>> ^Ryjkyj:
I hope all you conservative republicans out there can appreciate that this is basically just Sarah Palin without the boobs, glasses and family exploitation.
He's folksy!


....no...no there's definitely boobs.

I hope all you conservative republicans out there can appreciate that this is basically just Sarah Palin without the boobs, glasses and family exploitation.

He's folksy!

I talk about race because it pisses me off to see the kinds of racism that people are willing to tolerate these days and on this site. You do nothing to help by brushing it aside, and you achieve even less when you preach the gospel of STFU. And why the fuck would I need to be 'called upon' to speak my mind on something I care about?

You say I have no authority, and that no one wants to hear me and that I'm borrowing grief from black brothers? (Wow, did you really just say that? Yikes!) Three intimidating and fallacious arguments that all want me quiet. Why?

Why is it so important to you (and pennypacker and qm) that I shut up on race? You haven't asked me or tried to shame me into not talking about politics, so what's the big deal about race? I'm honestly asking. And why would I need authority? Or your permission? And why would you assume that I speak out solely for the approval of others? And why is it that you think it so wrong for a white guy to stand up for his black brothers? I think you are very, very misguided when you say things like this. I think you should rethink this. I think you should stand up for your black brothers, and they should stand up for you.

As for banning, I don't care. I found his act pretty stale, but it was easy enough to step around. I've got no objections to letting the old coot back in. My point here is not to justify the banning, but just to make it clear that, yes, the dude did have some issues with race, and, no, that kind of shit is not alright, not even if you say it in a cutesy, folksy, eccentric manner. I'm certainly not calling him a hooded, pitchfork wielding klansman - because that kind of overt racism is no longer culturally accepted - if that's what you think. Choggie's racism was less overt than that for sure.

A leading question*: How did the overt racism of yesterday transition into less overt racism of today?? Because people stood up and decided not to tolerate it anymore.

How will the less overt racism of today transition into the even less overt racism of tomorrow? I'll give you three guesses. (hint: same answer as the first question)

What level of racism is acceptable in your eyes?

*the only kind of question a lawyer knows how to ask
>> ^schmawy:

Choggie often used the term "passive aggressive", and I think that for the most part is correct. The small contingency of self-satisfied and judgmental members who use their influence to control content and members disgust me. And he complained about "copypasta" and I see why now, because the first thing you do is run a search. Slimy as a fucking lawyer or angry girlfriend.
Choggie did boatloads to celebrate black culture. You and your crew are so eager to prove how enlightened you are, how right you are, you fly into a tizzy over the slightest invocation of race. Who called on you to perform this duty? Who told you we needed it? Race is only an issue when you whiteys start borrowing grief from our black brothers. Do you think they want your help? Do you really think someone saying "nigger" "spook" or "monkey" is going to cause the Sift to collapse? Jesus Christ. Take it somewhere else.

Wow, this is a great parody of both the folksy singer/songwriters and the entire gangsta culture... Impressive.

"aaaaaaaand what would you say to a Hawaiian who said 'That's just a bunch of folksy nonsense that doesn't have any real substance"

Ahhhh it puts a huge smile on my face to see these morons get their comeuppance on national TV.

I love you.
>> ^handmethekeysyou:
While I think it's important to do so, I can't help but take some issue with people in media badmouthing The Media. So, just so I feel I've done my due diligence, here are a few ways that Doug Stanhope is manipulating you and some of the media stereotypes being relied upon/reinforced by this video:
• Well dressed, clean cut, deep voiced, mature looking man sitting at desk with stately edifice in the background introduces Doug, lending credence to what you are about to hear.
• B-roll shots of small town Americana position Doug as an everyman. This helps us see Doug as just a perceptive member of the group of people he's attacking. This is reinforced by the set he appears in: a small, folksy looking home, potentially a trailer.
• Three camera shoot allows jump cuts to tighter or wider shots, adding a kinetic feel, keeping your attention, even when the monologue may be lagging.

Bullet-point media stereotypes:
• Unattractive people are unsatisfactory mates.
• People who aren't terribly exciting are unsatisfactory mates.
• Being average in any way is, ipso facto, undesirable.
• Identification as an alcoholic and appearance with drink (a delicious looking manhattan). This relies on the oft-reinforced concept of drug users as people who see the world differently, almost always "correctly".

While I think it's important to do so, I can't help but take some issue with people in media badmouthing The Media. So, just so I feel I've done my due diligence, here are a few ways that Doug Stanhope is manipulating you and some of the media stereotypes being relied upon/reinforced by this video:

• Well dressed, clean cut, deep voiced, mature looking man sitting at desk with stately edifice in the background introduces Doug, lending credence to what you are about to hear.

