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John Oliver is the nadir of modern news media

Remove whatever substance Jon Stewart might have had and you...
Deep jap
  03/01/16
what does "wil to pwoer" mean actually and why do ...
motley mediation public bath
  03/01/16
I haven't watched him at enough to speak at length about him...
exhilarant cream parlour cuckoldry
  03/01/16
He is additionally annoying. . .no, he is multiples of annoy...
Magical Gas Station Double Fault
  03/03/16
(guy who's never heard of political talk radio)
diverse antidepressant drug
  03/01/16
here is a cute cat holding a sign that says FUCK TRUMP...yes...
stimulating mewling hospital potus
  03/01/16
...
out-of-control supple cuckold temple
  03/01/16
...
Sickened bateful incel locus
  03/01/16
The Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen! Facts = bad. ...
Lascivious flirting state sneaky criminal
  03/01/16
...
naked spot
  03/01/16
i swear to god jon steward turned me off being a liberal. i ...
stimulating mewling hospital potus
  03/01/16
If you're going to ad-hom the OP's argument down to 'facts =...
exhilarant cream parlour cuckoldry
  03/01/16
His other complaint seems to be that these facts are present...
Lascivious flirting state sneaky criminal
  03/01/16
...
electric goyim
  03/01/16
The issue with Oliver is that facts are presented as such, n...
Provocative Nofapping Roommate
  03/01/16
You fucking disgust me. Faggot.
pink abode
  03/01/16
Don't u have a show to prep for John
appetizing indigo theater stage ape
  03/01/16
i've never watched his show but i have no doubt that your cr...
electric goyim
  03/01/16
Just a brief example to demonstrate my point: 5:08 to 5:52. ...
Deep jap
  03/01/16
You deconstructed the shit out of that lame bit, brother. Go...
mind-boggling dog poop
  03/01/16
...
Fuchsia Hairraiser Mexican
  03/01/16
...
transparent den
  03/01/16
...
appetizing indigo theater stage ape
  03/01/16
Top quality day-crew post right here.
Slate set dingle berry
  03/01/16
A+ work right here
Concupiscible erotic scourge upon the earth
  03/01/16
...
Titillating wine indian lodge dopamine
  03/03/16
180
irate shimmering half-breed resort
  03/03/16
That's pretty much what I get from it. His jokes are hit and...
Provocative Nofapping Roommate
  03/01/16
cr trump has a few ventures fail, HE'S A BAD BUSINESSMAN ...
Nubile brunch
  03/01/16
Here's hoping for a blow out today, breh. I want my libs apo...
Provocative Nofapping Roommate
  03/01/16
...
Mint abusive feces
  03/01/16
u mean non-whites?
motley mediation public bath
  03/01/16
they see the writing on the wall, that's why they rallying a...
Nubile brunch
  03/01/16
...
transparent den
  03/01/16
...
internet-worthy sepia rigpig
  03/01/16
oliver fucks stubby fingered trump with his huge british coc...
Orange Business Firm
  03/01/16
fuck that ratfaced brit ugmo. He will be one of the first on...
Bearded offensive brethren water buffalo
  03/01/16
i thought he did a good job of covering SOME issues like his...
Bespoke racy crackhouse main people
  03/03/16


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Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 4:33 AM
Author: Deep jap

Remove whatever substance Jon Stewart might have had and you’re left with John Oliver. There is no attempt to convince the viewer – neither by fact nor opinion – that his view is superior, as though the opposite view were worthy of consideration. He does not challenge his opponents directly, whereas Stewart and Colbert at the very least invited those with opposing views to speak on their respective shows, and gave them opportunities to voice their thoughts free of obfuscating spin. This required of them the ability to think and engage critically, and to argue compellingly for themselves, rather than simply construct convenient strawmen of their opponents and laugh at them from a distance.

