# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/101 "2011-12-29T17:01:55Z")
[quote=“Acsenray, post:98, topic:607655”] And what does that prove, exactly? He’s richer than me, and probably you, too. He has fans. I don’t. Do you? QUOTE] My point (which admittedly wasn’t clear) is that Tebow is a superstar in his chosen field…richer and with more fans than either of us. Maher, on the other hand, has spent his career going from movies to network TV to cable oblivion. I think the case can be made that Maher is jealous and bitter and angry of Tebow’s success. And why Tebow? I’ve seen plenty of athletes and Grammy winners and whoever else thank God for their success. Why doesn’t Maher go off on, say, Mariah Carey (no idea if she’s religious) or some rap star? And, again: Maher has the choice to not watch the NFL if he doesn’t want to. I’m not religious at all and Tebow’s faith doesn’t bother me in the least. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/102 "2011-12-29T17:04:04Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > For a joke he made on Twitter? Really? And one that didn’t even get put in the general public’s attention except for the work of inane Fox News reporters? > > As I said before, it’s not like he went on a network TV and made this joke. > > And it’s not like it was Tebow’s religion that was the point. Michael Vick and the dogfighting ring? You don’t think people were making jokes about that? Or Ben Roethlisberger and his sexual predation? > > Rather than for a crime, Tebow is known for being religious and makes public displays of that fact (whether or not he’s proseltysing). That opens it up for jokes, not because he’s religious but because Tebow is an incredibly popular public figure. > > If Tebow were known for spoonerisms, there’d be jokes about that too. Not because spoonerisms are funny but because any incredibly popular public figure will have a joke made at his expense. It’s only because the joke involved his religion that there’s been this kind of pushback. Apparently, religion is supposed to get a pass from comedians. Actually, the new sacred cow is for comedians is the LGBT. Tracey Morgan got spanked pretty hard because of that one a while back. As sacred cows go, the gays are in and religion is definitely out. We tolerate certain things in our sports heroes before we tolerate others. Dogfighting and sexual predation are okay. Religion is not. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/103 "2011-12-29T17:04:34Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > My point (which admittedly wasn’t clear) is that Tebow is a superstar in his chosen field…richer and with more fans than either of us. Maher, on the other hand, has spent his career going from movies to network TV to cable oblivion. I think the case can be made that Maher is jealous and bitter and angry of Tebow’s success. Actually, no, that’s not a good argument at all. “Cable oblivion” isn’t the Siberia you seem to imply that it is. > [@](#): > > And why Tebow? I’ve seen plenty of athletes and Grammy winners and whoever else thank God for their success. Why doesn’t Maher go off on, say, Mariah Carey (no idea if she’s religious) or some rap star? So you suppose that Tim Tebow is the only celebrity that Bill Maher has ever made fun of? > [@](#): > > And, again: Maher has the choice to not watch the NFL if he doesn’t want to. I’m not religious at all and Tebow’s faith doesn’t bother me in the least. You really don’t get what comedians do, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/104 "2011-12-29T17:05:09Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > For a joke he made on Twitter? Really? . No, not really. My comment was a joke. But it’s notable that Maher’s controversy is over a comment on Twitter and _not_ from something he said on his show. He’s probably said far worse on HBO…it’s just that nobody notices it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/105 "2011-12-29T17:10:54Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Maher, on the other hand, has spent his career going from movies to network TV to cable oblivion. You can’t be serious with this. There are bigger stars in comedy, but a show on HBO is not obscurity just because you personally do not watch it or pay attention to it. > [@](#): > > And why Tebow? I’ve seen plenty of athletes and Grammy winners and whoever else thank God for their success. Tebow goes a good deal further than most (perhaps all) of those people. > [@](#): > > Maher has the choice to not watch the NFL if he doesn’t want to. So if we want to watch football or follow it in any way, we have to agree to never say an unkind word about Tim Tebow? This is a very annoying false dichotomy. Sports fans make fun of players - their play, their actions, their looks, their failings, their behavior. Tebow is not in for special treatment just because his “thing” is being a ridiculously vocal Christian. > [@Theophane](#): > > We tolerate certain things in our sports heroes before we tolerate others. Dogfighting and sexual predation are okay. Religion is not. This is just crap. Michael Vick and Ben Roethlisberger went through much worse, and deservedly so. Tebow gets mocked by a couple of comedians and people are comparing it to jail time, suspensions, boycotts, and loss of sponsorships. It’s just silly. Tebow doesn’t need this kind of protection and didn’t ask for it. