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Penn & Teller Bullshit: Manners
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Season 4, episode 8, RT 25:14.
According to a recent poll, 8 out of 10 people in the US think Americans are ruder today than any time in history. Is that even possible? Are we really ruder and less well mannered? On this episode of BULLSHIT, we'll find out that our contemporary ideas about manners date back about 120 years to the Victorian period, a time when there wasn't indoor plumbing and people used to urinate in the street, we'll meet an etiquette expert who knows which fork to use when eating salad and visit with a stripper who puts the entire issue of manners into perspective. Saying "please" and "thank you" are good social lubricants and help you avoid getting beat up… the rest of manners, are pretty much BULLSHIT.
According to a recent poll, 8 out of 10 people in the US think Americans are ruder today than any time in history. Is that even possible? Are we really ruder and less well mannered? On this episode of BULLSHIT, we'll find out that our contemporary ideas about manners date back about 120 years to the Victorian period, a time when there wasn't indoor plumbing and people used to urinate in the street, we'll meet an etiquette expert who knows which fork to use when eating salad and visit with a stripper who puts the entire issue of manners into perspective. Saying "please" and "thank you" are good social lubricants and help you avoid getting beat up… the rest of manners, are pretty much BULLSHIT.
Sep 29, 2008 10:34 AM
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Manners
They throw out some REALLY slanted, poorly made arguments in this episode. But despite this, you can't help but really hate some of the manners "experts" they find who want the world to run on their rules.
By: Faffy
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Manners
They're wrong.
Americans are way ruder than just ten years ago. And this show is one small reason why.
Taking offense at minor breaches of etiquette can itself be a form of rudeness. But really, showing no concern for other people's feelings is no way to live together. These days Americans are using guns and cars to express their rudeness.
I know it's hard to come up with a decent topic a dozen times a year, but damn, this is just crap. Where do they get the idea that anyone who wants people to be less nasty is an angry neurotic, a charlatan hustler, or a right-wing culture warrior? What a couple of rude little pricks.
Bullshit.
Americans are way ruder than just ten years ago. And this show is one small reason why.
Taking offense at minor breaches of etiquette can itself be a form of rudeness. But really, showing no concern for other people's feelings is no way to live together. These days Americans are using guns and cars to express their rudeness.
I know it's hard to come up with a decent topic a dozen times a year, but damn, this is just crap. Where do they get the idea that anyone who wants people to be less nasty is an angry neurotic, a charlatan hustler, or a right-wing culture warrior? What a couple of rude little pricks.
Bullshit.
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Manners
So you feel Mr. Cow was completely justified in getting upset that someone was using a cell phone on a PUBLIC sidewalk? Like it was any of his business why she "needs to make the call right now."?
Or for the etiquette coach to be such a prick whenever she was giving suggestions?
Or for the etiquette coach to be such a prick whenever she was giving suggestions?
By: Faffy
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Manners
No, I think Mr. Cow was kinda crazy -- from what I could infer through all the dishonest editing. And I'd never invite that etiquette coach to a party. But those people were paying her to coach them for a reason. It's not like anyone would actually order a hamburger in any real-world situation where they couldn't enjoy it their own way. But it is nice to know what the rules are in any insane cultures so you can break the rules on purpose.
My point is that Penn and Teller's Bullshit forces itself to take an entrenched position on a trivial or important issue, and then hammer it into shape by digging up crazy people to film and edit to their liking. Their points are quite lame. Their positions are indefensible. They were as rude as any Internet troll. And only a couple of their jokes were even funny.
Yeah, the Victorian era sucked. Yeah, right-wing bible thumpers are nosy. Yeah, those people they filmed were unappealing.
My point is that Penn and Teller's Bullshit forces itself to take an entrenched position on a trivial or important issue, and then hammer it into shape by digging up crazy people to film and edit to their liking. Their points are quite lame. Their positions are indefensible. They were as rude as any Internet troll. And only a couple of their jokes were even funny.
Yeah, the Victorian era sucked. Yeah, right-wing bible thumpers are nosy. Yeah, those people they filmed were unappealing.
