# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/61 "2017-02-06T00:57:44Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Did you even read what I wrote or did you just twist off reflexively the moment you saw the first thing you thought you could ridicule. I clearly accounted for everything you mentioned when I said: When all you ever do is reflexively bash liberals using statements that are utterly unsupported by evidence? I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest by that reaction to your posts. > [@](#): > > See? What that means is that if you take all the people who aren’t getting their entertainment elsewhere and are going to the movies, the number would be much greater if Hollywood wasn’t pissing off and alienating half that group. So let’s see your studies. You know. Data. Evidence. Anything to counter your obviously warped and fact-free world view. > [@](#): > > Really? China is this year predicted to account for over half of the worldwide box office totals outside the U.S. You are making a very familiar mistake, which is to think western Europe comprises ‘most’ of the rest of the world. > > Yes, box office totals are up 2.2%, but it’s because of increased ticket prices and not because of increased attendance. This from _[Variety](http://variety.com/2016/film/features/box-office-decline-summer-blockbusters-the-bfg-1201822322/)_: Sorry, that doesn’t qualify. Show me studies done _by unbiased authorities_ that specifically claim that turnout is reduced by liberal activism. Or tell me that the moon is made of green cheese, both have the same amount of scientific truth behind them. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/62 "2017-02-06T01:16:25Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I would actually watch if every acceptance speech ended with,“Fuck off, Trump”. It worked for Cato the Elder: “Carthaga dalenda est.” 'Cept the Latin sounds a bit more elegant. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/63 "2017-02-06T02:06:07Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > It’s the industry giving itself a hand job; why watch at all? This. The only reason to watch the Oscars in the past was the entertainment value of someone like Billy Crystal. I’m certainly not interested in watching people pat themselves on the back over a bunch of mediocre movies. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/64 "2017-02-06T07:31:46Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Yes, I do. Anytime the name Trump comes up in any conversation, the only proper response is “Trump is a dangerous and stupid asshole.” If that happens over and over and over again, it will be hard for him to get much traction. Just my opinion, but anything less than that normalizes a deplorable situation. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Ruth Rendell** > “The trouble with doing that sort of thing…is that the recipients of statements of this kind, delivered like that, think the sender is mad. He or she is a ‘poor soul’ who ought to be put away, ought never to have been let out, needs looking after, is best ignored, forgotten, and as for the information thus relayed, no one gives it credence.” And for those who don’t care about the Oscars, or watching the broadcast, okay, you don’t. But it’s something I enjoy a lot. No matter how much you denigrate it, I’d no more miss it than I’d miss the Super Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/65 "2017-02-06T08:20:36Z")
Now that you bring it up, when _is_ the Super Bowl, btw? Not that I intend to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/66 "2017-02-06T08:25:27Z")
Last night. Patriots won, Tom Brady is the winningest QB in history, Lady Gaga put on an awesome halftime show, and George Bush the Elder did the coin toss, in what may very well be his last public appearance. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/67 "2017-02-06T12:00:47Z")
> [@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. > > Whether someone’s gonna have a perfect night at their super-fancy dinner party? Not high on my list. I don’t disagree with your sentiment but I couldn’t help reading it in my [Don LaFontaine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjWKE-IJ4R8) voice. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/68 "2017-02-06T12:38:22Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > … Our grandchildren will judge us on how we handled these years (or months) I appreciate your optimism. ---
**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 6, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/69 "2017-02-06T12:42:10Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I don’t disagree with your sentiment but I couldn’t help reading it in my [Don LaFontaine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjWKE-IJ4R8) voice. That is the correct voice for reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/70 "2017-02-06T13:14:01Z")
Hollywood: We hate Trump. Everybody else: Yes, we know. Hollywood: But we really, really hate Trump. Everybody else: Yes, we know - you hate Trump. Hollywood: But you don’t understand! We really, _really_ hate Trump. Everybody else: All right already. We get it. You hate Trump. Hollywood: But we really, really, **REALLY** hate him. Everybody else: Fine. You hate Trump. Can you talk about anything else? Hollywood: But did we mention how much we hate Trump? Regards, Shodan ---
**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 6, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/71 "2017-02-06T13:25:52Z")
Gosh, Everybody Else. Is it tough for you to hear that people dislike Trump? Because, All the Feels. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/72 "2017-02-06T13:30:26Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Gosh, Everybody Else. Is it tough for you to hear that people dislike Trump? Because, All the Feels. I don’t know about “tough” but it’s certainly repetitive. ---
