Lookin

Late night TV called out uncomfortable facts by making light of them. Calling out an unflattering truth exposes glaring hypocrisy. Rather than acknowledging or making an effort to address the hypocrisy, the response here was to silence the voices calling it out.
Consider the role of the jester, and his cousin, the clown. The clown entertains using comedy, audience interaction, and physical stunts to make people laugh and bring joy. The clown provides fun, if not superficial, unchallenging, entertainment by focusing on physical gags and tricks. The jester, however, provides a more consequential role in society.
The role of a jester in sparking positive change lies in using humor and satire to challenge authority, speak uncomfortable truths, and expose the flaws of those in power.
Though often seen as mere entertainers, jesters historically occupied a unique position with "jester's privilege," a license to mock and critique without facing the severe repercussions that others would. This made them potent, though often subtle, agents of change. 
Historically, jesters wielded influence within the court and beyond by:
* Speaking truth to power: Jesters could communicate harsh realities to rulers who were often surrounded by "yes-men" too afraid to contradict them. For example, after the French navy's destruction at the Battle of Sluys in 1340, King Philippe VI's jester delivered the bad news through a sarcastic joke, revealing the truth of the defeat when others wouldn't.
* Providing impartial advice: Unlike other court members seeking favor, a jester could offer rulers fresh, unfiltered perspectives on important matters of state. Their insight often helped heads of state gain perspective and make better decisions.
* Critiquing corruption and injustice: Jesters would often publicly mock corrupt officials, social norms, and the excesses of the ruling elite. This commentary, delivered through wit and observation, served as a subtle, yet impactful form of social critique.
* Exposing hypocrisy: Through their performances, jesters acted as mirrors to society, highlighting its flaws and the hypocrisy of its leaders. This prompted reflection among the court and revealed truths that went otherwise ignored. 
Contemporary jesters take the form of late night comedians, animated shows, video memes created by everyday people on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, and more. By removing the role of the jester in society (and more broadly, free speech), those with power to do so are breaking all the mirrors. The proverbial emperor has no clothes, and without a mirror to reveal the facts, nakedness reigns supreme.
Once all the jester voices have been eliminated from society, all we are left with is a bunch of clowns.

Bias is an interesting thing. Funny how it creeps up on you and you don't realize it even when it is glaringly obvious to others. We should all guard against it.  

I enjoyed his sense of humor, and remembered he passed in the 2010s. I thought there was a thread on remembering him already, only to find that there wasn't, but I was thinking about him in regard to forum members who are no longer with us.

Life would be too boring unless us newbies did stupid shit for you to laugh or narrow your eyes at. Eventually, as time whittles down our newbishness we'll feel the sting of wisdom and wish to kick our former selves down the stairs. 

You're sure not the first person who got involved with the wrong guy.  Spend an evening at the Grand Ole Opry and you'll hear dozens.  Some folks seem to chase the heartache and you may be attracted to it.  It would be good to have a discussion with a therapist and figure out if you want to change and how to go about it.
This particular guy you're involved with is presenting a different problem.  You will never know whether you're talking with him or with the drugs.  My suggestion would be to ask him to get back in touch with you when he's clean and sober.  If you never hear from him again, you'll at least be free to find someone to take his place.
I admire your efforts to help him get off drugs.  Please don't beat yourself up.  You're not a professional and that's what he needs.  In my opinion, your $1500 is better spent elsewhere and losing that income and your company may help him wake up.
Best wishes to both of you!

I'd ride that, at least buy it dinner though first:
The Airlander 10 ‘flying bum’ is ready to take to the skies again after crash
WWW.CNBC.COM The world's largest aircraft, the Airlander 10 airship, is ready to fly again after its crash last summer.  

I have a landline phone and an an iPhone. My landline phone tells me the number of the person calling, and if I don't recognize it as someone I want to talk to, I just let it go automatically to voicemail after 4 rings. Almost all of the callers stop as soon as as they are directed  to leave a message. My iPhone automatically silences call which isn't in my list of contacts, but keeps a list of the phone numbers from the silenced calls.

You're sure not the first person who got involved with the wrong guy.  Spend an evening at the Grand Ole Opry and you'll hear dozens.  Some folks seem to chase the heartache and you may be attracted to it.  It would be good to have a discussion with a therapist and figure out if you want to change and how to go about it.
This particular guy you're involved with is presenting a different problem.  You will never know whether you're talking with him or with the drugs.  My suggestion would be to ask him to get back in touch with you when he's clean and sober.  If you never hear from him again, you'll at least be free to find someone to take his place.
I admire your efforts to help him get off drugs.  Please don't beat yourself up.  You're not a professional and that's what he needs.  In my opinion, your $1500 is better spent elsewhere and losing that income and your company may help him wake up.
Best wishes to both of you!

