# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/121 "2011-12-29T17:56:20Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And, \*\*Shodan \*\*… neither of those stories you linked to have been splashed all over every website and magazine like Tebow’s has. The point is that Maher did not see fit to condemn either of those, just Tebow. So apparently Maher thinks that public witnessing is more worthy of his condemnation than abuse. In other words, he is an attention-whoring idiot, as his anti-vaxx stupidity also demonstrates. 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:** [December 29, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/122 "2011-12-29T18:05:34Z")
Why the fuck would Maher dredge up some story no one knows about, when he can take a look at [CNN.com](http://CNN.com), [Fox.com](http://Fox.com), [MSNBC.com](http://MSNBC.com), Reuters, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, People, Time, Us, TV Guide, etc., and pluck off Tebow. Whether or not Maher has strong opinions about those other stories don’t enter into it. There’s no zeitgeist around them so why the hell would he crack wise on them. And if he did … do you think there would be a thread about it here? Hell no. Tebow, baby. He’s driving this bus. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/123 "2011-12-29T18:21:32Z")
> [@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. 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. And you have now proven yourself incorrect in calling Bill Maher a troll, since what he did does not fit even your own definition of “troll”. Maher didn’t make his statements to rile people up or get attention for himself. He already had the attention of the people he tweeted; they signed up to receive his messages. And he certainly didn’t make his tweets to rile up people who already agree with him, unless you can point out some Maher fans who suddenly started screaming for Tebow’s head on a stick. Like **Theophane** , you seem to completely misunderstand the terminology you keep calling into play as well as the context and intent of this tweet. The only trolling done in this whole affair was done by the FOX News guy who publicized the tweet, since it’s clear that he did broadcast it in order to rile people up and get attention for his own show. ---
**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, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/124 "2011-12-29T18:23:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The point is that Maher did not see fit to condemn either of those, just Tebow. So apparently Maher thinks that public witnessing is more worthy of his condemnation than abuse. Maher has been an active comedian since the late 1970s. Are you really going to make conclusions based on assumptions regarding the kinds of situations or people you guess he might have or have not mocked? ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/125 "2011-12-29T18:32:00Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I don’t know that Howard Stern would deny being a troll if asked. “Trolling society” is actually the way a lot of well known people have gotten known. Hell, Fred Phelps is **only** known because of it. Now, Maher genuinely dislikes Christianity, no one denies that. Fred Phelps genuinely hates gays, no one denies that. But both intentionally say offensive things to get attention, and that is trolling. > > It’s one thing you’re just making an argument you want to make, and in the process offend people, but when the only reason you’ve opened your mouth in a given scenario is to get attention by offending–that is trolling. > > I’m an atheist that’s very much against this concept that we have to make certain assumptions about religion. For example no person of science should ever be expected to disprove God’s existence, but in many discussions that is the position people have to take because there is such a strong institutional acceptance of religion. In more right-minded places there is no such pre-supposition, but if you’re debating things with religious people it’s ludicrous that you even have to point out the logical and technical problems with the things they believe in. They are the ones arguing in the existence of various magical things, so the onus should rightly be on them to prove it. > > I can see how you can go from there to disliking “deference to religion”, but I don’t go that far. Religion has a lot of politics tied up in it, but take something less political. Take belief in ghosts. I have known one or two people in my life that truly believe in the existence of ghosts. Once I recognized they had that true belief, I didn’t denigrate or insult them about it. I thought it was unbelievably stupid, but I’m not sure that I get behind the argument that “just because I know it’s fake means I get a pass for being an asshole.” Maher was being an asshole and people called him out for it, and that’s really all Maher wanted out of this–attention, and from long experience he knows that being an asshole is the best way for him to get attention. “Attention” Really Martin.. the man has several best sellers.. sells out theatres doing his tour and his show has been running on HBO for several years. Yeah.. Bill Maher needs attention.. He’s a humorist.. just as I’m not offended when Louis CK makes black jokes I find it inane that his tweet on Tebow has disturbed you. Humorist may not be your flavor of tea.. so when they say something you don’t like.. or tread on some ground you feel shouldn’t be tred on.. you go with a standby.. “Attention”? Really.. that’s quite simplistic.. