# Michael Moore is a Dishonest Hack **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915 "2010-06-04T13:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/21 "2010-06-04T14:28:56Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Bricker’s only happy when he can troll the board. So if you posted a link to where he’s done that, would that be an example of Bricktrolling? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/22 "2010-06-04T14:32:08Z")
Are we arguing for (or against) some kind of equivalence between Moore and O’Keefe? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/23 "2010-06-04T14:32:57Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Listen, Trolly Trollerson: you are, as far as I’m concerned, the Mayor of Trolltown. And it’s in the state of North Trollin, where **CandidGamera** is the governor. Do they have a trolley filled with trollops? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/24 "2010-06-04T14:33:03Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > So if you posted a link to where he’s done that, would that be an example of Bricktrolling? You’re never gonna give up that joke? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/25 "2010-06-04T14:33:44Z")
Since I don’t live in a black and white world, I have no problem taking Michael Moore for what he is, an entertainer. Yes, he makes some good points, and does so in quite humorous manner some times. But I’m not looking to him for hard evidence or the last word on anything. Same goes for Jon Stewart. It’s funny, sometimes it makes me think but it ain’t the last word. Do I understand why some don’t like him? Sure. I have no problem with that. I don’t find Glen Beck entertaining and I think he’s an idiot. It takes all kinds to make a world, I figure. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/26 "2010-06-04T14:36:09Z")
IMO: Michael Moore - overrated hack looking for an axe to grind. Sometimes he is funny (that first movie of his was OK) and the movies flow well and have a point. Like a decent 60 minutes story from a rabid reporter, stretched way beyond its proper length. His conservative counterpart, in my view, would be Ben Stein. Funny sometimes, way too partisan, maybe relevant. O’Keefe - Not funny (so far), trying to make a name for himself. He managed to strike gold on the interwebs once, which was more luck than anything else, and he is now struggling to stretch his 15 minutes. His liberal counterpart - maybe an overzealous vegan with a camera who thinks PETA isn’t doing enough. I’m sure there is similar liberal “expose’s” on YouTube. What I can’t figure out is how O’Keefe gets so much media attention. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/27 "2010-06-04T14:38:25Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > What I can’t figure out is how O’Keefe gets so much media attention. Liberal media. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/28 "2010-06-04T14:41:46Z")
You know, I used to think the Bricker “I withdraw the observation” move was classy. I thought, “here’s a man willing to admit his mistakes. How refreshing!” But the more it happens, the less effect it has, and the more of a douche he seems to be. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/29 "2010-06-04T14:45:09Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > You’re very _au fait_ with troll nomenclature — do you have a publication I could subscribe to, in order to discover more about your knowledge on this fascinating subject? Yes. Visit [www.TheTrollRole.com](http://www.TheTrollRole.com) for details. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/30 "2010-06-04T14:46:10Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > You know, I used to think the Bricker “I withdraw the observation” move was classy. I thought, “here’s a man willing to admit his mistakes. How refreshing!” But the more it happens, the less effect it has, and the more of a douche he seems to be. Or the more mistakes I make. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/31 "2010-06-04T14:50:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I dunno. I think Michael Moore makes some very good points. Take him for what he’s worth though. He’s not a journalist and only provides HIS side of any story, but he’s entertaining. Not really. He’s a flat-out liar. There are dozens of sites available debunking the lies he has told in F911 and its ilk. He might be considered entertaining only if you listen to him knowing that he’s lying to you from start to finish. ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/32 "2010-06-04T14:53:23Z")
I agree that Moore is a hack. However, I think he would agree as well. I once saw an interview with him where he was accused of being biased in his movies. His response was basically - “Hell yes I have a bias. I’m not trying to be unbiased. I’m trying to make a point.” [Not actual quote - merely my paraphrasing from a questionable memory] I too would question the “dishonest” portion, however. He’s not fair and balanced - because he’s not trying to be. So he’s definitely not bringing up all the other side’s arguments. But that doesn’t make him dishonest. (He may have been wrong at times - but as many of our Bush supporters will remind us, there’s a big difference between being wrong and being a liar.) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/33 "2010-06-04T14:53:51Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > So if you posted a link to where he’s done that, would that be an example of Bricktrolling? Not to be confused with Brickrolling, where an ostensibly innocent question is asked that has a hidden meaning and a Gotcha-Ya lurking in the shadows. Most commonly used to exposed the (pseudo) hypocrisy of the left. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/34 "2010-06-04T15:00:13Z")
To be fair to Moore regarding the Heston interview – At the time that interview took place, it had not yet been made public that Heston had Alzheimer’s. Moore didn’t know the guy had it. He thought he was talking to an NRA President (and vocal activist) of sound mind. He wasn’t knowingly exploiting Heston’s illness. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/35 "2010-06-04T15:08:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m willing to bet you won’t get anywhere near the number of posts and the level of vitriol in this thread against Moore than we got against O’Keefe. And why should we? Moore makes movies that reveal a great deal of truth, and occasionally cross over the line to exaggeration, but wonderfully get under the skin of people like you. O’Keefe’s a lawbreaker. And I believe this board’s already had a bunch of “Michael Moore is fat” threads after his earlier movies. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/36 "2010-06-04T15:24:53Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Not really. He’s a flat-out liar. There are dozens of sites available debunking the lies he has told in F911 and its ilk. No there friggin aren’t. Not honest accurate ones anyway. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/37 "2010-06-04T15:28:34Z")
Yup, he’ll never be forgiven for F9/11 by some. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/38 "2010-06-04T15:33:43Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Manipulative one-sided storyteller perhaps, but I’d like a solid example of Moore’s dishonesty. Bonus points if the dishonesty was pointed out by a court or independent board/panel. > ETA: Not a particular fan of Moore’s films, although his very early work was enthusiastically done. [Example](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4962759#post4962759) from one of the long anti-Moore threads from back in the days when he was kinda sorta relevant: > [@Michael Moore = Liar. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-liar-why/250240/2): > > _Bowling For Columbine_: there is no bank that gives you a free gun for starting an account there. That sequence was faked. True, it was faked to make a point, but it was faked. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/39 "2010-06-04T15:35:55Z")
That scene wasn’t faked. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915/40 "2010-06-04T15:37:47Z")
Did he declare anywhere that the “free rifle” section in BFC was anything but him making a point using an extreme example, even if it was staged? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-is-a-dishonest-hack/541915.md?page=3)