Fair Enough

Sep 21, 2009 19:56

Recently found the transcript for one of Bill Maher's New Rules:

"New Rule: California Hatin'", by Bill Maher

Lay off California. The rest of America loves to laugh at crazy California, but let's remember this: California has a lot of people. And the reason it does is that lots of people from other states end up saing, "Fuck this, I'm outta ( Read more... )

california, bill maher, humor

Leave a comment

Comments 14

kangetsuhime September 22 2009, 12:21:28 UTC
... I have to admit, I don't get it. California sounds like a foul place. The rest of the world doesn't hate America (and I suspect many Americans don't hate California) because it's too awesome and they want it to suck, rather like people want hot chicks to be nasty drug-addicted whores. They hate it because... they hate it.

I am biased, though. It is just seriously not my kind of place by the sounds of things. Too damn hot and sunny and postcard. I want somewhere less plastic, with real weather.

The whole spiel is very America. "They hate us because they hate how we're what they'll never be." Even managing to turn it on each other. One day, one day in the far far future, it will dawn that most of that hate is not remotely based in envy.

Reply

fr_defenestrato September 22 2009, 18:28:50 UTC
This is not useful. If it is so blindingly obvious that the 'hate-equals-envy' model is wrong, you might at least offer an alternative explanation. 'They hate us because they hate us' gives us nothing constructive.

And you sound like you know nothing about California and are working from wild surmise. This, too, is 'very America'.

Reply

kangetsuhime September 22 2009, 18:37:25 UTC
I meant that people can *actually* hate an area, rather than saying they hate it but actually just be mislabelling envy. People can dislike California (and America) for valid reasons just like people can dislike other states and countries for valid reasons. For example, I could never live in America and actively dislike America for various valid reasons, not because I am angry that my country isn't as free and awesome.

Apologies for not being 'useful'. I wasn't told when I was friended that I would have to be so in all my comments.

Reply

fr_defenestrato September 22 2009, 19:22:07 UTC
One comments for a reason, to put an idea or argument or viewpoint across. Your comment's uselessness does not discomfit me other than an initial flush of annoyance at what I took to be its shallowness: I thought perhaps you'd want to amplify your thoughts, body them forth with some rationale. Nonetheless, thank you for clarifying. I can rest easy that you don't care to offer any alternatives to Bill Maher's viewpoint-i.e., exemplars for why you, or any other people, hate America (or California).

Frankly, I don't fully agree with Maher either; but I still maintain your own disdain of California-as-habitat is built on hearsay: 'by the sound of things' is not a 'valid reason' for liking or disliking a place. I suggest you spend some quiet time on the floor of a redwood forest in a light rain before you go dismissing the entire state as 'too damn hot and sunny and postcard'.

I'm a guest in faeshale's world just like you, so it is not my place to issue value judgments as to comportment; but your parting shot seems passive-aggressive and uncivil ( ... )

Reply


I Hate CA For Other Reasons myly_blue_roses September 22 2009, 12:54:14 UTC
Remember, I was trapped there from age 3-19. But maybe Southern CA is different from the area around San Francisco.

Reply

Re: I Hate CA For Other Reasons faeshale September 22 2009, 15:21:32 UTC
Also, fair enough - you have the right to hate the places you've been. ^_^

Reply


sailorrob September 22 2009, 13:28:32 UTC
as long as that moron who should be making movies is governor I dont see California allowing gay marriage unless it's between a man and a woman.

Id like to call you sometime but I dont have the number any chance you could send that to me?

Reply


fr_defenestrato September 22 2009, 18:33:37 UTC
I agree. (He says, content on this occasion to be vague.)

Neither Maher nor you mention the landscape, which is, to my way of thinking, a large part of California's appeal: the confluence of mountains, desert, ancient forests, and coastline make for some of the most beautiful LAND that I have ever visited.

Reply


vintagerose September 23 2009, 23:49:35 UTC
Except that Bill Maher is especially fucking ghastly, and I cringe every time he opens his mouth.

New York City? Too bitchy, too self-destructive and too much the all-consuming monster.

But that's why I love it. Hahaha.

I guess California would be fine for a visit, but the East Coast is where I will pretty much live and die.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up