# Jon Stewart tackled America's ongoing vaccine debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888 "2015-02-05T14:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/41 "2015-02-06T11:32:36Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What Jon Stewart and The Daily Show are doing is having all of the influence with none of the responsibility. Which is better than having all of the responsibility and no influence. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/42 "2015-02-06T11:47:20Z")
Good for Stewart, but unfortunately ridicule causes the people holding ridiculous positions to dig in deeper. With any luck, Stewart’s effort will slow the spread of their views, though sadly it can’t affect the diseases their children carry. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/43 "2015-02-06T14:33:22Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > How is the influential effect of the material proof that it is disingenuous to call it satire? The influential effect of the material is proof that it _is_ satire. Total straw man and you completely miss the point. Nobody is saying that it isn’t satire. The point is that if a show is intended to influence the public debate, then IMHO it has a responsibility to get the facts right and express responsible opinions\*, as best those behind the show can manage. That is true whether we are talking about something on Fox, or NBC or BBC or ABC or whatever, and whether it is a straight traditional current affairs show, or a talking heads opinion show, or a news show. _Or satire_. There is no reason for a show to get a pass just because it’s satire. Yet Jon Stewart’s go-to excuse when he gets called on something inaccurate is “hey, we’re just a comedy show”. No, you’re not just a comedy show, you’re intended as influential and serious satire. It’s a disingenuous excuse. I strongly suspect that if the whole viewership _actually did_ treat the show as just comedy and assumed all the facts were inaccurate and all the opinions made no sense and weren’t worth considering, Jon Stewart would be massively disappointed _because he knows damn well he’s not just doing comedy_. Which is not to say that a satirical show can’t mockingly use pretend facts, or opinions. But the underlying points being made should be responsible, and the facts actually being presented as true, should be true, as best the show can manage ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/44 "2015-02-06T15:30:16Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > There is no reason for a show to get a pass just because it’s satire. Yet Jon Stewart’s go-to excuse when he gets called on something inaccurate is “hey, we’re just a comedy show”. It is? This is something he has done on a regular basis when called on genuine mistakes(not satire)? ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/45 "2015-02-06T15:38:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What Jon Stewart and The Daily Show are doing is having all of the influence with none of the responsibility. Kind of like Fox News. Only Fox doesn’t even give us any intentional jokes to go with their influence and lack of responsibility. ---
**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 6, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/46 "2015-02-06T15:49:54Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I strongly suspect that if the whole viewership _actually did_ treat the show as just comedy and assumed all the facts were inaccurate and all the opinions made no sense and weren’t worth considering, Jon Stewart would be massively disappointed _because he knows damn well he’s not just doing comedy_ I suspect he’d be disappointed since the entire basis of the show is satire based on actual facts vs the media & government’s accounting of those facts. A zany news report about how bananas make you grow a third arms is different than joking about how CNN spent three hours in a panel discussion about bananas (assuming that actually happened). It’s humor rooted in fact and that’s what makes it work. On the other hand, if a fact is wrong here and there, it doesn’t undermine the entire premise of the show. If facts are wrong (and not corrected) in a news program, it DOES undermine the entire point of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/47 "2015-02-06T16:34:08Z")
I’ll admit as well that upon seeing the thread title, my first thought was “What, after he gave RFK Jr. a free platform to help _create_ this problem ten years ago?” If he’s personally come around on the issue since then, good for him - but he and his producers still ought to be taken to task for their role in encouraging people not to vaccinate their kids. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/48 "2015-02-06T17:09:29Z")
The RFK interview was a huge fuck up on Stewart’s part. Although the issue wasn’t in the public eye so much at the time, the Autism-vaccine link had been thoroughly debunked. There was no excuse for him not to challenge RFK. And no, the “He’s a comedian, not a real journalist” excuse doesn’t fly. He takes real stances on issues and people do listen to him. That said, it was one mistake, made ten years ago. He’s owned up to it and is on the side of reason now. It seems obnoxious and stupid to keep hammering on it, or to act like a single screw up invalidates everything he has to say forever. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/49 "2015-02-06T17:16:25Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Jesus. So fucking what? It’s not a network news program but news is the object of their comedy and satire. Why is it hard to differentiate here? But of course, it’s not actually remotely hard to differentiate. You think you are scoring some debate points. Trust me, you are swaying no one. Jesus? ? ? When did I get a promotion? But thanks for the kind thought. And why should I trust you? The Daily Show isn’t a news program. Stewart understands that The Daily Show isn’t a news program. It’s satire and jokes. It’s a funny show but it’s not news and some people do seem to find it difficult to differentiate between the two forms of, dare I say it, entertainment. Comedians can’t be sued for slander or defamation. _It was a joke. It’s part of their shtick. It was a comedy routine. NO ONE was supposed to take it seriously_. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/50 "2015-02-06T17:19:42Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > As he has implied many times, he wouldn’t have to do this if the real news shows did their job. Who did a better job about educating us on campaign finance laws? The news programs, left or right? Or Colbert, who showed how absurd the laws are by starting a SuperPAC. Legally and with expert advice. Stewart wouldn’t do this if he wasn’t getting paid to do this. Colbert educated you (not us) about campaign finance laws? Really? ---
