"Bullshit"

[Guest MikeSC]

I finally got around to picking up the DVD of season 1 of Penn & Teller's "Bullshit" --- and I must say, it is a really good show. I don't know of too many other shows that are solely dedicated to debunking BS (such things as talking to the dead (John Edwards), the evils of 2nd hand smoke, creationism, etc) and they do a rather thorough job of it.

 

Anybody else ever see the show on Showtime?

-=Mike

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I think Rant has a poster of Penn & Teller in his bedroom...

[Nighthawk 0]

I watch it, I think it's great. I was dissapointed with the recent episode about the Bible however. Being somewhat knowledgable about Biblical matters myself, I found their arguments pretty flimsy and the chumps they had on there defending it were just ignorant. It makes me wonder if I'd be underwhelmed by other shows they did were I possessed of expertise in the subject.

[Guest OctoberBlood]

What are the evils of 2nd hand smoke, there SC?

[Guest thebigjig]

Wow... Mike and I agree on something... I really dont know what to say

 

Yeah, I love PT: Bullshit... I'm probably going to get the season one dvd set next week

[Guest MikeSC]

What are the evils of 2nd hand smoke, there SC?

They simply pointed out that there is NO serious medical data saying that second hand smoke is bad. It might be irritating --- but unhealthy and irritating are not one in the same. A federal court flat out trashed the FDA report on it.

Wow... Mike and I agree on something... I really dont know what to say

 

Yeah, I love PT: Bullshit... I'm probably going to get the season one dvd set next week

Do so. Terrific DVD. LOVED the enviornmentalists signing the petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide (or, in simple terms, water)

-=Mike

[Guest OctoberBlood]

They simply pointed out that there is NO serious medical data saying that second hand smoke is bad. It might be irritating --- but unhealthy and irritating are not one in the same. A federal court flat out trashed the FDA report on it.

So the TRUTH~! commericals are LIES~!

 

I'm intersting in knowing this, and whatever reports you that back this up.

[Guest MikeSC]

They simply pointed out that there is NO serious medical data saying that second hand smoke is bad. It might be irritating --- but unhealthy and irritating are not one in the same. A federal court flat out trashed the FDA report on it.

So the TRUTH~! commericals are LIES~!

 

I'm intersting in knowing this, and whatever reports you that back this up.

Well, the federal court said that the FDA report "cherry picked" its data to come up with a conclusion that matched their assumptions.

 

For more info on this topic:

http://www.cato.org/dailys/9-28-98.html

http://www.junkscience.com/mar00/shscience.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/983393/posts?page=16

http://193.78.190.200/smokersclub/canti2.htm

http://www.gasp.org/tribune2ndhand.html

http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/w...cles/99/EPA.htm

-=Mike

[Guest OctoberBlood]

They simply pointed out that there is NO serious medical data saying that second hand smoke is bad. It might be irritating --- but unhealthy and irritating are not one in the same. A federal court flat out trashed the FDA report on it.

So the TRUTH~! commericals are LIES~!

 

I'm intersting in knowing this, and whatever reports you that back this up.

Well, the federal court said that the FDA report "cherry picked" its data to come up with a conclusion that matched their assumptions.

 

For more info on this topic:

http://www.cato.org/dailys/9-28-98.html

http://www.junkscience.com/mar00/shscience.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/983393/posts?page=16

http://193.78.190.200/smokersclub/canti2.htm

http://www.gasp.org/tribune2ndhand.html

http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/w...cles/99/EPA.htm

-=Mike

Got some reading to do. Thanks.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

I love this show.

 

Mike, catch the one this season about tantric sex and other new age myths? Fucking hilarious. The tantric sex guy took himself so seriously and talked about how tantric sex was more than sex, but more or less about releasing childhood fears, gender identities, etc. And Penn just kept going "THIS GUY JUST LIKES TO FUCK!"

[Guest MikeSC]

I love this show.

 

Mike, catch the one this season about tantric sex and other new age myths? Fucking hilarious. The tantric sex guy took himself so seriously and talked about how tantric sex was more than sex, but more or less about releasing childhood fears, gender identities, etc. And Penn just kept going "THIS GUY JUST LIKES TO FUCK!"

What time is it friggin' on? My local listings suck and my digital cable's interactive guide tends to be on the fritz most of the time.

-=Mike

[Guest Ram]

I've only seen it on late Sunday nights, somewhere around the Cinemax area.

 

The tantric sex one was especially funny. Penn mentioned that some people they interview claim they spin things around and do careful editing to make the interviewed look stupid. So they just rolled straight footage of the guy discussing tantric sex unintelligibly.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

When I first saw the thread I thought it was a dissection of Mikey Moore's filmography LOL2004~!

 

Seriously though, I've never heard of this show, but I've seen that guy in the ponytail be a complete asshole to people, to the point of sometimes it not being funny. When he went on a rant about how all Christians are stupid brainwashed idiots, well, I wasn't offended because I don't really care about what he has to say but it just seemed a tad ignorant to me.

[Guest MikeSC]

When I first saw the thread I thought it was a dissection of Mikey Moore's filmography LOL2004~!

 

Seriously though, I've never heard of this show, but I've seen that guy in the ponytail be a complete asshole to people, to the point of sometimes it not being funny. When he went on a rant about how all Christians are stupid brainwashed idiots, well, I wasn't offended because I don't really care about what he has to say but it just seemed a tad ignorant to me.

I never heard Penn say that. He trashed creationists, to be sure --- but who can blame him?

-=Mike

[Bored 0]

Penn is an athiest and very outspoken about religion.

 

Anyways loved the episodes this season on PETA, recycling, and drugs. I did think the last episode of the season on plastic surgery and diets was kinda weak. Wish they had focused more on the guy who only ate salads thus because of it had developed osteoprosis and lost all of his sex drive yet was still only eating salads as he thought it was good for his body.

