COMICSANDS
percolately
georgetakei
secondnexus
george's picks
Most Read
Comic Sands © 2019
Weird News
Journalist Sparks Debate After Saying 'South Park' Is To Blame For The Current State Of The World
18 February
Comedy Central
You know that old "do video games/movies/TV shows make people violent" argument?
And you know how the answer is always "no, humans are just terrible people?"
Yeah, we're going back in on it and this time we're adding a few more layers to complicate things.
<p><strong>Also Cartman. </strong></p><p><strong>A whole lot of Cartman. </strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o85xJSfieKsICkquk/giphy.gif?cid=2fb0ca7675f8f2213feaa54a24724f11a695e16d70acb644&rid=giphy.gif" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjc3MzUyNC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2Mjk2NjUwM30.7FLkgCrQGrb1gVnCCRFQzEQrLoBgeF6nJG5dyCFLie8/img.gif?width=980" id="3d2c4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="874a716a8ebfada98dc2ee7bfa599825" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></a>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/southpark-south-park-comedy-central-05x01-3o85xJSfieKsICkquk" target="_blank">Giphy</a>
</small>
</p><p><strong>Journalist Dana Schwartz sparked an online debate about the cultural impact of <em>South Park</em> with a short series of tweets.</strong> </p><p>Whether people love the show or hate it, it's certainly something they're passionate about. Or at least something people <a href="https://www.indy100.com/article/south-park-donald-trump-twitter-9335231" target="_blank">passionately argue about</a>.<br></p><p><strong>Let's start with her tweets so we know exactly what her stance is.</strong></p><p><div id="action_button_container"></div></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="04a94" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5JJ9AM1582045530"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228019211311562752" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">In retrospect, it seems impossible to overstate the cultural damage done by SOUTH PARK, the show that portrayed ear… https://t.co/euevk0d8g8</div> — Dana Schwartz (@Dana Schwartz)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/statuses/1228019211311562752">1581617570.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="71921" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DTAUZK1582045530"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228019577541419008" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Smugness is not the same as intelligence; provocation isn’t the same as bravery. The lesser of two evils aren’t the same.</div> — Dana Schwartz (@Dana Schwartz)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/statuses/1228019577541419008">1581617657.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="33252" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="WG20SW1582045530"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228063591560925184" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It seems lie South Park has been trying to reckon with this—I admit I haven't been watching the show in recent seas… https://t.co/IfoyzpnDVI</div> — Dana Schwartz (@Dana Schwartz)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/statuses/1228063591560925184">1581628151.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4b312" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5SFKPU1582045530"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228080552244236288" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">To be clear, I don't blame the show itself as much as I do the generation of boys who internalized it into their pe… https://t.co/aAljVtZt7l</div> — Dana Schwartz (@Dana Schwartz)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/statuses/1228080552244236288">1581632194.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Dana, who is herself an author as well as writer for TV shows, was trying to talk about the ways <em>South Park</em> and it's attitude of nihilism and mocking was actually doing more damage than good. She expected some disagreement and was more than willing to talk about other people's opinions.<br></p><p><div id="c7da91bc-8e44-492f-b7fd-c382c0e55bda"></div></p><p>What she was not expecting was that <em>South Park</em> fans would make her point for her. They came at her in a wave of anger, misogyny, and general unpleasantness—calling her a whore, telling her she is genetically incapable of being funny since she is a woman and saying she "deserves the rope." </p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p><strong>Oh, and there's a racial slur thrown in there, too. </strong></p><p><strong>How fun! </strong></p><p><strong><em>Obviously not fun. That was sarcasm. Don't do this. This is trash.</em></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="b9650" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UQKFYP1582045530"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228351380097646592" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">My point was that South Park seemed to teach that it was always cooler to be reactionary and contrarian, and anyone… https://t.co/Py2xS6M6k8</div> — Dana Schwartz (@Dana Schwartz)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/statuses/1228351380097646592">1581696765.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="55eff" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UM4QTZ1582045530"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228356729643003905" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">People saying “they make fun of everyone!!!” — that is my point. South Park IS a political show, but one whose mess… https://t.co/QOczSJMXfd</div> — Dana Schwartz (@Dana Schwartz)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/statuses/1228356729643003905">1581698040.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>We aren't saying all <em>South Park</em> fans are like this, we want to make that clear. There are terrible people in every fandom. </p><p>Our point is merely that these fans are definitely not helping the overall image many people have of what your average <em>South Park</em> fan is like.<br></p><p>Those kinds of comments weren't the only ones Dana got, though. Take a look at these. </p><p><strong>Love it or hate it, people had some interesting insights.</strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="3f6e1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="BPI4Z91582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228421052147081216" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@stealthygeek @DanaSchwartzzz Couldn't agree more. The whole point is the opposite of what people get at... If you… https://t.co/7DWRBHc8y1</div> — James Spain (@James Spain)<a href="https://twitter.com/JamesSpain2/statuses/1228421052147081216">1581713376.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="cab2f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="I530RT1582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228419666093191170" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz I 100% know for a fact southpark fucked with my childhood. By 7th grade our entire friend group emu… https://t.co/wWoSxhRapA</div> — InShane in the Membrane (@InShane in the Membrane)<a href="https://twitter.com/Psypresschill/statuses/1228419666093191170">1581713045.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e5801" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="HMKOLQ1582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228031657988513792" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz I’ve been watching South Park on and off for 20 years. I’ve always seen it as a satire, holding a m… https://t.co/xW4mVUwEJo</div> — danellek (@danellek)<a href="https://twitter.com/danellek/statuses/1228031657988513792">1581620537.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="b2e0f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="O52L511582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228046616067637248" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz I left the South Park fandom when I heard Matt & Trey proudly announce they don't vote because it d… https://t.co/H82y0WlquG</div> — kristy (@kristy)<a href="https://twitter.com/kristysf/statuses/1228046616067637248">1581624103.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="0d7d2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="CPROX21582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228140439280267266" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@_aaronbnb @DanaSchwartzzz Or..