**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 6, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/51 "2015-02-06T17:42:36Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > It seems obnoxious and stupid to keep hammering on it, or to act like a single screw up invalidates everything he has to say forever. The people doing so don’t care about vaccines, they just don’t like Stewart or his politics. I laughed at the Daily Caller bitching about the RFK interview. Tucker Carlson probably still starts his days by kicking a puppy in a Jon Stewart mask. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/52 "2015-02-06T18:35:33Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Comedians can’t be sued for slander or defamation. Where did you get that idea from? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/53 "2015-02-06T19:35:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Where did you get that idea from? Correction, comedians can be sued. Any such lawsuit would likely be fruitless. _It was a joke, your honor. I can’t be held responsible if some members of my audience didn’t find every one of my jokes to be as hysterical as my writers did_. How could you convince a jury, or a judge, that a professional comedian was actually guilty of libel, or slander, for informing people that yo’ Mama is fat? You could successfully sue me for publically announcing that you are a pinko-commie-goat-molester (unless you actually are a PCGM), provided that you could show proof that you have suffered some injury (physical, financial, emotional) because of my statement. Stewart is a comedian. He tells jokes. He, and 20+ writers, write jokes. A reasonable person would be expected to know that Stewart was joking. You shouldn’t take it personally because it was just for laughs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/54 "2015-02-06T20:03:19Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Jesus? ? ? When did I get a promotion? But thanks for the kind thought. And why should I trust you? > > The Daily Show isn’t a news program. Stewart understands that The Daily Show isn’t a news program. It’s satire and jokes. It’s a funny show but it’s not news and some people do seem to find it difficult to differentiate between the two forms of, dare I say it, entertainment. There’s a big difference in the Three Stooges and Will Rogers. > > Comedians can’t be sued for slander or defamation. _It was a joke. It’s part of their shtick. It was a comedy routine. NO ONE was supposed to take it seriously_. I have to disagree. There are times Stewart and Colbert are tackling serious subjects with humor. Its a way of communicating and raising awareness. Political satirists go back to Mark Twain and Will Rodgers. They aren’t cracking jokes just for the heck of it. Obviously its meant as a first step or introduction. Anyone interested in a topic is expected to seek out other sources. Learn for themselves how it effects their own lives. ---
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/55 "2015-02-06T20:06:20Z")
Is ths about vaccines or the veracity of comedians? Fwiw, on vaccines I don’t believe now what I thought was correct 10 years ago, not least because there is better information available now. You just make the best decision you can with what you have. A view on an issue is not a lifetime commitment. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/56 "2015-02-06T20:10:16Z")
I added _There’s a big difference in the Three Stooges and Will Rogers._ to the quote instead of my own statement. I didn’t notice where the quote tag ended. Editing a post with a quote is tricky. Now somebody has posted afterward. Sorry for any confusion. Another win for the board’s wonderful edit time out rule. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/57 "2015-02-06T20:21:06Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The people doing so don’t care about vaccines, they just don’t like Stewart or his politics. I like Stewart and his politics. That doesn’t mean I’m just going to accept a halfhearted “yeah, my bad” for his part in cultivating the antivax movement. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/58 "2015-02-06T20:46:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I like Stewart and his politics. > > That doesn’t mean I’m just going to accept a halfhearted “yeah, my bad” for his part in cultivating the antivax movement. Is that what his response was? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/59 "2015-02-06T21:23:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have to disagree. There are times Stewart and Colbert are tackling serious subjects with humor. Its a way of communicating and raising awareness. Political satirists go back to Mark Twain and Will Rodgers. They aren’t cracking jokes just for the heck of it. > > Obviously its meant as a first step or introduction. Anyone interested in a topic is expected to seek out other sources. Learn for themselves how it effects their own lives. I wouldn’t call Stewart’s reaction to media reports about any subject to be a 1st step. It may be an introduction to those who believe The Daily Show is a news program? Stewart’s comedy skits are heavily edited for comedic effect. I like Stewart’s humor but I do not consider it to be news. ---
**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 6, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/60 "2015-02-06T23:09:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > That doesn’t mean I’m just going to accept a halfhearted “yeah, my bad” for his part in cultivating the antivax movement. Given his recent segment, I’d say he’s done far more than “yeah, my bad” to set the record straight. Are you waiting on the public self-flagellation or something? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888.md?page=4)