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Request[AMA Request] John Oliver (self.IAmA)

better_than_you69 が 投稿

My 5 Questions: I'd just like to say: I love John Oliver as a comedian, but I disagree with some of his political views

  1. what goes into an episode of last week tonight, and how do you decide what topics to do each episode?

  2. do you have complete creative freedom on the show?

  3. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you while in front of a live audience?

  4. Of all the candidates, who do you support most in the 2016 US presidential elections?

  5. Don't you think it is slightly hypocritical to say that a tweet jokingly mocking an asian accent is racist, or that a pink van to win the female vote is offensive, but then YOU go on to make jokes including very stereotypical Swedish/French/Russian/etc. accents? You seem to think all jokes involving minorities are offensive, but jokes about whites and males are hilarious. What is your reasoning for this?

Public Contact Information: If Applicable

https://www.facebook.com/LastWeekTonight

https://twitter.com/iamjohnoliver?lang=en

https://twitter.com/lastweektonight

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トップ新着論争中古い順Q&A

[–]tjhrulz 115ポイント116ポイント  (2子コメント)

Well that escalated quickly.

[–]charlieblimey 63ポイント64ポイント  (9子コメント)

6 - Where's my fucking Bugle?

[–]beoheed 12ポイント13ポイント  (2子コメント)

Zaltzman says it'll be monthly now, but it's been almost 2 months since then. Chris needs to be told his place!

[–]charlieblimey 8ポイント9ポイント  (1子コメント)

Yeah, he mentioned it was due to non bugle related things as well which he was sure would be revealed in due course. I don't know what he was talking about the tragic events re Michelle meaning he/his family needed a break, or if it was all down to Mr John "Pornstars wear my pants" Oliver, or something else.

Let's just blame Chris. Fuck you Chris.

Edit - word. And also to write "Fuck you Chris" again. Because he loves it when you say that...

[–]notwithstupid 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'll direct your attention over to /r/fuckchris

[–]greengrasser11 4ポイント5ポイント  (3子コメント)

I open up my podcast app and see "Bonus Bugle - Satirist..." and immediately close it for something else. I like Andy but only with John.

If they do stick to a monthly thing I'll be really disappointed :(

[–]AlligatorRocket 8ポイント9ポイント  (1子コメント)

Satirist for Hire can be pretty funny actually, but I agree they need to get back with actual episodes soon.

[–]beoheed 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

I would probably listen to a stand alone Satirist For Hire podcast, but this pretend Bugle business I'm not a fan of, probably Chris's doing. Fuck you Chris!

[–]charlieblimey 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

Awwww, give them a chance. I went to one of the shows last year at the Salford Quays. Andy is a very nice bloke and the show was great. It was a sell out, which was a rare experience for him, and the show ended up over running by at least another half hour.

But yeah, I understand. I too want full Bugle bullshit.

[–]zombiekilloftheweek 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Fuck Chris.

[–]ArWKo 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Pretty sure this should be question 1.

[–]Alpha-Trion 400ポイント401ポイント  (95子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]kavjik 107ポイント108ポイント  (87子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]Speech500 79ポイント80ポイント  (86子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]Titsnicker 70ポイント71ポイント  (85子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]Theobromin 73ポイント74ポイント  (84子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]ModernApothecary 66ポイント67ポイント  (83子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]2448x 70ポイント71ポイント  (82子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]redthoughtful 68ポイント69ポイント  (77子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]FPSXpert 12ポイント13ポイント  (1子コメント)

Call this number for a good time: 1 (800) 844-7475

[–]KaptainVoxel 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

Praise be

[–]3magdnim -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]eatrepeat 54ポイント55ポイント  (2子コメント)

Instructions unclear, sent seed

[–]MarkoSeke 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

We don't want your actual seeds! We want money!

[–]ApricotPickles 220ポイント221ポイント  (68子コメント)

Don't you think it is slightly hypocritical to say that a tweet jokingly mocking an asian accent is racist, or that a pink van to win the female vote is offensive, but then YOU go on to make jokes including very stereotypical Swedish/French/Russian/etc. accents? You seem to think all jokes involving minorities are offensive, but jokes about whites and males are hilarious. What is your reasoning for this?

I think he'd answer this really well.

