RIP dear Charles

"Brian, The Life of" (familycar)
08/06/2019 at 13:05 • Filed to: None

I’ve been a bit absent lately so I’m not sure if this sad news has been shared yet. Former Jalop and “virtual friend” for many years, Charles Barrett has passed on. Oldtimers will remember Charles well, as the man was absolutely unforgettable. He was 6'6" of smile and uplifting cheer delivered with a brilliant wit. Charles was a delightful fixture in the comments of Jalopnik articles from practically the moment I began to lurk on the site back in the Spinelli days. His wonderful example helped shape the very culture of that OG community and I believe we still benefit from that today, several years after he stopped visiting because of The Great Inconvenience.

For some, Charles was the first gay person they ever closely interacted with. Charles was out and proud but “gay by the way” at the same time. His orientation was an important part of his identity without actually defining him. I believe he opened quite a few eyes and, just by being his own inimitable self, was a huge part of why this community is so close and tolerant (especially for an anonymous Internet community) as it is today.

I never met Charles in person but felt I came to “know” him well over the years, first via Jalopnik and then as FB friends and various car sites/groups. For those lucky enough to have met him irl, there seems to be an overarching thing about Charles, he was an extremely kind and gentle soul who could lift anyone’s spirits in a moment and have them giggling like a fool is no time at all. He was devoted to his partner Randy and the community of Sedona he lived in. Everyone loved Charles and our world is a little dimmer now that he’s gone.

Rest in peace dear Charles; you were well and truly one of the good ones.

DISCUSSION (16)

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 11:00

Ah man what the fuck.

RIP Charles, I hope you can extend condolences to his partner and family from us. He was always a treat to talk to about general life stuff.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 11:57

That’s a shame to hear...I don’t think I ever knew him as I joined the community much later, but it’s always a terrible thing to hear that ‘one of us’ passed away :(

Assuming he was ill...cancer? :(

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 12:29

RIP. that’s sad

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 13:20

rest in peace charles

i guess i turned up after the great inconveniance (unless that means kinja...in wich case...awesome name for it but i was around before...if only just)

anyway sounds like i missed out

my condolences to all his friends and loved ones

duurtlang > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 13:24

RIP.

Do you mind sharing his old user name? I’ve been here for a decade now so I should be able to remember.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 13:24

RIP to Charles. What was his Kinja handle?

Brian, The Life of > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
08/06/2019 at 13:33

it was “Charles Barrett” because that’s exactly the kind of guy he was

Brian, The Life of > duurtlang
08/06/2019 at 13:39

It was “Charles Barrett”

Brian, The Life of > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
08/06/2019 at 13:43

It wasn’t Kinja, although that was fairly inconvenient as well. We had a former editor who wasn’t exactly the best for our community and was sort of respons ible for driving away some of our best OG community members ... this was when (and why) hooniverse.com happened.

lone_liberal > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 13:44

I remember him and it’s a terrible loss even for those of us who only knew him from his comments. T hat inclusive and friendly tone that he helped establish is why a lot of us are here. I wish the car groups around here would copy his example.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 13:52

aah right thanks for the explanation

i think i may have caught some of that but i was just quietly lurking back then and probably didnt understand what was going on

Ash78, voting early and often > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 14:03

Wow, I remember him well around here. Definitely one of the first 20 or 30 people I can remember as “regulars” around this place. Always a nice guy and I can’t remember a single bad or controversial thing about him. I’m still reeling from the big rift that happened...I was on a work-forced Internet hiatus, but it was like coming home from a 6-month vacation to find half of your house burned down.

I also remember that he never hid his sexual orientation, nor did he make it a big deal. A note to the newer folks: commenting on the mainstream Internet 10+ years ago was not really a strong platform for LGBT , and was often a place where you might get ridiculed or bullied. Not around here, though.

Stef Schrader > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 18:08

RIP. Sad to hear.

Stef Schrader > Brian, The Life of
08/06/2019 at 18:09

T o be fair, even I quit reading for a while then.

Stef Schrader > lone_liberal
08/06/2019 at 18:18

hear, hear

dieseldub > Brian, The Life of
10/30/2019 at 21:04

I started reading when Ray Wert, Murilee Martin and later Matt Hardigree were some of the main names on Jalopnik. I do clearly remember Wert and Hardigree leading things. It was a big loss when Judge Phil (er, Murilee) left and it seemed like dominos falling after that, a big shift in the editorial staff.

Beyond that, not at all privy to what was happening behind the scenes.