R.I.P Rod Standish – In Loving Memory
// October 28th, 2009 // Walk Across Canada
http://www.vimeo.com/7302179
Walking Across Canada In Support Of Earth Day Canada and Music Counts.
Walking Across Canada In Support Of Earth Day Canada and Music Counts.
// October 28th, 2009 // Walk Across Canada
http://www.vimeo.com/7302179
Heard about Pauls stunt and was not impressed. This lacked empathy, foresight, and class. Watched and read all the stuff here and what I see is Pauls apologie as a “yes, but…”, in other words his insincerety. Personally the video creeped me out and leads me to believe that it had nothing to do with Rod and all to do with Paul. Yes, we know your out there Paul, but frankly our family believes Rod can do this alone because we actually do believe in him. You caid you believe in him and in the next breath you tell all he would die or great harm without you. It was great to have the support, but to what end? Love ya Rod. You are doing great. Is this not a soul searching trip Rod? Paul…yours is questionable is it not? Happy trails.
I think the logic of think before you speak applies here! I am glad all is well Rod. Take care of yourself. I saw the look of pain in your moms eyes, I think all moms (parents) would only really get how painful that type of loss could be.
It is Saturday morning here in BC and I have just learned of this folly from checking my email (which I hadn’t done in many days). Paul …… you have much to answer for in this next period of time. Forgiveness for your poor judgement is not an issue as you have already noted, I’m sure, from the many postings but you have pushed this project backwards, not forwards, and I hope are continuing to meditate on the hurt and embarassment your impetuousness caused. The pain is fresh for me but I will be well past it in a few days when you guys get here. We learn by our mistakes, and my God knows that I have made enough, but make sure that you turn this around and employ the lessons learned.
Hey Rod, Paul and Mike… I’m really glad your okay Rod, I signed on this morning and I seen that and broke into tears… I hope you guys are still good Paul means well but he made a mistake and you guys are a team and need to stick together! Keep posting the videos and keep truckin’ Rod, we are here to back you up the whole way guys!
Hello –
I wrote Rod some strong words on facebook again before reading his explanation & Paul’s apology here. I should have checked this first… thank you for your apology, Paul. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for Rod, and I’m glad you guys have worked things out between you. But for serious now – take the video down.
I don’t really comprehend what possessed you to put it up, although I understand you meant it as a way to help Rod. But if you really thought anyone would sit through twelve minutes of sappy montage and tragic storytelling without freaking out, then you have no idea how people watch the “news.” You want this to be a “public mistake?” Then I’m afraid I’ll have to dish out some public criticism. This isn’t just insensitive, it’s bad moviemaking. You either tell the truth, or you make shit up. Pick one. To manipulate us like this… to talk to us like we don’t give a shit that you’re cold, hungry, tired, broke…. again, this shows a lack of understanding as to who your audience is, and what we will tolerate. If we are on your website, it is because we ALREADY care. It’s not complete strangers who watch these films every day… it’s people who love you all.
It is entirely possible that some of these people haven’t seen this stupid film yet. Some of them may not see it for weeks, months, whatever. Why should you risk causing them even an instant of hurt? Paul, I thought you wanted to spread love. This film isn’t love, it’s fear. Trust me, we’re all scared enough for you boys already! Please, I appreciate you didn’t mean to hurt anyone – but now that you know you did, it’s time to take this down.
Love you guys – sorry if I’ve been harping on this too much – but I feel like I can’t say it strongly enough. Don’t let anyone else be fooled by this. Come home safe. We love you.
- Beth
Hey Rod we are very happy to hear that you are fine. When Sandra came up to me at work and told me this I got upset as you are a good friend. I hope paul relizes the ramifications this has caused. Your brother James & sister Beth were very upset as we all were. Everyday I ask Jives how you are doing and he keeps telling me that everything is going good. I hope you achieve your goal. And don’t for get the the Lane family misses you and so does Dook Depot. Your Pal Mike Lane
so let me get this straight: you faked a guy’s death to convince us to give you money so you can buy gas which you will then burn as you travel across the country “in support of earth day”?? “bold move” guys.
Thank God that I stopped the video after only 30 seconds and in shock, took a look at the comments instead!! Very cruel, indeed.
Dear Rod the Bod,
#1. You know I’d be throwing myself on your coffin.
#2 . There is always a seemingly unbeatable climax before the resolution of a good story. Maybe this is it. Or maybe it’ll be, you know, climbing through mountains in the snow.
#3. The nice fellows at MocTalk and The 4555 are going to donate a portion of drinks sales when we’re playing Friday night to you, so hold on for a couple more days and you should have a little more cash coming in. I’ll pour one out on the ground for you.
O.K.
I’m going to tell this story from my perspective. When Paul picked me up on October 27th after walking my usual 40 km, he told me he “was working on a new strategy” and he “didn’t think he needed my permission.” I asked him if he was going to knock over a Brinks truck and needed Plausible deniability. The long and the short is, he told me something was up, but not what until he was done. He had the computer set up in the conference room of the hotel, and after he had uploaded the video to vimeo he called me down and I watched it as he went up to the room.
