In 1974 I was in the audience when at Duke University, at that time
a self proclaimed bastion of hipness, a stoned/drunken Hunter Thompson
(should that be hyphenated?) engaged the audience, obviously expecting
a show, in a bit more intensive banter than this carpetbagging
student body could take. The audience turned as nasty as a Fear &
Loathing acid flashback and booed & taunted until the management
yanked (mistakenly, IMO) HST off the stage. New reports at the time
(and there were lots) laid the blame on Thompson. But I was there,
and this was a crowd who didn't appreciate their oh-so-hipness shoved
back in their faces. Of course he'd egged the crowd on, uttering a
few provacative phrases but I couldn't fathom how anyone whe'd read
his writings didn't get the joke - but it's so true that no one's
as humorless as left wing politicos.

Anyway, ~40 who did get it joined Thompson afterward on the back lawn
outside the auditorium which quickly evolved - and moved to a nearby
bar - into one of the most politically enlightenly evenings of my
life. Few could discuss politics as sharply as a barely coherent HST.

Oh well, as uncle Walt used to say, "We Have Met The Enemy and
He Is Us"

  - michael