Oliver does nothing but present facts – facts which one could nevertheless interpret in a positive or negative manner provided some intellectual nuance – and proceed to make snarky remarks which trivialize the matter at hand. He then lets his Orwellian laugh track confirm to you that, yes, the matter is indeed this laughably simple, and that the opposite view is so plainly comical so as to not be deserving of serious thought.

Rather than construct an argument and back it up with some jokes and comical observations along the way, he *presents* the opponent as itself the joke without making an effort to *make* it at all funny. There is no need to prove that the other side is laughable – this is built into his prior assumptions. He constructs a strawman view of the matter at hand, lets his drones laugh at it, and ends with a resounding conclusion as to what is right and what is wrong. This, I think, is why he is more broadly disliked than were his stylistic predecessors.

He is quite literally dulling the ability and willingness of his liberal viewers to think at all critically by engaging in a simple practice of belief confirmation.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950226)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 4:40 AM
Author: motley mediation public bath

what does "wil to pwoer" mean actually and why do philosophy tards love saying it

is it theire ez 4.0 -> hls power?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950244)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:17 AM
Author: exhilarant cream parlour cuckoldry

I haven't watched him at enough to speak at length about him, but it's quite obvious just from clips they post on the news sometimes that he lacks any nuance and is not funny.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950309)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 3rd, 2016 8:00 PM
Author: Magical Gas Station Double Fault

He is additionally annoying. . .no, he is multiples of annoyance.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29972967)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:10 AM
Author: diverse antidepressant drug

(guy who's never heard of political talk radio)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950293)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:20 AM
Author: stimulating mewling hospital potus

here is a cute cat holding a sign that says FUCK TRUMP...yes, literally a cute cat. i say to you mr. trump, why do you want to fuck this cat? leave the cat butthole alone, sir TRUMP. i say leave it alone.

now, back to our substantive, smart, wickedly funny, and top notch show...

now watch me suck my own dick, as a modern art exhibit against trump, proving that i, oliver, am the new age ARTIST.

goodnight audience. and dont forget to tune in next week, where i show hilarious photoshopped photos, tell dick jokes, and get all serious on your ass within seconds. oh what a show we have! *EJACULATES ON THE CAMERA*



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950316)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:15 AM
Author: out-of-control supple cuckold temple



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950572)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:23 AM
Author: Sickened bateful incel locus



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950591)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:34 AM
Author: Lascivious flirting state sneaky criminal

The Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen!

Facts = bad. We need more small-dick jokes and shouting matches!

He's the best show out there, a leap up from Jon Stewart (even if he doesn't have quite his comedic chops), who was fairly superficial, though he admittedly had to churn it out every day. On the other hand, Oliver will spend 20 minutes exposing pressing problems in detail, and not just obvious ones (admittedly the segment on Trump was a bit silly, because that's like an exposé of the dangers of cigarette smoking).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950344)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:37 AM
Author: naked spot



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950347)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:38 AM
Author: stimulating mewling hospital potus

i swear to god jon steward turned me off being a liberal. i found him funny at first, thought his show was very entertaining. because fuck fox news. and why cant the world just be like jon steward? god damnit, why. but then, i started laughing less and less, until i felt a sick, deep uneasiness in my gut. a realization came to me that jon steward was just a hack, shilling for his own causes. fuck liberals, they are JUST AS BAD as fox news. this was the realization that made me go into vertigo. both sides are propaganda. i used to think fox news was clearly bunch of insane propaganda pushing traitors. and jon steward was just a clear thinking, straight man to their lies and hatred. hes no straight man. hes just as fanatical as they are.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950349)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:39 AM
Author: exhilarant cream parlour cuckoldry

If you're going to ad-hom the OP's argument down to 'facts = bad,' you're on the same level as dick jokes and shouting matches, you hypocritical retard.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950350)



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Date: March 1st, 2016 6:43 AM
Author: Lascivious flirting state sneaky criminal

His other complaint seems to be that these facts are presented somewhat neutrally, without a huge effort to promote one point of view. Not sure that's true, but I could see how that would gall in this era of mindless, frenzied partisanism. What's amazing is that people now see these exposures of universal abuses as some kind of partisan issue.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950420)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:16 AM
Author: electric goyim