[–]M-Mor-BLURGH-ty 123ポイント124ポイント  (33子コメント)

There is already a prevailing explanation for this. I don't have the time to write about it myself, so I just pulled this explanation from elsewhere. In other words, this is not my own writing.

The commonly accepted explanation (which you hinted at, re: male vs. female jokes) is that power dynamics make it okay to make fun of dominant groups. I think the reality that escapes most people is that in America, ‘jokes’ typically told about minorities and ‘jokes’ about white people are fundamentally different: the former are almost always insulting, and the latter are typically not.

Consider: You ‘enjoy’ stereotypes about white people (e.g. “Stuff White People Like (SWPL)”), but jokes about Jews make you uncomfortable. Jewish jokes (I’m sure you have some examples) typically characterize Jews as stingy, greedy, or deceitful (in the pursuit of money). By contrast, SWPL largely makes lighthearted fun of white people for: living in San Francisco, going to Trader Joes, retirement planning?

A lot of what pass for ‘white jokes’ are actually affirmations of upper middle class status: “LOL I eat kale and go sailing on the weekends I’m so white”. It’s a weird humble-brag that actually fits right into the common trope of associating white (people) with positive things (i.e. middle class wealth/habits) and others (usually black) with negative or lower-class stereotypes. The worse white jokes ever get is, for lack of a better term, cute: “LOL they can’t dance.”

Let me contrast ‘white jokes’ to (my reductive summary of) the jokes made of other minorities in America. Black people: “LOL they’re poor/ stupid/dangerous and speak non-standard English”. Mexicans: “LOL they’re poor and illegal”. Indians: “LOL they sound funny and serve slurpees and drive cabs”. Chinese people (in America brown ppl are Indian/Mexican, pale ones are Chinese): “LOL they’re small and weird - and they know math.” Notice that ‘model minority’ status doesn’t mean that Asians get to celebrate humble-brag non-jokes . It’s not all about race either - Catholics: “LOL child molestation”.

It’s not the minority status of Jews, Blacks, Asians, or Catholics that make these jokes insulting/uncomfortable. The jokes are insulting by design. Why do you dislike American jokes? I’ll take a guess: probably because they tend to characterize Americans as ignorant, decadent, and/or militant.

TL;DR: White people jokes seem okay because they’re typically not insulting, while jokes about minorities are uncomfortable because they are.

[–]greatestbeforeiknew 17ポイント18ポイント  (9子コメント)

Pakistani male here. Youre reasoning for making those jokes are completely valid, but I'll go a step further and explain why they aren't working. If after years and years of immigrants in North America the best jokes you can come up with is the negative inaccurate stereotypes, you just arent being creative. There's a wonderful Indian comedian raised out of Brampton Ontario called RUSSELL FUCKING PETERS. All he does is poke fun at minorities, a LOT of which would have previously caused uproar. Heres a start. Stop lumping groups together that dont belong. Stop saying whites blacks asians. It doesnt fucken make sense. WTF is an asian? Have you seen the size of the continent? Anyways.

[–]pkkisthebomb 1ポイント2ポイント  (3子コメント)

make jokes about gang-rape.

10/10 hilarity.

[–]Borax 5ポイント6ポイント  (1子コメント)

I dunno, there's usually 1/10 that won't enjoy gang rape

[–]obvnotlupus 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

you mean 9/10

[–]greatestbeforeiknew 2ポイント3ポイント  (4子コメント)

Edit: humble brags arent exclusive to white people.

[–]cheesestrings76 3ポイント4ポイント  (2子コメント)

Just a heads up, you can edit your post instead of replying to it.

[–]greatestbeforeiknew 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

Edit: thanks for the heads up. Aka im a reddinoob.

[–]cheesestrings76 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

No worries. Best tip I can give you is to check their handy formatting [section](reddit.com) which lets

you do cool things

[–]sheepdogg0311 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Shit I wish I got to brag about having a big dick

[–]Kryptof 3ポイント4ポイント  (1子コメント)

This is a really good answer actually. I think there's more to it, but from the surface from people who aren't actual racists, this is very true.

But remember that this does not make it ok to use "reverse racism", a term I despise. Reverse racism is still racism, and unacceptable.

[–]oxencotten 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

The term reverse racism itself is racist. It's pretty much implying we are the default, normal ones and that you can't just be racist towards a white person, that it's reverse racism because we are the default.

