The problem with detailed debunking of conspiracy theories is that it also gives them more publicity.
It also doesn’t mean you know/understand/say what’s actually going on, only that you have a way to trash that particular conspiracy theory.
Bee, in the clip:
For those who are a little confused by the Biden/Ukraine “controversy” that Trump was supposedly investigating, let’s do a comprehensive explainer of the whole scandal.
IT’S BULLSHIT. [also in all-caps on screen]
Explainer over. I mean, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of reasons to criticize Joe Biden, from his treatment of Anita Hill, to his vote for the Iraq war, to allegations that he inappropriately touched a train. But the Ukraine story is not one of them, because there is no evidence that either Biden did anything illegal in Ukraine.
So where did Trump get this crazy idea? From this guy…. [blah, blah, blah]
Nope, back up right there (only a minute into the 8:10 video).
It may still be something not-illegal, which nonetheless warrants criticism. Indeed, all of the examples she mentions are legal (presumably even the one joking about the train). So that is just irrelevant noise.
She could in the video have made some kind of reference to (e.g.) nepotism among the rich and powerful, the resulting incompetence and conflicts of interest that often arise, and so forth. I take it that those are valid things to criticize. But there was not a single word about it. Although it’s hard to believe, maybe that glaring omission wasn’t deliberate; if it was, it’s pretty shameful.
I doubt her audience really needs to hear once again about how shitty Steve Bannon is (or Schweizer, etc.). But even if they really do, this “comprehensive explainer” ought to contain at least something to explain why the Bidens shouldn’t be criticized, if this is their position. There is nothing like that here … not a single good reason to come to that conclusion.
John Moralessays
It’s supposed to be comedic, CR, not literal.
But even if they really do, this “comprehensive explainer” ought to contain at least something to explain why the Bidens shouldn’t be criticized, if this is their position.
Ahem, from your own quotation: “Explainer over. I mean, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of reasons to criticize Joe Biden”.
consciousness razorsays
It’s supposed to be comedic, CR, not literal.
No shit, John: it’s obviously meant to be comedic. And you don’t explain why you think that should matter. If it’s misinforming people, the fact that they may laugh while being misinformed doesn’t change the fact that they were misinformed. I still have a problem with that. Maybe you don’t — of course, you don’t have to live in this fucking country when it’s all said and done, so maybe you can worry about it a bit less.
To be clear, I don’t think Bee is enthusiastic about Biden and probably doesn’t want to mislead people about any of this. However, it’s not hard to picture them (her, the writers, etc.) thinking they have to be on his “side” to some extent and cheerlead for him as if they were enthusiastic. Because Biden’s the leading opponent against Trump, at least at the moment.[1]
And it’s probably easier for people to think Biden was problematic decades ago[2], since he is more palatable than the alternative. We’ll always have that. But it seems harder to do (and probably a lot harder to make it funny or entertaining), when more shit comes to light, new shit, so you have to do that little dance all over again, which you didn’t want to do in the first place. I can understand why an honest person may nonetheless be very reluctant about that.
[1] Trump, by the way, gets all of the relentless criticism/attention he should and then some, even when the setting is “supposed to be comedic.” If one were lying about that shit as a comedian, then yeah, I do think that would be awfully trashy, whether or not there was an attempt at humor.
[2] But seriously: this comedy act is so fresh and topical that the most recent “funny” thing you can conjure up to criticize Biden for is his Iraq war vote? Okay, but don’t quit your day job.
“Explainer over. I mean, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of reasons to criticize Joe Biden”.
All you have to do is finish the thought, which I also quoted above:
But the Ukraine story is not one of them, because there is no evidence that either Biden did anything illegal in Ukraine.
It goes like this:
(1) it’s bullshit.
(2) don’t get me wrong: criticize him for other things, because that’s not all bullshit….
(3) but in this case it’s just bullshit.
Did you miss that part?
John Moralessays
CR:
And you don’t explain why you think that should matter. If it’s misinforming people, [blah]
Shouldn’t need to be explained; again: it’s entertainment, not journalism.
(Anyone who gets their information only from comedy shows is, ahem, not practising epistemic hygiene)
Because Biden’s the leading opponent against Trump, at least at the moment.[1]
Arguable. Elizabeth Warren has caught up in many polls, and has been trending up, unlike Biden.
