Do shows such as the Daily Show and The Colbert Report help or hurt us?

Question

I am a huge fan of both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Lately, however, it has crossed my mind that these show may actually be making some of the population more callous to world events. Understanding that political satire is a time honored tradition dating back to Mark Twain and beyond, I wonder if these shows maybe cross the line. In todays age, when most of the American population seems to be content as long as world events don't keep them from their goumet supermarkets, double lattes, and sub $3 gallons of gasoline, should we be taking the current events of the world so light-heartedly? I worry that, while we are in a time in history when (I feel) we need to be ever more vigilant of world opinion and the possibility of a 3rd world war, the generation that will bear the brunt of current policies is too content to sit back and watch a couple of "talking heads" make light of ever more serious current events. Again, HUGE fan, just curious.

Answer 1

I'm also a huge fan of both. I think these shows entertain us but neither help or hurt us because those who would be swayed but the satire, those who use these shows for their "real news" rather than for what they are, will be swayed by someone else who they look up to or laugh at. Intelligent people know that Colbert has a truth hidden behind his satire, but hopefully one can put it into perspective and see it as his truth and weigh it for themselves based upon their personal logic and feelings and sit back and enjoy the show. Of course many people will believe the verbatim accounts uttered by Steven and Jonathan Stewart. We have many problems in the world but I don't think these shows are two of them.

Answer 2

The Colbert document. The daily teach is diverse forced humor i imagine even as you should charm to close something about the information to get a kick out of the Colbert document. Plus, Stephen Colbert is remarkable

Answer 3

They certainly take the easy route to popularity. It's incredibly easy to find fault in world political leaders and their policies.

It's 100x harder to offfer viable solutions to those faults.

Humor is wonderful, but a one-trick pony doesn't last the test of time. The Daily Show and Colbert will be around a few more years, but the world's problems and those who choose to address them head-on will be around forever.

Answer 4

I love Stephen Colbert.Humor is a good thing especially when it's done as tastefully as it is on his show.Not all Americans are are as dead brained as to be soley fixated on the height of their latte foam thank goodness but a good dose of humor is desperately needed in these trying times.The thing that I like about Colbert is that he's not preachy or genuinely condecending like say someone like Lou Dobbs or Jack Cafferty, or the morons that are on SNL who are sooooo not funny. Colbert delivers the goods in in a very intelligent but tongue n' cheek way. You gotta be pretty savy to hold my attention for more than 5 minutes.This also makes him very sexy but thats another story, lol..I

Answer 5

newsflash gas isn't $3 a gal right now...nice try it is $2 and that is in MA

don't buy coffee make my own

i haven't watched the daily show since i was in college so i don't think it is hurting people. i can't stand politics even joking about politics.

Answer 6

Both of those shows remind us that we absolutely HAVE to laugh at ourselves. We have to find the humor, or the weight of the world's problems will come crashing down on our shoulders.

Answer 7

I think they help us. Especially because more young poeple are willin to watch this so they are atleast semi-informed.

Answer 8

It's suppose to be funny, not taken seriously.

Answer 9

humour us