As soon as I saw the opening I groaned to myself as I realized the ramifications of what he had done. I watched the video in it’s entirety, and then I logged onto facebook, wrote a message to Sabu, and then a second to my family and band and a few close friends. Then I went to the Green Tour Group on facebook and sent a message to the 144 members that I am, in fact, NOT DEAD.
Then I went back to the room and started to tell Paul how much I didn’t like it.
I told him that I thought it undermined the honesty we had worked to establish for 6 months. “As real as it gets” being a slogan that he came up with. I called it a contrived work of fiction, he called it “a prediction.”
I told him it sets a dangerous precedent where he shoots his (and therefore, to some extent, our) credibility all to hell.
I told him when people log on to the website to check out the videos, that if they met me after this date they would doubt the sincerity of every video on the site. If they met me before this date they would be concerned, or maybe ultimately dismiss the walk as over because I’m supposedly dead.
I told him that being as the videos take so long to load on a lot of internet connections, including mine at home, and therefore Sabu’s, that a lot of people will never even get to the explanation.
I told him MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL that it was irresponsible and inconsiderate to have the potential for any person who loves me to believe for even a second that I am dead.
We talked about it for hours as he seemingly struggled to reconcile these points that to me were painfully obvious.
We lapsed into silence and after a while he asked if I wouldn’t mind turning out the light. I said that I was upset and angry and couldn’t sleep. I told him I was considering continuing without him. (meaning Today)
I told him I was furious that he didn’t consult me before doing it, as all the negative backlash that I could foresee could have been avoided had he had the courtesy to ask me if I minded if he faked my death. (Ben Ruffet is probably loving this, he’s been trying to convince people I died since I left.) I would never have allowed this had I known in advance.
After these comments and many others, I made an impression on him. I was trying to be stern and strict and honest, and at the same time let him know that
HE HAS NOT LOST ME AS A FRIEND, AND I STILL HAVE HIS BACK, BUT HE WILL NEVER DO ANYTHING OF THIS NATURE TO ME AGAIN!
He said, (at 4 :00 in the morning, give or take) that he felt like shit due to the “perspectives and variables” that I had introduced and that he would take it down if he wanted.
I have not made this clear to him yet. but here goes…
I DO NOT WANT THIS TAKEN DOWN.
PAUL MADE THIS BED AND HE WILL LIE IN IT.
IF IT IS A MISTAKE, LET IT BE A PUBLIC ONE.
IF IT MAKES HIS STATEMENT, GOOD.
IF NOT, THE DAMAGE IS DONE.
WE WILL POST A VIDEO SOON CLARIFYING ALL THIS.
Thank you,
Alive and kicking,
Rod Standish Jr.
Dear Rod Sr., Wendy, Philip, Beth and Jives.
Firstly, please know that I am truly sorry for how angry and upset this video has made you. I made it with the sincerest of intentions to try to get the message out that if Rod goes out on his own without a support vehicle that he is at great risk of harm. Please know that I did not want to cause you anymore stress. I did what I did because I care for Rod and wanted people to be very well aware of what may happen to him if he does not have the proper support. I am very sorry that Jives and Beth did not have a chance to read Rod’s email advising them that this was a prediction that was explained as being so at the end of the video.
Please try to see it from my perspective. This journey has been very difficult to keep afloat. I have been working hard doing what I do and have experienced a great deal of fatigue. I wanted to communicate as clearly and effectively as possible just how serious the situation is out here, especially considering the weather being as cold as it is. I thought this warning would be better than the alternative.
I also made the decision to produce this video under a certain amount of tension, so I did so not fully considering all the possible variables and perspectives.
So once again please accept my sincerest apologies since I was ultimately trying to protect Rod from harm.
i think that this video is is very disturbing but it also holds some truth to it!!!! WE MUST HELP THESE BOYS CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY!!!
Very well said, Phil. Thanks.
At the request of my wife Beth Standish, I need to state that this is completely false. As anyone who’s been following this on facebook is aware, Rod Standish is alive and well.
Both of Rod’s siblings came home from work briefly today, on news of their brother’s passing. Evidently not everyone checks their inbox before coming here. Which left it to me to tell them that this was all a hoax, a negative publicity stunt.
Paul, do you realize what you’ve done? That you’ve left Rod’s immediate family shaking with both grief and rage at this debacle?
Playing with people like this is not funny. It’s mean-spirited, underhanded, and cruel. Not a day goes by that we don’t worry about Rod and his wellbeing. It’s been six long months of concern, nervousness and stress. It’s been the better part of a year watching Beth fret and worry about her younger brother’s health and safety. Listening to Rod’s parents similar concerns. And now it’s come to watching Beth and James, leaving early form work, stricken with grief upon hearing from a co-worker that their dear brother had died.
Please apologize for this nonsense. I know you had a point to make. I’m sure you meant well. I know you’ve been there for Rod non-stop since this started. But there has to be a better way to make this point. We’ve had enough heartache and worry for now.
Paul, TAKE THIS VIDEO DOWN!!!!!!! This was a terrible idea! Rod is alive and well, and this is no way to get attention or sympathy! This was not Rod’s idea at all! Rod’s brother and sister came home from work having heard the rumour that he had died!!! Posting this video was cruel and not well thought out!
This message is from Rod’s very angry and upset mother!!!!!!