"John Oliver on Science Reporting " Topic

John Oliver has a 20 minute segment on science reporting. There are jokes along the way (some of which are NSFW – it's HBO after all ), but it shouldn't detract from the main point.

youtu.be/0Rnq1NpHdmw

5 out of 4 people found that amusing.

Excellent. Must-watch for some on this board.

Mel Brooks' "History of the World Part One" had a character who was a " stand up philosopher".
Now it seems that we are relying on comedians to argue our points.
I never watched Stuart or Colbert, so why should I watch this clown to explain "science" to me?
Oh, sorry. Did I offend by not beginning "science" with a capital letter?

I have friends who insist that John Oliver revealing that Trump's name is really Trempf (or something like that) is actually relevant.
Having a comedian do your propaganda does nothing but make it funny.

I guess I should point out that "propaganda" is not being used here in a pejorative sense, but in its original sense, meaning a statement of Faith.

It is easier than using verifiable logic and proof to try to convince people to accept your questionable theory.

It is a novel approach: inculcating the masses with group think through the use of blatant comedy. I wonder if it actually works, though….

It is not the first time that something like that has been tried. Studies have even been done on the effects of some of this.

Apparently if you want someone to learn something about anything the best way to do it is through fiction. People learn things from fiction 4x better than from a factual presentation.

They don't have to be untrue things, but if you watch an hour long sit com or drama about organ donation, or that uses organ donation as a back drop, the things you learn about organ donation in that will stick about as much as watching a 4 hour documentary on organ donation.

I don't know if it is true with comedy but I would guess that it was as one of the reasons put forward for the reason that the fiction thing worked is that the brain was more engaged with the story than with the facts in the documentary.

The brain may also be more engaged with humour.

Good god John, so you are automatically turned off to ANYTHING to do with science now (and NOBODY capitalized it except for the thread title, which is correct)? Watch the clip-- it's interesting and is primarily about how the media misinterprets and reports scientific studies. It's both informative AND funny.

Breathe, John. Breathe…

Jerry. I am cynical about the PEOPLE who do science. They are human, and have always acted as humans do. I "did" science as a grad student. It is entirely political, always was, and always will be. Those who deny it … are in denial.
Science is not some mystical undertaking, which leads to universal Truth. It is a way and a method. And it won't solve all of our problems.

As Nazrat pointed out, good clip. Informative and funny.

I'd revoke his passport so he can't come back to the UK.

John, John Oliver says much the same thing as you in the clip. You should watch it as he is smart and funny as hell.

Just because you inject humour, doesn't mean it's less true or informative.

Many stand up comics are highly intelligent, and often says it straight. I value the opinion of John Oliver, Louis CK, Frankie Boyle, Dara O'Brien and Jimmy Carr much more then any politician.
In between the rape jokes there is some highly insightful opinions.

Dara especially have some great bits on science, medisin and generally bull related to those topics.

Or Johnny Carson (with an assist by The Amazing Randi) busting people like Popoff and Uri Geller on his show.

John Oliver is a Global Warmer/Climate Change follower.

So whatever he says is going to be mostly BS.

So you didn't watch the clip then Mithmee?

Mithmee: John Oliver is a gravity follower so what he says is going to be mostly BS.

Mithmee: John Oliver is a round earth follower so what he says is mostly BS

Mithmee: John Oliver is a reality follower so what he says is mostly BS

Worth the view

Gunfreak-- Just STIFLE the arseclown and all will be well with the world.

Meh.

Gunfreak-- Just STIFLE the arseclown and all will be well with the world.

Jerry, which one are you talking about? There are a few on this thread.

Bowman:

I think I have more gray boxes on my screen than posts…

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT….entertain me! I am writing an RnR, I need the fun… :p

I think I have more gray boxes on my screen than posts…

You and me both, brother.

My Social liberterianism and free speach loving stops me from stifling anybody not directly abusive or trolling.

While mithmee is "not even wrong" about 99% of the time, and would fit in really well in 1930s Italy. He is not abusvie to me, infact he is quite good natured when being beaten in debates, mostly just ignoring all facts.
And he is not a troll. So i won't stifle him away.

John Oliver is sometimes entertaining and sometimes quite funny. There are times where it does make me pause and think about the topic he is discussing. The problem that I have with him is that on the few subjects that he discussed that I really have knowledge on his is way off. He makes certain assumptions of those topics that are way off base and not based in reality. He cherry picks his information immensely, just as he states scientific studies do. Therefore, I see his diatribes as sometimes entertaining but not at all accurate. This one is better than many…

All right. All right.
I watched it.
Pretty damn good.

He makes certain assumptions of those topics that are way off base and not based in reality. He cherry picks his information immensely,….

Yes but I can forgive him because he is a comedian on a comedy show. His first priority is to get laughs. He is not a reporter.

Think of it as the difference between a portrait and a caricature. The caricature exaggerates and blows up some features while minimizing and neglecting others. And all for a humorous effect.

All right. All right.
I watched it.
Pretty damn good.

Good man, that!

Good for you, dude! Broaden those horizons!! 8)=