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/126 "2011-12-29T18:39:07Z")
> [@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. So no jokes were made about Mike Vick?? Rothlisberger?? Really?? Paranoid much?? ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/127 "2011-12-29T18:46:21Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > 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: > > 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). In the same vein Louis CK making jokes about black people and their habits.. or Lisa Lampnelli… etc.. But Micheal Richards yelling Nigger and saying that they should hang or use to be hung.. Obviously not funny.. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/128 "2011-12-29T19:46:52Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > “Attention” Really Martin.. the man has several best sellers.. sells out theatres doing his tour and his show has been running on HBO for several years. Yeah.. Bill Maher needs attention.. > He’s a humorist.. just as I’m not offended when Louis CK makes black jokes I find it inane that his tweet on Tebow has disturbed you. Humorist may not be your flavor of tea.. so when they say something you don’t like.. or tread on some ground you feel shouldn’t be tred on.. you go with a standby.. “Attention”? Really.. that’s quite simplistic.. I’m not a celebrity but its my understanding that any decent publicist will probably say what I’d say, that your celebrity is a fickle thing. If you’re a shock jock you need to keep getting your name out there on a regular basis or you stop being a celebrity. Celebrity is something that exists in the present tense and is very fickle. Maybe Bill Maher didn’t tweet hoping to get a news bump, but what I know about Maher is that he’s actually a pretty smart guy. When he made comments about the 9/11 hijackers and now Tebow, I think he was doing something very deliberate. I think he was phrasing things in a way to _maximally offend_ as many people as possible in order to get attention for himself. I actually am not disturbed by Maher’s tweets, but I’m also not going to defend them as Maher being some benevolent force. Maher was being deliberately rude because that’s part of his schtick. There’s nothing in Maher’s tweet that would have offended me (I wasn’t offended by his comment about the 9/11 hijackers, either, I don’t really offend.) But I call a spade a spade and a troll a troll, and I think it patently obvious the intention of Maher’s comment was just to make an innocent joke but instead to get attention for himself. That’s not a criticism, just a statement of opinion. I think every celebrity is perpetually doing things to get attention for themselves, because the moment they stop doing that, they start to move out of the news and lose a bit of their celebrity. Now, maybe some of the hardcore A-listers have built up so much institutional good will and status that they do not need to do such a thing, but Maher is not one of those people. ---
**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, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/129 "2011-12-29T19:51:26Z")
Again, look up the definition of “comedian.” He isn’t doing it to call attention to himself. He’s doing it to call attention to a show-boating jerk like Tebow. ---
**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, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/130 "2011-12-29T19:57:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The point is that Maher did not see fit to condemn either of those, just Tebow. So apparently Maher thinks that public witnessing is more worthy of his condemnation than abuse. > > In other words, he is an attention-whoring idiot, as his anti-vaxx stupidity also demonstrates. > > Regards, > Shodan Harsh words, but I agree. ---
**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, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/131 "2011-12-29T19:59:40Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Again, look up the definition of “comedian.” He isn’t doing it to call attention to himself. He’s doing it to call attention to a show-boating jerk like Tebow. Comedians call attention to themselves because that’s what comedy involves, even bad comedy. Especially bad comedy. Not every comedian is a show-boating jerk. ---
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/132 "2011-12-29T20:05:47Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I’m not a celebrity but its my understanding that any decent publicist will probably say what I’d say, that your celebrity is a fickle thing. If you’re a shock jock you need to keep getting your name out there on a regular basis or you stop being a celebrity. Celebrity is something that exists in the present tense and is very fickle. > > Maybe Bill Maher