Craig Simpson & Jamie Sale

[VGThuy]

I mean it’s not just harmless opinions. She’s comparing her not being able to eat at a restaurant to Nazi Germany and stupidly defended such comparison. One was based on a public health concern and on actions a person chose not to take; the public shunning and first initial steps of not allowing Jewish people and many other ethnic groups and those with other immutable traits…and disabilities, etc. to partake in society was based on characteristics they were either born with or are a part of their being that they can’t help.

To compare choosing not to vaccinate to being born of a certain ethnicity, to being gay, to being darker-skinned, to not being Aryan, to not being “abled-bodied” within the Nazi definition is incredibly galling and someone in search to for a tribe to play victim…victim of a problem they created themselves.

She also compared Trudeau to Hitler and made some defense about not comparing him to Hitler but then doubled down on it again.

Then when people spoke to her about how their families died of COVID, she shrugged it off and called their health care providers and essential workers “murderers.”

So with her opinions, she’s demonizing a whole lot of people and engaging in rhetoric that may put them in danger.

And more personally, she publicly stated that she doesn’t care about having her family in her life as her losing them in her life are no loss to her…meaning they mean nothing to her. She has her new friends and a new avenue for public adoration who mean more to her than her old friends and even her family. I’m sure her children and other loved ones are just fine hearing that.

 

[Rukia]

People who find this harmless haven't lost loved ones to COVID because they listened to people like Jamie.

 

[Aussie Willy]

And more personally, she publicly stated that she doesn’t care about having her family in her life as her losing them in her life are no loss to her…meaning they mean nothing to her. She has her new friends and a new avenue for public adoration who mean more to her than her old friends and even her family. I’m sure her children and other loved ones are just fine hearing that.

It is like an alcoholic or drug user who no matter the consequences or the damage it does to those around them, their addiction is more important than anyone or anything else. They will always find a bunch of sycophants who will validate and condone their behaviour. Usually those who have something to gain or will profit from that behaviour.

 

[thvu]

And more personally, she publicly stated that she doesn’t care about having her family in her life as her losing them in her life are no loss to her…meaning they mean nothing to her. She has her new friends and a new avenue for public adoration who mean more to her than her old friends and even her family. I’m sure her children and other loved ones are just fine hearing that.

That it was I find the most vile, her public rejection of her children. It’s disgusting.

 

[trainingdogs82]

People who find this harmless haven't lost loved ones to COVID because they listened to people like Jamie.

The fact is being such a public figure makes her views on things like that far more dangerous than just a regular person. Even if most surely won't believe her, there still will be some who do just because she is Jamie Sale, celebrity, former Canadian sweetheart, Olympic and World Champion.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

What's most saddening for me is that Sale's friend, Battle of the Blades partner and co-conspirator (pun intended) Theo Fleury appears to have completely erased the goodwill surrounding him when he went public about being a survivor of sexual abuse by the notorious junior hockey coach Graham James.

 

[marbri]

My take is that both Jamie Sale and Theo Fleury are useful idiots to the far right extremists in Canada.
In becoming so they have been brainwashed / indoctrinated. It isn't just vaccines/mandates they talk about.
Knowing a bit about both their pasts (what has been made public because I don't know either of them) coupled with their conservative leanings I can see how they were ripe for the picking. Although it's much clearer what Theo's politics were prior to covid.

They are of course more dangerous than the average friend/family who has gone down this route because they were once beloved and respected figures in Canada so they will reach a greater audience and people will listen to them. Which is why they were given their own show on some Conservative media outlet based out of Calgary. An area that is a hotbed for these far right groups.

I don't know what the cure is for this. In some ways I think it's a worldwide pandemic worse than covid.

 

[skategal]

That it was I find the most vile, her public rejection of her children. It’s disgusting.

Yes me too.

I mean it’s one thing to disagree and split with a spouse but most parents would bend over backwards to maintain a relationship with their kids.

So sad.

 

[Dragonlady]

I get what you're saying, but did everyone with her views bang their heads one too many times as well?

They spent too much time online. Sale comes across as having a lot of unresolved issues in her life. She's thrown over everyone in her life, her charity work, everything.

 

[skategal]

I think part of it is lack of purpose.

What do you do when you have accomplished all your goals including ones at the highest competitive level that hardly anyone achieves?

If you don’t have a solid plan in place, you can flounder.

This gives her another purpose that reinforces the way she sees herself (fighter, champion etc)

 

[Seerek]

I don't know what the cure is for this. In some ways I think it's a worldwide pandemic worse than covid.

Actually, the COVID pandemic ended up being yet another "entry point" for such beliefs to develop and flourish. With the world stopping during the initial waves, social media emboldened people to become embittered towards all academia/regulation/organized constructs and systems (with no actual ideas to contribute for substitution of these supposed "faulty" entities).

At this point, it is not possible for any event or circumstance to make people "see the light of day" if they're this anchored and defiant, but also lacking the self-awareness that they are living an "unconscious" life.

 

[Lemonade20]

It is crazy to see someone go down the rabbit hole so deeply. You're allowed to express your opinions and feelings, but to reach that point where family doesn't matter? Your children disregarded? Losing friends is one thing but that's going too far. I also saw a former friend do the exact same thing to her own grown children. She believes in aliens and thinks the government is spying on her. It's a mental health issue, not beliefs.

 

[Judy]

Yes me too.

I mean it’s one thing to disagree and split with a spouse but most parents would bend over backwards to maintain a relationship with their kids.

So sad.

I don’t have any doubt there still is a relationship with her kids and her mom. When she says family it can mean lots of things.

