As you might have all recognized by now, Jan Brewer isn’t actually making a move to implement some sort of crazy, anti-gay measure in this state, despite what your reactionary family, friends and neighbors have shared on Facebook. That’s awesome—but what’s not awesome is how these “satirists” are making everyone else look.
As noted last week by the Weekly‘s Mari Herreras, the “news” that our fair Governor was instituting a change to the public school curriculum that was intended to scare gay kids straight was, thankfully, false.
What’s bothers me is that, by my count, this is at least the third “satirical” story that’s caught a significant amount of fire in recent memory, with one being the Daily Currant’s idea that Egypt issued a warrant for Jon Stewart’s arrest, and roughly anything that Andy Borowitz writes for the New Yorker.
Now, while the Internet gives a voice to any idiot with a keyboard and an idea, the work that those idiots produce in the name of being “funny” distracts from real, thought-provoking ideas, becoming the noise that scrambles the signal.
Such as with the National Report, which sounds enough like the National Review to give the illusion of credibility; or the Daily Currant, which is one letter away from becoming the name of a legitimate news source and not a berry; or The New Yorker‘s Andy Borowitz, who is a damn fine writer, but should have the same rules applied to him regarding satire as sex offenders get regarding schools (not allowed within 500 feet of, regarded with disdain and disgust for his past acts, etc.).
Satire should be biting—it should call attention to the main issue by distorting reality; it should at least sound smart; it should be funny; and (most importantly) it shouldn’t distract people from the point by stirring up outrage for page views.
And that’s the problem with these websites — they’re too desperate for attention to realize that they’re screwing themselves, their message, and incidentally, anyone who writes anything on the Internet
The Report’s “Brewer Teaches the Gay Away” post sounded plausible because it was too busy citing CNN and Fox News as sources and falsifying quotes from (often deserved) liberal targets such as Brewer and Joe Arpaio to distort reality.
If you write satire just to screw with people and get pageviews, you’re not just hurting your own image, but you’re hurting the public’s depiction of the medium you’ve chosen. For every savvy person out there who realizes that there are people who make things up on the Internet, there are 10 people out there who don’t think critically enough about what they’re reading to realize that it’s bullshit. They screw up the curve for everyone else, causing people to further distrust what they’re reading—and not in the “question everything” way, but in the “this is all lies, I have to follow the only folks I can trust” way.
These are the people who are de-legitimizing thought-provoking writing on the Internet, because they’re too busy trying to put themselves and their work over to do real, actual good—or at least be entertaining, like The Onion.
In other words, the National Report and its ilk are responsible for Fox News.
Thanks, dicks.
This article appears in Aug 22-28, 2013.
The only thing I find upsetting about this story is that, given some of the measures Stinky Finger Jan has supported, this is not out of the realm of possibility for her to do. Many of the states republican politicians get their marching orders from the Ayatollah Cathi Herrod and her CAP (Christians against progress) and I’d be willing to bet that she (Ayatollah Herrod) has entertained this idea in her tiny little mind.
This is enough to make ‘Zoolander’ proud:
“These are the people who are de-legitimizing thought-provoking writing on the Internet, because they’re too busy trying to put themselves and their work over to do real, actual good—or at least be entertaining, like The Onion.”
The title itself suggested we were in for a laughable read. Maybe it’s a good idea to figure out how to write before telling others whether they can write or not.
Opinions are like assholes aren’t they Mendez? Not every human laughs at what you find funny. Not every joke will be told in your style. Not every story will be written for your keen humorous observation skills. So why don’t you take a deep breath & kiss your own ass some more…
See you out there in the “real” world that is the internets tubes. And please keep mashing that keyboard of yours, idiot. ~Stuart Piedmont Keyes
Mr. Mendez, After reading your article I must say it is you who sounds threatened by what others are doing by mocking real news. This story was funny as hell. And the real news is so far from the truth now a days, at best a real news organization like CNN, only puts out grey news, so why not mock it? The National Report did a great job exposing the fact that while this story isn’t true it is believable due to the Governors past history of getting behind similar bad ideas. Stop being so afraid Mr. Mendez I doubt anyone at the NR is out to take your job.
Responsible for Fox News? What an imbecile you are.
Point taken. The question is whether satire writers should be concerned about not-so-bright people reading their stuff. I’m inclined to believe that it maybe they should, at least these days since stupid and histrionic seem to travel the same path.
But in the entire history of satire, I can’t remember a single occasion when a satire writer has been concerned about how the highly gullible might respond.
Satire has a long history of snaring those who aren’t listening carefully. And those who cannot. And in this specific case, Jan Brewer has a pretty colorful history of doing things that most people think are crazy.
Pompous ass
David Mendez is a moron.
Anyone that lives in Arizona that cannot find that article about Jan Brewer funny (because in reality she wants to gas all the gays and minorities in the state) is stupid or is on an agenda.
David, there is a BIG difference between a HOAX and SATIRE. That article is a HOAX. The onion and your gay lover Andy Borowitz… that is SATIRE.