didn’t tweet hoping to get a news bump, but what I know about Maher is that he’s actually a pretty smart guy. When he made comments about the 9/11 hijackers and now Tebow, I think he was doing something very deliberate. I think he was phrasing things in a way to _maximally offend_ as many people as possible in order to get attention for himself. > > I actually am not disturbed by Maher’s tweets, but I’m also not going to defend them as Maher being some benevolent force. Maher was being deliberately rude because that’s part of his schtick. There’s nothing in Maher’s tweet that would have offended me (I wasn’t offended by his comment about the 9/11 hijackers, either, I don’t really offend.) But I call a spade a spade and a troll a troll, and I think it patently obvious the intention of Maher’s comment was just to make an innocent joke but instead to get attention for himself. > > That’s not a criticism, just a statement of opinion. I think every celebrity is perpetually doing things to get attention for themselves, because the moment they stop doing that, they start to move out of the news and lose a bit of their celebrity. Now, maybe some of the hardcore A-listers have built up so much institutional good will and status that they do not need to do such a thing, but Maher is not one of those people. Nope, he’s defeinitely a provocateur. Provocateurs aren’t necessarily benevolent nor is what they say/do indicative of a benevolent motive. Even if they fancy themselves benevolent benefactors of the common man. ---
**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, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/133 "2011-12-29T20:08:03Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Comedians call attention to themselves because that’s what comedy involves, even bad comedy. It goes without saying that you can’t make people laugh if they are not paying attention to you, so getting and holding attention is something a successful comedian has to do. That doesn’t support the argument that Maher is just doing this for attention or to annoy people; the primary goal is comedy. Whether it’s funny or not will vary according to your taste. ---
**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, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/134 "2011-12-29T20:12:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > He’s doing it to call attention to a show-boating jerk like Tebow. Why would you want to call attention to a show-boater?😕 ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/135 "2011-12-29T20:12:59Z")
I find the most self-righteously flamboyant, and religious, and sanctimonious, “Praising” Christian’s like Tebow are the most corrupt and morally ambiguous, they belie the devil. Long time, no call… he deserves it. ---
**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, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/136 "2011-12-29T20:14:31Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Comedians call attention to themselves because that’s what comedy involves, even bad comedy. Comedians call attention to absurdity. Comedians are not in and of themselves funny, it is only the situations they expose that are funny. Good or bad, comedians do not exist to call attention to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/137 "2011-12-29T20:14:52Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Why would you want to call attention to a show-boater?😕 To mock him? ---
**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, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/138 "2011-12-29T20:32:02Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I find the most self-righteously flamboyant, and religious, and sanctimonious, “Praising” Christian’s like Tebow are the most corrupt and morally ambiguous, they belie the devil. Long time, no call… he deserves it. The only word that applies to Tebow is ‘religious’. All the others are from your own prejudice. Seriously, people. How long are we gonna do this crap? I do not share Tebow’s beliefs but by ALL available evidence, he is a hard-working, good-hearted kid. You wanna heap some shame upon him? You should wait till he does something shameful. Just being religios ain’t it. I have seen many a soundbyte from Tebow and have yet to hear him speak ill of anyone. Maybe I just haven’t been watching the right news. Have you got any cites with him talking smack, doing wrong, cheating, stealing, lying, sex-with-underage girls, point-shaving? ANYTHING other than out-and-out prejudice? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/139 "2011-12-29T20:36:47Z")
ohhh, look… I’m a great little Christian…Glory be. I will never trust him because his allegiance is to a codified lie of organized"Christian" religiosity. His salvation depends on a lie and his lie to himself, rather than a duty to humanity. I have no such illusions. ---
**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, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655/140 "2011-12-29T20:37:29Z")
So there’s a virtue test for what celebrities can be subject of a joke now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-maher-stirs-controversy-with-tim-tebow-tweet/607655.md?page=8)