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950575)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:20 AM
Author: Provocative Nofapping Roommate

The issue with Oliver is that facts are presented as such, not that they're presented "neutrally". He just plops them out, no nuance, no attempt at interpretation, just present the "fact" and make a humorous conclusion from it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950584)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 5:45 AM
Author: pink abode

You fucking disgust me. Faggot.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950363)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 6:29 AM
Author: appetizing indigo theater stage ape

Don't u have a show to prep for John

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950413)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:17 AM
Author: electric goyim

i've never watched his show but i have no doubt that your criticism of the reptile criticism of Jon Oliver is 100% credited.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950580)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 9:34 AM
Author: Deep jap

Just a brief example to demonstrate my point: 5:08 to 5:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ&t=5m8s

>Oliver begins to suggest that Trump’s campaign is not entirely self-funded

>Cuts to video of Trump saying that he receives donations on the order of a few dollars from individuals, which are impractical to return

At this point, an intelligent person makes the following observations regardless of his political orientation or opinion regarding Trump:

>Trump isn’t (that we know of) taking donations from companies, special-interest organizations, etc. As concerns his claim regarding his financial independence, what’s important isn’t simply that the money is coming from his own pocket – it’s that he doesn’t have to answer to anyone looking for political favors in return for donations. As small individual donations carry no political capital, the fact that he accepts them isn’t a material point as regards his financial independence.

This doesn’t take a large intellectual leap – it simply evaluates the significance of the facts in the appropriate context. More thoughtful people will, and do, find better reasons for which to criticize Trump.

Now we return to the video:

>Oliver creates imagery of Trump imagining old ladies stuffing envelopes with ‘grimy dollar bills’ and ‘writing ‘Donald Trump’ on the front

>Audience laughs

>Oliver mentions that he’s received $7.5 million in individual donations, and that he has two ‘donate’ buttons on his website. His campaign is not self-funded, QED.

There was no substantive point to be made in this case. But Oliver ignores the very obvious counterpoint to the idea that Trump’s campaign isn’t entirely self-funded (indeed, one so obvious that it’s difficult to call it a ‘counterpoint’ as such, as though there were some meaningful point to be countered at all). He then proceeds (A) to suggest that Trump is lying to us regarding the financial independence of his campaign and (B) to create a strawman of an out-of-touch Trump so naïve so as to think that little old ladies are sending in their change from the supermarket. The crowd laughs, confirming the point, and he moves on.

This isn’t a matter of simply ‘ignoring the other side,’ which all political commentators with an argument to push invariably do to some extent. This is a matter of cherry-picking facts and, upon presenting them, framing them in such a way that they confirm the house opinion. There isn’t a debate to be had – only facts stacked against his opponents. This isn’t a matter of simple bias, which infects all political commentary, liberal and conservative alike. It’s a matter of presenting information which is framed as entirely objective and neutral, but which is in fact not – and which, when it could be, is presented in such a way that it can’t help but to be seen through a particular tint of glass.

Vox, some writers on Fivethirtyeight, etc. play the same game, writing ‘explainers’ which purport to present ‘just the facts,’ but which are undeniably designed to push some opinion. That they are skewed by political bias is not significant, and is to be expected. What is worrisome is that political opinion and moral views are sold as empirical and undeniable truth, and the public consumes them as such.

This is also why his “IT’S [INSERT CURRENT YEAR]!” comments are not merely innocent and silly appeals. Oliver’s modus operandi is to present information as though there are no real debates to be had – and when there is no debate to be had, policy can and should move in only one direction. Never mind that some people might have logical reasons to oppose the Obergefell decision – it’s impossible to see it as anything but a matter of expanding equality for homosexuals. So, with no reasonable moral basis upon which to oppose it, why haven’t we created a more equitable society already? It’s 2016! It’s impossible to see healthcare as anything but a human right, so why haven’t we expanded the state’s role in supporting healthcare costs already? It’s 2016!