[–]Y2JisRAW 1ポイント2ポイント  (5子コメント)

What about "White people are all racists" and "White people shoot up schools"?

[–]oxencotten 1ポイント2ポイント  (4子コメント)

Nobody says either of those things..

[–]slumpadoochous 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Sadly, some people do. I mean, you're right, nobody who isn't an idiot says those things, but there are a lot of idiots in the world. 'Lotta idiots.

[–]oxencotten 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Well we are talking about accepted opinions in society. Just because some radical idiots say stuff sometimes doesn't mean it's worth acting like it's a real opinion that a lot of people have. It's like saying that feminists say that all men should be killed.. No normal sensible person would say that.

[–]Y2JisRAW 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

Are you actually serious right now?!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy jokes about all races and religions including the picture I linked but saying all jokes about white people are positive is stupid.

[–]oxencotten 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I never said all jokes about white people are positive.. I'm saying that the idea that all white people are racists or that white people shoot up schools are pretty fringe topics to discuss/joke about. They aren't socially accepted things that most people would say or laugh at, which was the point of his comment. Like somehow his comment invalidates the explanation he replied too.

[–]Cancerous86 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

TL;DR: Comedy should punch up, not down.

[–]ApricotPickles 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I actually disagree :o) I attribute it to privilege and believe John Oliver would too, but would explain it better than I ever could. I believe what you wrote appears and most people believe it to be true, but I don't think it's what he would use to defend his jokes.

[–]ParticularJoker 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Catholics have minority status?

[–]thefartmongerer 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Catholics are the majority.

[–]fanninstreet 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

yes! this.

[–]koskech -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

That is the best way to put it's not just because white males have dominated over races it's also the nature of the jokes.

[–]madmaxturbator 269ポイント270ポイント  (19子コメント)

this post from OP is hilarious. he basically watched an episode of last week tonight, got pissed about a joke about white people / men, and decided to post this AMA request hahah

4 of the flimsiest, most pointless questions (pretty sure john oliver has answered all of those in some interview or other). then one very pointed, specific question that clearly comes from a place of anger.

nice try OP, you're about as difficult to read as hop on pop.

that said, I'd love to read an AMA with john oliver!

[–]why_notx 17ポイント18ポイント  (1子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]Anardrius 39ポイント40ポイント  (7子コメント)

I think most of the questions you call "flimsy" would probably yield entertaining answers. Just because they aren't questions that require deep thought and preparation doesn't mean they are bad questions.

For example: The Horse-Sized duck question in the Obama AMA. That was a remarkably stupid question, and it was also hilarious. Not every question needs to induce soul-searching.

[–]ModernApothecary 21ポイント22ポイント  (2子コメント)

That's a good point, but to be fair it doesn't detract from the fact that 4 of the questions are magazine fare, while the last question belongs on tumblr.

[–]-emmet- 5ポイント6ポイント  (1子コメント)

No the last one belongs on /r/European

[–]ModernApothecary 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

First time visiting /r/European, top comment on a top post includes this gem:

"Wait until next summer when millions more arrive and huge crowds of unemployed people from the 3rd world are hanging about street corners all over Germany."

Yup, tumblr or /r/European

[–]madmaxturbator 20ポイント21ポイント  (1子コメント)

no doubt - john oliver is fucking hilarious, you can ask him the stupidest dud questions and he'll find a way to answer it in a clever way.

but the first 4 questions are things covered in a soft ball magazine interview, and he's pretty much covered all of those already in various other places.

then suddenly the 5th is a very specific criticism from a pissed off dude.

that's all I'm pointing out. I'd love to see John Oliver answer any / all questions. I've seen him do standup a few times as well, and I love last week tonight!

[–]NotReallyASnake 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

I'm glad I'm not the only one that caught this.

[–]Doctor_Arkham 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

Is that where the whole joke started from? Or did someone just ask Obama about a meme?

[–]jesse0 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

I initially read OPs "as a comedian" to mean that OP was a comedian and had a really difficult time imagining OP as one. This guy/girl is apparently oversensitive and goes to silly lengths to post what is transparently a rant:

Oh, here's four boilerplate, one-liner questions. Maybe nobody will notice that I snuck in this paragraph-long rant at the end!

I'd love to see OPs standup routine.