No wonder I always put so much jizz in Tucson girls’ vaginas when I’m down there… there is no competition with idiots like you running around.
Good luck writing for the Tucsonweekly and loving Jan Brewer (more evil than Hitler)
P.S. The Phoenix New Times (a real publication) is putting me on the cover of their newspaper this month. One of the reasons… that Jan Brewer article I wrote.
I wouldn’t bother much with this Mendez fella, according to their Alexa rating Tucson Weekly is only being read by Mendez and a handful of his friends.
Freedom Mann: That you’re still using Alexa for data says pretty much everything about what you know about the internet. I like Mendez, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have thousands of friends.
Paul Horner: If you think we love Jan Brewer here at the Weekly, there’s no helping you, pal, but that’s clear, considering you wrote that she’s “more evil than Hitler.”
Normally, I’d delete your comment based on the insults and language, but I think I’ll leave it up just so it’s attached to your name in the long run. Best of luck in your future employment, aspiring satirist!
Way to go getting press from the New Times (a publication I’ve written for and that is part of the same trade organization as the Weekly, for what it’s worth), however. At least you’ll have that to look back on when the universe proceeds to forget about you.
This looks like the image of a dude who gets a lot of action, for sure: http://imgur.com/VkQJnPY
Dan Gibson, Editor – FYI The National Report takes no prisoners per our corporate policy. Thought you should know… http://wp.me/p3dd01-2d9
Nigel: Yeah, I saw that. We have profile pages for our writers! BOOM, you stuck it to us!
Love that everyone who commented on that story is also listed as a contributor. You guys really managed to work that viral momentum to your advantage.
Is this article satire?
I mean, it sounds implausibly hysterical, so I figure it must be.
Nigel,
Don’t look at it as me criticizing your content; look at it as me giving you traffic by telling everyone else that you’re terrible at what you’re trying to accomplish!
Paul,
I’m glad that you’ve taken the time out of your day to respond to an article that’s nearly a month old by mentioning that you’ve finally got someone paying attention to you. Congratulations! Your trip to the cover of the New Times puts you in the company as such luminaries as Amy Bouzaglo, a dog humping a woman’s leg, and a rash of stories that originally ran in other Voice Media papers; a lofty honor indeed!
Good luck in continuing your career as a self-important Internet troll. Moreover, good luck with your next stand-up set! I can’t wait to watch the next YouTube video featuring the one wasted guy that keeps laughing at your impression of black people while everyone else quietly plays Candy Crush and claps politely.
Sincerely,
The Guy Who Got Under Your Skin
Mr. Mendez, I’m curious what it is that you think we at the NR are trying to accomplish?
We produce a daily publication that includes weekends. Perhaps you could enlighten me as too why you singled out Paul’s story and the NR to dump your hate and rage? The reaction to Mr. Horner’s article has been predominantly positive, except yours. Did it not occur to you sir that humor and satire is like beauty… found in the eye of the beholder?
Thank you for taking your time to reply.
Nigel,
You’re trying to get hits on your website by writing satirical news, publishing hoaxes (as Paul admitted earlier) and occasionally being really, really racist (I’m sure you remember the story Wonkette wrote). You’re entertaining yourselves and making money off of ad revenue while you’re doing it, which is admirable enough.
But your site doesn’t add anything to a larger discussion that couldn’t be found in YouTube comments. It’s purposeful disinformation under the banner of satire — and contrary to what you may believe, “bullshit that we made up for attention” doesn’t qualify as satire.
xoxo
David, I respect your honest evaluation and comment. But I’m trying to find the “bad part” in your statement which I assumed would’ve jumped out at me like a deadly viper. Let’s pretend that I’m dangerously intoxicated and incapable of rational thought for a moment. Can you point out for me the part of your comment that you and others find objectionable? Everything you said sounds pretty much on track, but I’m having trouble with where the problem lies. Or is there a problem?
The problem is outlined in the original post. Your site throws more noise and misinformation into a media culture that’s already overflowing with noise and misinformation, and dying for facts and rational thought.
But hey, you gotta get them dollaz.
Well I gotta tell yeah David, you sure do keep it real.
David Mendez,
Way to make fun of someone that is dying of cancer. The doctors say I have less than 6 months to live. I can barely write or get on stage to do standup, but I still do, and you throw that back in my face. I hope it makes you feel better you son of a bitch
Paul, I’m sorry to hear that. Honestly, that’s a terrible thing to learn. I wish you the best with your health and hope that you crush the estimates of your doctors. A number of people I know and care about have dealt with various forms of cancer (a very close family friend, someone who is practically my second mother is in treatment now), and I wouldn’t wish it (in any form) on anyone.
By the same token, you might want to really think about trivializing cancer (and, in the process, trivializing the plight of people in a similar situation as yourself) by using it as a weapon in an Internet argument regarding a hoax that you got published.
Did you ever once stop to think of the cancer sufferers, David? No, you were too busy attacking vastly more popular writers than yourself in order to big note yourself with ill-reasoned clickbait.
