4 ms·

I guess a lot of people enjoy his style of "humour" where he randomly insults people, countries or cultures for no apparent reason.

PaulRobinson 8y ago
If you'd watched the segment, you'd realise there was a reason for it. Specifically he used the segment to point out that Xi Jinping has more power and influence than almost anybody in China's history, that a personality cult has started to form around him, and that he is using that power in ways that has a wide range of long-term profound domestic and international consequences, including America's place in the World and perhaps even democracy's. Yes, he used comedy. Yes, he referenced Winnie the Pooh and Xi Jinping's hatred of being likened to him. It's an entertainment show. The fact it is a comedy entertainment show doesn't make the point he makes any less true. He had a point. He made it. China reacted to the point, not because it was a "random insult", but because if Chinese people watched that segment they may start to raise questions. He was censored for the same reason that many other things questioning China's authoritarianism are banned from comments like this one I'm making here all the way through to many of the images at the top of this google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=tiananmen+square https://www.google.com/search?q=tiananmen+square Further, Oliver had used his show to make points about Trump, Obama, veterans, affordable healthcare, TV evangelists and a whole host of other social affairs using comedy to tell a story that would be hard to make entertaining using any other device. What exactly is your problem with that? Just because you don't like his style of humour does not mean he is "randomly insulting people, countries or cultures for no apparent reason". Also: next time, before throwing statements like that around, question whether you're doing it yourself. What _exactly_ were you hoping to achieve with this comment?
- Tharkun 8y ago
  > If you'd watched the segment, you'd realise there was a reason for it. I did watch the segment. And pretty much every other episode of his show. And while the serious bits are usually quite interesting and well thought-out, the "funny" insulting bits are ridiculous and childish. Call them humour if you will, but they don't sit well with my sense of humour. But yes, he does randomly insult people, countries and cultures for no apparent reason. You assumed, incorrectly, that I was talking about China or Xi.
  - PaulRobinson 8y ago
    I don't believe a word you wrote in that first paragraph, and completely disagree with your assertion in the second for reasons I've already given that you've chosen to ignore. There is no segment he's done where the insult is purposeless and random. Ever. I'm still curious what you were hoping to achieve with your own random and purposeless sleight, but let's move on. Have a great day.
- mistermann 8y ago
  > Specifically he used the segment to point out that Xi Jinping has more power and influence than almost anybody in China's history, that a personality cult has started to form around him, and that he is using that power in ways that has a wide range of long-term profound domestic and international consequences, including America's place in the World and perhaps even democracy's. Having a mainstream liberal thought leader (in my opinion) like Oliver breaking silence on whether the rise of China, while it is still an authoritarian state, might pose some risk to America is a very welcome and I think significant change. I can't recall the other incidents, but this isn't the first time I've noticed a change in the mainstream information feed on this topic, hopefully this is the sign of things to come. I would love to see a bit on China still enjoying the benefits that come with developing nation status within the WTO, despite the massive economic transformation they've undergone (with a little help from Western CEO's along the way) since their original inclusion.

PaulRobinson 8y ago

If you'd watched the segment, you'd realise there was a reason for it. Specifically he used the segment to point out that Xi Jinping has more power and influence than almost anybody in China's history, that a personality cult has started to form around him, and that he is using that power in ways that has a wide range of long-term profound domestic and international consequences, including America's place in the World and perhaps even democracy's. Yes, he used comedy. Yes, he referenced Winnie the Pooh and Xi Jinping's hatred of being likened to him. It's an entertainment show. The fact it is a comedy entertainment show doesn't make the point he makes any less true. He had a point. He made it. China reacted to the point, not because it was a "random insult", but because if Chinese people watched that segment they may start to raise questions. He was censored for the same reason that many other things questioning China's authoritarianism are banned from comments like this one I'm making here all the way through to many of the images at the top of this google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=tiananmen+square https://www.google.com/search?q=tiananmen+square Further, Oliver had used his show to make points about Trump, Obama, veterans, affordable healthcare, TV evangelists and a whole host of other social affairs using comedy to tell a story that would be hard to make entertaining using any other device. What exactly is your problem with that? Just because you don't like his style of humour does not mean he is "randomly insulting people, countries or cultures for no apparent reason". Also: next time, before throwing statements like that around, question whether you're doing it yourself. What _exactly_ were you hoping to achieve with this comment?

Tharkun 8y ago
> If you'd watched the segment, you'd realise there was a reason for it. I did watch the segment. And pretty much every other episode of his show. And while the serious bits are usually quite interesting and well thought-out, the "funny" insulting bits are ridiculous and childish. Call them humour if you will, but they don't sit well with my sense of humour. But yes, he does randomly insult people, countries and cultures for no apparent reason. You assumed, incorrectly, that I was talking about China or Xi.
- PaulRobinson 8y ago
  I don't believe a word you wrote in that first paragraph, and completely disagree with your assertion in the second for reasons I've already given that you've chosen to ignore. There is no segment he's done where the insult is purposeless and random. Ever. I'm still curious what you were hoping to achieve with your own random and purposeless sleight, but let's move on. Have a great day.
mistermann 8y ago
> Specifically he used the segment to point out that Xi Jinping has more power and influence than almost anybody in China's history, that a personality cult has started to form around him, and that he is using that power in ways that has a wide range of long-term profound domestic and international consequences, including America's place in the World and perhaps even democracy's. Having a mainstream liberal thought leader (in my opinion) like Oliver breaking silence on whether the rise of China, while it is still an authoritarian state, might pose some risk to America is a very welcome and I think significant change. I can't recall the other incidents, but this isn't the first time I've noticed a change in the mainstream information feed on this topic, hopefully this is the sign of things to come. I would love to see a bit on China still enjoying the benefits that come with developing nation status within the WTO, despite the massive economic transformation they've undergone (with a little help from Western CEO's along the way) since their original inclusion.