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A day with Hunter S. Thompson (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by Aschebescher

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[–]antonvowlvoidLess Than Nothing-Zizek 36 points37 points ago

While his suicide and crippling cocaine addiction are very sad, it is funny to think that after leading this kind of life he was the only thing that could kill him.

[–]flapping_eagle 6 points7 points ago

Do you mind if I steal your line for a song? Not sure where or when I'll be able to fit it into some lyrics, but this is gold.

[–]CariocecusFailed States 4 points5 points ago

I've seen something similar written before on Reddit. Something along the lines of "The only thing that could kill Hunter S. Thompson, was Hunter S. Thompson".

So I don't think that you are stealing (at least not from antonvowlvoid).

[–]flapping_eagle 8 points9 points ago

Well, it's the polite thing to ask. Plus, isn't all great art stolen?

[–]billypilgrim226 2 points3 points ago

Yes. Or, at some point, vandalized.

[–]antonvowlvoidLess Than Nothing-Zizek 1 point2 points ago

I just vandalized a bit of Monet the other day. Cleared my sinuses up right-good.

[–]antonvowlvoidLess Than Nothing-Zizek 1 point2 points ago

Go for it, and send me a link if you post it on the internet.

[–]flapping_eagle 1 point2 points ago

Thanks! Will do.

[–]1010_ 1 point2 points ago

It's been said by numerous people since his death. Earliest mention is in 2005.

[–]antonvowlvoidLess Than Nothing-Zizek 1 point2 points ago

I didn't imagine that I was the first or the last to make this comment, probably not even with the pronoun usage instead of the use of 'Hunter S. Thompson'; but good researching on your part (unless you were just referring to Thompson's death as the starting point, then I take back my karma. Or not, I'm probably too lazy).

[–]1010_ 0 points1 point ago

You deserve your karma good sir! I was just pointing out that other people had independently thought of the same clever idea.

[–]cactuscatcactus 15 points16 points ago

Midnight, after nine hours of substance abuse, Hunter is ready to write. Ha! While I admire his endurance (and his really clever writing), the man was probably an intolerable pain to be around if you were not part of the crazed/weird party.

[–]mastigiaPicture Books 5 points6 points ago

When all the weird is working it's great, but living that way every day for years I bet there was a lot more bad than good.

[–]SoundSalad 2 points3 points ago

When the goin gets weird the weird turn pro.

[–]mastigiaPicture Books 0 points1 point ago

I used to love that page heh.

[–]Brain13 12 points13 points ago

Holy shit.

[–]TripCrusader 11 points12 points ago

God damn. And a gun is what killed him?

[–]billypilgrim226 1 point2 points ago

Guns are pretty effective, from what I understand.

[–]shakeysurgeon 9 points10 points ago

At least he had a routine?

[–]mastigiaPicture Books 11 points12 points ago

He took "Better living through chemistry" to heart.

[–]TripCrusader 2 points3 points ago

well, maybe not the heart...

[–]mastigiaPicture Books 2 points3 points ago

...to art then.

[–]CapricancerousThe Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin 7 points8 points ago

This sort of defies belief. Steeping oneself in that much, repeatedly? A routine? Maybe he had a regular day of fasting. Then again, maybe not.

Lunch sounds quite nice though.

[–]CapricancerousThe Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin 4 points5 points ago

I should add that this makes the film adaption of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas not seem so extravagantly outlandish either.

[–]SoundSalad 1 point2 points ago

Yeah i somehow doubt he took cocaine and dropped acid every day, along with copious amounts of alcohol. For one, there is a hell of a tolerance to all three substances. To the point that the acid wouldn't even work anymore.

[–]CapricancerousThe Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin 4 points5 points ago

I believe that about the acid, but if we're giving a remote sense of credibility to this excerpt, the outlined excessive use of cocaine and alcohol more likely indicates that he had already developed the tolerance, requiring so much to accomplish what for him then would be only a moderate, yet continuous state of intoxication. And that's taking the excerpt at a little less than face value but not writing it off completely.

[–]IrregardingGrammarThe Hobbit 0 points1 point ago

My guess is that "daily routine" is an artistic liberty and that it's more like just a crazy day.

[–]IronRedSix 4 points5 points ago

And some wonder what made is journalism truly 'Gonzo'...

[–]inkedexistence 6 points7 points ago

I have no doubt that Thompson took more drugs and liquor than a bus full of strippers.

