I loved the show MASH... BUT....

[Brian37]

Looking back at it now, being older and wiser, I hate the Radar character. Not the fact he was kind and gentle, I loved that part. But the bullshit motif that he could feel things coming and "read people's minds".

Ha ha yeah that's because you're old and cynical. But I remember watching guy on whom Radar was based on saying that he also didn't particularly like that and that he thinks ESP doesn't exist





And also actor that played Radar is some JW and not very lovable.

BTW I see there are fans of MASH here but did anyone ever watch "After MASH" and/ or "Trapper John, M.D."?

Of course the people we see in media, even stage comedians or musicians are not always the act we love. I know Pat Benatar, while she played great music really didn't like smoozing with fans. Not that she didn't like them, but she simply wanted to wind down after work. It does not surprise me that the actor who played Radar was a JW.  But outside the BULLSHIT ESP motif of the character. I did love Radar(the character)'s kindness.

After MASH if I am guessing correctly was a short lived show about Klinger and Potter? That didn't last but a couple years. 

I never got into Trapper John though.

Thanks for posting that video. And no I am not cynical. I simply have a good bullshit detector. It's called skepticism. Glad to know the real guy Radar was based on also didn't like that. Thanks for posting it.

[Jackalope]

Our family used to watch the show when it first aired. The episode where Henry Blake was sent home was one of the most sobering, poignant moments in television before or since.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Radar was an archetype of the "wild talent" guys in the military. He stood in for the guy who could find a brothel in a town none of us had ever been in before, or the guy who always found the booze sources. Brothers in spirit.

[Brian37]

Our family used to watch the show when it first aired.  The episode where Henry Blake was sent home was one of the most sobering, poignant moments in television before or since.

Outside all the religious crap they interjected into it sometimes, I really loved the compassion in that show. I think the reason I loved it so much was because I was bullied as a kid. And all the characters besides Frank and Colonel Flag saw war as hell, and your fellow human as just that.

I loved how the doctors treated the locals as equals, and even when they had to care for NK captured, they did the same.

I know I am hard on religion, and blunt about religion. But unless you are literally trying to kill me in the moment, the worst you are going to get out of me is a "bullshit". 

The world has enough violence and war. M.A.S.H. Is one of those shows that shaped me. Not that I could be a doctor, or serve in the military. But in knowing we are ultimately all the same species.

---

Just the other day, I saw a repeat, where Hawkeye got stuck with NK soldier who's buddy was dying. Neither of them spoke the same language and the NK soldier was was suspect of Hawkeye being an American. But somehow Hawkeye through his voice and body language convinced the NK soldier that he was going to try to save his buddy. Unfortunately the guy dies in the episode. The NK soldier is upset, starts shouting to motion Hawkeye to leave, so he starts to walk away. The NK soldier starts to dig a grave with his helmet, Hawkeye turns back to see this, walks back, and starts digging with his hands to help him.

I cried when I watched that. Of course it is just a show. But I am quite sure despite conflict, in real war, there are still acts of empathy like that.

[no one]

Yeah, I didn't like how on the TV show, Superman, he could fly. It's just not realistic.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Actually, Radar's ability wasn't necessarily paranormal.  Everything he did in that vein can be chalked up to either extremely good hearing and/or being hyper observant around people. Also, there was no intimation that he could 'read minds'. 

Boru

[Brian37]

Actually, Radar's ability wasn't necessarily paranormal.  Everything he did in that vein can be chalked up to either extremely good hearing and/or being hyper observant around people. Also, there was no intimation that he could 'read minds'. 

Boru

Not the point. Regardless of the writer's intent, lots of people do believe in ESP like the real man the character was based on, in the video posted earlier.

Even he(the real soldier) Radar was based on stated the reality in that he was simply observant.

Some people chalk mundane reality up to woo regardless.

I had my wait staff literally poo poo me after "seemingly" "reading their mind" when I told them I was simply observant, after I cleared a table without being asked.

Even outside this show, I once worked under a shift manager at a major pizza chain, that thought by trying to take a smoke break, it would make the phones ring. He'd always say, "Every time I try to smoke, the phone rings".  He even once commented to a customer that because 3 people in a row ordered a "works" pizza, after hours of no orders, that there was "something to it". I wanted to bitch slap him.  First off it was lunch time, secondly that would be a good time for the corporation to place adds on TV.  He got pissed when I interjected, "No, that is not amazing. What would be amazing is if 3 people in a row called a pizza joint and asked if we sold steal belted radial tires." 

