Bill Maher doesn’t know how science works

[ivwshane]

Let me start off by saying, I’ve watched bill for decades from politically incorrect, religulous, to real time. I would say that I, probably like a lot of people, like him for bringing in a slightly different view of things and pointing out some obvious flaws in logic.

However, lately his rants have been more like repeating of Republican talking points, specifically blaming social media trends for Democratic behavior. But in his latest episode, his rant basically complained about how science isn’t consistent and how representatives of scientific institutions (the CDC for example) have changed their recommendations (he then gave examples), he then declared, essentially, that not only that we shouldn’t listen to them but that they are the ones spreading misinformation.

Does bill not understand how science works? You go with the best information you have and you keep testing it and when new info is found you update your recommendations. Apparently updating such things means you’ve been spreading misinformation. So should we now expect science to never change its findings? Of course not! So how can a seemingly smart guy not see the giant flaw in his thinking?

If it’s not old age (which Maher gets super offended by when it’s brought up) then explain how he got this so wrong?

I post this because I believe Maher is like millions of other Americans (maybe humans in general), some of which I’ve personally witnessed make a similar decline in their cognitive capabilities and I feel like I’m witnessing his decline in real time (did you see what I did there?). If we can understand Maher, perhaps we can understand others.

 

[cytg111]

There is so much disinformation out there its hard to stay 100% clean. My only explanation. And then confirmation silos once you’ve snorted the first line.

 

[Jaskalas]

What does his inner circle look like?
Who does he listen to?
That influence cannot be ignored, and will help immensely in explaining a shift in tone, messaging, and understanding.

If he said that about the scientific community, maybe it is a complaint for how they talk to the public. Which may be an unavoidable limitation, but a problem nonetheless. To truly judge how he views mixed signals coming from on high, I'll need to watch the clip. It is unfortunate that he delivered something that would line up with the Republican's agenda to seed mistrust.

Is it the first time, or a pattern?

 

[theeedude]

It's his shtick, to say Republican talking points while being a "Liberal."
The whole "think of the children" thing is past its expiration date. You could argue about 2020 and remote learning, but even in CA, schools have been reopened for almost a year, and kids complain the least about masking of any age group, to the extent that you have to remind them to take theirs off sometimes. Masking is basically a nothing-burger to a net positive even aside from COVID, because it cut down on the usual never ending colds, strep throats, ear infections and antibiotics, by keeping their hands out of their faces.

 

[Moonbeam]

Maher explained this recently himself. He said he hasn't changed at all but the left has. I have been pointing this out myself for quite some time. We create what we fear and Trump is terrifying. He is a dangerous monster and the more dangerous he becomes the more reactionary and just like him the left becomes. Where this is the most notable is among the youthful left who have no read depth of wisdom and personal life experience. Their inability to assess the rise in authoritarianism among their ranks in particular will cause them to project their own blindness on people who have been around awhile and know things. Of course, when you point this out people get nasty. In our competitive society being right is vital or else somebody will call you stupid and put you down. That's how the guilty have to hear this. Ego is all most of us have.

Cancel culture, de-fund the police, shut down free speech, identity politics, etc, all expressions of a growing disease on the left.

 

[ivwshane]

Maher explained this recently himself. He said he hasn't changed at all but the left has. I have been pointing this out myself for quite some time. We create what we fear and Trump is terrifying. He is a dangerous monster and the more dangerous he becomes the more reactionary and just like him the left becomes. Where this is the most notable is among the youthful left who have no read depth of wisdom and personal life experience. Their inability to assess the rise in authoritarianism among their ranks in particular will cause them to project their own blindness on people who have been around awhile and know things. Of course, when you point this out people get nasty. In our competitive society being right is vital or else somebody will call you stupid and put you down. That's how the guilty have to hear this. Ego is all most of us have.

Cancel culture, de-fund the police, shut down free speech, identity politics, etc, all expressions of a growing disease on the left.

You are doing the exact same thing he is doing and you, like him, aren’t even aware of it. You’ve uncritically accepted the rights narrative about the “diseased left”. Just how much social media do you consume?

 

[Xcobra]

You are doing the exact same thing he is doing and you, like him, aren’t even aware of it. You’ve uncritically accepted the rights narrative about the “diseased left”. Just how much social media do you consume?

Ditto. They're almost excusing the psychopathic conservatives by putting most of the blame on the left. Disingenuous.

 

[shortylickens]

What does his inner circle look like?
Who does he listen to?
That influence cannot be ignored, and will help immensely in explaining a shift in tone, messaging, and understanding.