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/106 "2011-12-29T17:13:16Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > No, not really. My comment was a joke. But it’s notable that Maher’s controversy is over a comment on Twitter and _not_ from something he said on his show. He’s probably said far worse on HBO…it’s just that nobody notices it. Really? Honestly, Stephe96, I’m getting the impression that you aren’t very tuned into popular culture and entertainment. That’s fine if you’re not, but in that case it’s odd that you would find yourself in the position of making declarations like this. Just a few months ago, Maher prompted an even bigger round of recreational outrage when he made a quip _on his show_ that he wouldn’t be averse to “angry sex” with Michelle Bachman. If he’s such a marginal outsider, why do prominent elected officials and powerful political figures like Grover Norquist appear on his show? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/107 "2011-12-29T17:15:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > He uses Christianity the way Maher uses vulgarity, and to the same end. Tebow practices Xtianity Lite, a public persona with little regard for the words of Jesus. And you know this how? Were you able to peer into his soul? You have some intimate knowledge of the man that lets you know, first hand, that his beliefs aren’t genuine? I can understand people not liking him as a player, or not subscribing to his beliefs or even finding them silly…but this kind of comment is absolute horseshit. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/108 "2011-12-29T17:18:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Really? Honestly, Stephe96, I’m getting the impression that you aren’t very tuned into popular culture and entertainment. That’s fine if you’re not, but in that case it’s odd that you would find yourself in the position of making declarations like this. > > Just a few months ago, Maher prompted an even bigger round of recreational outrage when he made a quip _on his show_ that he wouldn’t be averse to “angry sex” with Michelle Bachman. If he’s such a marginal outsider, why do prominent elected officials and powerful political figures like Grover Norquist appear on his show? The implication is that no matter what Maher saysa or to who, it is to be met only with smiles and thanks. In other words, the “comedian” is saying, \*Don’t you dare get upset while I’m abusing you! I’ll verbally abuse you and you **will** like it. \* ---
**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:** [December 29, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/109 "2011-12-29T17:20:13Z")
That’s what I implied? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/110 "2011-12-29T17:21:30Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > And you know this how? Were you able to peer into his soul? You have some intimate knowledge of the man that lets you know, first hand, that his beliefs aren’t genuine? > > I can understand people not liking him as a player, or not subscribing to his beliefs or even finding them silly…but this kind of comment is absolute horseshit. See my comment back on page 1 of this thread that Tebow obviously has never read Matthew 6:6. If his beliefs were genuine, wouldn’t he be following the words of Jesus? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/111 "2011-12-29T17:22:50Z")
Tim Tebow is more popular than Jesus now. (Kidding) And Michael Vick should be executed for what he did. (Not kidding) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/112 "2011-12-29T17:29:50Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > And you know this how? Were you able to peer into his soul? You have some intimate knowledge of the man that lets you know, first hand, that his beliefs aren’t genuine? Don’t need to. Anyone who prays in public is ignoring the words of Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/113 "2011-12-29T17:32:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > See my comment back on page 1 of this thread that Tebow obviously has never read Matthew 6:6. If his beliefs were genuine, wouldn’t he be following the words of Jesus? I’m no expert on this, but I think we both know that faith is treated as a private matter in some parts of the Bible and that in others, Christians are instructed to share their faith. I don’t know how that contradiction is reconciled and it’s not my concern, but he’s not the first person to feel that he is required to be public with his beleifs. I’ve never seen any reason to question his sincerity, and overall he seems to be a decent person. My only concern is that he’s being rather annoying about it. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/114 "2011-12-29T17:32:45Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > That’s what I implied? You seemed to imply that all outrage is “recreational” and therefore false, even when it is real-- and justified. