Conservatives and humour

[Redshirt]

Here's an interesting study:

Is truthiness stranger than fiction? Conservatives are more likely to believe Colbert isn't kidding, study suggests (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090428.wcolbert0428/BNStory/International/home)

Respondents were shown a three-minute clip of Mr. Colbert interviewing Amy Goodman, a radio host with Democracy Now!, which, according to the host, airs just before Anarchy Later! In the segment, Mr. Colbert blasts Ms. Goodman for being a “super-liberal lefty,” and gets into an argument with her over the merits of embedding journalists with the military. Mr. Colbert points out that he underwent embedding training at the U.S. military facility in Fort Dix, N.J., and that the sub-zero temperatures prepared him well for embedding in Iraq.

Participants were asked to rate themselves on a scale ranging from “very liberal” to “very conservative.” They were also asked whether they believed Mr. Colbert was using satire or whether he was only pretending to be joking, and actually meant what he said. The researchers found that political conservatism was a strong indicator that the respondent would believe that Mr. Colbert actually meant what he said. In addition, conservatives were more likely to believe that Mr. Colbert himself was also conservative.

[snip]

“By contrast, liberals perceived Colbert as just kidding and did not perceive the source as conservative, Republican, or disliking liberals,” the researchers went on to say.

Considering that many conservatives brainwash themselves in bizarre and nonsensical propaganda and nonsense from right-wing talk radio, it's not surprising that they just don't get Colbert.

"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded." :D

[tjakey]

Well...I'm pretty far left of left and I don't often care for Colbert either. I get that he is joking, I get that he is poking fun, but Poe's law comes into play. Even though I know Colbert is making fun, if he wasn't he would be saying the exact same things. To me that is more scary than funny.

[sohy]

My husband and I had a big laugh out of that news last night. I've said for years that conservatives don't get humor. Humor is what keeps the rest of us sane when we have to deal with the worst of them.

[Troglodyte]

I've actually got a pretty good sense of humor and laugh quite a bit. I get quite a bit of "humor", it's just that I know what I like or don't like. I "get" Colbert quite well. I just don't find him funny. Instead I find him rather quite a bore. Same with Stewart. And the sad thing is, that many individuals - specifically younger people - seem to get their "news" from shows such as Colbert's or Stewart's, that is, finding those shows more "reliable". And while I can agree in part concerning the bias and unreliability of all of the mainstream and cable news programs, I'll go to them before I'll go to a "comedy" show for my news.

Heck, I've wanted to laugh on occassion if I decided to watch a few minutes of South Park or Family Guy while flipping channels, but for the most part I don't find it funny, but rather juvenile.

I loved Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, but can't stand any of their other movies. Conservatives aren't humorless or inable to get humor, we're just a bit more choosey and actually think about what is being said and why. It's one thing to be funny, it's quite another to be insultive. Many who think they're being funny are actually being insultive... ah, but that good old double standard of tolerance... thanks libs for showing us the true meaning of tolerance and humor.

[Notta]

Many who think they're being funny are actually being insultive... ah, but that good old double standard of tolerance... thanks libs for showing us the true meaning of tolerance and humor.You're quite welcome!

[Worldtraveller]

And the sad thing is, that many individuals - specifically younger people - seem to get their "news" from shows such as Colbert's or Stewart's, that is, finding those shows more "reliable".
The amusing thing is that those who listed "The Daily Show" as their primary news source were more informed than those who listed at least a couple of the mainstream news programs. I know Fox viewers consitently were the least informed.

Conservatives aren't humorless or inable to get humor, we're just a bit more choosey and actually think about what is being said and why.
I think you need a broader brush. And the studies don't bear up to your hypothesis. Then again, you could be a victim of the Kruger Dunning effect.
It's one thing to be funny, it's quite another to be insultive. Many who think they're being funny are actually being insultive...
Have you actually been paying attention to the 'conservative' pundits and what passes for funny on their shows?
ah, but that good old double standard of tolerance... thanks libs for showing us the true meaning of tolerance and humor.
Really? You know most of the humor from the Daily Show comes from showing clips of (mostly) politicians who say one thing one day, then almost the exact opposite at another time, right? If that's mean, then pointing out the hypocrisy of (mostly right wing) politicians is the kind of mean the world needs more of.

