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mananaysiempreyesterday at 11:01 AM1 replyview on HN

There’s a thin line between satire, which can convince, and sneering, which can only turn off. John Oliver, unfortunately, does end up on the wrong side of it from time to time, and can (together with his core audience) be something of a bully when he does.

I’d also be careful about his facts: they’re usually well-researched, but by the nature of the format he only ever presents those which fit his argument, and that’s just not good epistemology. I can think of a few times when the show made me feel safer about my beliefs than I should have been feeling.


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ajucyesterday at 11:26 AM

The time for this debate was 100 years ago. Now only people who can't be convinced aren't convinced, so there's no point convincing.

So why not make fun of them? There's no downside.

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