Comments on: Video: The media is the enemy

By: Krydor

Krydor — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:43:28 +0000

This one was no different than any of the Onion’s other parodies. They show what is wrong with the media, but amp it up to 11. So many layers, it’s insane.

By: otcconan

otcconan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:36:31 +0000

I don’t think it was funny, but I do think it illustrates very well just how far the news media will go to make news instead of just reporting it. Anyone remember exploding Chevy pickups? Faked Audi brake failures? This is the logical extension. Notice how they put the blame on the screeners and flight attendants. Exactly what happened after 9/11. Blame Bush, blame lax security. DON’T blame the actual TERRORISTS, because that would be JUDGEMENTAL.

So no, I don’t think it was funny. But I thought it was brilliant.

By: Egfrow

Egfrow — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:27:20 +0000

Here's two Political Onion videos. Bullshit Choices. and Mitt in a Bar Fight.

By: Egfrow

Egfrow — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:14:47 +0000

Here's the full list of components used to make the device from the video.

By: Nineball

Nineball — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:52:34 +0000

Heh… I actually laughed. I can see where people might find it in poor taste, but ummm… hate to break it to you, but if The Onion doesn’t offend someone, I’m sure they feel they aren’t doing there job right.

They have done things with a religious bent that I find offensive and I just skip through those…

To each his own…

By: MirCat

MirCat — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:40:47 +0000

I understand pointing out vulnerabilities, but how about telling the government/CIA/FBI/police instead of the whole world?

rockbend on December 4, 2007 at 8:25 AM

But but but how do you sell ad space with that?

- The Cat

By: ballz2wallz

ballz2wallz — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:31:18 +0000

Haha, I enjoyed it.

By: James

James — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:21:42 +0000

I miss Austin too. The Liberals there are more accepting of the Conservatives that surround them. So it isn’t “enemy” territory. Plus, lots of fine looking ladies.

The only thing I don’t miss about Austin is being stuck on Mo-Pac at all hours of the day.

By: captivated_dem

captivated_dem — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:14:51 +0000

Trenchant was worthy of a lookup. Finding the word to be synonymous with caustic, better describes this video.

By: rockbend

rockbend — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:25:27 +0000

Whereas reporters do not go to these lengths, they do do their best to make sure everyone else knows how to. Think of how many news casts that have shown swat on TV, which actually lets the baddies know where to shoot. Etc Etc

MirCat on December 4, 2007 at 12:54 AM

The media can easily be our own worst enemy.

Remember right after 9-11-01? All the news magazines, TV reporters and newspapers had stories like “10 Easiest Terror Targets In America: Why They Are Vulnerable And How They Can Be Attacked”. Heck – some of the Time/Newsweek articles had photos and maps of targets, with estimated casualties!

I understand pointing out vulnerabilities, but how about telling the government/CIA/FBI/police instead of the whole world?

By: thejackal

thejackal — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:05:26 +0000

Am I mistaken, or did Hot Air (or was it Michelle?) also rip into the BBC for their own mock up of a plane crashing into the House of Parliament?

Make a joke of terrorism, and you laugh at 2,997 people who are no longer here to poke you in the eye.

By: Titus Flavius

Titus Flavius — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:02:23 +0000

Never again.

By: gajaw999

gajaw999 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:24:53 +0000

I have been following The Onion from way back, and usually find them hilarious. But not here. Smoking black spot in a field is too similar to United 92, and I will NEVER laugh or be amused at anything that brings that to mind. Never forget that flight because it reveals the bastards we are up against.

Come on, Onion. You are best when you are deflating overly sensitive egos. How about going after the media’s soft underbelly: their selective reporting on the war on terror. Or how about the Dem leadership– talk about a target-rich environment!

By: Aardvark

Aardvark — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:00:06 +0000

They missed on this one, satirizing genuine media arrogance against a backdrop of one of our genuine fears and concerns — trivializing it.

It would have been much funnier if the reporters had been shot by an air marshall or dragged down by the passengers and beaten to death, maybe accompanied by a man screaming in the background as men and women curse him, “But … but I work for Channel Five!” Armstrong, back in the newsroom, could express shock and horror and demand an investigation.

I would have liked that.

By: CommentGuy

CommentGuy — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:55:12 +0000

Hey you want me to believe trenchant is a word you use in everyday life?

By: » Video parody: Faux reporters test airline security by blowing up an airliner. Has the Onion gone too far? » Leaning Straight Up » Blog Archive »

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:17:14 +0000

[...] Clip Via Hot Air [...]

By: Rugged Individual

Rugged Individual — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:49:46 +0000

Makes perfect sense to me… How better to display that which the ‘MSM’ does to CREATE stories and how the ‘MSM’ reacts to events…? A little exaggeration to make the point, but hey…

By: MirCat

MirCat — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:54:55 +0000

point: I Didn’t like the fact that they used a real plane crash.

point: Satire doesn’t necessarily have to be funny.

point: Whereas reporters do not go to these lengths, they do do their best to make sure everyone else knows how to. Think of how many news casts that have shown swat on TV, which actually lets the baddies know where to shoot. Etc Etc

- The Cat

By: triple

triple — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:47:04 +0000

that was so spot on.

“217 dead as TSA fails to stop special report”

LOL

By: WoosterOh

WoosterOh — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:41:29 +0000

I found it funny. I think for me it was on all the laws that the reporters were breaking, even killed over 200 people, yet it was the Government everyone was ma at, heck, it was the Bush Amins fault they died, not the reporters or the news station.

By: nukemhill

nukemhill — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:20:26 +0000

LOL hysterical.

By: Tony737

Tony737 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:09:22 +0000

I’m with you, Greg, I didn’t even smile either. I was waiting for the funny part but it never came. Not that I was offended, it just wasn’t funny.

By: greggish

greggish — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:48:14 +0000

I didn’t even crack a half smirk. This was in such bad taste it sickened me a bit. I think many of the Onion’s headlines are funny, but frankly never understood why they bothered to expand them out with torturous paragraphs that just beat a dead horse of a halfway funny concept into the grave.

By: CP

CP — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:35:14 +0000

OMG, this is brilliant satire. I dont know how people can see this as offensive. Its showing the absurdity of the lengths the news goes to in order to sensationalize crap.

muyoso on December 3, 2007 at 10:01 PM

I have to agree. One real example that comes to mind is ABC smuggling radioactive material across international borders. This skit was meant to show how stupid the sensational media is. Don’t take it so seriously. But hey, that’s my opinion.

And no, that was not footage of Shanksville.

By: Damian G.

Damian G. — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:32:35 +0000

I thought it was going to get better when I heard the phrase “pistol whipping”, but then they showed the crash site.

Not funny.