So congratulations, you have successfully leached your way to one standard deviation above the threshold of obscurity. No doubt there will be a party in the Tucson Weekly ‘offices’ tonight…
Fox News is fairly accurate with a right spin as Cnn is , with a left spin . No need to even mention MSNBC . NR ‘s Jane M. Agni , is a complete liar . It’s wrong when a writer has people believing something like that , posted by a young nursing student from a prominent University , and believed by her friends of varying ages . It tires people to the point they’ll believe nothing else posted by NR . Ever.
What’s the term…”butt-hurt”
I think Julian has lost the plot here…
I don’t see how Davids post has anything to do with cancer sufferers…
TL;DR The National Report is the herpes of the Internet.
I think anyone that points out racism that offends them in the name of the sensibilities of others in an opinion piece about internet ruiners doesn’t really understand the roll racism and negative portayals play in either hoax or satire. Comedy generally has something to do with the unexpected occurring, and anger is the typical response to the intellectually novel challenges these writers, myself included, (attempt to) expose us to. It is tricky to make peace with doing ‘bad’ in order to do ‘good’, but if that isn’t the defining aspect of contemporary political life in this country today I have no idea what else it could be. The crisis is not the disinformation spread by creative people writing about the larger picture, it is the uselessness of the disinformation provided by the accepted sources of ‘facts’, which these days are merely content pitched towards subjective markets controlled by the already powerful, to generate profit. That one would find the articles on The National Report distasteful or upsetting is sort of the point, even if it is an unpleasant way to learn the value of thinking critically for one’s self. It is still a lesson learned, and a good one considering the abysmal track record of what is happening today, unless one believes trusting in authority in a marketplace that fetishizes wealth and profit over journalistic integrity or christian values or anything else, really, is the path forward from our current reality.
I agree with this article but would like to add:
It’s wrong to lie to people. You shouldn’t use the excuse that they are stupid.
Writing lies is not the same as writing satire, and the website in question reads more like lies than satire.
I don’t think they’re that bad. Sheesh. Yes, some of the posts seem to “try too hard” to be parodies, but some of them are great. Yeah, the Onion is the best at this type of parody, but should they hold a monopoly on humor? And really, shouldn’t people be thinking critically about what they read on the Internet? If people are being fooled by parodies that relate to real news, I think that that shows how ignorant are about real news.
Many sites publish “satire” that is closer to hoaxes, and many of these “hoaxes” actually seem rather libelous. (The Daily Current’s Kanye West “I am the next Nelson Mandela” article comes to mind.)
Yet there is one site that proudly stands for intelligent, funny satire. No, not The Onion. It’s dandygoat.com
Am I associated with dandygoat.com? Of course not. Absurd.
Huh? A satirical story criticizing satirists for getting too much attention? A serious essay condemning satirists for somehow creating Fox News? A self-example-izing column about bad satire? What the fork did I just read?
Wow, what an odd perspective. For a minute I thought he was writing satire about the satire. Here is something that the author should familiarize themselves with. Poe’s Law. Get a clue, dude.
The layers of weird if one follows the links.
I don’t think these articles are funny and completely agree With the “distraction” element mentioend above. This takes away from genuine thought-provoking ideas. After Reading the article about Solar panels draining the Sun’s energy I was considerably provoked. Having said that, this likely says something more about my low expectations of right-wing Americans.
Mr. Mendez, it would be too much to hope that this article is itself satire… that would actually be funny… as it is it just demonstrates that A: You take yourself and things others write way to seriously B: Who made YOU the arbiter of what is or isn’t funny/and why haven’t they been fired for poor judgement C: The fact that so many people don’t realize that it is satire and get so worked up is an important demonstration of 1) How many stupid, clueless people there are 2) How easy it is for propaganda to be disseminated and believed 3) suggests that we will never get the “best” candidates running for office, only the best liars.
Sit on it, Mendez.
He buried the lead! Iim not sure about the fine line between satire and libel, but it seems that any reader with even one angstrom unit of “GAYDAR” can see this is a public tiff between members of a “gay” writers circle who are jealous of each other… one writing about TV…. the other, The New Yorker’s Andy Borowitz, Who crafts, what one internet pundit labeled as “damned fine writing”.
“Damned fine writing” being metro sexual meta code for Andy has been Damned to hell for, what? That’s the Question. What has Lucifer got on you Borowitz?
Is it being the only successful writer from an all-male writer’s circle concerned with happiness, to wit, “being merry and gay”. A writing group based on the movie “Elf”, which has failed to garner any attention whatsoever for it’s members, no buzz, no synergy, just that silly little gig for the New Yorker… A writing group for merry men,, from their bylaws, ” formed to focus on happiness laced christmas-centric fare to be enjoyed by all men of good cheer anytime of the year.”
I found this after coming across their article about 17 Texas kindergartners getting ebola. I struggled to find where the joke was. It just wasn’t there. That’s because fiction all by itself isn’t funny. If it were every novel, play, and movie in existence would be a laugh riot. “Ha ha. Get this. Hamlet wasn’t a real person. ROFL.”