—
More to the point: the “comprehensive explainer” was self-evidently anything but that.
(That’s part of the joke!)
It goes like this:
(1) it’s bullshit.
(2) don’t get me wrong: criticize him for other things, because that’s not all bullshit….
(3) but in this case it’s just bullshit.
Did you miss that part?
It ain’t me who is taking it seriously.
—
Maybe you don’t — of course, you don’t have to live in this fucking country when it’s all said and done, so maybe you can worry about it a bit less.
I worry about it not at all, so sure: to whatever degree you worry, I worry less.
No “maybe” about it.
(“Every nation gets the government it deserves.” (Joseph de Maistre))
ColeYotesays
CR, you’ll have to forgive me for not believing that Donald Trump and friends are obsessed with this because they’re concerned about the ethics of nepotism.
It also doesn’t mean you know/understand/say what’s actually going on, only that you have a way to trash that particular conspiracy theory.
Bee, in the clip:
Nope, back up right there (only a minute into the 8:10 video).
It may still be something not-illegal, which nonetheless warrants criticism. Indeed, all of the examples she mentions are legal (presumably even the one joking about the train). So that is just irrelevant noise.
She could in the video have made some kind of reference to (e.g.) nepotism among the rich and powerful, the resulting incompetence and conflicts of interest that often arise, and so forth. I take it that those are valid things to criticize. But there was not a single word about it. Although it’s hard to believe, maybe that glaring omission wasn’t deliberate; if it was, it’s pretty shameful.
I doubt her audience really needs to hear once again about how shitty Steve Bannon is (or Schweizer, etc.). But even if they really do, this “comprehensive explainer” ought to contain at least something to explain why the Bidens shouldn’t be criticized, if this is their position. There is nothing like that here … not a single good reason to come to that conclusion.
It’s supposed to be comedic, CR, not literal.
Ahem, from your own quotation: “Explainer over. I mean, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of reasons to criticize Joe Biden”.
No shit, John: it’s obviously meant to be comedic. And you don’t explain why you think that should matter. If it’s misinforming people, the fact that they may laugh while being misinformed doesn’t change the fact that they were misinformed. I still have a problem with that. Maybe you don’t — of course, you don’t have to live in this fucking country when it’s all said and done, so maybe you can worry about it a bit less.
To be clear, I don’t think Bee is enthusiastic about Biden and probably doesn’t want to mislead people about any of this. However, it’s not hard to picture them (her, the writers, etc.) thinking they have to be on his “side” to some extent and cheerlead for him as if they were enthusiastic. Because Biden’s the leading opponent against Trump, at least at the moment.[1]
And it’s probably easier for people to think Biden was problematic decades ago[2], since he is more palatable than the alternative. We’ll always have that. But it seems harder to do (and probably a lot harder to make it funny or entertaining), when more shit comes to light, new shit, so you have to do that little dance all over again, which you didn’t want to do in the first place. I can understand why an honest person may nonetheless be very reluctant about that.
[1] Trump, by the way, gets all of the relentless criticism/attention he should and then some, even when the setting is “supposed to be comedic.” If one were lying about that shit as a comedian, then yeah, I do think that would be awfully trashy, whether or not there was an attempt at humor.
[2] But seriously: this comedy act is so fresh and topical that the most recent “funny” thing you can conjure up to criticize Biden for is his Iraq war vote? Okay, but don’t quit your day job.
All you have to do is finish the thought, which I also quoted above:
It goes like this:
(1) it’s bullshit.
(2) don’t get me wrong: criticize him for other things, because that’s not all bullshit….
(3) but in this case it’s just bullshit.
Did you miss that part?
CR:
Shouldn’t need to be explained; again: it’s entertainment, not journalism.
(Anyone who gets their information only from comedy shows is, ahem, not practising epistemic hygiene)
Arguable. Elizabeth Warren has caught up in many polls, and has been trending up, unlike Biden.
—
More to the point: the “comprehensive explainer” was self-evidently anything but that.
(That’s part of the joke!)
It ain’t me who is taking it seriously.
—
I worry about it not at all, so sure: to whatever degree you worry, I worry less.
No “maybe” about it.
(“Every nation gets the government it deserves.” (Joseph de Maistre))
CR, you’ll have to forgive me for not believing that Donald Trump and friends are obsessed with this because they’re concerned about the ethics of nepotism.