PYF The Onion story

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Last Chance: Dec 31, 2004

zoux posted:

eh

yeah it was probably just nothing.. good catch! glad you got it sorted out for everyone

# ? Mar 9, 2020 22:03

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# ? May 17, 2024 07:24

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/1237113949281308673

# ? Mar 10, 2020 00:04

CharlestheHammer: Jun 26, 2011; YOU SAY MY POSTS ARE THE RAVINGS OF THE DUMBEST PERSON ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH BUT YOU YOURSELF ARE READING THEM. CURIOUS!

zoux posted:

I saw a thing where the Onion editorial staff decided to be fully pro-Bernie for the cycle to expiate the guilt they feel through elevating Biden in the "Diamond Joe" stuff throughout the Obama admin but: I don't think they have the reach they think and I'm not sure how portraying Joe Biden as a dirtbag black sheep uncle was supposed to improve his profile

I mean that fundamentally who he is.

They could go harder on the fact his brain don�t work if they wanted too

# ? Mar 10, 2020 00:12

Precambrian: Apr 30, 2008

Last Chance posted:

yeah it was probably just nothing.. good catch! glad you got it sorted out for everyone

The base of Biden's comeback is overwhelmingly older Black voters in the South, so the idea that they're being influence by The Onion is... questionable. Even if they made a lot of money off of it, the argument that it's been politically impactful doesn't really register with me.

I don't think it's just the narcissism of internet popularity, though. I think The Onion's writers are New York based, and they're probably running in circles that are overwhelmingly pro-Bernie, and they probably take some poo poo, personally, for "Diamond" Joe. Plus, The Onion's readers (and thus, ad sales) probably skew heavily pro-Bernie and this is a much better way to sell it than "we're pandering to our demographic." Like, you're not gonna sell comedy to Bernie supporters that make jokes about his heart attack or his history with the F-35.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 01:51

Cleretic: Feb 3, 2010; Ignore my posts!
I'm aggressively wrong about everything!

I mean, you're allowed to feel bad for contributing to something you don't want happening without being the main cause of it. I don't feel like Diamond Joe made a huge effect (otherwise we'd be seeing shades of it in Biden's messaging, and we aren't), but I can respect that they regret their own small part in it. It's a bit like the late-night hosts regretting they softballed with Donald Trump and were generally too friendly in the 2016 election; their effect probably wasn't the main cause of his success, but they contributed in a small way that they wish they didn't.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 02:04

CharlestheHammer: Jun 26, 2011; YOU SAY MY POSTS ARE THE RAVINGS OF THE DUMBEST PERSON ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH BUT YOU YOURSELF ARE READING THEM. CURIOUS!

Most of Biden�s support is basically name recognition so they probably contributed some

# ? Mar 10, 2020 02:57

ultrafilter: Aug 23, 2007; It's okay if you have any questions.

I can't find the article now but the writers for The Onion have specifically said that they regret not mocking Joe Biden earlier. I think that was even before he ran for president this time around, but I can't confirm that.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 04:50

flatluigi: Apr 23, 2008; here come the planes

ultrafilter posted:

I can't find the article now but the writers for The Onion have specifically said that they regret not mocking Joe Biden earlier. I think that was even before he ran for president this time around, but I can't confirm that.

it was linked last page and in a quote on this page which is why there was discussion about it

# ? Mar 10, 2020 04:54

zoux: Apr 28, 2006

Precambrian posted:

The base of Biden's comeback is overwhelmingly older Black voters in the South, so the idea that they're being influence by The Onion is... questionable. Even if they made a lot of money off of it, the argument that it's been politically impactful doesn't really register with me.

I don't think it's just the narcissism of internet popularity, though. I think The Onion's writers are New York based, and they're probably running in circles that are overwhelmingly pro-Bernie, and they probably take some poo poo, personally, for "Diamond" Joe. Plus, The Onion's readers (and thus, ad sales) probably skew heavily pro-Bernie and this is a much better way to sell it than "we're pandering to our demographic." Like, you're not gonna sell comedy to Bernie supporters that make jokes about his heart attack or his history with the F-35.

Chicago, actually.

I just don't see how Diamond Joe Biden, a bail-jumping drug smuggling, teen-girl-lechering (that one's true I guess), 1970s era police movie narcotics informant is supposed to be anything but a skewering.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 14:55

Bucswabe: May 2, 2009

zoux posted:

Chicago, actually.

I just don't see how Diamond Joe Biden, a bail-jumping drug smuggling, teen-girl-lechering (that one's true I guess), 1970s era police movie narcotics informant is supposed to be anything but a skewering.

I guess my read would be that despite Diamond Joe being all those things you said, he was consistently portrayed as an earnest, relatable, empathetic everyman, and that the joke came from the contrast of that with the decorum of the executive office.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 17:32

prefect: Sep 11, 2001; No one, Woodhouse.
No one.; Dead Man’s Band

zoux posted:

I just don't see how Diamond Joe Biden, a bail-jumping drug smuggling, teen-girl-lechering (that one's true I guess), 1970s era police movie narcotics informant is supposed to be anything but a skewering.

That sounds like something a cop would say.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 18:54

zoux: Apr 28, 2006

Listen bud I don't want you to think I'm a cop. If I was I'd have to tell you right haha

# ? Mar 10, 2020 18:57

Orange Fluffy Sheep: Jul 26, 2008; Bad EXP received

zoux posted:

Chicago, actually.

I just don't see how Diamond Joe Biden, a bail-jumping drug smuggling, teen-girl-lechering (that one's true I guess), 1970s era police movie narcotics informant is supposed to be anything but a skewering.

It makes him fun and relateable and you cheer for his antics, like jumping the reflecting pool in the national mall with a motorcycle, or wearing a wacky suit to his debates with Andrew Ryan. He comes off as an uncle-like figure whose peak was 40 years ago but he doesn't let that stop him.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 19:29

zoux: Apr 28, 2006

Well Biden has very, very low support among young people and very, very high support among old people. Which group reads the Onion?

My point is that The Onion did nothing to make Biden more popular or whatever.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 19:32

Orange Fluffy Sheep: Jul 26, 2008; Bad EXP received

zoux posted:

My point is that The Onion did nothing to make Biden more popular or whatever.

It's hard to quantify because we don't have the universe where the Onion didn't go with Diamond Joe, but even then they still took actions that gave Biden a much more likable persona, and that's the regret. The statistical impact doesn't undo the deed.

# ? Mar 10, 2020 19:40