Bullshit!

[KC]

I don't know if anyone's seen this show, but it's recently become one of my favorites. Basically, Penn & Teller call bullshit on different issues. Below are links to episodes from videos that have been posted on google video. I highly suggest you check some out because this show is incredible.

Bullshit! Abstinence (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8503508975371819705&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! PETA (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7562800910863882593&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Endangered Species (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7270460005350154519&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Conspiracy Theories (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3143048862360929736&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! War on Drugs (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3653114296815352489&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Ghost Busters (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2040400012975869448&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Feng Shui/Bottled Water (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6789340038877644331&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Hypnosis (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-32677400532572710&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Environmental Hysteria (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4480559399263937213&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! College (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7427067542845351261&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Family Values (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7253195370013671313&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Profanity (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4379389423057119861&q=bullshit)
Bullshit! Creationism (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-967128149563430244&q=bullshit)

[More Fire for the People]

I like Penn & Teller but they promote some very reactionary positions. I suspect them of being 'libertarian' capitalists.

[KC]

Which reactionary positions are those?

[More Fire for the People]

Originally posted by Khayembii [email protected] 31 2006, 09:58 AM
Which reactionary positions are those?
I actually don't remember but I remember a while back I was watching Penn & Teller on Showtime and I was offended as a leftist. Perhaps it was the on endagenered species?

[KC]

The episode on endangered species was about how the Endangered Species Act is bullshit. Basically what they say is that before the Act was passed, endangered animals were managed through things like hunting regulations and that the ESA is just a way for the government to control land development.

[More Fire for the People]

Oh well. I have a horrible memory.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Khayembii Communique+Aug 1 2006, 02:07 AM--> (Khayembii Communique @ Aug 1 2006, 02:07 AM) The episode on endangered species was about how the Endangered Species Act is bullshit. Basically what they say is that before the Act was passed, endangered animals were managed through things like hunting regulations and that the ESA is just a way for the government to control land development. [/b]
Err, that's not all they say.

The two experts they bring out to attack the endangered species attack are both pro-capitalists, one of them the co-founder of green peace (who also appears in their rant against enviromentalism - in which they also use a CATO institute expert - an infamous capitalist think tank) repeatedly states that he left green peace and the environmental movement because it was 'hijacked' by 'anti-capitalists' :rolleyes: They're both pro-capitalism.

The essence of the episode is that the act is bad, well laws to protect the environment are bad, because they infringe on property rights, cue the sob story. They don't take the POV that the act could be improved or that something should be done to help people that are disadvantaged by the act, but that enviromental protection laws are just anti-corporate, anti-property rights. They state explicitly that they don't give a fuck about the animals involved because, 'if mother nature says it's time to go, it's time to go' - ignoring that a lot of these animals do not face extinction because of 'mother nature', but because of human activity -> logging, chemical/industrial/urban waste etc.

Their argument is anti-government, but pro-private property and pro-capitalist.


Originally posted by [email protected]
I suspect them of being 'libertarian' capitalists.

I think you're spot on there.

From wiki (my emphasis):


wiki
Their Showtime Network television show Bullshit! takes a skeptical look at psychics, religion, the pseudoscientific, and the paranormal. It has also featured critical segments on gun control, astrology, Feng Shui, environmental issues, PETA, weight loss and the war on drugs. Some have praised the show for its libertarian perspective, while others have criticized it for the same reason, alleging that it sometimes employs the same brand of fallacious reasoning that the show ostensibly opposes, notably in relation to passive smoking and climate change

[Forward Union]

Originally posted by Hopscotch [email protected] 31 2006, 03:46 PM
I like Penn & Teller but they promote some very reactionary positions. I suspect them of being 'libertarian' capitalists.
I thought they admitted that. But a pretty cool show all round... :lol:

[More Fire for the People]

I remember why I was offended :P On the episode on college they ridicule anti-capitalists and call colleges leftist training grounds [more or less].

[KC]

I haven't watched that one yet.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Khayembii [email protected] 1 2006, 02:56 AM
I haven't watched that one yet.
Yeah, but you've watched the ones on enviromentalism (climate change) and endangered species...

[YSR]

I saw the one one circumcision, which was terrifying but interesting.

Yeah, fairly confident that they're right libertarians.

[johnny limelight]

Bull shit! penn and teller

[Delta]

I didn't see the episode, but apparently they were making fun of Noam Chomsky in one of them.

Yes, I think Penn & Teller are definitely capitalist. But don't worry too much about what they say. After all, they are only magicians :D

[RevMARKSman]

On the episode on college they ridicule anti-capitalists and call colleges leftist training grounds [more or less].

Yeah, but you have to admit the joke was funny. Anyway, their definition of "leftist" includes the Democratic Party so we don't have to worry too much. And yes, that was the episode where they made fun of Chomsky. But who cares? If you've got time to get offended by who they make fun of, you've got time to refute it instead of just getting mad.

[Delta]

Originally posted by [email protected] 31 2006, 04:16 PM
But who cares? If you've got time to get offended by who they make fun of, you've got time to refute it instead of just getting mad.
Who said I cared? I was just saying that they're right-wing.

[KC]

Who said I cared? I was just saying that they're right-wing.

I don't see how making fun of Chomsky is right wing at all. Chomsky's an ass.

[Delta]

Originally posted by Khayembii [email protected] 31 2006, 04:34 PM


Who said I cared? I was just saying that they're right-wing.

I don't see how making fun of Chomsky is right wing at all. Chomsky's an ass.
How so? And what aspect of Chomsky were they making fun of? (I only heard about the episode from a friend).

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by Khayembii [email protected] 1 2006, 09:34 AM


Who said I cared? I was just saying that they're right-wing.

I don't see how making fun of Chomsky is right wing at all. Chomsky's an ass.
He also happens to be an anarchist :rolleyes:

[SFRJ]

The only thing I liked was their story about bottled water.

Otherwise their show is bullshit.

They never allow anyone to reply, they cut peope in the middle of the sentences and add comentares. Noone they spoken to had the chanse to defend their opinion.

Wag the dog kind of.

[Comrade-Z]

I think most of their shows are awesome.

[che's long lost daughter]

I wanted to see them but this shite of a dial uo cpnnection of mine won't let me :(