# Bill Maher stirs controversy with Tim Tebow tweet **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 28, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655 "2011-12-28T19:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/361 "2012-01-02T18:47:23Z")
Since when is opinion an inappropriate realm for humor and comedy? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/362 "2012-01-02T19:47:42Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > I suppose in the not-white and white world that some of us inhabit, that could appear to be the case. In the actual, colorful world where the rest of us live, the problem generally isn’t everyone else, dear. You have yet to show that an overwhelming majority of people are laughing at Tebow. As nearly as I can tell, it’s the Usual Suspects. And you’re much too quick to assume that your “colorful world” is where everybody else lives. I don’t give a rat’s patoot about Tebow either way. All I see in this flap is Maher being a jerk to get attention for the gazillionth time. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/363 "2012-01-02T19:51:16Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Making a show of it as this guy apparently\* does is somewhat obnoxious; a way of showing off how much more “holy” you are than everyone else. Tebow’s prayers were not, however, anywhere near as obnoxious as Maher’s comments, which were just Maher spewing contempt and hatred towards the religious. As usual. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/364 "2012-01-02T20:00:35Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Since when is opinion an inappropriate realm for humor and comedy? What was supposed to be humorous or comic about Maher’s remarks? They were merely crude insults. > [@](#): > > \*When in doubt, blaspheme. Fools will always mistake it for wit. \* **– Oscar Wilde** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/365 "2012-01-02T20:07:17Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Tebow’s prayers were not, however, anywhere near as obnoxious as Maher’s comments, which were just Maher spewing contempt and hatred towards the religious. As usual. One man’s bad taste is another man’s funny joke. Again, it’s just someone’s opinion. My own personal opinion was that it was in bad taste (I suspect alcohol was involved). But I can’t argue that I’m objectively right about that. n.b.: This coming from an atheist who enjoy’s BM’s HBO show quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/366 "2012-01-02T20:12:04Z")
Precisely. IMO, the praying is much more obnoxious and in worse taste, especially given that Maher’s remarks were directed to people who’ve actually taken the initiative to follow him personally on Twitter. Tebow’s showboating is inflicted on everyone watching any game he happens to play in. If you wanna talk famewhoring, Tebow wins. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/367 "2012-01-02T20:17:02Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > One man’s bad taste is another man’s funny joke. Again, it’s just someone’s opinion. My own personal opinion was that it was in bad taste (I suspect alcohol was involved). But I can’t argue that I’m objectively right about that. > > n.b.: This coming from an atheist who enjoy’s BM’s HBO show quite a bit. Meh. There’s a difference between humor and mere abuse. Too many people seem to miss that distinction these days. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/368 "2012-01-02T20:22:39Z")
I’ll admit that I didn’t read the whole thread, but let’s assume that Tebow was Muslim and always thanking Allah for his performance on the field. If some Fox News commentator twitted something like: “Where is your Allah and 70 Virgins now, Tim?” I think that there would be more outrage and more coverage; even/especially on this board. ---
**Author:** ![heatmiserfl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@heatmiserfl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heatmiserfl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/369 "2012-01-02T20:25:48Z")
I think Tebow putting scriptures on the cheeks is douchey or whatever term the kids are using these days. Along the same vein as thanking God at music award shows or Deepok Chopra insipidly mewling about love while flashing his bling all over the place. Properity theology, megachurches, the list goes on. Just seems to denigrate Jesus’ message of religious humility and rejection of excessive material wealth. Is there a good term for that in the urban dictionary? Not necessarily a hypocrite or charlatan in an Elmer Gantry way. It’s gauche religiosity. This may get us dangerously close to the original topic but if Maher instead said something like, “Wow, Jesus just bailed on #TimTebow! And on Xmas Eve!”, I’m pretty sure plenty of fundamentalists would find that offensive and Fox Gnus would be complaining about the “War on Christmas.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/370 "2012-01-02T20:34:26Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’ll admit that I didn’t read the whole thread, but let’s assume that Tebow was Muslim and always thanking Allah for his performance on the field. > > If some Fox News commentator twitted something like: “Where is your Allah and 70 Virgins now, Tim?” I think that there would be more outrage and more coverage; even/especially on this board. Tweeted. But it works well as a Freudian slip! ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/371 "2012-01-02T20:35:14Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’ll admit that I didn’t read the whole thread, but let’s assume that Tebow was Muslim and always thanking Allah for his performance on the field. > > If some Fox News commentator twitted something like: “Where is your Allah and 70 Virgins now, Tim?” I think that there would be more outrage and more coverage; even/especially on this board. If Tebow had been thanking Allah, there would have been a lot more criticism directed at him, though from different sources, and the league would have quietly told him to knock it off a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/372 "2012-01-02T20:45:39Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > 1. Yes, it makes a great deal of sense. Tebow isn’t hurting anyone with his prayers. Other NFL players are. Therefore, Maher would better serve the public if he spent whatever hold he has on the public attention ragging on those other players who are doing genuine harm. > > But Maher does not spend that hold in that way. Because he just another busybody trying to stir up trouble because someone is disagreeing with him in public. > > Regards, > Shodan Aside from all the points going back and forth here, Bill Maher believes there is genuine harm being done by religion. While Tebow isn’t hurting someone in the way a physical assault hurts someone, Maher can argue that harm is being done nonetheless. He’s also been rough on enough other athletes, as if that holds any weight on whether or not he can make fun of Tebow. Maher’s comedy \> Tebow’s passing ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/373 "2012-01-02T21:01:16Z")
> [@AndyPolley](#): > > Maher’s comedy \> Tebow’s passing Depends on how you are measuring it. The market, for instance, would say otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/374 "2012-01-02T21:16:07Z")
You have both of their income statements handy? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/375 "2012-01-02T21:28:00Z")
> [@AndyPolley](#): > > Aside from all the points going back and forth here, Bill Maher believes there is genuine harm being done by religion. While Tebow isn’t hurting someone in the way a physical assault hurts someone, Maher can argue that harm is being done nonetheless. I suppose it isn’t fair to ask you, since none of us are privy to Maher’s thought processes, but can you describe specifically what harm is being done by Tebow praying in public? Or is it more like “the Inquisition killed a lot of Jews five hundred years ago, therefore nobody should believe in God” and that sort of thing. Perhaps I am over-analyzing, and it is just a cheap shot by Maher and doesn’t really have much by way of thought behind it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/376 "2012-01-02T21:30:19Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > … can you describe specifically what harm is being done by Tebow praying in public? The same harm that’s being done by Maher making jokes about him on Twitter. So why is it that Maher is the only one causing twisted undies here? ---
**Author:** ![YoDoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e68b1a/32.png) [@YoDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/377 "2012-01-02T21:50:32Z")
Some of us rather enjoy Maher’s jokes, and wish the rest of you would just lighten up. The man made a whole movie about how stupid religion is to him, but THIS is too far? Psssh. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/378 "2012-01-02T22:04:14Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > The same harm that’s being done by Maher making jokes about him on Twitter. That doesn’t answer the question. How specifically does Tebow harm Maher by praying in public? If you are saying that neither are causing any harm, then I would agree with you, and Maher is (as mentioned) simply taking a cheap shot at someone, not because he is doing anything harmful, but just because Maher doesn’t like it. Should Maher be prevented from doing this? Not in the sense that anyone should pass any laws against it. Does that mean we can’t call Maher an asshole? No, and we will. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/379 "2012-01-02T22:09:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Should Maher be prevented from doing this? Not in the sense that anyone should pass any laws against it. Does that mean we can’t call Maher an asshole? No, and we will. So, kinda exactly how Maher feels about Tebow, then? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/380 "2012-01-02T22:16:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > That doesn’t answer the question. How specifically does Tebow harm Maher by praying in public? > > If you are saying that neither are causing any harm, then I would agree with you, and Maher is (as mentioned) simply taking a cheap shot at someone, not because he is doing anything harmful, but just because Maher doesn’t like it. > > Should Maher be prevented from doing this? Not in the sense that anyone should pass any laws against it. Does that mean we can’t call Maher an asshole? No, and we will. > > Regards, > Shodan So, if you bitch about something that doesn’t directly harm you, it’s fitting that others call you an asshole? Are you _sure_ you want to stick with that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=20)