**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 6, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/73 "2017-02-06T13:33:41Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I don’t know about “tough” but it’s certainly repetitive. Sure. A lot of politics is. Convince Trump to stop harping on dishonest media and on made-up accusations of criminal/terrorist activity, maybe the complaints about him will become a little less repetitive too. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/74 "2017-02-06T13:41:36Z")
The appropriate time to speak out against Trump is any time there is a live mike and a camera. Or just a mike. Or an audience, particularly an international audience. Or merely a domestic audience. Or a few people. Or an ear or two. Sign language is appropriate, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/75 "2017-02-06T13:46:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Sure. A lot of politics is. Convince Trump to stop harping on dishonest media and on made-up accusations of criminal/terrorist activity, maybe the complaints about him will become a little less repetitive too. Or maybe - just maybe - the folks who hate him could STFU about it for five minutes so the saturation effect doesn’t turn their views into background noise in the form of a humming, angry buzzing of malconents. Make your displeasure known in moderation. He’s a polarising figure and has done some extremely unpopular and potentially ill-advised things. Certain segments of US society are (varying degrees of) understandably extremely unhappy about this. Everyone on the planet knows most liberal-minded folks in the US really, REALLY hate your new president. Mongolian yak herders living in yurts on the steppes and getting their news from a Soviet-era shortwave radio know it. Cargo Cults on isolated South Pacific islands who think members of the British Royal Family are deities know it. Japanese soldiers hiding in Indonesian caves refusing to surrender because they think World War II is still going know it. Banging on about (generic) your dislike of the US President - one who was, like it or not, elected in a properly democratic manner - isn’t going to convince anyone to change how they think. Everyone who agrees already agrees, so you’re preaching to the choir and engaging in a country-sized mutual masturbation excercise or game of I Am More Outraged Than You And Also Come And Laugh At My Meme Lololol isn’t a productive approach to things. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/76 "2017-02-06T14:05:36Z")
Sorry, but I’m not buying any of that. Mr Trump announced he was ushering in the end of political correctness. Unapologetically calling people racists and throwing around F bombs. All to the thunderous applause of his followers. Welcome to the new order. If your guy gets to swear and call people racists then there is no grounds for complaint when Oscar speeches or Broadway stars sound off as they see fit. Or is straight talk only okay when you agree with the sentiment? I would point out that Hollywood presenters have been unfailingly respectful compared to Mr Trump’s open attacks on Mexicans, Muslims, etc. I haven’t heard a single one of them drop an F bomb yet either. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/77 "2017-02-06T14:17:15Z")
Just goes to show how much people enjoy living in an echo chamber. Research does show that pleasure centers in the brain are activated when you hear an opinion that you agree with, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Never mind that one of the main reasons so many people are attracted to Trump is that the elites don’t like him, so the most likely effect of this will be to make him even more popular. Neve mind that; just give me my cheese! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/78 "2017-02-06T14:21:24Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Gosh, Everybody Else. Is it tough for you to hear that people dislike Trump? Because, All the Feels. I’m sorry - I didn’t understand what you were saying the last 562,388 times. How do you feel about Trump? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/79 "2017-02-06T14:34:22Z")
I think the Oscars have been tainted anyway by the oscarssowhite controversy last year. Many will constantly have the thought in the back of their heads that the members are voting with racial issues in mind. Does such and such an actor deserve an Oscar for this performance? Well, yes, but he’s white and there are too many whites this year. What about this Chinese guy? Not the greatest performance of the year but hey we haven’t had a Chinese guy for a while, if ever. He’s in! The sad thing is that even had there been no controversy Denzel Washington would have been deservedly nominated this year (and will hopefully win) for his fantastic performance in Fences. Minority actors don’t need pressure groups fighting for them, their talent alone will get them there anyway. I won’t be watching this year, though admittedly not solely for the reasons above. The stars just don’t seem to have the same magnetism that they had years ago. I guess it’s my age showing! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973/80 "2017-02-06T15:00:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Just goes to show how much people enjoy living in an echo chamber. Research does show that pleasure centers in the brain are activated when you hear an opinion that you agree with, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Never mind that one of the main reasons so many people are attracted to Trump is that the elites don’t like him, so the most likely effect of this will be to make him even more popular. Neve mind that; just give me my cheese! I’m sorry, but I read that a few times and I can’t help to notice how contradictory that post is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-dreading-the-oscars/778973.md?page=5)