If he said that about the scientific community, maybe it is a complaint for how they talk to the public. Which may be an unavoidable limitation, but a problem nonetheless. To truly judge how he views mixed signals coming from on high, I'll need to watch the clip. It is unfortunate that he delivered something that would line up with the Republican's agenda to seed mistrust.

Is it the first time, or a pattern?

he doesnt have an inner circle.
He doesnt listen to one source.

Calm the fuck down everyone.
He's a comedian. He's not a russian plant.

 

[pmv]

Let me start off by saying, I’ve watched bill for decades from politically incorrect, religulous, to real time. I would say that I, probably like a lot of people, like him for bringing in a slightly different view of things and pointing out some obvious flaws in logic.

However, lately his rants have been more like repeating of Republican talking points, specifically blaming social media trends for Democratic behavior. But in his latest episode, his rant basically complained about how science isn’t consistent and how representatives of scientific institutions (the CDC for example) have changed their recommendations (he then gave examples), he then declared, essentially, that not only that we shouldn’t listen to them but that they are the ones spreading misinformation.

Does bill not understand how science works? You go with the best information you have and you keep testing it and when new info is found you update your recommendations. Apparently updating such things means you’ve been spreading misinformation. So should we now expect science to never change its findings? Of course not! So how can a seemingly smart guy not see the giant flaw in his thinking?

If it’s not old age (which Maher gets super offended by when it’s brought up) then explain how he got this so wrong?

I post this because I believe Maher is like millions of other Americans (maybe humans in general), some of which I’ve personally witnessed make a similar decline in their cognitive capabilities and I feel like I’m witnessing his decline in real time (did you see what I did there?). If we can understand Maher, perhaps we can understand others.

I don't think I've ever seen anything of Bill Maher's. Vaguely think "politcally incorrect" was shown on TV here once, but I didn't see any of it. I know what he looks like, is all.

Having said that, from your description only, I would say I agree there's sometimes a problem with how science communicators in particular, and sometimes actual scientists, convey information to lay people. Yes, you go with the best information you have, but ideally you shouldn't use the same ultra-confident tone of 'trust me, I'm an expert' for every single thing you say, particularly when you ought to be aware that the 'best information you have' sometimes isn't that good and there are big unknowns and uncertainties in it and things that just haven't been studied yet.

I think it's driven by a combination of an, arguably-justifiable, concern that the public "can't handle the truth" and a much more self-serving fear that professionals have around maintaining their status and self-image as all-knowing experts.

 

[ivwshane]

he doesnt have an inner circle.
He doesnt listen to one source.

Calm the fuck down everyone.
He's a comedian. He's not a russian plant.

Comedian or canary in the coal mine?

Also the point of this thread is more about how did this happen? Can we learn anything from this?

 

[shortylickens]

Comedian or canary in the coal mine?

Also the point of this thread is more about how did this happen? Can we learn anything from this?

Well what is the "this" that happened?

Cuz like so many people in America these last 5 years I see a lot of declarative statements about problems that are not actual problems, and a lot of real problems being ignored.

 

[sportage]

I brought this up in another thread that the core to Bill's change of heart came down to money. Several of Bill's in person shows that he does across the country, several have bern canceled due to covid and more so during the omicron outbreak. That seems to have set Bill off in a rage. Canceled appearances, lost income, Bill got pissed. First, Bill had to jump through hoops getting his home solar system approved and up and running. That nightmare of red tape was too much. Then, Bill finally got back to the road with his personal appearance shows, then along comes omicron to screw up Bill's plans. Bill has adopted the mindset of most republicans, feeling that covid is not a big threat to the general public, and people get covid but most people recover. Bill himself had covid and his experience with the virus was minimal. So it comes down to frustration, unwarranted cancelations, and loss of income. And for Maher, that loss of income is pretty severe considering his salary for one personal appearance show. How is Bill to donate one million to a presidential candidate if his shows are getting canceled? And Bill has no control over it?

 

[dank69]

What does his inner circle look like?
Who does he listen to?
That influence cannot be ignored, and will help immensely in explaining a shift in tone, messaging, and understanding.

If he said that about the scientific community, maybe it is a complaint for how they talk to the public. Which may be an unavoidable limitation, but a problem nonetheless. To truly judge how he views mixed signals coming from on high, I'll need to watch the clip. It is unfortunate that he delivered something that would line up with the Republican's agenda to seed mistrust.

Is it the first time, or a pattern?

Loooong time pattern. Decades. As said, lots of conservative talking points wrapped up in a flimsy socially-liberal candy coating.

