# John Oliver interviews Edward Snowden **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996 "2015-04-06T22:19:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/41 "2015-04-08T02:26:49Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > sorry, but I just can’t fucking stand John Oliver. I’ve had my fill of arrogant Brits who think they exist for the sole purpose of telling americans what to do. Hey, at least those are the kind who graciously condescend to talk to us! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/42 "2015-04-08T02:51:50Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So, you’d be okay with the same material delivered in a Midwestern accent? so you’re okay with putting words in my mouth whilst also ignoring an infraction of the board rules? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/43 "2015-04-08T02:59:48Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > so you’re okay with putting words in my mouth whilst also ignoring an infraction of the board rules? I’m pretty sure **Miller** is a pit moderator. We’re encouraged to report posts rather than pointlessly complain about them in the hopes that the right moderator will magically know which threads to check. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/44 "2015-04-08T03:01:50Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Regardless of one’s political views, Oliver’s use of Dick Pics to illustrate what is going on is a grown-up version of **Schoolhouse Rock’s I’m Just a Bill**! This captures it perfectly for me. We need it dumbed down, and getting Snowden to explain what different agencies could do as the dick pick was stored or moved different places in the cloud was exactly the concreteness we all (and Edward Snowden) needed for effective plebeian conversation. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/45 "2015-04-08T03:05:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > As much as I love John Oliver, I’m disappointed in him for giving more attention and airtime to this pathetic traitor. And I want Ed Snowden to be able to come home and run for President in about a dozen years. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/46 "2015-04-08T03:26:25Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > sorry, but I just can’t fucking stand John Oliver. I’ve had my fill of arrogant Brits who think they exist for the sole purpose of telling americans what to do. > > fuck that. Do you not know John Oliver is a US citizen, or do you think naturalized immigrants are not “americans”? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/47 "2015-04-08T10:09:24Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > so you’re okay with putting words in my mouth whilst also ignoring an infraction of the board rules? “Whilst?” This makes me wonder where you’re from. (Nothing wrong with “whilst” it’s just typically not used in the US to my knowledge. If you’re not an American yourself, this puts a different spin on your posts in my mind.) ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/48 "2015-04-08T10:37:18Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > sorry, but I just can’t fucking stand John Oliver. I’ve had my fill of arrogant Brits who think they exist for the sole purpose of telling americans what to do. > > fuck that. So who else is doing this quality of work? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/49 "2015-04-08T11:17:30Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Do you not know John Oliver is a US citizen, or do you think naturalized immigrants are not “americans”? John Oliver called himself a Brit in his video about the Scottish independence movement, so it seems a reasonable assumption to make. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/50 "2015-04-08T11:27:51Z")
One thing’s for sure, no one is like Piers Morgan. At least the appalling cockhead is as disliked on both sides of the Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/51 "2015-04-09T15:56:10Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I don’t care what he did to Snowden, I just despise John Oliver. I’ve seen him on the Daily Show, I’ve heard his stand-up material, and most of his schtick is “I’m British, you’re a former British colony, so I’m here to tell you how you should be.” This is wildly incorrect. As pointed out, he’s an American citizen. He is _extremely_ critical of Britain, and often insinuates that he basically fled a culture he found toxic to a country that he feels at home in. He occasionally uses a British colonial schtick, but…it’s pretty obviously schticky and clear that he’s not suggesting that the British are in any way superior. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/52 "2015-04-09T16:13:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You speak as if those were not the same thing. So you’re saying that George Washington betrayed his people? You don’t hear a lot of people make that argument. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/53 "2015-04-09T16:20:26Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > As pointed out, he’s an American citizen. He is _extremely_ critical of Britain, and often insinuates that he basically fled a culture he found toxic to a country that he feels at home in. Oddly, that’s exactly why I fled America to move to Britain. Okay, not really. But I feel far more at home in the UK than the US. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/54 "2015-04-09T23:06:55Z")