I’m no fan of Jon Stewart, but he at least had the willingness to address the fact that his opponents weren’t automatons or mindless idiots, and debated many of them on his show, to varying degrees of success. Oliver instead constructs strawmen and is content to laugh at them from a distance, hiding behind the situations as he presents them rather than pushing his opinions in the face of those who might contest him, and presenting his vision of the world as the only real way through which to understand a topic.

As for the Trump piece – he makes some more substantive points through the segment, some less. But how does he end the show (18:25 to end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ&t=18m25s )? Not by making some appeal as to the potential consequences of us electing him, which would perhaps be the most logical thought to address. No, he quite literally creates a new strawman for us, telling us to see Trump not as the proud and illustrious ‘Trump’ but as the bumbling idiot ‘Drumpf.’ How could we vote for him then? The audience bursts in laughter. QED.

Oliver’s game is to strip all possible nuance from political matters to ensure that we see facts and debates from only one perspective, and to make moral and political appeals on that basis. Say what you will about Trump, but this piece adds nothing to a critical mind’s understanding of and opinion on the Trump phenomenon. It simply tells us what we should think about him.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950857)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 9:50 AM
Author: mind-boggling dog poop

You deconstructed the shit out of that lame bit, brother. Good job.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950908)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 9:53 AM
Author: Fuchsia Hairraiser Mexican



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950921)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 10:22 AM
Author: transparent den



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29951091)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 1:37 PM
Author: appetizing indigo theater stage ape



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29952457)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 1:47 PM
Author: Slate set dingle berry

Top quality day-crew post right here.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29952520)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 2:57 PM
Author: Concupiscible erotic scourge upon the earth

A+ work right here

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29952991)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 3rd, 2016 7:54 PM
Author: Titillating wine indian lodge dopamine



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29972934)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 3rd, 2016 8:05 PM
Author: irate shimmering half-breed resort

180

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29973002)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 7:39 AM
Author: Provocative Nofapping Roommate

That's pretty much what I get from it. His jokes are hit and miss, nothing exceptional but overall not pure shit.

But it's pure propaganda. That's fine when the issue is actually black and white, but when they aren't it is really painful. His analysis of Trump was one of the dimmest I've seen. Like, yeah man I know he is a salesman and it can look sleazy. The issue is that the actual politicians running against him are way sleazier, and without addressing that, Oliver looked very low IQ.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950454)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 7:51 AM
Author: Nubile brunch

cr

trump has a few ventures fail, HE'S A BAD BUSINESSMAN IN SPITE OF HIS BILLIONS

clinton sets the fucking middle east on FIRE, oh what a strong leader to defeat trump!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950494)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:07 AM
Author: Provocative Nofapping Roommate

Here's hoping for a blow out today, breh. I want my libs apoplectic as fuck tomorrow.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950544)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:17 AM
Author: Mint abusive feces



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950576)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:19 AM
Author: motley mediation public bath

u mean non-whites?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950582)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 8:24 AM
Author: Nubile brunch

they see the writing on the wall, that's why they rallying around clinton (i.e. the democratic romney)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29950599)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 1:33 PM
Author: transparent den



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29952432)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 1:36 PM
Author: internet-worthy sepia rigpig



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29952451)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 1:54 PM
Author: Orange Business Firm

oliver fucks stubby fingered trump with his huge british cock

and trump's corsican bitch support group gets all butt hurt

imagine that

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29952607)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 1st, 2016 3:01 PM
Author: Bearded offensive brethren water buffalo

fuck that ratfaced brit ugmo. He will be one of the first on the trains

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29953023)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 3rd, 2016 8:03 PM
Author: Bespoke racy crackhouse main people

i thought he did a good job of covering SOME issues like his episode focused on payday loans. obviously the take is very shitlib but shitlibs have legitimate points on some issues.

but obviously their election coverage is gonna be a completely dishonest hatchet job of trump

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3148180&forum_id=2#29972985)