 

[Judy]

It is crazy to see someone go down the rabbit hole so deeply. You're allowed to express your opinions and feelings, but to reach that point where family doesn't matter? Your children disregarded? Losing friends is one thing but that's going too far. I also saw a former friend do the exact same thing to her own grown children. She believes in aliens and thinks the government is spying on her. It's a mental health issue, not beliefs.

QAnon I guess?

 

[marbri]

I think part of it is lack of purpose.

What do you do when you have accomplished all your goals including ones at the highest competitive level that hardly anyone achieves?

If you don’t have a solid plan in place, you can flounder.

This gives her another purpose that reinforces the way she sees herself (fighter, champion etc)

I recall reading an article/interview with Jamie fall 2019. I can't find it today but in it she touches on just that. And that it had been a recurrent theme in her life. She seemed poised and set to start anew (found a new purpose) at the time of the article, sounded so positive and pumped. But that was fall 2019 so I imagine those plans got shelved putting her back in that constant struggle making her vulnerable and ripe for what was to come.

So I agree that she found a purpose in this path instead. I imagine her friendship with Theo didn't help.

 

[Winnipeg]

I know this is naive but why would any reputable news source or journalist even interview Sale and/or Theory? I guess it must pay off for them but it would seem to harm their reputation but then Larry Springer had viewers..........

 

[tony]

I know this is naive but why would any reputable news source or journalist even interview Sale and/or Theory? I guess it must pay off for them but it would seem to harm their reputation but then Larry Springer had viewers..........

Jerry, perhaps? ?

I was really confused for a second.

 

[Winnipeg]

Sorry! Yes, it was Jerry.

 

[overedge]

I know this is naive but why would any reputable news source or journalist even interview Sale and/or Theory? I guess it must pay off for them but it would seem to harm their reputation but then Jerry Springer had viewers..........

She refused to talk to the Toronto Star for the article (part of the eville lamestream media that is participating in the conspiracy blah blah blah). All the quotes from her in the article were from other interviews and podcasts that she's done.

They may be anti-vax nutjobs but they're still newsworthy because of their past athletic accomplishments. That plus being anti-vax nutjobs probably makes them even more newsworthy.

 

[Andora]

I recall reading an article/interview with Jamie fall 2019. I can't find it today but in it she touches on just that. And that it had been a recurrent theme in her life. She seemed poised and set to start anew (found a new purpose) at the time of the article, sounded so positive and pumped. But that was fall 2019 so I imagine those plans got shelved putting her back in that constant struggle making her vulnerable and ripe for what was to come.

So I agree that she found a purpose in this path instead. I imagine her friendship with Theo didn't help.

This - and I'd add that I think Jamie is having a harder time finding her purpose outside of skating. After retirement and before COVID she tried a few different ventures it seems, but she's not used to a 9-5 type of life. After decades of a work-immersive life (training, touring, etc), I wonder if it's hard for her to stick to these ventures and make them a success. I don't think she's someone who went on to higher education during or after skating.

Over the years on FSU it's been mentioned that she's not very bright or deep. More confidence than sense, is my understanding, on top of being from Alberta. If it wasn't COVID, I'm sure it would have been something else that pulled her down an extremist path.

 

[Winnipeg]

I wonder why she did not coach or try and find a career in the skating realm? Oh well, it is what it is so to speak.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

There’s a bit of a debate happening in Canadian media circles as to whether this article was a good idea. Some think it’s bad to platform Sale’s conspiratorial ideas. Others think the article sheds light into how someone prominent like JS can end up going down various rabbit holes. YMMV?‍

 

[skategal]

There’s a bit of a debate happening in Canadian media circles as to whether this article was a good idea. Some think it’s bad to platform Sale’s conspiratorial ideas. Others think the article sheds light into how someone prominent like JS can end up going down various rabbit holes. YMMV?‍

I’m leaning towards “it’s a bad idea.”

Can’t remember who said the quote about no such thing as bad press but there is truth in it.

 

[Coco]

Non-Canadian here, what does being from Alberta have to do with intelligence?

 

[Amy L]

Non-Canadian here, what does being from Alberta have to do with intelligence?

I think the American equivalent would be like, "Well, she's from Texas, what else would you expect?"

 

[DFJ]

I think the American equivalent would be like, "Well, she's from Texas, what else would you expect?"

IMO both insulting.

 

[Amy L]

IMO both insulting.

I'm from Texas. I've heard it before I don't know a ton about Alberta, but I read an Economist article about it and I thought Texas would be an equivalent from the context (natural resource rich, kinda redneck and conservative, etc)

 

[greenapple]

I'm from Texas. I've heard it before I don't know a ton about Alberta, but I read an Economist article about it and I thought Texas would be an equivalent from the context (natural resource rich, kinda redneck and conservative, etc)

Yep. You just described Alberta to a tee.

 

[VGThuy]

As an American, the only thing I know about Alberta was when Canadian FSUers reacted to Kurt Browning causing a house fire by drying his car seats with his leaf blower, they were all like “That’s the most Alberta thing I’ve ever heard.”

 

[Andora]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Alberta is a very conservative province, dependent on oil/tar sands for its economy, and seems to be the cradle of civilization for Canada's Q-Anon population.

Albertans aren't dumb, en masse. (Though some days give me pause)

As an American, the only thing I know about Alberta was when Canadian FSUers reacted to Kurt Browning causing a house fire by drying his car seats with his leaf blower, they were all like “That’s the most Alberta thing I’ve ever heard.”

Which is impressive considering it happened in Forrest Hill, a VERY rich neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. It certainly felt a very Toronto thing.

My understanding is he rested the leaf blower on his expensive car right after using it, and that's what caught fire. I'm sure many in Alberta would know better. My family in Northern Ontario certainly thought it was stupid.