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Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:08 am
by danieLion


Anyone else seen this? Is this Bullshit bullshit?

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:40 am
by Ben
Thanks for that, Daniel.
A comedy piece based on Chinese propaganda.
Kind regards,
Ben

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:56 am
by LonesomeYogurt
P&T: BS is a great show, but like all episodes, this one obviously deals in exaggerations and caricatures rather than concrete facts. That being said, there is a lot to criticize about feudal Tibet before Chinese rule; how much the Dalai Lama had to do with that, however, is up for debate.

It's a contentious issue with multiple sides, so feel free to laugh at their sacred cow-slaying but don't take it too seriously.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:36 am
by tiltbillings
LonesomeYogurt wrote:P&T: BS is a great show, but like all episodes, this one obviously deals in exaggerations and caricatures rather than concrete facts. That being said, there is a lot to criticize about feudal Tibet before Chinese rule; how much the Dalai Lama had to do with that, however, is up for debate.
How much did the present DL have to do with the pre-Chinese feudal system? None whatsoever, and he certainly had no real opportunity to do anything about it given his age when the Chinese invaded Tibet.
It's a contentious issue with multiple sides, so feel free to laugh at their sacred cow-slaying but don't take it too seriously.
The last people to listen to concerning Tibet is the Chinese government and the second to last people to listen to are the unwitting stooges who repeat the Chinese government's crappola.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:03 am
by Mr Man
As LonesomeYogurt mentioned the above clip "deals in exaggerations and caricatures". it is political satire. But are they just repeating Chinese government's crappola? Is it based on Chinese propaganda? And if it were influenced by Chinese propaganda is Chinese propaganda more nefarious than say US propaganda?

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:43 am
by tiltbillings
Mr Man wrote: is Chinese propaganda more nefarious than say US propaganda?
Probably.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:02 am
by Mr Man
Okay, but are they just repeating chinese government propaganda?

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:07 am
by tiltbillings
Mr Man wrote:Okay, but are they just repeating chinese government propaganda?
Are they?

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:14 am
by Mr Man
tiltbillings wrote:
Mr Man wrote:Okay, but are they just repeating chinese government propaganda?
Are they?
I don't know. I didn't say it.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:28 am
by tiltbillings
Mr Man wrote:
tiltbillings wrote:
Mr Man wrote:Okay, but are they just repeating chinese government propaganda?
Are they?
I don't know. I didn't say it.
I am watching it now, and P&T are spouting garbage. Some of it comes from the Commies and some it is just distortion of the what happened. If you want to defend these two bozos ball-peen hammer approach, go ahead, but it is not worth my time.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:30 pm
by Anagarika
Penn is a self-described anarcho-capitalist, Ayn Rand devotee, and sits on the board of the Cato Institute, an organization founded by the infamous Koch brothers. He disputes the science of climate change, and named one of his children 'Moxie Crimefighter." My diagnosis: possible douchebag.

Michael Parenti, featured in the video, is in part an apologist for communism, suggesting that he and Jillette may share an affinity for Communist regimes like the PRC.

Aside from my snarky take on this video, it's factually incorrect. It seems a load of the same bullshit that the Penn/Teller program suggests it is revealing. I don't mind a well founded critique of HHDL, or of any public person, so long as it is fair. This segment is deserving of ridicule, but I guess I'm not surprised that it came of out the same ideology that supports the Koch brothers.

What's good for Tibet is not good for China, and the billions that the Koch brothers earn from their businesses. "Smooch!" That's the sound of Jillette planting a big one on David Koch's butt.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:59 pm
by Raitanator
In addition to communist propaganda, it seems like there's new kadampa propaganda, too, added to the soup. Well, basically, some cults that have separated themselves from rest of tibetan buddhism use these same arguments.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:53 pm
by Mr Man
Thanks for the info BuddhaSoup. It puts a different twist on the motivation.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:04 pm
by robertk
P and t Sucked in by long discredited Chinese propaganda.

Re: Penn & Teller's Bullshit: the Dalai Lama

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:04 pm
by santa100
They forgot to add a bunch more weights onto the Chinese Communist pan to account for the sudden spike of Tibetan's self-immolations. Bet you it would completely crumble their Good/Bad scale..