In other words...beam...plank....eye. Fill in the blanks.

[Troglodyte]

Actually, my knowledge of the Daily Show is sketchy. From clips I may come across online to channel surfing years ago.

We do not have cable or satellite and our tv viewing habits are minimal. Most of what we watch tends to be children's shows - I have two children under 3. And often we watch PBS. My wife's favorite shows happen to be The Office and 30 Rock, both fairly satirical and left-leaning shows.

[Notta]

Actually, my knowledge of the Daily Show is sketchy. From clips I may come across online to channel surfing years ago.

We do not have cable or satellite and our tv viewing habits are minimal. Most of what we watch tends to be children's shows - I have two children under 3. And often we watch PBS. My wife's favorite shows happen to be The Office and 30 Rock, both fairly satirical and left-leaning shows.You may be interested in knowing that a study done on the viewers of mainstream news shows vs. The Daily Show determined that the Daily Show viewers had much more accurate knowledge of the structure of our government, current political issues, and international politics than viewers of ANY mainstream news shows. And people who watched Fox News exclusively had the poorest knowledge of these topics.

Here's a link to the report: Public knowledge of current affairs (http://people-press.org/report/319/public-knowledge-of-current-affairs-little-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions)

And here's a chart from the report:
http://people-press.org/reports/images/319-2.gif

[VoxRat]

... You may be interested in knowing that a study done on the viewers of mainstream news shows vs. The Daily Show determined that the Daily Show viewers had much more accurate knowledge of the structure of our government, current political issues, and international politics than viewers of ANY mainstream news shows. And people who watched Fox News exclusively had the poorest knowledge of these topics.

Here's a link to the report: Public knowledge of current affairs (http://people-press.org/report/319/public-knowledge-of-current-affairs-little-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions)

And here's a chart from the report: [clip] Wow. I'm surprised to see Rush Limbaugh listeners essentially indistinguishable from NPR listeners.

[Notta]

Wow. I'm surprised to see Rush Limbaugh listeners essentially indistinguishable from NPR listeners.That's because the NPR listeners probably fall asleep during the news shows! :)

[Goodchild]

I'm amazed that someone could describe a show like The Office as having a political leaning.

[Mung Dynasty]

It parodies people in positions of authority, therefore it is obviously a Trojan horse for radical Communism.

[Notta]

And the characters have pre-marital sex, so they're obviously lefties!

[ck1]

... You may be interested in knowing that a study done on the viewers of mainstream news shows vs. The Daily Show determined that the Daily Show viewers had much more accurate knowledge of the structure of our government, current political issues, and international politics than viewers of ANY mainstream news shows. And people who watched Fox News exclusively had the poorest knowledge of these topics.

Here's a link to the report: Public knowledge of current affairs (http://people-press.org/report/319/public-knowledge-of-current-affairs-little-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions)

And here's a chart from the report: [clip] Wow. I'm surprised to see Rush Limbaugh listeners essentially indistinguishable from NPR listeners.

And that O'Reilly viewers rank 10 points higher than those who watch CNN!

Wonder what current events questions were used to determine these rankings.

[Tom Sawyer]

I think it's the case that people who have enough interest in politics and current events to take the time to specifically view/listen to a show that deals with these things, regardless of the particulars of how that show slants the coverage of them, would have a higher level of basic knowledge than people who just tune into general news coverage. For instance, see the vast difference in results of those who watch O'Reilly specifically compared to Fox News viewers in general.

If a question is "Who is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee?", followers of politically-based shows would have a higher chance of being able to name Barney Frank. Depending on whether the show you watch is Olberman or O'Reilly, however, would influence whether they're aware that Frank is a brave defender of the common man against the political and financial aristocracy against the oppressive fascist elites or the some pansy little fairy who single-handedly destroyed the world economy in order to hasten the arrival of the anti-Christ. Regardless of that, though, both viewerships would be able to give the man's name.