 

Anyone have any guesses as to what topics they might cover in the new episodes in August?

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

When I first saw the thread I thought it was a dissection of Mikey Moore's filmography LOL2004~!

 

Seriously though, I've never heard of this show, but I've seen that guy in the ponytail be a complete asshole to people, to the point of sometimes it not being funny. When he went on a rant about how all Christians are stupid brainwashed idiots, well, I wasn't offended because I don't really care about what he has to say but it just seemed a tad ignorant to me.

I never heard Penn say that. He trashed creationists, to be sure --- but who can blame him?

-=Mike

It was at a live show from what I remember. Just basically called Christians stupid the whole time for believing in religion and God and such. I mean, I bash my fellow Christians as much as anyone else, but a line has to be drawn before a guy is just an asshole who is speaking out of said asshole.

 

Creationists try to claim that more faith is required to believe in evolution rather than creationism. I don't see it.

[Placebo Effect 0]

I loved what he said on the episode about the Bible.

 

Something to the extent of, "If you believe in the Bible because of faith, we can't argue with you. But it's when you try to justify your belief by using facts, that's when we have to after you."

[NoCalMike 0]

New episodes air Thursday Nights at 8pm I believe. On Showtime.

 

I liked the episode about drugs, particularly the marijuana portions. Most episodes are great, but I was expecting a better show out of the bible episode.

[Nighthawk 0]

Anyone have any guesses as to what topics they might cover in the new episodes in August?

According to an offhand comment on the episode about... I can't even remember what it was about. Anyway, he said they'd do one about how you have to go to college to be successful.

 

By the way, it's 10pm that it's on.

[Ed Wood Caulfield 0]

Anyone have any guesses as to what topics they might cover in the new episodes in August?

I saw a five minute overview of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! on my OnDemand service and it said that the topics they would take on during the 6 episodes they have left this season during the summer would be:

 

-The Business of Death: What people do to try to never die, or live longer than humans can possibly live.

 

-All Things French: This looks interesting

 

-Profanity

 

-Ghosts and other supernatural bullshit like faithealers

 

-Are so-called "junk food" and "fatty foods" like bacon, candy, and eggs as dangerous and unhealthy as scientists say?

 

-Christmas: I think I already know what they will say here: THERE IS NO GOD! THERE IS NO JESUS!!! THERE'S NO REASON TO CELEBRATE IT!!!

 

I've seen all the episodes. I am a big fan of the show. Most of the stuff on the show I don't believe in myself (New Age Crap, Creationism, Weight loss techniques) so I just watch and laugh at Penn & Teller's expose. They've only shocked me a few times (the one about romantic love being a myth, the Bible episode as I was shocked they would actually go through with it, recycling) but I'm suprised at the courage they have. Sometimes, Penn & Teller act like assholes to the people and topics they're making fun of though, even though I don't think some of the people deserve to be treated that way. The show hasn't actually changed my opinion in alot of stuff, since I either didn't believe or still believe in the topics they tackled. The only times my views have been changed are the recycling episode, the enviromental hysteria episode, and the one about second-hand smoke. Has anyone ever had their viewpoint changed because of Penn & Teller: Bullshit!? Still, even though sometimes I don't agree with their viewpoint or the way they go through with it, I still like the show since all the episodes are funny and Penn & Teller themselves are interesting.

[Bored 0]

I'd say the recylicng episode changed my views a little. I mean I'm not a big recylcer but if you asked me if I thought recylcing was actually a good thing I would have said yes. Turns out beyond recycling aluminum cans that it's a big waste of time and money.

[Nighthawk 0]

the Bible episode as I was shocked they would actually go through with it

Come on now, they barely said anything. Completely disregarding their faith disclaimer, they did nothing that would counter anyone with a knowledge of the Bible. It was more like, a lot of people are "converted" by a feel good superficial message, so they presented a feel bad superficial message. Still... weak.

[Ed Wood Caulfield 0]

I didn't think the Bible episode was bad. They were only given 30 minutes to show that the Bible was a work of fiction. I think they did good with the time they had. How much more was needed? I think they did the best they could with the time they had and I did liked how they ended it: reading the entire Bible front to back will convert you into an Atheist. How would you have done it differently? What would you do or not do?

[Nighthawk 0]

Well, the issues they raised can be retorted using the Bible's internal logic. Reading the Bible front to back may convert you to an atheist if you had misconceptions about what it was before you started (which most people do... that's ok, like I said, they responded to a positive quick fix with a negative quick fix). Then again, it's not like the Bible's the only representation of a god, so atheist may be a bit far.

 

The main problem was that I, personally, could have answered any of the things they said. So, suppose somebody watched that and questioned their belief in the Bible. Forgive me if I get too involved, but... If someone starts believing that stuff cold, they're pretty unshakable. So, the target then, is people who were brought to this by outside factors. All they have to do is say "Well, that seems fair. I think I'll ask Reverend so and so." Reverend so and so will easily be able to nullify their standpoint. If I can do it, a trained minister surely can. So we're back to square one, and because it's a tv show, there's no back and forth debate. Calling the Bible fiction is really a fool's game anyway. It's extremely underestimated by the skeptic crowd. The way it's set up is truly brilliant, because it is, for all intents and purposes, completely unarguable in a self contained loop, without going to the faith cop out. They said nothing which anyone who's familiar with the Bible isn't well aware of. If it was me, I wouldn't have done it at all, I'd have done a show on the broader elements of religion in general.

[NoCalMike 0]

to play devil's advocate here, in order for the Penn & Teller show to do a 180 on someone's opinion, they would have to have better folks arguing agains them. I mean it is pretty obvious they find goofs and whacks to counter argue, in order to drive the point home better.