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2012 Debates

Olowkow said:
The photo is funny. The video was not about "cluelessness" actually. It was about a speaker using his presupposition to deceive the listener, in Gricean terms, "a lie". Lies are not humorous.
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I beg to differ. The humor of lies is at the very foundation of Three's Company, for example.

But here's some non-teleprompter debate humor, since that wasn't to your liking:
100512.jpg
 
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Olowkow said:
ETA: I'm really curious why the right wing seems to have bought into the notion that there is something wrong with a politician using a teleprompter. Wasn't this started by Michelle Bachmann? I don't see why anyone would care what she thinks. Surely Romney uses one I would hope. He'd be a fool not to. I quite honestly don't get this meme.
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Because they are suckers with short memories. Every President since Reagan has used one. Only a RW zealot would pretend they were invented in 2008.

Same with Obama appointing "Czars." The RW nuts act like this is something new or extraordinary. Those of us with normal memories know there have been Czars since Reagan as well.
 
Ziggurat said:
I beg to differ. The humor of lies is at the very foundation of Three's Company, for example.

But here's some non-teleprompter debate humor, since that wasn't to your liking:
http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/100512.jpg
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Well you are at leisure to differ only if you understand the problem. Otherwise, it's mere gainsaying. To me, running in the house screaming "The sky is red and it's raining pigs!" could be funny. I will not trouble you with the reasons why. However, "Hey, it's raining!" is not funny if it is in fact not raining.

I really am interested to know what the thing is about the teleprompter though. Why? Where does this come from?

Henri Bergson's Le Rire is quite a read.

ETA: Three's Company? Really? The TV show? They're actors, there's an audience Zig. That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.
 
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Given Romney's disastrous September, I think it'd be really exciting if he almost wins. I also think it would be really exciting if my arm was almost chopped off.
 
Olowkow said:
Well you are at leisure to differ only if you understand the problem. Otherwise, it's mere gainsaying. To me, running in the house screaming "The sky is red and it's raining pigs!" could be funny. I will not trouble you with the reasons why. However, "Hey, it's raining!" is not funny if it is in fact not raining.
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Not in and of itself, no. The reactions to it, however, could be. And it is the reactions in that video to the question, not the question itself, which make it funny. Context is everything.

I really am interested to know what the thing is about the teleprompter though. Why? Where does this come from?
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It comes from the fact that Obama's reputation as an orator is largely undeserved. In particular, he really isn't that good when he isn't delivering scripted speeches, ie, not using a teleprompter.

ETA: Three's Company? Really? The TV show?
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Sure, why not? Lots of people thought it was funny. And most of the humor revolved around lies that people told.

They're actors, there's an audience Zig. That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.
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I think you're trying to draw an artificial distinction which doesn't exist.
 
Ziggurat said:
It comes from the fact that Obama's reputation as an orator is largely undeserved. In particular, he really isn't that good when he isn't delivering scripted speeches, ie, not using a teleprompter.
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It appears that you are using that word in a way that is not in the English lexicon. You can watch Obama school the Republican caucus



and you can watch a town hall style meeting



You will, of course, be able to tell us where the teleprompter script is being used.

ETA: I remember watching an interview of Obama (no, I'm not going to try to find a link) in which he was asked (paraphrasing) about the constraints of being the President. His reply was that he had to carefully weigh each and every word he spoke in public. Pundits, pols, columnists, bloggers, etc. dissect every word and phrase he utters. If he speaks "out of turn" it can cause significant political and economic consequences. Even using an innocuous phrase can be turned upside down and inside out. So the use of a teleprompter and a script would seem to be judicious and ... well ... conservative under those circumstances. You agree, right?
 
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SezMe said:
You will, of course, be able to tell us where the teleprompter script is being used.
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Yeah really! I love how conservatives here nitpick on trivial crap!

And after nitpicking they love to add Charlie Brown expletives!
 
Ziggurat said:
I beg to differ. The humor of lies is at the very foundation of Three's Company, for example.

But here's some non-teleprompter debate humor, since that wasn't to your liking:
[qimg]http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/100512.jpg[/qimg]
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Yes Ziggurat! A cartoon is, AND WILL ALWAYS BE, the best way to explain reality! Thank you for your awesome insight into the real world!!

Now tell me more about Sarah Palin and how she makes you quiver in your pants!!
 
Robrob said:
Every President since Reagan has used one. Only a RW zealot would pretend they were invented in 2008.
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Really though, it's just like having a piece of paper in front of you, except you don't have to look down. Almost all presidents have had speeches where they had notes or even the entire speech written down. For them to, however occasionally, look down at.
 
Ziggurat said:
I beg to differ. The humor of lies is at the very foundation of Three's Company, for example.

But here's some non-teleprompter debate humor, since that wasn't to your liking:
[qimg]http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/100512.jpg[/qimg]
Click to expand...

:D
 
dc1971 said:
Yes Ziggurat! A cartoon is, AND WILL ALWAYS BE, the best way to explain reality! Thank you for your awesome insight into the real world!!

Now tell me more about Sarah Palin and how she makes you quiver in your pants!!
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Wow. You feel threatened. You actually feel threatened. By a cartoon. About Joe Biden. :newlol
 
Quote:
I really am interested to know what the thing is about the teleprompter though. Why? Where does this come from?
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It comes from the fact that Obama's reputation as an orator is largely undeserved. In particular, he really isn't that good when he isn't delivering scripted speeches, ie, not using a teleprompter.
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Thanks. I thought there was more to it, like some particular incident.

I do recall Bachmann saying she'd ban them, and thought that was the joke.

Michele Bachmann says she will never use a teleprompter and often proclaims that if she makes it to the White House, she’ll ban them.
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Olowkow said:
Thanks. I thought there was more to it, like some particular incident.
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There are a few incidents which played into this meme and helped solidify it, such as this and this (and yes, I understand perfectly the significance of that second link - I'm playing fair), but the basic idea is independent of those individual incidents, and as far as I can tell isn't really any deeper than what I described. But this still amuses me:

http://www.reutersgallery.com/reutersgallery/ddf?type=v&id=1060

Not a photoshop, just a humorous angle.

Edited by jhunter1163: 
Removed hotlink.
 
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