NICK BERTKE ‘POGO’ SAYS HATE FILLED VIDEO WAS A JOKE

​Nick Bertke, better known as ‘Pogo’ released a video in which he explained why he hates gay people and went so far as to cheer the Pulse nightclub massacre went viral yesterday. Well, it appears that he’s now backtracking in an attempt to address the outrage he provoked by releasing a distasteful video.
 
Bertke claims in the video, as well as past blog posts were about evils of feminism were an attempt to “grind the gears” of individuals on the internet who are prone to requiring trigger warnings and draw them out (I’m still not sure what the hell that is supposed to mean). Bertke stated; “The things I said in this video I think have deserved the reception that the video has had…I love confusing people…Then I took it too far [and created the ‘fagottron’ video].”
 
He further added: “There is no pinch of salt big enough to be taken with what I have said. It’s all good and well for me to open a valve and to draw people out into the open – people I don’t like, you know, hypocrites etcetera, but I feel very strongly that it’s been very naive behavior on my part. If I’m going to tuck my tail between my legs and admit anything it’s that these posts and these videos and these things I’ve made for the sake of being edgy have not contributed to any productive conversation.”

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​But let’s not forget that Mr. Bertke is a fan of Milo Yiannopoulos and other alt-right and conservative figures. “I like some of the things people like Milo Yiannopoulos say, but I don’t like the way he says them. He’ll get up in front of a crowd of people and bash the indigenous people of Australia. He’ll speak in a very sort of derogatory, very provocative way, and I’ve often found myself thinking, ‘is that productive?'”
 
He hoped the video didn’t cause anyone (especially gay) people to want to kill or harm themselves: “It has never been my intention to hurt people.” He added: “Apparently I hate gay people…Many of my friends and supporters are gay. There is definitely a degree of irony.”
 
Typical that he would suggest you refer to his family for moral clarification and to somehow absolve himself of the words he used to describe gay individuals and that this is a process of him growing up. “if you ask my family members, and closest friends, they’ll all tell you the same thing, ‘Nick’s just being an asshole’…It’s a part of me that I think is slowly growing up…if you have recognized the jokes you have my deepest appreciation,” he stated.
 
The simple fact is that words have meaning and those meanings have a direct impact on those around you. This video was done in poor taste, extremely upsetting to those who lived through the Pulse shootings. Furthermore to claim this was done in some attempt to “wake” people up and provoke discussion is simply an excuse for your lack of sympathy and appreciation for human life.