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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUtah chef has ’Die Fag’ carved into his arms with a knife
There are a lot of insane people walking around looking for causes to attack someone.
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/utah-chef-has-%E2%80%99die-fag%E2%80%99-carved-his-arms-knife130615
Rick Jones, 22, was closing up the family restaurant on 25 April when someone grabbed him, and slammed his head against a wall.
He passed out but when he woke up he found: Someone was on my chest and legs, and they were trying to force me to drink bleach.
Later that evening his sister found him in the restaurant, unconscious with a concussion and the words die and fag carved into his arms.
He was hospitalised for his injuries but released a few days later.
The attackers also stole $1400 (1243) from the family-run business, Grand Central Station Pizzeria.
Jones said: working through [the attack] has been a roller coaster.
Over the last two months, the family were attacked two more times.
On 30 April the Jones household had Die Fag spray painted across their garage door, and during Utah pride (4-7 June) a petrol bomb was thrown into Rick Jones's bedroom: he was was able to extinguish the flame in time.
niyad
(113,553 posts)Oneironaut
(5,524 posts)Yes, there is absolutely bigotry out there, and there are people that would do things like this. There have also been cases where someone had a mental illness, and did all of these things to themselves for attention. I'm not saying it's one or the other, but both are possible. Usually stories where there's mutilation involved seem to end up being self-inflicted. The bleach thing also strikes me as odd - if that's what happened, someone had a serious vendetta against the family or the victim and planned this out.
It just seems odd.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)why would you be skeptical about this?
The events in which a person with mental illness does something like this to themselves for attention are very rare, but tend to hit the news cycle much more than the actual real attacks...
I would love to see your evidence of this: "Usually stories where there's mutilation involved seem to end up being self-inflicted"
Not anecdotes, mind you, but actual data.
Oneironaut
(5,524 posts)What I'm saying is, it could be either of the two scenarios. This scenario is so outlandish that some skepticism is healthy. It could very well be true too.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)To let them know they may be wasting their time, because they seem to be taking it very seriously.
If you've even read the article at the link, let alone the coverage at CNN and the local news in that part of Utah, you may change your tune.
The fact that you find this outlandish to the point of creating so much skepticism comes across as naivete on your part, at best.
Response to RKP5637 (Original post)
Tipperary This message was self-deleted by its author.
Newsjock
(11,733 posts)Source: Salt Lake Tribune
An investigation into a string of purported hate crimes, which included "Die Fag" being carved into the arm of a gay Delta man, took a detour on Tuesday after police said the man admitted to harming himself.
Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker said attorneys for Richard "Rick" Jones made the admission to his office last week.
"Our client is responsible for all of the incidents and that would include the cutting of his own skin," Jones' attorney, Paul Burke, confirmed to The Tribune on Tuesday.
But Burke said characterizing Jones' actions as a hoax would be inaccurate. Jones is member of family that loves him, but is struggling with the acceptance of his sexual orientation, he said.
Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/2683196-155/police-say-utah-man-admits-to