South Park mocks the people that take it too far. People who are too ideologically… https://t.co/CRMCReKr43</div> — Lady🦡Honeybadger 🧢🌺 (@Lady🦡Honeybadger 🧢🌺)<a href="https://twitter.com/honeybadger_MD/statuses/1228140439280267266">1581646473.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="8c0ff" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Q0361A1582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228103927683592192" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz I used to make a lot of excuses for them when I was, unsurprisingly, a teenager. I think their horr… https://t.co/5njvEfShsq</div> — Shayne Valencia (@Shayne Valencia)<a href="https://twitter.com/ShayneDoesTweet/statuses/1228103927683592192">1581637768.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="bf036" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="60XX811582045531"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228108845790179328" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz the toxic ethos of South Park permeates guy culture today, with its coarseness, its air of contempt… https://t.co/NT8ywoKdgI</div> — The Library Owl 🎄🎅🦉 (@The Library Owl 🎄🎅🦉)<a href="https://twitter.com/SketchesbyBoze/statuses/1228108845790179328">1581638940.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f2923" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="R7N11X1582045532"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228529864484868097" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz You seem to believe it spawned an entire generation of men who don’t give a fuck about anything, wh… https://t.co/b9gIcgqSUk</div> — 👀 (@👀)<a href="https://twitter.com/eyeseeyuh/statuses/1228529864484868097">1581739319.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="5195a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5MSUBI1582045532"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228097345562300417" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz Mockery is both the best disinfectant and most powerful equalizer. Nothing deflates the puffed up… https://t.co/dxK6Bxomvz</div> — furious_acquitted_forever_a (@furious_acquitted_forever_a)<a href="https://twitter.com/furious_a/statuses/1228097345562300417">1581636198.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="a8a30" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="081T101582045532"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228102702833393666" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz I love South Park and I disagree with your take, but I respect your right speak to your mind withou… https://t.co/2Pt172WF0Q</div> — Jenny Johnson (@Jenny Johnson)<a href="https://twitter.com/JennyJohnsonHi5/statuses/1228102702833393666">1581637476.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="fd0b7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="YKA3T41582045532"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228445597696286722" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz They've made some pretty poignant, measured points lately with their episodes.
The Amazon episode… https://t.co/0G70ttMPK9</div> — The Crypto Fam (@The Crypto Fam)<a href="https://twitter.com/TheCryptoFam/statuses/1228445597696286722">1581719228.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="21666" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="NB2PJU1582045532"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228075728295477250" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz I've read tweets making this point for like six years. South Park didn't invent disinterested nihil… https://t.co/5if9ky4XvS</div> — ⚡5.8 Mega-Jules⚡ (@⚡5.8 Mega-Jules⚡)<a href="https://twitter.com/DashWallkick/statuses/1228075728295477250">1581631044.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="ce94b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="RUV1ES1582045532"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228166503544999937" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz Speaking as a media creator since the early 1990s, I feel the biggest mistake we made in those days… https://t.co/rtYuwHDEkn</div> — Satyros Brucato is writing, furiously (@Satyros Brucato is writing, furiously)<a href="https://twitter.com/SatyrosBrucato/statuses/1228166503544999937">1581652687.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><strong>Of course that doesn't mean everyone had something of value to offer to the discussion...</strong><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c2df3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="G4WX971582045533"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228449773105143809" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@espiers @DanaSchwartzzz You're correct women could never be that funny.</div> — timmytenders (@timmytenders)<a href="https://twitter.com/vdaynes2/statuses/1228449773105143809">1581720224.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="df787" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="SWGMTJ1582045533"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228044688395046913" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz https://t.co/kxVNMbPMHe</div> — Dani VasNormandy (@Dani VasNormandy)<a href="https://twitter.com/DanneskjoldDani/statuses/1228044688395046913">1581623644.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4d1e5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="G2GI341582045533"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1228165749010616321" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DanaSchwartzzz You basically begged for this..... https://t.co/ncF7sWRdXt</div> — Paul M Winters (@Paul M Winters)<a href="https://twitter.com/RealPaulWinters/statuses/1228165749010616321">1581652507.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Do you think <em>South Park</em> is responsible for causing the mindset Dana is talking about? Or is the show's popularity a symptom more than a cause? </p><p>Interestingly, <em>South Park</em> tackled the same question in their movie <em><a href="https://amzn.to/39JFCeH" target="_blank"><strong>Bigger, Longer and Uncut</strong></a></em>, available <strong><em><a href="https://amzn.to/39JFCeH" target="_blank">here</a></em></strong>. But rather than blaming themselves, South Park urged everyone—in their Oscar nominated song—to "Blame Canada."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="78fb29283d217f832e2014a66fdb2a9f"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bOR38552MJA?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://youtu.be/bOR38552MJA" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>
</small>
</p>
Keep reading...
Show less