Funny show, kind of interesting despite whatever bias it might have. Didn't know if was originally internet short though. Here's a few bits (some that were from the show):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX0g66MWbrk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbYInILDj6Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kWu1ifBGU&list=PLO0vSiRa0Y2iYn6e4hWlEVrcvRj7BPiH2&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCSWbTv3hng&list=PLO0vSiRa0Y2iYn6e4hWlEVrcvRj7BPiH2&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCv10_WvGxo&list=PLO0vSiRa0Y2iYn6e4hWlEVrcvRj7BPiH2&index=3
Having seen a couple of episodes I can say the show is interested if very heavily SJW/Millennial in attitude (it is based on College Humor skits so "Duh." :) ) There are citations and sources given but some of them aren't unimpeachable as presented and preachy level can get grating but it is informative if taken with a grain salt.
And, veneer of impartial rationality aside, I think there's going to be some things that Adam isn't going to ruin or even question.
The Forensics episode was pretty anvilicious. It was essentially an anti Death Penalty screed. I don't believe in it and even came across as preachy to me. There was a heavy helping of "If you like Cops shows, you're an idiot' and the police incompetent bullies most interesting in appearances and arresting people than actually doing anything about crime. I guess it depends on where you stand on that. Still it was interesting even though, again, the facts while "factual" where presented in a slanted manner. And like most shows of its nature it had a "Listen up, ignorant sheeple, don't believe everything they're telling you! Believe everything I'M telling you!" vibe.
I found some of the episodes entertaining but it was a bit smarmy for my taste at times and on more than a few occasions I felt he was giving a simplified and reductive explanation (the cars overtaking the roads episode for example seems like something where if you delve into he history it isn't going to be that black and white-----just based on what I see locally in Salem when they suddenly allow people to J Walk in October is that traffic congestion probably had a lot more to do with the move than shifting blame for pedestrians being hit by cars). It is pretty entertaining but I definitely think most of his claims warrant deeper research before being accepted. I've also noticed some of his ideas getting repeated as truisms by folks on my Facebook feed, where I saw one person wanting to reclaim the roads from cars (again I would point to the horrible traffic situation in Salem during October to show that isn't as good an idea as it sounds---traffic in the surrounding towns can become nearly unbearable at times).
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;861760I found some of the episodes entertaining but it was a bit smarmy for my taste at times and on more than a few occasions I felt he was giving a simplified and reductive explanation (the cars overtaking the roads episode for example seems like something where if you delve into he history it isn't going to be that black and white-----just based on what I see locally in Salem when they suddenly allow people to J Walk in October is that traffic congestion probably had a lot more to do with the move than shifting blame for pedestrians being hit by cars). It is pretty entertaining but I definitely think most of his claims warrant deeper research before being accepted. I've also noticed some of his ideas getting repeated as truisms by folks on my Facebook feed, where I saw one person wanting to reclaim the roads from cars (again I would point to the horrible traffic situation in Salem during October to show that isn't as good an idea as it sounds---traffic in the surrounding towns can become nearly unbearable at times).
This lines up with the reaction I've heard from several of the people that watch the show over 30. Informative, but varying degree of obnoxious and definitely pushing an agenda with over simplistic answers and slanted sources. .The forensics episode in particular has sources that feel like they've got a personal ax to grind against the police. Including one straight out ad hominem attack on police forensic labs "Research done by real scientists not cops in lab coats pretending to be scientists..."
I wish I could say I was surprised about what happening on Facebook...
The Voting episode was pretty terrible. It was basically the Hipsters Who Don't Understand the Constitution's Guide to Voting.
Quote from: Justin Alexander;865040The Voting episode was pretty terrible. It was basically the Hipsters Who Don't Understand the Constitution's Guide to Voting.
The episode on cars and mass transit sounded like it was written by someone who never had to rely solely on mass transit in their lives
The ending nod to "optimism" in some of the episodes come across as very disingenuous. "Everything about the US political system is reeking, corrupt incompetent clusterfuck designed by evil racists. But hey, could be worse!"
Oh man, this upcoming episode almost has me morbidly curious enough to watch. The trailer mentioned "The gendering of the medium ruining the video game industry."
Oh boy...
I have also watch the show and my main complaint about it is it is so USA-centric ! The best ones were (according to me) the ones about the canned food and the buy one, give one business (both of them show that good deeds never go unpunished).
The ones about police procedure were probably needlessly hostile to law enforcement agency (even if I do think that one piece of evidence should not be the reason that someone is convincted of a crime or felony but relity is complicated).
I am not an USA citizen but I was taught that the way the presidential election works comes from the fact that the people who set it up were not so ok with the idea that the common people elect directly their leader. Was I taught wrong ?
AfAIK, it is a show made in the US and aimed as US citizens (as fans and punching bags) so the focus being mostly or totally on the US makes sense. Everything doesn't have to be written for an international audience. Many shows I've seen from other countries focus on those regions since those are their primary audience.
I never wrote that my complain was fair !
Quote from: Nexus;867901AfAIK, it is a show made in the US and aimed as US citizens (as fans and punching bags) so the focus being mostly or totally on the US makes sense. Everything doesn't have to be written for an international audience. Many shows I've seen from other countries focus on those regions since those are their primary audience.
Yeah, there are things deserving of criticism on that show, but blaming it for being directed at a particular audience is like saying Doctor Who needs to be less British. An American Show already has enough problems with an audience spanning from Alaska to Florida (and Hawaii). That already tends to water down the humor and content a lot. When you add an international audience to that, then you have to call in Michael Bay for endless explosions and CGI effects. We'd also probably have to replace Adam with Robert Downey Jr and give him an origin story. Plus he'd need a love interest and we'd need to rethink the whole 'explains everything concept'. That might be entertaining but it is a totally different show.