[–]Brian_Official -3ポイント-2ポイント  (4子コメント)

Or did you get angry at the implication in the question and need to write your response from a place of anger to attack OP

[–]madmaxturbator 6ポイント7ポイント  (3子コメント)

Nah.

[–]Hemic -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

That's rather assumptions of you. I think it's a fine question that would yield an entertaining response.

[–]BBQChipCookie -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

Well said.

[–]gaardyn -5ポイント-4ポイント  (0子コメント)

The question is perfectly valid. The only reason people are attacking it is because it shines a negative light on one of the hivemind's chosen heroes.

I don't even see any answer in the question to indicate OP is pissed, as you claim. I'm a casual fan of Oliver's, but I'd like to see him offer a serious answer to the question.

[–]architechnology 26ポイント27ポイント  (8子コメント)

The general rule is it is not fair to mock the vulnerable but those in power/authority are fair game and should be able to take a (comic) punch gracefully.

I caution I will make no attempt to defend any cited examples or to speak for anyone else but broadly speaking the best targets are your own social grouping, jokes at your own expense are safe, and groups not stereotypically thought to be vulnerable in global society (white, male and UK or USA in John's case.)

[–]boblawslaw -5ポイント-4ポイント  (7子コメント)

This makes the racist implication that every single white person is in a position of power/auhtority and that white people have some sort of power over others.

[–]ritz_are_the_shitz 5ポイント6ポイント  (2子コメント)

out of 44 US presidents, exactly one has not been a rich white man.

the 114th congress (the current one) is the most diverse congress ever. Guess how many of them are white? over 80%. Guess how many are male? 80%. Guess how many are christian? 92%.

By annual income, the only ethnicity that makes more than white americans are asian americans. African americans? guess what, they make roughly 3/5 (no, this isn't meant as a joke) on average per household compared to white americans.

82% of all corporate executives are white, and 71% are male.

One could argue that, yes, white americans currently hold the power in america.

[–]presidentparrot 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

And one would be right.

[–]ParticularJoker 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

True, exactly one hasn't been rich and white, but not all presidents are what you would call "rich"

[–]shadowenx 6ポイント7ポイント  (3子コメント)

It must sting to be the target of such insidious racism. Such tragedy.

[–]verd12w 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

You just slightly reminded me of one of the lines of the teacher in 10 Things I Hate About You.

"I know how difficult it must be for you to overcome all those years of upper middle class suburban oppression. It must be tough."

[–]reddit_can_suck_my_ -1ポイント0ポイント  (1子コメント)

Yes? It's not like he/she said racism doesn't exist, but how is it his/her fault. ALL legit racism is bad, I thought this was well established.

[–]oxencotten 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Nobody said it was his/her fault or that racism towards white people is okay. It's that he's denying that white people have advantages in society. By acting like we have no advantage in society he is undermining the disadvantages that other races have in our society.

Even if you specifically feel like you have never had any examples of white privilege in your life you are still advantaged because you haven't faced certain disadvantages that minorities face.

[–]Psantium 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

with accents hopefully

[–]yottavolts 6ポイント7ポイント  (1子コメント)

Even distribution.

[–]darkstar3333 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Its not racism if equal mockery is applied to everyone.

[–]presidentparrot 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Ah, OP pulled the "white people are oppressed!" card.

[–]KuriClaire 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

I seem to remember on two occasions where he made fun of/did impressions of extraordinarily vapid women. He just knocks everyone, no worries.

[–]ModernApothecary 13ポイント14ポイント  (2子コメント)

49 comments: 23 are "praise be"

[–]flash__thunder 11ポイント12ポイント  (1子コメント)

One nation, under John

[–]that_mn_kid 28ポイント29ポイント  (2子コメント)

Looks like OP is a white male who can't take punches.

[–]BleachedBacon 6ポイント7ポイント  (0子コメント)

Agreed. I half considered posting this to /r/unexpected because of the sudden butthurt.

[–]agareo 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]deimosusn 30ポイント31ポイント  (19子コメント)

Just my two cents, but I think making fun of a language is only racist when you're trying to portray a certain race in a certain way.

For example, saying that Asians can't pronounce Rs or something like "work, work, work, rice, rice, rice".

Just talking in an accent isn't inherently racist.