That said, Thompson did play on his reputation, and I very much doubt this is accurate, at least for any length of time.

[–]CapricancerousThe Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin 0 points1 point ago

Well, the header does suggest that it may be an apocryphal schedule, meaning its possibly of dubious authenticity. To toy with the idea of accepting it as fact is not without its entertainment value, though.

[–]hipsterparalegalThe Dictator's Handbook 2 points3 points ago

There's no way this is true, but it's awesome that people BELIEVE that it is.

[–]SoundSalad 0 points1 point ago

Yeah this was just one day if he was lucky.

[–]Turkeytron 2 points3 points ago

That man was a machine.

[–]ElevatortotheGallows 2 points3 points ago

How the hell did he have that kind of appetite after all of that cocaine?!? I know your body will adapt to it but shit.

[–]mavriksfan11Gravity's Rainbow 1 point2 points ago

It is a lie. So that's how.

[–]IrregardingGrammarThe Hobbit 2 points3 points ago

My guess is that "daily routine" is an artistic liberty and that this was more like "one crazy ass day with Hunter S. Thompson."

[–]SteelSaint 3 points4 points ago

Easily the most entertaining thing I've read on the internets all day. Too bad he killed himself. Such a waste.

[–]janetnotjackson 4 points5 points ago

What he did was very thought through. He lived and died the way he intended to, from the start.

His note:

"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun — for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your (old) age. Relax — This won't hurt."

[–]anilinguistThe Humbling 2 points3 points ago

I've been reading through his old letters, "The Proud Highway" and "Fear and Loathing in America" and it's really strange to see that he always (from his twenties) knew he was going to kill himself.

[–]ThingsIveSeenandDone 3 points4 points ago

In all actuality it isn't that strange. A lot of people who are suicidal, hold on only for logically deduced reasonings. Their suicidal tendencies never go away, they just cope.

I'd wager that most people who commit suicide knew for a very long time that they would one day die at their own hand, it's just that we have Hunter's writings to inform us.

[–]billypilgrim226 2 points3 points ago

All I can and should say to this is: you are definitely right that it isn't too strange. What's strange, perhaps, is that we tend to conceptualize suicide as an irrational, emotional, impulsive, and reactionary act. Anyone who is familiar with suicidal ideation knows that suicide is all too logical to the mind who bears it. In fact, it appears to be the only logical choice. And it is often thought about, obsessed about, for years. Although I think, too, your observations are on the mark about coping and holding on, I also think that, for some, the act is simply deferred, as in they actually plan a late suicide.

[–]Morphine_Jesus 0 points1 point ago

Great post, and while it is obvious he had decided early on he would commit the act, I think we should all kind in mind a few other factors that also contributed to his suicide.

  1. The decline of meaningful journalism in the United States, and the general attack on freedom of expression.

  2. The new levels of corruption reached by big business, and the acquiescing of the government.

  3. Us and societal factors. I think this is the biggest one. I remember seeing a later interview of his where he was asked 'when is a new opposition to corruption and power going to arise?', and he responded "I'm still waiting" rather sarcastically, then looked at the camera in silence for about 30 seconds. I personally think the only reason he held on so long was in hope of seeing some kind of movement arise again.

[–]SoundSalad 0 points1 point ago

You've never felt the same?

[–]mavriksfan11Gravity's Rainbow 3 points4 points ago

Apparently this is all lies, and I tend to believe that it isn't true.

I'm not saying Hunter S. Thompson didn't do a shit ton of drugs all the time, but this is clearly an exaggeration, if not flat-out lie.

[–]blue_cheese_pleaseThe Rum Diary - Hunter S Thompson 2 points3 points ago

It most certainly is bullshit as this comment on /r/WTF shows.

[–]fancyPantsOne 1 point2 points ago

Dat lunch!!!

[–]nvsblJohn Dies at The End 1 point2 points ago

Am I the only one that's disappointed to learn he puts ice in his scotch?

[–]SoundSalad -1 points0 points ago

I somehow doubt he took cocaine and dropped acid every day, along with copious amounts of alcohol. For one, there is a hell of a tolerance to all three substances. To the point that the acid wouldn't even work anymore.

[–]uhhhclem 0 points1 point ago

Hard to believe that a person who lived like this could go into a 25-year decline and then kill himself.