Slosh life

It may not have gotten too much local press, but the recent story of Aaron Schlossberg, former member of the privileged elite in the most elitist city in the world, is a sobering, cautionary tale of life in the digital age.

Here was a white New York lawyer in a city full of the best lawyers in the world, staying in an expensive piece of real estate, and able to navigate the bewildering and intimidating American justice system. That must have been heady, to be able to stride confidently amidst power brokers and decision makers. Much like a Master of the Universe, as envisioned by Tom Wolfe, surrounded by lower life forms scrabbling for tiny pickings.

But the digital age has enabled anyone to capture what is tech-accessible, and that led to his downfall.

One racist rant in a cheap-o restaurant where Schlossberg railed against Spanish speakers, accused them of being illegal migrants, and threatened to report them to immigration authorities, all the while bullying an Asian service provider, quickly led to a domino of events that pretty much ruined his life.

First, there was exposure, where his face and racist tirade went viral. Then, there was identification, when he was successfully pinpointed, and his details broadcast. And finally, there was retribution, when the world brought its collective judgment to bear and upend his entire life.

Imagine being hounded at home and at work. In the snap of a finger, Schlossberg experienced what royalty and celebrities suffer on a daily basis, but on a more invasive and disrespectful scale. Imagine a media invasion with cameras being pointed underneath your umbrella, and reporters goading and videotaping you. And the stories crafted soon thereafter, about hiding or running or quick-changing into disguises.

Every little tidbit was exploited, like where his office was located, his legal specialization, and who his employees were. Even his home was exposed, and total strangers arrived to jeer at him and play mariachis to combat his racism.

So, after almost a week of intolerable scrutiny, he decided to apologize and seek atonement for his actions (and deny his racism). Which is pretty hard to swallow because there were other videos unearthed that validate his racism. Imagine shouting at a total stranger who was totally white, walking peacefully at a sidewalk, that he’s an “ugly f*cking foreigner.”

This is what digitalization has brought mankind to now. Everything is being spied upon and can be recorded and shared. Satellites are probably creating an image of me as I write this column and is filing away different versions of this column as I edit away.

All these, and specially Schlossberg’s mess, serve as a potent reminder to always keep one’s cool. Never lose one’s temper. Be civilized, no matter how frustrating or idiotic others can be. Never threaten to buy him, his friends, or the entire bar. Because Big Brother is watching, in one way or another.

I was talking to friends about the antics and kooky schemes we dreamed of and got into when we were in our twenties. The scrapes we landed into.

The catfights we scratched our way out of. Maybe, even the naked photos we would have been tempted to share, if the technology had been available. All those would have been captured and preserved for posterity.

Sweet Jezuz Motha of Khrist. Thank the Lawd we weren’t born in the millennial age. If there’s one thing good about Schlossberg, is that he’s the voodoo doll I can use to scare my nephews with (I have Kim Kardashian for my nieces).