[–]hellaGumshoe 12ポイント13ポイント  (0子コメント)

wok, wok, wok, lice, lice, lice,

FTFY

[–]Shoreyo 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Oh people have tried to argue it's racist, fuck em though I agree with you. I haven't seen olivers jokes about Russians and French, if they're just accents then what'd the deal? If they're saying all French are unwashed cowards or sommin then that's different.

[–]monsieurpommefrites 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

There are dozens of ethnicities in Asia. Giving them all one accent is ignorant.

[–]AutoModerator[M] 13ポイント14ポイント  (2子コメント)

If you are very interested in seeing this happen, consider posting in /r/IAmARequests! Your request will have a better chance at being fulfilled than just being posted here! And if you do post in /r/IAmARequests, make sure to tag your request with [Reward] if you're offering one, or [No Reward] if not.

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[–]madmaxturbator 8ポイント9ポイント  (1子コメント)

do those requests ever pan out? why would that sub have a higher chance of success? that sub has less than 2K people subscribed, this one has 9.1 million ...

[–]obvious_bot 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

The mods probably are more proactive there in seeking out the requests

[–]ShipThatIsh 9ポイント10ポイント  (0子コメント)

I, for one, welcome our new British overlord.

[–]ell20 10ポイント11ポイント  (0子コメント)

TIL all Europeans are white and male.

[–]mynameismatt_ 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

another day, another John Oliver AMA request

[–]segamad66 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

mr Oliver, who would you have a cook off against?

[–]south_blues 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

I hope if he agrees, he talks about the importance of Belgian waffles.

[–]Heyeahyeahyeah 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

He did a segment on how online harassment is terrible despite telling his audience to harass a South American politician online.

I do like his show but some of his politics are pretty damn hypocritical.

[–]Commando0861 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Lets get this happening folks!

[–]beoheed 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Still have no idea how to delete a post on Alien Blue...

[–]sheepdogg0311 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

John Oliver is the best thing to happen to political satire in along time I had high hopes for Greg Gutfeld but he didn't rise to the occasion

I think nothing should be off limits when it comes to jokes as long as they art ment to be hurtful let's be honest you know when someone is joking or just being a dick ... Humor is an ice breaker for tough topics Humor is a way we can all pole fun of ourselves Humor brings a few minutes of joy in a tough world

[–]randylaheyjr 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

His food line at sobies is terrible

[–]Psantium 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Let's do this!

[–]Swimwma 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Praise Be!

[–]time_drifter 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

M'John, please.

[–]stupid_fat_pidgeons 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Every single one of these questions was answered in his Howard Stern interview

[–]BrannistheMannis 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

How may I become an ordained minister in Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption

[–]tbone251 -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

If J.Oliver makes the video of answering the top questions of the thread I'm ready to even tattoo his name on my head!

[–]OldManKamps 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

/u/messyjesse

[–]MrLewayne 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Lets ask him some geography questions!

[–]frenchness 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yasssssss please!

[–]Kimchidiary 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yeah I would like to know if he's David Baddiels clone twin.

[–]IrvineRyan 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Praise be.

[–]Shaunisinschool 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Look, there is NO way Reddit could get John Oliver to do an AMA. Mark my words, NO WAY!

[–]PimpCinnamon 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Ask him what year it is

[–]TESTICLE_KEBABS 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

You don't question the megareverend, the megareverend questions you.

Praise be.

[–]Gene_The_Stoner -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

My most important question to John Oliver is this: How are you so brave?

[–]ItsDominare 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Most important question: Do you think Brendan Rodgers should stay or go?

[–]zuperkamelen 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

YES YES YES.

[–]regularmadman 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Can he also give a legitimate reason why he is against GMOs. And not use studies that have a small sample size and fuzzy data eg. The mice and pig one's.

[–]nbrichardson 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

One time Jon Oliver called me a cunt on his podcast. Proudest moment of my life.

[–]twwatson244 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I like to to say thank you for bringing to light some of the issues that you have on your show! America needs a good source of information that isn't influenced by corporations! Would you ever want to be in politics?

[–]Doades 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I feel like for 3 would be when the power went out while he was hosting The Daily Show.

[–]Tyrion98 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yes please

[–]dickpizarro 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

notmycristian

[–]Edseries209 -4ポイント-3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Why doesn't he go the F back to England and solve their problems first?

[–]Dyfar -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

Reddit: John you are so amazing could you write a book on every topic so I know what opinions to have on everything. I can't think for myself and you are so amazing.