Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) - Series Discussion Thread
Half the time I can't understand what the guy is saying because of the speech impediment.
Someone needs to tell him guests usually don't like it.
That's because he does so literally after the show...
Ann will say something extremely outrageous (you know, something like "{Ethnic Group X} has been proven to be intellectually inferior"), and if the boos from Bill's audience don't come fast enough, she'll pause and look at them with a smile until they do.
I don't watch Fox so I don't know if she does the same schtick on conservative shows, but she'll definitely do it tonight.
I don't agree with everything he said, but he was spot on about "adulting". I see everyday in my work how adulthood has seemingly been pushed at least 10 years from when I was young.
Besides the #adulting bit (which I never heard of, but sounds idiotic and embodies every negative stereotype of millennials), Maher's rant was a series of straw man arguments. Some guys ruin real-life relationships over video games so every guy that plays video games is a loser, because there are some real-life "comic book guys" every guy who likes superhero stories is like that (running around with capes and playing with action figures), etc.
Besides the #adulting bit (which I never heard of, but sounds idiotic and embodies every negative stereotype of millennials), Maher's rant was a series of straw man arguments. Some guys ruin real-life relationships over video games so every guy that plays video games is a loser, because there are some real-life "comic book guys" every guy who likes superhero stories is like that (running around with capes and playing with action figures), etc.
He did not say playing video games was bad; he said playing video games so much that it negatively affects your relationships is bad.
He did not say liking super-hero movies is bad; he said immersing yourself in nerd culture to he point where it is your only culture is bad.
He did not say comic books are stupid; he said if you are an adult and comics are the literature in your life, then you are stupid.
His point about Stan Lee was spot on. Lee's defenders say that his work introduced them to serious themes when they were kids. Fine, but you're not a kid anymore, and if you are now saying "All I ever needed to know about <important subject>, I learned from Marvel comics," then you don't know much about <important subject>, and you're a fucking idiot.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Yes, @billmaher took a shot at me during his show last night, in the midst of his latest rant about @TheRealStanLee and adults who like comic books. No, I’m not mad at all. Bill may talk tough but he’s a stoner like me and a real pussycat when confronted: https://t.co/LRNdNeI2vr pic.twitter.com/VEf3fYi3b4
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) January 26, 2019
A guy who's advocating for the legalization of pot is complaining about adults that enjoy comic books.
He did not say playing video games was bad; he said playing video games so much that it negatively affects your relationships is bad.
He did not say liking super-hero movies is bad; he said immersing yourself in nerd culture to he point where it is your only culture is bad.
He did not say comic books are stupid; he said if you are an adult and comics are the literature in your life, then you are stupid.
His point about Stan Lee was spot on. Lee's defenders say that his work introduced them to serious themes when they were kids. Fine, but you're not a kid anymore, and if you are now saying "All I ever needed to know about <important subject>, I learned from Marvel comics," then you don't know much about <important subject>, and you're a fucking idiot.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Yes, @billmaher took a shot at me during his show last night, in the midst of his latest rant about @TheRealStanLee and adults who like comic books. No, I’m not mad at all. Bill may talk tough but he’s a stoner like me and a real pussycat when confronted: https://t.co/LRNdNeI2vr pic.twitter.com/VEf3fYi3b4
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) January 26, 2019
He was asking comic book readers to dig deeper into social ideas briefly mentioned in comic books.
It might not have been the worst thing for him to address it by saying, "It was months ago. If you haven't let it go, you need to, I'm moving on." But I think he really wanted to explain that he was not attacking Stan Lee.
It might not have been the worst thing for him to address it by saying, "It was months ago. If you haven't let it go, you need to, I'm moving on." But I think he really wanted to explain that he was not attacking Stan Lee.
A lot of people conflate being anti-flu shot with being anti-vax but it's not the same thing. The flu shot is one of the least effective vaccines - usually less than 50% - and I think is the only one that requires getting a new shot annually. Compare that to pretty much all other vaccines that require just 1 or 2 shots and maybe a booster decades later and are typically from 85% to 100% effective and the flu shot is the runt of the litter, at least until the "Universal Flu Shot" is finally available. (Personally speaking, though, I get a flu shot each year because I think some protection is better than none, but I know a lot of people who aren't anti-vaxxers but never bother getting the flu shot.)
Listen to Bill Maher himself from his show...
The thing is though he’s the one who started it and he must have had an idea that he’d get some backlash from comic fans and the media. He chose to attack a group for mourning the death of someone beloved to their community. There wasn’t really a reason for him to go after that group other than him not being a fan or understanding why adults like comic related media. It’s different than his normal political leanings and having a stance on a politician, event, or whatever. Also I would say if he wants it to stop this retort probably isn’t going to help matters.