Maher explained this recently himself. He said he hasn't changed at all but the left has. I have been pointing this out myself for quite some time. We create what we fear and Trump is terrifying. He is a dangerous monster and the more dangerous he becomes the more reactionary and just like him the left becomes. Where this is the most notable is among the youthful left who have no read depth of wisdom and personal life experience. Their inability to assess the rise in authoritarianism among their ranks in particular will cause them to project their own blindness on people who have been around awhile and know things. Of course, when you point this out people get nasty. In our competitive society being right is vital or else somebody will call you stupid and put you down. That's how the guilty have to hear this. Ego is all most of us have.

Cancel culture, de-fund the police, shut down free speech, identity politics, etc, all expressions of a growing disease on the left.

You can keep saying that liberals are trying to shut down free speech but it doesn't make it true. Feel free to post up a thread with a single example if you think I'm just being reactionary.

 

[dank69]

he doesnt have an inner circle.
He doesnt listen to one source.

Calm the fuck down everyone.
He's a comedian. He's not a russian plant.

Does he even qualify as a comedian any more? I think I remember him being legit funny a long time ago but can't recall a single example, so really how funny could he have been? His monologs have been straight painful to watch for years though. I can feel some of the audience members forcing laughter through my screen. I think I heard a whip crack once when the audience wasn't responding fast enough.

Edit: Godzilla had a stronk reading original version.

 

[ondma]

Let me start off by saying, I’ve watched bill for decades from politically incorrect, religulous, to real time. I would say that I, probably like a lot of people, like him for bringing in a slightly different view of things and pointing out some obvious flaws in logic.

However, lately his rants have been more like repeating of Republican talking points, specifically blaming social media trends for Democratic behavior. But in his latest episode, his rant basically complained about how science isn’t consistent and how representatives of scientific institutions (the CDC for example) have changed their recommendations (he then gave examples), he then declared, essentially, that not only that we shouldn’t listen to them but that they are the ones spreading misinformation.

Does bill not understand how science works? You go with the best information you have and you keep testing it and when new info is found you update your recommendations. Apparently updating such things means you’ve been spreading misinformation. So should we now expect science to never change its findings? Of course not! So how can a seemingly smart guy not see the giant flaw in his thinking?

If it’s not old age (which Maher gets super offended by when it’s brought up) then explain how he got this so wrong?

I post this because I believe Maher is like millions of other Americans (maybe humans in general), some of which I’ve personally witnessed make a similar decline in their cognitive capabilities and I feel like I’m witnessing his decline in real time (did you see what I did there?). If we can understand Maher, perhaps we can understand others.

Yea, I too am getting really sick of his rants about Covid being over. Doing it one week would not be so bad, but seems like every week now he spouts the same old thing about how he is "done with" Covid. Also, he seems to get away with repeatedly "body shaming" people for being overweight and getting Covid.

His criticism of "woke" liberals is spot on at times, but again, he seems to just repeat himself week after week. He is right though, that the Democrats are very poor at getting their message across and resonating with rural and blue collar voters.

 

[DisarmedDespot]

Spoiler alert: Maher's always been this way. This is the same man who had Milo Yannipolus on and challenged him on none of his points. He's always been an idiot asshole, it's just his irreverent schtick gets people to think he's really being deep and witty.

 

[Moonbeam]

Loooong time pattern. Decades. As said, lots of conservative talking points wrapped up in a flimsy socially-liberal candy coating.
You can keep saying that liberals are trying to shut down free speech but it doesn't make it true. Feel free to post up a thread with a single example if you think I'm just being reactionary.

A minute of searching and selecting yielded this from 2016. Do you think it has improved since then. Apparently those complaining are also Democrats one might not associate with easily falling for right wing drivel.

Edit:

'Disinvitations' for college speakers are on the rise — here's a list of people turned away this year

Student activism has long been ingrained in college culture, but protests about perceived discrimination over the past year have been especially tense.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[HomerJS]

Maher explained this recently himself. He said he hasn't changed at all but the left has. I have been pointing this out myself for quite some time. We create what we fear and Trump is terrifying. He is a dangerous monster and the more dangerous he becomes the more reactionary and just like him the left becomes. Where this is the most notable is among the youthful left who have no read depth of wisdom and personal life experience. Their inability to assess the rise in authoritarianism among their ranks in particular will cause them to project their own blindness on people who have been around awhile and know things. Of course, when you point this out people get nasty. In our competitive society being right is vital or else somebody will call you stupid and put you down. That's how the guilty have to hear this. Ego is all most of us have.