The character was not explicitly written to promote ESP, no, but  it certainly was something viewers could see in it if they wanted to.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Actually, Radar's ability wasn't necessarily paranormal.  Everything he did in that vein can be chalked up to either extremely good hearing and/or being hyper observant around people. Also, there was no intimation that he could 'read minds'. 

Boru

Not the point. Regardless of the writer's intent, lots of people do believe in ESP like the real man the character was based on, in the video posted earlier.

Even he(the real soldier) Radar was based on stated the reality in that he was simply observant.

Some people chalk mundane reality up to woo regardless.

I had my wait staff literally poo poo me after "seemingly" "reading their mind" when I told them I was simply observant, after I cleared a table without being asked.

Even outside this show, I once worked under a shift manager at a major pizza chain, that thought by trying to take a smoke break, it would make the phones ring. He'd always say, "Every time I try to smoke, the phone rings".  He even once commented to a customer that because 3 people in a row ordered a "works" pizza, after hours of no orders, that there was "something to it". I wanted to bitch slap him.  First off it was lunch time, secondly that would be a good time for the corporation to place adds on TV.  He got pissed when I interjected, "No, that is not amazing. What would be amazing is if 3 people in a row called a pizza joint and asked if we sold steal belted radial tires." 

The character was not explicitly written to promote ESP, no, but  it certainly was something viewers could see in it if they wanted to.

Don't you think it's rather unfair of you to hate the character (your words) based on what people can read into it?  That's kind of like saying you hate baked goods because some people see the face of Jesus in a danish.

Boru

[Brian37]

Not the point. Regardless of the writer's intent, lots of people do believe in ESP like the real man the character was based on, in the video posted earlier.

Even he(the real soldier) Radar was based on stated the reality in that he was simply observant.

Some people chalk mundane reality up to woo regardless.

I had my wait staff literally poo poo me after "seemingly" "reading their mind" when I told them I was simply observant, after I cleared a table without being asked.

Even outside this show, I once worked under a shift manager at a major pizza chain, that thought by trying to take a smoke break, it would make the phones ring. He'd always say, "Every time I try to smoke, the phone rings".  He even once commented to a customer that because 3 people in a row ordered a "works" pizza, after hours of no orders, that there was "something to it". I wanted to bitch slap him.  First off it was lunch time, secondly that would be a good time for the corporation to place adds on TV.  He got pissed when I interjected, "No, that is not amazing. What would be amazing is if 3 people in a row called a pizza joint and asked if we sold steal belted radial tires." 

The character was not explicitly written to promote ESP, no, but  it certainly was something viewers could see in it if they wanted to.

Don't you think it's rather unfair of you to hate the character (your words) based on what people can read into it?  That's kind of like saying you hate baked goods because some people see the face of Jesus in a danish.

Boru

No. I loved my late mother, a very real human being. But sure, when she took communion I did hate that. Not her, but the logic itself.

I loved Radar's kindness as a character, as much as I loved my real mother's unwavering support she gave me my entire life.

But when I use the word "hate" I don't mean in a " I want you dead or arrested" mentality.

More like if you had a friend or family member who went around every day saying, "The Cleveland Browns beat the Washington Capitals in Wimbledon Tennis". I may like or love you as a friend or family member. But if you kept on repeating that shit, it would bother me to the point of wanting to correct you.

Yes, absurd claims can and do drive me nuts. No, that does not mean I am going to have you arrested or murdered or oppress you.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Don't you think it's rather unfair of you to hate the character (your words) based on what people can read into it?  That's kind of like saying you hate baked goods because some people see the face of Jesus in a danish.

Boru

No. I loved my late mother, a very real human being. But sure, when she took communion I did hate that. Not her, but the logic itself.

I loved Radar's kindness as a character, as much as I loved my real mother's unwavering support she gave me my entire life.

But when I use the word "hate" I don't mean in a " I want you dead or arrested" mentality.

More like if you had a friend or family member who went around every day saying, "The Cleveland Browns beat the Washington Capitals in Wimbledon Tennis". I may like or love you as a friend or family member. But if you kept on repeating that shit, it would bother me to the point of wanting to correct you.

Yes, absurd claims can and do drive me nuts. No, that does not mean I am going to have you arrested or murdered or oppress you.

Oh, ok.  that makes sense.  See, when you said, 'I hate the Radar character', I thought you meant 'I hate the Radar character', when you clearly meant something completely different.  Silly me.

Boru