• B-roll shots of small town Americana position Doug as an everyman. This helps us see Doug as just a perceptive member of the group of people he's attacking. This is reinforced by the set he appears in: a small, folksy looking home, potentially a trailer.

• Three camera shoot allows jump cuts to tighter or wider shots, adding a kinetic feel, keeping your attention, even when the monologue may be lagging.


Bullet-point media stereotypes:

• Unattractive people are unsatisfactory mates.

• People who aren't terribly exciting are unsatisfactory mates.

• Being average in any way is, ipso facto, undesirable.

• Identification as an alcoholic and appearance with drink (a delicious looking manhattan). This relies on the oft-reinforced concept of drug users as people who see the world differently, almost always "correctly".

The aphex twin "hard edged" ending is supposed to mock the fun folksy style of the iPhone marketing?

Hm. fun folksy > aphex twin.

I think it missed the mark.

But, yay android

>> ^budzos:
>> ^Trancecoach:
a maverick, by definition, is one who does not play on a team. "a team of mavericks" is an oxymoron.

That has been bugging the shit out of me since I first heard it!
I might write an entire blog post about this elsewhere, but I think it all comes down to the word "nuclear." Saying "nukular" in the hopes of coming off as folksy and unpretentious is cynical and is exactly why I hate most people, especially politicians. Saying "nukular" because you've never looked at the word closely, or because you're just a sloppy speaker, is prima fascia evidence that you're a fucking MORON and shouldn't be trusted with the keys to the car nevermind the codes to the nuclear football.


Sigh. Son, this is no way to get back at the world for that stuttering problem you had as a child. Let it go...

>> ^Trancecoach:
a maverick, by definition, is one who does not play on a team. "a team of mavericks" is an oxymoron.


That has been bugging the shit out of me since I first heard it!

I might write an entire blog post about this elsewhere, but I think it all comes down to the word "nuclear." Saying "nukular" in the hopes of coming off as folksy and unpretentious is cynical and is exactly why I hate most people, especially politicians. Saying "nukular" because you've never looked at the word closely, or because you're just a sloppy speaker, is prima fascia evidence that you're a fucking MORON and shouldn't be trusted with the keys to the car nevermind the codes to the nuclear football.

I canvas for Obama in Indiana. Its hard not to put people like these folks on the defensive. Many are not supporting McCain because of his policies, so you can immediately throw people on the defensive even talking about policies. And don't question devotion to Palin; its emotional, not intellectual. Many despise politicians, and don't see her as one, so combine that with her folksiness and you get an emotional devotion.

Out canvasing I typically describe how I first liked Obama because of his work with a Republican Senator on transparency-in-government legislation (a 'small government' agenda), and how often he notes how important transparency will be in his administration, as he's a Constitution super-fan. I then ask what issue are most important to them and present Obama's plan or stance on that issue.

I don't like Palin, but I am a photographer and that is a shitty photo.

Then again, no one, especially a politician, should expect their photo to be automatically retouched. If she is going for the folksy attitude then she should also expect a natural photo, unretouched, to appear on the magazine cover.

What's the shame of showing Palin as she is? Why should she deserve to have her likeness retouched? Why shouldn't America see her for exactly what she is?

Imagine Cheney trying to be cute and folksy.

if people want cute and vapid - i vote Paris Hilton or Britney Spears should be VP.

She's amped up the folksiness, just like W does. She can sound smart when she wants to - see 1:30:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-B-OyQ-KI

>> ^ShakyJake:
She's been to college and had a full education, right? Maybe everyone up there really does talk like that, but it just strikes me as an effected method of speech. It's like having Yosemite Sam up there speaking.


Quoth the Wikipedia:
Palin attended several colleges and universities. In 1982, she enrolled at Hawaii Pacific College but left after her first semester. She transferred to North Idaho community college, where she spent two semesters as a general studies major. From there, she transferred to the University of Idaho for two semesters.[11][12] During this time Palin won the Miss Wasilla Pageant beauty contest,[13][14] then finished third (second runner-up) in the Miss Alaska pageant,[15][16] at which she won a college scholarship and the "Miss Congeniality" award.[17] She then left the University of Idaho and attended Matanuska-Susitna community college in Alaska for one term. The next year she returned to the University of Idaho where she spent three semesters completing her Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism, graduating in 1987.[11][12]
---

So it took her around 5 years to get a 4-year degree. In Communications-Journalism. Where she would have (hopefully)learned to speak without an accent.

I think her handlers have told her to play it up, as if an accent is all it takes to sound "folksy."