Louis Theroux

[stowie]

The really intelligent ones would have nothing to do with his programme.

When it comes to the US far right, I am not sure there are many that would fall into the category marked "really intelligent ones".

 

[matticus]

I think there is a key phrase (bold) in the prog's description which is a little overlooked on this thread:

... promoting an ideology that is racist, misogynistic, homophobic and anti-Semitic, often packaging the most extreme views as 'irony'.
With the movement’s most prominent voices having an increasing influence away from the digital realm, Louis attempts to understand their recent surge in popularity and challenges the divisive rhetoric that is being streamed to millions of young viewers online.

Yes , he does specialise in giving people the airtime to hang themselves; but at the same time he really does try to understand them (and the groups they are part of). I think it's more obvious in his earlier works e.g. the porn industry Weird Weekend, where there aren't obvious "Bad Guys" to make fun of. It's even more important in our current increasingly antagonistic, polarised cultural and political landscapes.

(I havent' seen this one yet).

 

[Rusty Nails]

When it comes to the US far right, I am not sure there are many that would fall into the category marked "really intelligent ones".

I did think of using a different word like crafty, but there is no reason downright nasty people cannot be intelligent.

 

[theclaud]

I mean the above is just mind garbage

I'm used to harsh criticism of my posts but this hurts, Stowie.

 

[theclaud]

Nihal Arthanayike was just discussing it on 5Live. He was holding quite a determined line about it being a mistake to give the subjects airtime. He hadn't watched it. The person he was talking to argued otherwise, in some detail. Arthanayike was quite annoying in his unwillingness to consider her point. Maybe he's auditioning for Secretary of State for Culture. She just ended with a slightly exasperated 'I think you need to watch it.'

 

[Ian H]

View attachment 730

What has happened to the Daily Telegraph? In the old days, the comments would have been from retired bankers or Colonel types whose outrage over the trans debate would have been around Latin etymology of the phrase.

I mean the above is just mind garbage. Liverpool able to stop the sale of a national newspaper... what by people not buying it? Outrageous! And as for women's football - presumably whilst the globalist BBC concentrates on Putin and Ukraine, they neglect to see the pincer movement being conducted by our womenfolk to occupy the playing fields of England. Where will it all end?

Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells is doubtless still writing letters to the editor, but he doesn't do interwebby stuff, so you'll only find him* in the print edition.
*I notice there are female versions nowadays. There's emancipation for you.

 

[Milzy]

Good post. L.T is awesome & those far right yanks are a serious eye opener.

 

[AuroraSaab]

I can understand the argument about not giving these people a platform. You would certainly need to be pretty confident that they are going to be suitably outrageous rather than rational and persuasive. In my opinion it's better that the public get to see these people spouting their views so they can judge their attitudes for themselves though, rather than saying 'No debate'. Otherwise they just spread their theories through TikTok, Facebook, and various forums. Better to shine a light on this stuff.

 

[Mugshot]

Watched it now.
No suprise that they are as obnoxious and objectionable as expected, no surprise either to see humour and irony trotted out as the shield for expressing the majority of the views.

Hasn't changed my opinion of Theroux, I think he gets the balance spot on, as ever, and, judging by the people getting their knickers in a twist about the show, or more especially about him, he's poking exactly the right people too.

I guess it does give exposure to extraordinarily unpleasant people, but if you want to watch their kind of stuff, it's hardly difficult to find, I don't think it'll be bringing in many more followers for them. I'm pretty sure the proud racists won't be watching the show anyway. Unless you already held their views, you're far more likely to see them for what they really are. Take away the echo chamber, the slick production, the monologue and the acolytes, see them challenged, particularly in Theroux's gentle, polite, self effacing manner, and they really are quite staggeringly pathetic boys.

Edit: Of course, the streamers, bloggers, podcasters conference main speakers and subjects of the documentary claimed you couldn't say anything these days and pointed to a cancel culture. I dare say there's hours of accusations of virtue signalling and woke agendas on Theroux's cutting room floor.

 

[Hitchington]

Good programme and I like Louis' style.

It is interesting how the American far right are now presenting themselves and it should inform us as to how the far right in the UK will "rebrand" themselves.

Notice how the beardy mcbeard face got really upset when challenged about his fascist salutes. They are actively positioning themselves apart from all of the traditional far right imagery and tropes. You'll even hear the far right publicly claim the Nazis were socialists.

One thing that struck me was the claim that their racism, misogyny and bigotry was "ironic" or for lulz and "people need to get a sense of humour". Where have I heard that before? Hmm.

 

[Mugshot]

It is interesting how the American far right are now presenting themselves and it should inform us as to how the far right in the UK will "rebrand" themselves.

Notice how the beardy mcbeard face got really upset when challenged about his fascist salutes. They are actively positioning themselves apart from all of the traditional far right imagery and tropes. You'll even hear the far right publicly claim the Nazis were socialists.

Exactly, they hate blacks, gays, immigrants, women, Muslims and Jews, but they're not racists, or bigots, or white nationalists, they just love their country and want to protect it. We've heard that before too.

As for the whole Christian shtick, perhaps we should start calling on Christian leaders to denounce the actions of their followers.

 

[mudsticks]

Exactly, they hate blacks, gays, immigrants, women, Muslims and Jews, but they're not racists, or bigots, or white nationalists, they just love their country and want to protect it. We've heard that before too.

As for the whole Christian shtick, perhaps we should start calling on Christian leaders to denounce the actions of their followers.

Tbh Blacks hasn't been the same since it was taken over by JD sports..

Never quite understood how you square up the Christian "love everyone as you do yourself" mantra whilst appearing to hate, or dissaprove of just about everyone and everything that isn't exactly like your narrowly defined sub group.. 🤔

 

[mudsticks]

Good programme and I like Louis' style.

It is interesting how the American far right are now presenting themselves and it should inform us as to how the far right in the UK will "rebrand" themselves.

Notice how the beardy mcbeard face got really upset when challenged about his fascist salutes. They are actively positioning themselves apart from all of the traditional far right imagery and tropes. You'll even hear the far right publicly claim the Nazis were socialists.

One thing that struck me was the claim that their racism, misogyny and bigotry was "ironic" or for lulz and "people need to get a sense of humour". Where have I heard that before? Hmm.

I haven't watched it yet , so probs shouldn't comment

But the themes seem wearily familiar.

I'm not sure watching it would do anything other than depress me

I try to remain optimistic about the human nature being generally on the brighter side given decent enough conditions, progs like this can leave one a bit despairing..

 

[theclaud]

they hate blacks

They've really got it in for Millets as well.

Autolinks are such bollocks.

 

[theclaud]

Ooops - TMN to @mudsticks!