[“Dick pics for freedom”: How John Oliver accidentally started a NSFW revolution.](http://www.salon.com/2015/04/09/dick_pics_for_freedom_how_john_oliver_accidentally_started_a_nsfw_revolution/) ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/55 "2015-04-10T11:57:49Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > This is wildly incorrect. As pointed out, he’s an American citizen. He is _extremely_ critical of Britain, and often insinuates that he basically fled a culture he found toxic to a country that he feels at home in. > > He occasionally uses a British colonial schtick, but…it’s pretty obviously schticky and clear that he’s not suggesting that the British are in any way superior. Indeed. Anyone with half a brain will realise that the over-the-top snootiness is more of a criticism/joke at the expense of the UK. We’re good at that, joking about ourselves. Half our humour is based on that and if anyone thinks John Oliver is genuinely looking down on the US they are simply not the brightest member of the group. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/56 "2015-04-10T12:17:50Z")
Some parts of the U.S. deserve all the looking down on they get. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/57 "2015-04-10T12:46:43Z")
The Federalist talking about how bad Oliver made Snowden look (or how bad Snowden made himself look): > **[John Oliver Finds the Real Edward Snowden](https://thefederalist.com/2015/04/07/john-oliver-finds-the-real-edward-snowden/)** > > John Oliver’s recent interview with Edward Snowden reveals both the weakness of our media and the lies Snowden has made himself believe. Also, HBO released the second part of the interview, but I haven’t had a chance to look at that yet. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/58 "2015-04-10T13:30:16Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > The Federalist talking about how bad Oliver made Snowden look (or how bad Snowden made himself look): > > [John Oliver Finds the Real Edward Snowden](http://thefederalist.com/2015/04/07/john-oliver-finds-the-real-edward-snowden/) Did they really not grasp Snowden was part of the conceit? Maybe it’s willful ignorance… That’s like not getting Oliver (see above). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/59 "2015-04-10T13:38:51Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Did they really not grasp Snowden was part of the conceit? Maybe it’s willful ignorance… > That’s like not getting Oliver (see above). I’m not sure what you mean. Snowden was clearly uncomfortable with Oliver not letting up on the questioning, which they call out, and Oliver didn’t let him get away with soft answers. Full credit to your user name, by the way. Now I have THAT happily stuck in my head. 🙂 ---
**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:** [April 10, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996/60 "2015-04-10T13:43:08Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > The Federalist talking about how bad Oliver made Snowden look (or how bad Snowden made himself look): > > [John Oliver Finds the Real Edward Snowden](http://thefederalist.com/2015/04/07/john-oliver-finds-the-real-edward-snowden/) > > Also, HBO released the second part of the interview, but I haven’t had a chance to look at that yet. That article is right that Snowden is self-important, and thinks of himself as a hero. Some of the coverage of him has seemed a bit over the top to me, like the cover of Wired Magazine [where he’s holding an American flag](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1962777/original.jpg). But that article is also making it sound like it’s no big deal that the government is collecting so much of our data, because there’s no evidence that anyone is doing bad things with our data. But didn’t Snowden say something in the interview about how when he worked with the NSA, that he saw so many dick pics? Also, even if the NSA isn’t doing anything bad with our data, it doesn’t sound like they are doing much good either. Before the interview, Oliver mentioned one crime that was found, and it was a cab driver giving some money to ISIS if I remember correctly. Something that was a crime and worthy of arrest, but not worthy of all the time and expense used to collect data if that’s pretty much all that’s been found. The brilliance of Oliver’s interview was how he didn’t make Snowden out to be a hero or a traitor. I think he was someone with some good intentions, but who also wanted glory, who thought things through a bit, but not far enough. But the point of the whole episode wasn’t just Snowden, it was the reauthorization of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, and I hope that doesn’t get overshadowed. [Here’s an article about Section 215 and it’s upcoming vote](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/01/section-215-patriot-act-expires-june-congress-ready): > [@](#): > > Section 215 is an obvious target for reform. As the pro-NSA rhetoric reaches a fever pitch, it’s important to remember that we have little to no evidence that bulk collection of telephone call records under Section 215 has ever stopped a terrorist attack. > > In fact, even the administration agrees—it’s not necessary. The White House admitted that the government can accomplish its goals without bulk telephone records collection. What’s more, the President’s Review Board said “the information contributed to terrorist investigations by the use of section 215 telephony meta-data was not essential to preventing attacks.” And the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board could not identify one time when bulk collection under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act “made a concrete difference in the outcome of a counterterrorism investigation.” Similarly, an in-depth analysis of 225 cases of people charged with terrorism found that “the contribution of NSA’s bulk surveillance programs to these cases was minimal.” Oliver seemed to bring a lot of attention to the Net Neutrality issue, I’m hoping that this episode does the same to Section 215 of the Patriot Act. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-oliver-interviews-edward-snowden/716996.md?page=4)