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/115 "2011-12-29T17:33:47Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Actually, the new sacred cow is for comedians is the LGBT. Tracey Morgan got spanked pretty hard because of that one a while back. As sacred cows go, the gays are in and religion is definitely out. We tolerate certain things in our sports heroes before we tolerate others. Dogfighting and sexual predation are okay. Religion is not. Not quite. You can make fun of an _individual_ for being either LGBT or religious (or both). Tracy (no E) Morgan got spanked for 2 reasons: 1. He was commenting on the group as a whole. Morgan didn’t single anybody out but went for the entire group. If Maher made vulgar, disparaging remarks about all Christians, he’d rightfully be vilified. If Morgan made fun of a single homosexual individual for that person’s quirks, he wouldn’t have been in any trouble. 2. He wasn’t actually joking. Here’s a quote: > [@TracyMorgan](#): > > gay was something kids learn from the media and programming, and that bullied kids should just bust some ass and beat those other little fuckers that bully them, not whine about it. Maybe it was in poor taste, but Maher was clearly making a joke about a single popular sports figure. It would be hard to construe Morgan’s comments as being a joke (especially when it involves physical violence directed towards minors - including his own son). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/116 "2011-12-29T17:37:28Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > You seemed to imply that all outrage is “recreational” and therefore false, even when it is real-- and justified. That’s not what he said, and [that’s not what recreational outrage means.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=320298) It’s not the feelings are _false_, it’s that they’re _shallow_. It’s about something that has no effect on you, or a statement by someone you’ve never heard of before, or something that sounds very unreasonable out of context, for example. This is the stock in trade of Fox News: stuff that they know will annoy their audience and keep them watching for a few more minutes until the next outrage comes along. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/117 "2011-12-29T17:40:52Z")
I think we’re entering a period where the more seriously a person takes religion (or acts as if he does), the less seriously we’ll regard him in every aspect of his life. At least that is my fervent hope. I have no opinion of Tebow as a football player. I’m willing to grant that he’s good at it and has a successful career ahead of him. Like Bill Maher, however, I’ve lost patience with the idiots who think Jesus is alive and well in some god cave somewhere watching over us. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/118 "2011-12-29T17:40:54Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That’s not what he said, and [that’s not what recreational outrage means.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=320298) It’s not the feelings are _false_, it’s that they’re _shallow_. It’s about something that has no effect on you, or a statement by someone you’ve never heard of before, or something that sounds very unreasonable out of context, for example. This is the stock in trade of Fox News: stuff that they know will annoy their audience and keep them watching for a few more minutes until the next outrage comes along. Ahhhh, okay. I get it now. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/119 "2011-12-29T17:52:41Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > You’re using a definition of troll that’s very popular around here: “Someone who disagrees with me but whom I have no adequate response to.” > > By that standard, Tebow is the biggest douchebag-troll: everyone is minding his business, watching or playing football, and he insists on making a very public gesture at the exact moment all the cameras are on him, obviously thanking his God when he could do so in the privacy of his own mind. He is provocatively engaging everyone who doesn’t believe in his God, doesn’t follow his brand of religion, or simply doesn’t think there’s any correlation between sports and prayer. His gesture says, “Nyah-nah–there is TOO a correlation, and I choose to rub your nose in it.” Also “If you try to respond to my in-your-face gesture, I have an army of fellow religionists to brand you a troll for your attempt.” I consider Bill Maher a troll based on the definition as I understand it- somebody who makes inflammatory statements meant to rile people up and get attention for their own entertainment. My reason for considering Maher a troll is based on this and other outrageous statements he has made in the past. It’s not really about Tebow at all- the Tebow thing is just the latest one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/120 "2011-12-29T17:54:28Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > I consider Bill Maher a troll based on the definition as I understand it- somebody who makes inflammatory statements meant to rile people up and get attention for their own entertainment. You seem to have missed the fact that the guy is a comedian. The primary goal of the statements is making people laugh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=7)