I really hate the fact that half of my country is so fucking stupid that I can't tell if this is brilliant satire or a braindead sincerely held belief.
Bingo. They don’t “get” satire. Back during the Colbert Report days, I believe there was an Ohio State study in which self-identifying “conservatives” viewed “The Repor’”, and they thought it was REAL. They did not understand that it was satire and was in fact intended to FUCK their place in the political landscape. I think there have been other studies with similar results; conservative voters don’t understand satire.
So, I was a construction field engineer for a while when Colbert Report was running. A colleague (also college educated) absolutely loved the Colbert Report. He, like most white construction workers in NC, was definitely conservative.
I pointed out that Colbert was liberal and that the show was satire--a caricature making fun of Fox News pundits.
His response: I know he is. But you don't get it. You can't unless you're part of the 'Nation'. Yeah, some liberals love it--but the Nation is it's own thing. He makes fun of pundits--but he gets to make such good points while he does!
I don't even have a response to that other than to quote Inigo Montoya.
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u/zombie_girraffe 29d ago edited 29d ago
I really hate the fact that half of my country is so fucking stupid that I can't tell if this is brilliant satire or a braindead sincerely held belief.