinness, Piers Ackermann and the ghost of Frank Packer and aallll and the ghost of Frank Packer and all.

[David]

A strange character. On the one hand, he facilitated some of the most interesting interviews of the '60s and '70s, with figures like Ingmar Bergman and Vladimir Nabokov. On the other, he helped facilitate Girls of the Playboy Mansion, one of the most horrific tv shows in the history of humanity. He wasn't all bad, but ultimately I think he was less a sign of the sexual revolution's social progress than someone who cashed in on it.

[think positive]

Did a lot for Viagra sales. David you watched 'girls of the playboy mansion'???? Speechless!

RIP Hugh, that's going to be one interesting interview at the pearly gates!

[swoop42]

Had a life most teenage boys could only dream of.

Can't ask for more than that.

RIP.

[David]

Did a lot for Viagra sales. David you watched 'girls of the playboy mansion'???? Speechless!

RIP Hugh, that's going to be one interesting interview at the pearly gates!

Never a full episode, but enough to regret it!

[Tannin]

What can I say: in spite of his drawbacks, by supporting sexual liberation and anti racism, he did far more for the human condition than Andrew Bolt, Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Packer, Bob Santamaria, Steve Breitbart Guy, Miranda Devine, Paddy MacGuinness, Piers Ackermann and the ghost of Frank Packer and aallll and the ghost of Frank Packer and all.

Perhaps.

On the other hand, there are green things growing in my fridge that did far more for the human condition than Andrew Bolt, Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Packer, Bob Santamaria, Steve Breitbart Guy, Miranda Devine, Paddy MacGuinness, Piers Ackermann and the ghost of Frank Packer and aallll and the ghost of Frank Packer and all.

I think David makes the first key point: Hefner didn't make it, he just got rich from it.

I'd make another point: it could very reasonably be said that Hefner did very little to assist the sexual revolution, that was going to happen anyway, with him or without him. But he played a major part indeed in channeling the direction of the sexual revolution: thanks to him (and others like him) for women it was all about attaining physical so-called "perfection" according to narrowly defined and restrictive American rules which excluded 90% of all women. For men, it was all about money.

Now you could say that sex was ever thus, sure. But the sexual revolution really was a revolution - society changed massively between (say) 1960 and 1980 and not just on the sexual front - and at revolutionary times societies are highly malleable. It doesn't take much at all to make big changes in direction which last for a very long time. Hefner chose to direct things in an unhealthy and unfair direction. There were many other factors operating at the same time, of course, but he could have been a force for good and he choose not to be.

[Dave The Man]

Did he Overdose on Viagra?

[HAL]

Suppose he did.

[Mugwump]

Did he Overdose on Viagra?

If so, the rigor mortis will set a new world record.

[think positive]

Hahahahahahaha

[Skids]

What can I say: in spite of his drawbacks, by supporting sexual liberation and anti racism, he did far more for the human condition than Andrew Bolt, Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Packer, Bob Santamaria, Steve Breitbart Guy, Miranda Devine, Paddy MacGuinness, Piers Ackermann and the ghost of Frank Packer and aallll and the ghost of Frank Packer and all.

Perhaps.

On the other hand, there are green things growing in my fridge that did far more for the human condition than Andrew Bolt, Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Packer, Bob Santamaria, Steve Breitbart Guy, Miranda Devine, Paddy MacGuinness, Piers Ackermann and the ghost of Frank Packer and aallll and the ghost of Frank Packer and all.

I think David makes the first key point: Hefner didn't make it, he just got rich from it.

I'd make another point: it could very reasonably be said that Hefner did very little to assist the sexual revolution, that was going to happen anyway, with him or without him. But he played a major part indeed in channeling the direction of the sexual revolution: thanks to him (and others like him) for women it was all about attaining physical so-called "perfection" according to narrowly defined and restrictive American rules which excluded 90% of all women. For men, it was all about money.

Now you could say that sex was ever thus, sure. But the sexual revolution really was a revolution - society changed massively between (say) 1960 and 1980 and not just on the sexual front - and at revolutionary times societies are highly malleable. It doesn't take much at all to make big changes in direction which last for a very long time. Hefner chose to direct things in an unhealthy and unfair direction. There were many other factors operating at the same time, of course, but he could have been a force for good and he choose not to be.

<snip>

The Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award was created by Christie Hefner "to honor individuals who have made significant contributions in the vital effort to protect and enhance First Amendment rights for Americans.

Hefner donated $100,000 to the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts to create a course called "Censorship in Cinema", and $2 million to endow a chair for the study of American film.

Both through his charitable foundation and individually, Hefner also contributed to charities outside the sphere of politics and publishing, throwing fundraiser events for Much Love Animal Rescue as well as others.

On November 18, 2010, Children of the Night founder and president Dr. Lois Lee presented Hefner with the organization's first-ever Founder's Hero of the Heart Award in appreciation for his unwavering dedication, commitment and generosity.

On April 26, 2010, Hefner donated the last $900,000 sought by a conservation group for a land purchase needed to stop the development of the famed vista of the Hollywood Sign.

Sylvilagus palustris hefneri, an endangered subspecies of marsh rabbit, is named after him in honor of financial support that he provided.

RIP Hugh.

[watt price tully]

<snip>

Tannin's argument about HH is just a tiny bit more sophisticated than he donated money ..... therefore.....he is totally wonderful.

[Mugwump]

I loathe the pornography industry, and I'm really not sure whether Hefner deserves particular damnation as a seminal influence on it, or whether his type of soft core erotica was actually categorically different. I can attest that like most men of around my age, he brightened up my adolescence in the seventies, and If he did not portray women as mental equals, I don't think his publications made women seem depersonalised. If anything, my wonder and awe at the power of female sexuality was probably enhanced by the small collection of magazines that I hid under the carpet. So I am not sure that it is fair to blame him for what came after. He seems a bit like a small track bookmaker compared to Crown Casino. They are both in the same business, but one at least still resembles real life where the other just wants to grind human blood and bones into money.