You're sure not the first person who got involved with the wrong guy.  Spend an evening at the Grand Ole Opry and you'll hear dozens.  Some folks seem to chase the heartache and you may be attracted to it.  It would be good to have a discussion with a therapist and figure out if you want to change and how to go about it.
This particular guy you're involved with is presenting a different problem.  You will never know whether you're talking with him or with the drugs.  My suggestion would be to ask him to get back in touch with you when he's clean and sober.  If you never hear from him again, you'll at least be free to find someone to take his place.
I admire your efforts to help him get off drugs.  Please don't beat yourself up.  You're not a professional and that's what he needs.  In my opinion, your $1500 is better spent elsewhere and losing that income and your company may help him wake up.
Best wishes to both of you!

Cutie, you are so correct ! Its not simple and you hit in on the head with me developing  my formative experiences. I was too closeted and only now.....so thanks  for the understanding. Im going out there in 10 days. ( I know,,,,why??) Its like I want to see what he says now...where he doesnt know Ive seen the light.........So Ill see.....funny, I am quite at peace and I am happy I was such a help to someone in need . I paid alot of stuff for him etc....some therapy, lots of "tokens of my appreciation)" but I can justify it helping someone in real severe neeed....but then the truth hurts. MAN I never in my life would have  thought I would have been  so blind.....

I have to counter that a bit by saying that (at least in my experience, and I know I’m not alone) as a gay man, I missed out on many of the formative experiences of being a teenager.  I never dated, never got to fall in love, etc.  I’m in my 30s and have still not truly had these experiences.  So while @baseball6 is not a teenager in biological/chronological age, his life experience could very well be equivalent to that of a teenager learning to cope with his emotions.  Yes, he needs counseling, but his being a grown up man is irrelevant in this context.

Falling in love with someone, anyone, can drastically change who you thought you once were. Many people complain of totally losing themselves when they fall in love.
Falling in love with someone who is bad for you, can lead you down a treacherous path, and before you know it, you find yourself in a deep pit of co-dependency with a manipulative addict, who needs you far more than you need him. Before you know it, a lot of money is gone, and you are troubled about the state of things.
Sitting with the right therapist can help you see the forest for the trees, and help you learn how to better your life and situation.

I know it's fairly easy to make calls concerning others from one's own armchair.
I say test some other waters if quitting this particular escort cold turkey is too much.  As trite as "there are other fish in the sea" may sound, it's true.
It may be less stressful than you might think to seek out and patronize a more considerate (stable) young man.
I wish you well in whatever you decide to do.  I, too, have experienced having been hugely smitten with a provider.  It was gradually pulling away that helped me.
"Keep on keeping on."

Barbara Billingsley played the filthiest mom on TV. I remember one time she said "Ward, don't you think you were a little hard on the beaver last night?"
(Yeah, I know, that's an oldie.) 

@Luv2play is correct.  For the first three seasons (1954 - 1957) Tommy Rettig played the farm boy and Jan Clayton portrayed his widowed mother. The series was revamped in 1957. Jon Provost replaced Tommy Rettig, June Lockhart replaced Jan Clayton, and a father suddenly appeared. 
Little known Lassie fact:
Although Lassie was a female TV role (hence the name Lassie), all of the dogs that portrayed Lassie were male.
"All the dogs portraying Lassie have been male. A female collie was hired to play the lead in Lassie Come Home, but when an opportunity came to film "Lassie" negotiating some rapids, the female reportedly would have nothing to do with the rushing water. Rudd Weatherwax's collie "Pal" was substituted, and not only stole the stunt but won the role. Weatherwax continued to use male collies in the role for a good reason: both sexes shed in the summer (when most movies and television shows traditionally film most of their episodes), an event called "blowing coat," but since the male has thicker fur, he wouldn't look so scrawny during filming. Also, fans tend to think of Lassie as a "big heroic dog." Female collies are usually 10-15 pounds lighter than their male counterparts, therefore a male dog playing Lassie would look more impressive. Female collies were not ignored because they are any less intelligent; in fact, some of Lassie's stunt doubles have been females."
Lassie Web: Lassie Facts
WWW.LASSIEWEB.ORG Trivia and interesting facts about Lassie, the television series, and the people who appeared on it. Before Bosom Buddies, before Flip Wilson, and before RuPaul's Drag Race there was Lassie! The first drag performer on television 😀.
BTC
🤡

No offence intended, but I would think the splash from that cannonball would be about as unnoticeable as a tsunami from a western Pacific underwater earthquake.

Damn straight!  My 10-Meter Cannonball rarely gets noticed and I'm sure it's the outfit.   

Damn straight!  My 10-Meter Cannonball rarely gets noticed and I'm sure it's the outfit.   

Damn straight!  My 10-Meter Cannonball rarely gets noticed and I'm sure it's the outfit.   

Damn straight!  My 10-Meter Cannonball rarely gets noticed and I'm sure it's the outfit.   

Every other day I go to a bar downtown and have two glasses of my favorite scotch to check its quality and consistency. So far, so good.

The Olympics need to go back to being fully nude events.  This will balance the needs to put all players on an equal playing field during competition with the public's desire to admire these athletes.

Possibly, but sometimes just acknowledging a job well done can help to chase away the blues.