Yon vs. Yon
Last year, while Michael Yon was battling with Blackfive and most of us Milblog fucks, I kind of stayed out of. Like the Japanese while King Kong and Godzilla battled it out, I focused on staying out of the way of falling debris. But for some reason, Yon kicked at the ant hill again last week, accusing Jim Hanson of not being in combat…he started it with sending accusatory emails, then it spilled out on to the pages of Blackfive.
If I remember correctly, Yon hadn’t been in combat as a member of the military and banked his reputation on a few weeks at Camp Mackall, too, so what’s the big deal? So I sold off a good portion of my Michael Yon stock, but kept my public mouth shut.
I got an email last weekend from our buddy, WOTN who asked me how to screen shot like the pros, so I sent him instructions. Well, here’s the result.
I guess Yon had decided to attack CJ Grisham, a real combat veteran, on Facebook for CJ’s public admissions to PTS. That kind of goes beYONd the pale. So my portfolio is now Yon-free.
Category: Bloggers
We had this discussion. I removed all references to Yon from my FB, deleted his blog from my home page links, and blocked any thought of him after he left the rez.
Yon has really gone over the edge. What a shame a, supposedly grown man, has to stoop to such levels. REALLY pissed me off the way he attacked CJ. NO need. NO reason. NO positive end result.
Like many I USED to be a Yon fan. Actually sent him money way back when. Shameful that so many still pander to his whining and keep sending him funds so he can stay in and around Thailand to fulfill his “needs.”
We love you CJ!
Yeah, I’m kinda jealous though, because I tried really hard to get Banned by Yawn last year with no luck. Instead, I “unliked” him on fb, and ignored his whiney ass. Now it seems that ALL the cool kids are Banned by Yawn! dang. Might almost be worth “liking” him again, just so I can wear the t-shirt.
I watched the drama unfold for a few hours during my daughter’s cheer competition this past weekend. That was worth the cost of my cell phone internet alone…
I’ve never been a reader of Yon but did keep up with last year’s threads about him. I was amazed by the way the conversation devolved Saturday and was shocked by the irrationality of Yon (not to mention his failure to detect sarcasm), his seemingly cut and paste posts, and his prying for the personal information of various commenters.
I’m merely a junior NCO who hasn’t even hit the hump of my career, but Yon reminds me of so many other Soldiers who screw up their career; comparing themselves against those who succeeded in theirs. In Yon’s mind, Hanson’s years of experience as a senior Special Forces NCO with various operational deployments are a moot point. After all, Yon served with SF as well (albeit for a miniscule amount of time) and then went on to become a fairly successful “combat” journalist.
…what happened to this dude. Makes me sad.
I used to be a fan, before Yon became a demi-deity in his own mind. I lost all interest over a year ago with some similar shenanigans of his. Too bad he didn’t stick to just taking photos. He’s now completed the journey from useful, to useful idiot, to plain idiot.
Even more saddening is this type of behavior: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1779484456959&id=1534837722
I said it last year and I repeat it here. Michael Yon seems to have gone down the same path as another military advocate who had a distinguished career. That being David Hackworth. At one time I greatly respected each one and now I feel nothing but betrayal.
I wish I knew how this sort of thing happens.
“Put not your trust in princes…”
To everyone that says they were a fan, I have to add “ditto” here. Sad though.
“Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more; it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
Nice, Jacobite. Very nice. Also very appropriate.
Last night he banned BostonMaggie for “trolling and dishonesty”…!
http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-am-banned-by-michael-yon.html
I’ve continued to follow him despite his increasingly patronizing and sound bite-driven posts, and carefully crafted world-weary traveller tone, because on some level I like to see the tennis-match discourse that some of his posts create. But this is truly bizarre! Banning someone is certainly his prerogative; but calling out the outspoken, intelligent, well-connected, full of moxie BostonMaggie (who also happens to be undergoing chemo and stem-cell transplant at the current time) for lies and trollish-ness??
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Check valve.
***Mad props to Maggie.
Perhaps he’s been outside the wire too long.
Yep…he’s a “Legend in his own Mind” poster boy for sure.
The sad thing is, I used to admire the fact that he was a former SF NCO…and later got the rest of the story on that bit of history (or non-history).
I did (and still to this day) admire much of his photographic work; I absolutely consider his photo of the Army Major cradling the dead/dying little Iraqi girl in his arms to be one of the greatest wartime photos ever taken…right up there with Capra, Duncan and others.
It’s a shame he lost his focus on showing the world the face of war and of Soldiers/Marines and began to focus on his own ego.
Sad indeed…
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Spigot,
Yeah, that’s when I stopped reading his website so much. When it was less of “let’s have a well written story of what our guys on the ground are doing today, along with good pictures” to “let’s yell at generals while I post pictures of stars and other random crap because I’m awesome.”
Yeah, I was staying out of it too. I used to link to Yon until the blowout back when, now I just think he’s an asshole. You don’t go after someone based on their PTSD. Sounds like the bullshit move some 2nd string jock would do to pick on a kid that stuttered. Well, that is if the stuttering kid had combat experience that the jock DIDN’T have, if the jock didn’t kill a guy in a bar fight for making fun of his hair, and if the jock didn’t cause a medic to commit suicide because of an “iconic” picture he took.
You made fun of a combat vet, murdered a guy in a bar, and murdered another combat vet with PTSD. Mike Yon ought to feel really proud of himself. Oh wait, he already does.
You know, his coverage of then (now COL) LTC Kurilla when he commanded “The Punishers” was first rate. And yeah, I’m aware there may be some difference of opinion about what Kurilla thought of Yon then, and what he thinks of him now…got it, and it’s not my lane.
Being able to look at Yon’s shots taken in that alley…Kurilla, the Bn Cdr, being shot down, the close violent fight, and the Bn CSM eventually shooting (in the nutsack) and beating the Muj senseless, and dragging his sorry ass out into the alley.
It was (IMHO) some of the best combat still coverage since David Douglas Duncan’s work in SVN.
We are in agreement…too bad he lost his azimuth…he could have been one of the “Great Ones”.
13 – Wait a sec, he’s screwing with a blogger who is suffering from *bone cancer*?!
Words…just fail me.
I’m with Dbie. I Unliked him on facebook almost a year ago. I could not stand to be buffetted by his bullshit daily… and his “emperor’s new clothes ” kind of ego. ugh. yuck yuck yuck.
and top that off with the love fest his friends bury him with.
screw him
by the way– whatever CJ is or is not, I’m pretty sure Yon is insane. IM (less than)HO.
Hey Sniper~ How long until you do a Yon Demotivator? I bet you have a few ideas brewing in your brain right now… if you’re looking to get added to the list of banned it’s probably the best avenue for you.