Actually, Doctor Who might benefit from being less British ...
Again, I never said it was a fair complain but it is mine and I will stand by it (I do understand now that I am not the target audience) !
Quote from: yabaziou;867923Actually, Doctor Who might benefit from being less British ...
!
As an American viewer, part of the pleasure of Doctor Who for me is it is also a window into British culture. There is also an aesthetic that is unlike what we'd do in the US. So I'm good with it being British. I do think they have done things in the last few years to appeal to a more global audience though.
I should have put a silly emoticon in my post, because I was facetious. I have actually rather good impressions of the british TV shows which I saw : Hercule Poirot, Spooks, Luther, Utopia (which is very strange and contains a very disturbing scene IMHO), Moore, Monty Python, Downton Abbey, Miss Marple, Strike Back.
Back to Adam ruins everything, did he made an error when he said that the way presidential elections works is so because those who made it were not in favor of a direct election ? Because, according to what I know, it is true.
Quote from: yabaziou;867902I never wrote that my complain was fair !
True :D
I was just giving you a hard time. Sometimes that doesn't come across in this medium. So I hope there's no hard feelings. You might be surprised how often I've seen that complaint posed not just seriously but as a major issue.
Quote from: yabaziou;867932Back to Adam ruins everything, did he made an error when he said that the way presidential elections works is so because those who made it were not in favor of a direct election ? Because, according to what I know, it is true.
The way I understand is that they weren't in favor of general direct democracy and their stand point was elitist from our perspective but they were dealing with nation where the majority of the population were uneducated, possibly illiterate rural folks so it wasn't entirely unjustified if not as as idealistic the Founding Fathers are often depicted but pragmatic.
Quote from: Nexus;865905Oh man, this upcoming episode almost has me morbidly curious enough to watch. The trailer mentioned "The gendering of the medium ruining the video game industry."
Oh boy...
Actually, this was not so bad ! It explained it was more a marketing move after a big flop en 1982/1983. They moved the video games from electronics to toys and since toys were divided between boys and girls, they chose boys (according to the show).
And do not worry, Nexus, no hard feelings.
Quote from: yabaziou;867923Actually, Doctor Who might benefit from being less British ...
I don't think a less British Doctor Who would work at all. Torchwood, maybe. Doctor Who? No.
Quote from: yabaziou;868868Actually, this was not so bad ! It explained it was more a marketing move after a big flop en 1982/1983. They moved the video games from electronics to toys and since toys were divided between boys and girls, they chose boys (according to the show).
And do not worry, Nexus, no hard feelings.
Well, that's not as bad as I thought. You can imagine where I thought it was going to go... Not sure I totally understand what the show was getting at though. But then I think the whole kerflufle about Boys and Girls toys are blown out of proportion.
I'm relieved you knew I was kidding you. Way to easy to accidentally start feuds.
Quote from: yosemitemike;868886I don't think a less British Doctor Who would work at all. Torchwood, maybe. Doctor Who? No.
I reeeeaaally should add a silly emoticon when I wrote silly things that I do not mean lest I be taken serioulsy !
And, Nexus, I was also relieved that his explaination does not include Patriachy, Anita S and GamerGate ...
I didn't notice an SJW/leftists slant to the show, though I've only seen a few episodes. His take on TSA and security theater, male circumcision, and tipping are points I've argued in the past, so there may be some confirmation bias in my attitude towards the show.
I haven't watched the episode regarding forensics, but I do remember reading about forensic labs mishandling evidence leading to false convictions. And while it may be anecdotal, reading some of the cases The Innocence Project has handled makes me concerned about the death penalty.
I'll give the forensics episode credit for doing a little to pop the "magic forensics" bubble. Though in a way that was a little patronizing to people that enjoy Police Procedurals :)
Quote from: Southpaw_soldier;886421I didn't notice an SJW/leftists slant to the show, though I've only seen a few episodes. His take on TSA and security theater, male circumcision, and tipping are points I've argued in the past, so there may be some confirmation bias in my attitude towards the show.
I haven't watched the episode regarding forensics, but I do remember reading about forensic labs mishandling evidence leading to false convictions. And while it may be anecdotal, reading some of the cases The Innocence Project has handled makes me concerned about the death penalty.
I wouldn't say he strikes me as hugely SJW as much as online hipster. I think the logic he uses is the sort you see online from people on both the right and left (sort of take a kernel of myth and use it to wedge in hugely oversimplified explanations and conclusions that also just happen to line up with what they believe). For me the thing that really turns me off about the show is the sense that the research seems superficial and geared to conclusions he has already reached (or worse conclusions that make for sexy episodes). Some of the conclusions and the history seem plain wrong (the cars and pedestrians episode seems like he took one historical analysis and treated it as gospel truth). But the biggest thing is the smarminess. I feel like I am getting very incomplete picture with him and I just don't regard him as a credible source of information.
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;888085I wouldn't say he strikes me as hugely SJW as much as online hipster. I think the logic he uses is the sort you see online from people on both the right and left (sort of take a kernel of myth and use it to wedge in hugely oversimplified explanations and conclusions that also just happen to line up with what they believe). For me the thing that really turns me off about the show is the sense that the research seems superficial and geared to conclusions he has already reached (or worse conclusions that make for sexy episodes). Some of the conclusions and the history seem plain wrong (the cars and pedestrians episode seems like he took one historical analysis and treated it as gospel truth). But the biggest thing is the smarminess. I feel like I am getting very incomplete picture with him and I just don't regard him as a credible source of information.
The distinction between "hipster" and "SJW" is a good point. I see more of the smarmy hipster thing from SJW/self proclaimed Left wingers so may I draw the connection too quickly. As for the rest, couldn't agree more.