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John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

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Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#71

Post by ThomPete »

bmh_ca wrote: post #58
bedhead wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You took the words out of my mouth and I'm glad someone else feels the same. It's a difficult thing to articulate but I think he crosses a line into unbearable preachiness and pandering. It's a bummer because I think the guy is a riot, but I just can't take the lectures anymore, and yes, given that this is almost a Daily Show spinoff, it's not terribly surprising to see a heavy left-leaning slant to everything...that…

Often it seems that facts, evidence, and observation are derided as "left". I find John's commentaries to be suitably supported by substance, with constructive conclusions. I worry that characterization as "left" is a defence against cognitive acknowledgements that just happen to be dissonant with neurostatic precepts.

Thats the thing though. This is not a question of substance. He can be right in the specifics, but still not provide the only perspective.

My problem with him is his facts, but his interpretation of them.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#72

Post by sdwisely »

barbs wrote: post #35
trengrj wrote: post #28

Georestricted in Australia.. Anyone have a summary?

You can see it on Facebook: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=912968418832168&id...

also in australia:

"Sorry, this page isn't available The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed."

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#73

Post by efa »

sergiotapia wrote: post #24

I don't get how an insurance won't cover something. Isn't that the point of Obama forcing you to buy insurance these days?

Yes you are supposed to buy insurance (though many just take the penalty). Many Obamacare plans are pretty crappy with low max pay outs. It drives me crazy when people don't read the plans they are buying. My plan has a huge deductible (10k) but no max pay out. So basically I pay 100% for everything but if I ever need some serious hospital time I'd only be out 10k. (And it's very expensive).

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#74

Post by [deleted] »

coderdude wrote: post #27
sethbannon wrote: post #18

I'm not aware of any other show that so seamlessly combines rip-roaringly funny comedy with essential insight into the way our society and system of government is deeply flawed. And on top of that, he even manages to direct action to fix the issues he draws attention to -- taking down the FCC website being one example[1]. [1] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/03/john-oliv...

It's a good show (he's funny and you learn stuff) but it's way too preachy. He gets just a little too excited about things that are basically impossible for anyone to get excited about. Clearly pandering to the young, left crowd. I'm sure it makes some people feel very warm at night but it gives me a bad taste in my mouth after binge watching.

[deleted]

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#75

Post by stephen_g »

ColinWright wrote: post #63

Georestricted: The uploader has not made this video available in your country Someone else provided a different link: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=912968418832168&id... That returns with: Sorry, this page isn't available The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed. I look forward to the day we finally realise we are out of the transition period between not having the web at all…

I can't watch the YouTube video either, but searching for the Last Week Tonight page on Facebook I found it there.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#76

Post by KayEss »

bko wrote: post #66
coderdude wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a good show (he's funny and you learn stuff) but it's way too preachy. He gets just a little too excited about things that are basically impossible for anyone to get excited about. Clearly pandering to the young, left crowd. I'm sure it makes some people feel very warm at night but it gives me a bad taste in my mouth after binge watching.

My main problem with John Oliver is that he often chimes in on subjects he doesn't know anything about with folksy common sense logic that is often wrong. I remember him mocking some system for using tapes for storage on the belief that a technology that is so old cannot possibly be useful in modern technologies. In his latest clip, he mocks information being passed by Excel. How does he think things happen? Some mag…

For trading debt I would certainly hope that the actual contracts under which the debt was agreed where included. Yes that would be difficult, but it ought to be a minimum requirement.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#77

Post by mediocrejoker »

bmh_ca wrote: post #58
bedhead wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You took the words out of my mouth and I'm glad someone else feels the same. It's a difficult thing to articulate but I think he crosses a line into unbearable preachiness and pandering. It's a bummer because I think the guy is a riot, but I just can't take the lectures anymore, and yes, given that this is almost a Daily Show spinoff, it's not terribly surprising to see a heavy left-leaning slant to everything...that…

Often it seems that facts, evidence, and observation are derided as "left". I find John's commentaries to be suitably supported by substance, with constructive conclusions. I worry that characterization as "left" is a defence against cognitive acknowledgements that just happen to be dissonant with neurostatic precepts.

Can you explain neurostatic precepts? I'm unfamiliar with the term and a bit of googling didn't turn up much.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#78

Post by pas »

ThomPete wrote: post #71
bmh_ca wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Often it seems that facts, evidence, and observation are derided as "left". I find John's commentaries to be suitably supported by substance, with constructive conclusions. I worry that characterization as "left" is a defence against cognitive acknowledgements that just happen to be dissonant with neurostatic precepts.

Thats the thing though. This is not a question of substance. He can be right in the specifics, but still not provide the only perspective. My problem with him is his facts, but his interpretation of them.

Could you give an example of said facts and an alternative interpretation of them?

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#79

Post by fredley »

ColinWright wrote: post #63

Georestricted: The uploader has not made this video available in your country Someone else provided a different link: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=912968418832168&id... That returns with: Sorry, this page isn't available The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed. I look forward to the day we finally realise we are out of the transition period between not having the web at all…

I think we've already transitioned through that period.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#80

Post by jccc »

The title of this post focuses on one aspect of the episode in a way that has badly skewed our discussion.

The point of the episode is not John Oliver's Oprah stunt, but rather how the debt collection industry works.

[The original title is/was: "John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'"]

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