NationStates Jolt Archive


Do you buy this?

Cannot think of a name
22-05-2004, 05:14
This site claims to be authored by Andy Kaufman, returned from the dead. (http://andykaufmanreturns.blogspot.com/)

These guys say no. (http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp)

These people don't know. (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_963140.html)

I can't say I'm convinced. It would be one of the greatest stunts of performance art if he really did pull this off, but I have to think he would do a better job of the return. I haven't found any comments from Zamuta or anyone else after the sight went up.

Sorry if someone already posted about this.
Berkylvania
22-05-2004, 05:15
Exactly what sort of search were you running that you should run across this?
Mutant Dogs
22-05-2004, 05:16
Who's Randy Kaufmann?
Cannot think of a name
22-05-2004, 05:17
I knew about the party that was planned for his return, then a co-worker said he was alive. So when I got home I looked up Kaufman on Google to see if it was legit (though thinking if it where I wouldn't have to do a Google search to find out.)
Berkylvania
22-05-2004, 05:20
I'm going to go with an order of Nope, He's Still Dead, Jim, a side order of I Never Found Him Particularly Funny Outside Of Taxi Anyway and to drink, I'll have a big glass of Who Cares? :D
SuperHappyFun
22-05-2004, 05:33
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp

Also, the alleged Andy Kaufman blog is not particularly funny or well-written.
Cannot think of a name
22-05-2004, 05:34
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp
Thats already linked, the second one on the original post.
SuperHappyFun
22-05-2004, 05:36
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp
Thats already linked, the second one on the original post.

Ah yes, I see it now. Shoulda checked.

Well, I found the Snopes account pretty convincing, and the "don't know" site doesn't really do anything to refute it. So I don't buy it.
Cannot think of a name
22-05-2004, 05:41
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp
Thats already linked, the second one on the original post.

Ah yes, I see it now. Shoulda checked.

Well, I found the Snopes account pretty convincing, and the "don't know" site doesn't really do anything to refute it. So I don't buy it.
Gotta say I'm with you on this. Though it does provide an interesting situation, especially for performance art. If it is him, it's a performance art coup. If his influence is such that it would spawn something like this, enough to convince at least a few (there are those who believe and don't believe all over that blog), that in itself is a coup, the ability to do performance art from beyond the grave.

I'm not commenting on quality, just intrest. (if you rate performance art on quality you end up swearing a whole lot...)
SuperHappyFun
22-05-2004, 05:53
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp
Thats already linked, the second one on the original post.

Ah yes, I see it now. Shoulda checked.

Well, I found the Snopes account pretty convincing, and the "don't know" site doesn't really do anything to refute it. So I don't buy it.
Gotta say I'm with you on this. Though it does provide an interesting situation, especially for performance art. If it is him, it's a performance art coup. If his influence is such that it would spawn something like this, enough to convince at least a few (there are those who believe and don't believe all over that blog), that in itself is a coup, the ability to do performance art from beyond the grave.

I'm not commenting on quality, just intrest. (if you rate performance art on quality you end up swearing a whole lot...)

I agree that the willingness of people to believe this is an achievement of sorts for Kaufman. I just don't think that the blog is particularly well-done. It gives lame excuses to back away from the original claims about the DNA test and interview, and nonsensically attacks the "liberal media" for failure to accept Andy return. The idea of a blog to mark the anniversary of Andy's death was cute, but I think it could have been done better. Still, it got some attention and made a few people wonder, and that was probably the only point.
Our Earth
22-05-2004, 06:23
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp

Also, the alleged Andy Kaufman blog is not particularly funny or well-written.

The interesting thing here is that Snopes doesn't have any evidence against it except speculation based on the way the creators of the Andy has returned blog have been acting. So far there isn't any strong evidence either way, although Snopes is right, it's not very convincing.
Cannot think of a name
22-05-2004, 06:27
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp

Also, the alleged Andy Kaufman blog is not particularly funny or well-written.

The interesting thing here is that Snopes doesn't have any evidence against it except speculation based on the way the creators of the Andy has returned blog have been acting. So far there isn't any strong evidence either way, although Snopes is right, it's not very convincing.
What ended up convincing me was the fact that the bunny ranch photos actually come from something else that is documented. The 'liberal media thing sort of comes as a non-sequitar(sp). The DNA/fingerprint test I would think garner some media attention, and it isn't put up as a checkable fact, it's just something the website says he did.

I'd be suprised if it really was him, but slightly less suprised then I 'should' be.
Squi
22-05-2004, 06:59
Although I have no doubt that Andy Kaufman could return (has returned?) from the dead, this is not Kaufman. It just doesn't have the right feel. If, for instance, in the Bigger than JC post which is there now the author had pointed out that all non-believers were going to spend eternity in torment, but that's thier own choice and free will is the thing then I could perhaps believe it was Kaufman.
Pantylvania
22-05-2004, 18:49
The interesting thing here is that Snopes doesn't have any evidence against it except speculation based on the way the creators of the Andy has returned blog have been acting. So far there isn't any strong evidence either way, although Snopes is right, it's not very convincing.they actually do

"...on 16 May 1984, a 35-year-old Andy Kaufman died of lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His remains were returned to New York for interment at Beth David Cemetery. His death certificate and his gravesite are viewable on-line."
SuperHappyFun
22-05-2004, 19:07
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp

Also, the alleged Andy Kaufman blog is not particularly funny or well-written.

The interesting thing here is that Snopes doesn't have any evidence against it except speculation based on the way the creators of the Andy has returned blog have been acting. So far there isn't any strong evidence either way, although Snopes is right, it's not very convincing.

I have to disagree with your assertion that there "isn't any strong evidence either way." I'm not sure what kind of evidence against it you're looking for, beyond what Snopes has already given. They have links to photos of his grave and death certificate, evidence that the blog contradicts the press release, and evidence that the blogger lied about the source of the photos of "Andy." Snopes destroys all the evidence in favor of Andy's return, and offers quite a bit of evidence against it. I can't see how anyone could have any doubts that it's a hoax after reading that. What am I missing?
Collaboration
22-05-2004, 19:29
It's a hoax. Snopes is on it.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/kaufman.asp

Also, the alleged Andy Kaufman blog is not particularly funny or well-written.

Well then it just might be authentic, since his original material was not particularly funny or well-written either.
Cannot think of a name
22-05-2004, 21:14
You know what was a great game? Bump & Jump...

But anyway...I think given the snopes rebuttal the only argument for is that Kaufman's stunts where always a bit haphazard to begin with. But really that just points to his inability to successfully fake his death.