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JHB

(37,133 posts)
Tue Feb 18, 2014, 05:24 AM Feb 2014

Bill O'Reilly Complains About Americans Being 'Self-Absorbed and Ignorant'

via Crooks and Liars:

Pot, meet kettle.

Fox's Bill O'Reilly is very upset that many Americans can't answer the same questions that are asked of immigrants who take our citizenship test, and used his Talking Points Memo segment this Monday to rail about it.

This from the man who works for a network that literally makes their viewers dumber, that constantly rails against funding of public education in favor of school vouchers and charter schools, and who has been carrying water for the party that's responsible for getting rid of civics classes in our public schools to begin with.
***
O’Reilly said America is in decline because so many citizens are not paying attention and are not interested in the welfare of the country.


O'Reilly's right about the problem. You'll never get him to admit his and his network's part in contributing to it though.
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bill O'Reilly Complains About Americans Being 'Self-Absorbed and Ignorant' (Original Post) JHB Feb 2014 OP
I'm glad he's starting to acknowledge some of his trublu992 Feb 2014 #1
Very important paragraph in the first link: okaawhatever Feb 2014 #2
Absolutely True modrepub Feb 2014 #6
I saw him on TV when he made this statement took a screenshot Ichingcarpenter Feb 2014 #3
! Fumesucker Feb 2014 #15
If they weren't self-absorbed and ignorant Bill, you wouldn't have an audience. edbermac Feb 2014 #4
Psst! Hey fellas, How'd you like to get a good deal on some quality Semprini? JHB Feb 2014 #8
LOL Skittles Feb 2014 #14
He looks ripe for an ass kicking, Skit Fumesucker Feb 2014 #16
Funny and true. Cha Feb 2014 #22
This is a joke, right? mfcorey1 Feb 2014 #5
Like most of Billo's jokes, it's an unintentional one. n/t JHB Feb 2014 #7
Bill is "The Onion" personified. progressoid Feb 2014 #10
He's been gazing into his mirror, and he thinks what he sees there is "everyone." nt MADem Feb 2014 #9
The guy IS an expert in those fields. Octafish Feb 2014 #11
O'Reilly is a classic example of projection and lacking any self awareness Gothmog Feb 2014 #12
Bill, don't form a consensus opinion on the basis of what you see in Freepville. lpbk2713 Feb 2014 #13
tide goes in, tide goes out. Never a miscommunication. You can't explain that. Fumesucker Feb 2014 #17
Well then stop working for a company of self-absorbed Rex Feb 2014 #18
Damn ... gonna have to agree with O'Loofah this time. 1000words Feb 2014 #19
That shaking and noise you all felt and heard JoeyT Feb 2014 #20
Might as well read.. "bill o'reilly projects that Cha Feb 2014 #21

okaawhatever

(9,453 posts)
2. Very important paragraph in the first link:
Tue Feb 18, 2014, 06:00 AM
Feb 2014

For years, Stanford communications professor James Fishkin has been conducting experiments in deliberative democracy. The premise is simple: poll citizens on a major issue, blind; then see how their opinions evolve when they’re forced to confront the facts. What Fishkin has found is that while people start out with deep value disagreements over, say, government spending, they tend to agree on rational policy responses once they learn the ins and outs of the budget. “The problem is ignorance, not stupidity,” Hacker says. “We suffer from a lack of information rather than a lack of ability.” Whether that’s a treatable affliction or a terminal illness remains to be seen. But now’s the time to start searching for a cure.

You should read the first link. It's amazing what the statistics show about Americans understanding of things. The numbers on the budget explain a lot.

modrepub

(3,469 posts)
6. Absolutely True
Tue Feb 18, 2014, 07:21 AM
Feb 2014

and there are very few people who'll admit that they have a complete lack of knowledge about what they are talking about. Read any online comment section and you'll see numerous people claim they know absolutely what's wrong based on a couple of hundred words or less from a third-party witness to the event (a reporter). As Nassim Taleb says, it's amazing how well the world works given how little we understanding we have of it.

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
12. O'Reilly is a classic example of projection and lacking any self awareness
Tue Feb 18, 2014, 04:11 PM
Feb 2014

O'Reilly is engage is a classic case of projection

lpbk2713

(42,697 posts)
13. Bill, don't form a consensus opinion on the basis of what you see in Freepville.
Tue Feb 18, 2014, 04:15 PM
Feb 2014



That 1990's BBS style website was made for mouth breathers and is nothing like the real world.


JoeyT

(6,785 posts)
20. That shaking and noise you all felt and heard
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 04:36 AM
Feb 2014

was every single irony meter on the planet exploding at the same time. Unfortunately, there's a good chance the residual irony from the comment will be so strong we may never be able to get one to function again.

Cha

(295,929 posts)
21. Might as well read.. "bill o'reilly projects that
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 05:12 AM
Feb 2014

Americans are self absorbed and Ignorant. " He wants to take credit for his audience.

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