# I'm dreading the Oscars. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 4, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973 "2017-02-04T06:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/1 "2017-02-04T06:16:10Z")
I’m not looking forward to one acceptance speech after another being, “I’d like to thank God, my agent and my parents; Trump is Hitler; goodnight.” And before anyone says “Oh sure, Rilch: art and politics should never mix – Og forbid!” that’s part of what I’m getting at. If someone wants to make a statement, they can do so **with** their art. But look at it this way. As always, for some presenters/nominees/attendees, this will be their first Oscars. Or their last. Or, for all they know, their only. I hope it can be a night they can remember as Oscar night, not a political rally. I hope not too many people choose to be attention hogs. Because I’m beginning to suspect that’s what a lot of these rants are about. Of course, I’m going to watch. At least, I’ll start to watch. But if it gets too ranty, I’ll turn it off. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/2 "2017-02-04T13:16:38Z")
A simple solution: don’t watch. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/3 "2017-02-04T13:19:43Z")
My opinion is that once McCarthy and his cronies pulled actors into senate committee hearings, asked them to name names, and blacklisted actors based on what they said and who they associated with, actors get to be as political as they’d like. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/4 "2017-02-04T13:59:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > My opinion is that once McCarthy and his cronies pulled actors into senate committee hearings, asked them to name names, and blacklisted actors based on what they said and who they associated with, actors get to be as political as they’d like. In my opinion anyone can be as political as they want, so that would include Hollywood people. Actors and other film industry people just have a bigger platform and louder voice than most people. I agree that they can also make a statement with their art, but it can take years for a film to get made, a year at the very least for a Hollywood film, but Trump is affecting things today. Also Trump just cares about Hollywood’s opinion more than most politicians and most people. I’m guessing W and Cheney might not have loved all of Hollywood talking trash about them, but it probably also didn’t affect them too deeply. But Trump wants to be in with the cool Hollywood crowd, and won’t like everyone speaking out about him. It’s not like he’ll do a 180 on all of his policies, but it might affect things. Basically I’ll be very disappointed if people don’t use the opportunity of Oscars night to criticize Trump. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/5 "2017-02-04T14:01:55Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > In my opinion anyone can be as political as they want, so that would include Hollywood people. > > …snip… > > Basically I’ll be very disappointed if people don’t use the opportunity of Oscars night to criticize Trump. I agree with both those statements. My comment were to those who think actors uniquely do not have that right, due to their profession, and that they should not use their visibility as a bully pulpit. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/6 "2017-02-04T14:11:49Z")
IN A WORLD where a hundred thousand people are denied entry into the US because of blatant bigotry and fearmongering; where tens of millions of people vote a sexual predator into the highest office; where the White House dishes up daily servings of absolute falsehoods without shame; where a white nationalist is the presidents chief advisor; where that’s just in the first two weeks–in this world, I have a lot of worries. Whether someone’s gonna have a perfect night at their super-fancy dinner party? Not high on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/7 "2017-02-04T14:23:06Z")
Yes, actors and directors and so on probably will be talking a lot about how bad Trump is. The problem here is not the actors and directors; it’s Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/8 "2017-02-04T14:23:19Z")
It’s the industry giving itself a hand job; why watch at all? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/9 "2017-02-04T14:36:53Z")
I would actually watch if every acceptance speech ended with,“Fuck off, Trump”. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/10 "2017-02-04T14:43:39Z")
Trump’s political team creates fantasy all year long. So why can’t these actors spend a night being political? Seems only fair. Maybe they can have a tribute to the victims of the Bowling Green Massacre. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/11 "2017-02-04T14:54:18Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Trump’s political team creates fantasy all year long. So why can’t these actors spend a night being political? Seems only fair. > > Maybe they can have a tribute to the victims of the Bowling Green Massacre. That’s a funny idea, but there are always various montages about the magic of movies, and I’ll be surprised if at least one of them isn’t a response to Trump, like maybe one about Hollywood greats who were immigrants. Or a montage of great Middle Eastern or Muslim movies, especially from Syria and the other banned countries. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/12 "2017-02-04T15:05:43Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > That’s a funny idea, but there are always various montages about the magic of movies, and I’ll be surprised if at least one of them isn’t a response to Trump, like maybe one about Hollywood greats who were immigrants. Or a montage of great Middle Eastern or Muslim movies, especially from Syria and the other banned countries. What are the odds they at some point include that clip of Doc Brown responding to the idea that Ronald Reagan is now the President? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/13 "2017-02-04T15:07:08Z")
I’m all for freedom of speech but the folks who elected a reality TV star as President should no longer be allowed to complain about celebrities expressing their political opinions. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/14 "2017-02-04T15:15:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > IN A WORLD where a hundred thousand people are denied entry into the US because of blatant bigotry and fearmongering; where tens of millions of people vote a sexual predator into the highest office; where the White House dishes up daily servings of absolute falsehoods without shame; where a white nationalist is the presidents chief advisor; where that’s just in the first two weeks–in this world, I have a lot of worries. Yes, to witness the lies peddled regularly by President Trump and his Government is truly appalling. I used to laugh at the dishonesty of North Korea and Russia but to see a great nation like the US do it is horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/15 "2017-02-04T18:55:08Z")
I love the Oscars and watch every year, but I always mute the acceptance speeches. They’re usually annoying, and if someone gives a particularly good one, I’ll hear about it and can look it up online later. This might be the perfect year to adopt that approach. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/16 "2017-02-04T19:01:13Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I’m not looking forward to one acceptance speech after another being, “I’d like to thank God, my agent and my parents; Trump is Hitler; goodnight.” > > And before anyone says “Oh sure, Rilch: art and politics should never mix – Og forbid!” that’s part of what I’m getting at. If someone wants to make a statement, they can do so **with** their art. But look at it this way. As always, for some presenters/nominees/attendees, this will be their first Oscars. Or their last. Or, for all they know, their only. I hope it can be a night they can remember as Oscar night, not a political rally. I hope not too many people choose to be attention hogs. Because I’m beginning to suspect that’s what a lot of these rants are about. > > Of course, I’m going to watch. At least, I’ll start to watch. But if it gets too ranty, I’ll turn it off. I… I don’t understand any of this. Really. If you “dread” the Oscars because of what may or may not be said, simply DVR it (or if you still have a VCR, tape it) then you can watch it delayed and bypass what you don’t want to watch/listen to. If you don’t have recordable capabilities, just mute the speeches. This is 2017. We have so many options to watch/listen to what we want when we want you don’t have to “dread” anything. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/17 "2017-02-04T19:15:49Z")
On the plus side:Trumps twitter feed will be such a high concentration of butt-hurt whining it could possibly collapse into a singularly. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/18 "2017-02-04T19:36:49Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > This is 2017. We have so many options to watch/listen to what we want when we want you don’t have to “dread” anything. OP is clearly thinking ahead to 2018, when our option will be which network on which to watch Dear Leader admonish us. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/19 "2017-02-04T19:41:13Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I would actually watch if every acceptance speech ended with,“Fuck off, Trump”. It is the duty of all patriotic Americans to say that at every opportunity. Every day, on every subject, people must be reminded that Trump is a disgrace. Our grandchildren will judge us on how we handled these years (or months) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/20 "2017-02-04T19:45:16Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > On the plus side:Trumps twitter feed will be such a high concentration of butt-hurt whining it could possibly collapse into a singularly. Methinks a game might be afoot. What time tonight does Trump make the first tweet calling someone fat or ugly? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973.md?page=2)