Cancel culture, de-fund the police, shut down free speech, identity politics, etc, all expressions of a growing disease on the left.

The criminalization of black history and the ousting of Cheney and Kinzinger belies cancel culture is wholly owned by the left.

 

[dank69]

A minute of searching and selecting yielded this from 2016. Do you think it has improved since then. Apparently those complaining are also Democrats one might not associate with easily falling for right wing drivel.

Missing link. However, if you have to go back to 2016 for an example I think you've already proven my point. Also, if you are questioning if it's "gotten worse" I'm 99% sure you don't have an actual example of violation of free speech because it's binary true/false condition.

Edit: as expected 100% not even close to a violation of free speech. Please familiarize yourself with what the actual 1st amendment says.

 

[Sunburn74]

I don't understand why people struggle to grasp that scientific results change. Science is the piecemeal explanation of the world at large. It's no different than when you go to your doctor's office and they start out thinking that X is going on but then a MRI or CT suggests that Y is actually what's happening and then you get a biopsy which says Z is happening and that is the final conclusion. The docs are not bad docs nor are they lying to you each step of the way. It's that they are getting increasing amounts of information to work with. It's not hard to understand. It would be great if we could snap our fingers and understand everything perfectly from the start. However that's not how science actually works.

 

[Moonbeam]

You are doing the exact same thing he is doing and you, like him, aren’t even aware of it. You’ve uncritically accepted the rights narrative about the “diseased left”. Just how much social media do you consume?

You lack a central insight that prevents you from understanding me. I see the human condition as in a way you can’t. Humanity is asleep, trapped in an unconscious alternate reality, a world infected by thought, judgmental is and interpersonal competition where everyone is action in ways to prevent self awareness they have been infected with the deeply repressed feeling each is actually the worst person in the world.

The product and result of this indoctrination produces two basic types, those who are completely broken by the system, Stockholm Syndrome conservative and still victim sympathetic liberals. They express the same disease differently.

The actual truth, of course my opinion, is that what we sometimes call God, and at others self actualization is our actual human potential. fskimospy thinks I’m a mean person because I don’t agree with the ways others adjust to being sick.

He doesn’t know. He uses logic to adjust. You make a similar effort. It’s no easy task keeping a such world from falling apart. But the real thing that drives the madness I see is what I see as the real fear, remembering what happened to us and how we really feel. Cure that and you have done all that can be done. Heaven is where you were born and it’s all around you. You don’t make it, you realize it is there when all of the shit you learned, all of the programming that made you feel worthless is seen for what it is.

 

[Jaskalas]

I don't understand why people struggle to grasp that scientific results change. Science is the piecemeal explanation of the world at large. It's no different than when you go to your doctor's office and they start out thinking that X is going on but then a MRI or CT suggests that Y is actually what's happening and then you get a biopsy which says Z is happening and that is the final conclusion. The docs are not bad docs nor are they lying to you each step of the way. It's that they are getting increasing amounts of information to work with. It's not hard to understand. It would be great if we could snap our fingers and understand everything perfectly from the start. However that's not how science actually works.

Imagine if Maher had no one close enough and sane enough, to remind him of that.

 

[trenchfoot]

Controversy = attention = ratings boosts = higher pricing for advertising = more cash for Bill.

A formula that every well-known conservative talking head practically lived/lives on and by, ie- every single talking head at FOX, Limbaugh, conservative AM talk radio etc. Don't see why Maher is any different. In the end, all trails lead to the double bottomed line.

That being said, it's much easier for the right to create controversies because they're mostly, if not all of it based on lies and misinformation. Much harder for the left to create controversy based on facts and truths, although Trump really did make things much easier for the left just from being who he is.

It seems that Maher is stuck in the middle of it all, playing both sides in order to, among other reasons, keep his ratings (income) from suffering due to the way the current political winds are blowing.

Personally, I've never considered Maher's dry wit as being comedic, he seems to be more of a third rate D list version of guys like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

 

[Moonbeam]

The criminalization of black history and the ousting of Cheney and Kinzinger belies cancel culture is wholly owned by the left.

Never said otherwise. Conservatives right now are into canceling democracy as they cancel people of color.

 

[Moonbeam]

Missing link. However, if you have to go back to 2016 for an example I think you've already proven my point. Also, if you are questioning if it's "gotten worse" I'm 99% sure you don't have an actual example of violation of free speech because it's binary true/false condition.

Edit: as expected 100% not even close to a violation of free speech. Please familiarize yourself with what the actual 1st amendment says.

Added link. Horse to water….