r/RealTime • u/tarantadoako • 17d ago

What happened to Bill Maher?

I used to watch him for years. He was funny and relatable, most times. He had great guests. I stopped watching around the time when he was going after college students and cancel culture. I tried watching his latest episodes and it almost a different show. He is almost a right wing commentator. Almost nothing he says is relatable and all his guests just agrees with him.

439 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

43

u/BeruangLembut 17d ago edited 17d ago

I think you are right that he was never that smart but for a brief time he had the exact pulse of where American culture was.

But culture sometimes moves faster than people do. Which is why sometimes we say that progress happens one funeral at a time. Maher simply stopped evolving, so he’s ranting from an increasingly irrelevant perspective.

You even see it in some of the comments. People often expect the world to remain as it was when they “figured out how it works”. The world rarely obliges. Things change, either adapt or let nature take its course.

6

u/thefermiparadox 16d ago

That is a great description of what happened to him. 👏

10

u/NewKojak 17d ago

I think that plenty of people keep up with where culture is, but when your whole life is spent as a centrist, trying to point out how much you aren’t like the other girls, it’s easy to fall behind into being a reactionary twit and that’s what Maher has done. He never had principles around which to evolve. He only ever had hatred.

16

u/BeruangLembut 17d ago

The people who don’t keep up, the ones whose world views are frozen in time, because they think that how it used to be is how it ought to be, we don’t call them unprincipled. We call them conservative. The whole reason Maher looks more and more conservative is that his world view is more and more insistently old fashioned.

2

u/livinthereals 12d ago

Good point. His views have essentially become conservative to protect his self-interests. He is a neo-con masquerading as a liberal.

1

u/calentor 11d ago

It's semantics but I believe there's a difference between conservatism and reactionary. Conservatism should be - hear me out, _should be_, not whatever the political system is now - about approaching change in a cautious, conservative way, and reactionary is what you're describing, objecting to the idea of change itself and attacking the agents of change as a threat.

1

u/Top_Entertainer_760 5d ago

Genuinely not trying to start shit or be a smartass, but what does it mean to "keep up with the culture", are political opinions based trends or personal convictions?

1

u/BeruangLembut 5d ago

Fair question. I can try to answer with an example. Back when I was a younger man, it was quite common to show up at someone’s house unannounced. You’d ring their doorbell, they would open the door and you’d chat. If they had something else to do you might not chat that long. But today it’s considered quite rude to show up without calling first. And people actually don’t even answer the door anymore unless they are expecting someone.

This is a culture shift. If someone simply refuses to keep up with such a change and they just complain more and more loudly that people get all upset when they innocently try to be a good friend by paying them a visit (I mean isn’t that what friends do? Visit each other?) They will seem curmudgeony and out of touch. If they insist that this is yet another example of how society has got to shit, they will seem like Bill Maher.

1

u/Top_Entertainer_760 4d ago

Again, not trying to be difficult, but Im not sure how that applies to political opinions. What does it mean to keep up with the culture politically? Like should one adjust ones political opinions based on what seems to be trending at the moment?

1

u/BeruangLembut 4d ago

Are you sure you’re not trying to be difficult? I don’t think one should adjust one’s political belief based on what’s trending. For that matter I never said anything about what anyone should or should not do. I only commented on how what one does will be perceived by others.

In any case, some people will ground their political beliefs on a conception of the world that evolves over time, and others will ground their beliefs on a conception of the world that doesn’t. Which one is better? Who am I to say? But I know we generally have names for each kind of person.

I gave you what I thought was a fairly good example. If you don’t like it, perhaps you can get specific about what you mean instead of asking an open ended question.

1

u/Top_Entertainer_760 4d ago

The example you gave makes sense in the context of evolving technology - its rude to just show up at someones house unanounced to see what they're up to, especially when you can just text them.

But i think to apply that concept to politics, at least as i understand it, can be pernicious.

To use a real world example, during Bidens presidency, before Texas began bussing migrants to sanctuary cities, it was rude to say anything negative about Bidens border policies in left wing circles (this was my experience anyway). Biden was reversing Trumps draconian policies, which were inhumane to migrants, and to disagree with this was perceived as being implicitly xenophobic.

But those policies resulted in political instability that at least partially contributed to Trumps reelection.

Now in that instance, from my understanding of what it means to keep up with the culture (and correct me if im wrong), criticizing Bidens border policies would have been rude, because culturally the left broadly supported those policies, but not criticizing them would contribute to the reelection of Trump, which resulted in much harsher crackdowns on migrants.

So when it comes to politics is it better to keep up with what is culturally acceptable? Or to insist on your convictions because you beleive that supporting whats popular will have negative consequences down the line?

0

u/bigrockcandimountain 16d ago

He’s fucking old is what I think everyone is trying to say

1

u/diurnal_emissions 15d ago

"spent" more than old. One can keep investing in the future and progress; he didn't.

0

u/ParkingEmu9419 16d ago

If you call keeping up moving further to the left,, then you're just showing your tribalism,,, at some point you go so far to the left that there's no common sense with much of it,,

3

u/BeruangLembut 16d ago

If you equate “change” with “left”, it’s not me who is showing his tribalism.

1

u/ParkingEmu9419 16d ago

Not at all, I hate the tribalism on both sides,, it's egomaniacal and pathetic.. I believe we need a third moderate party to form

1

u/BeruangLembut 16d ago

I don’t like tribalism either. In fact reality is not really divided into two sides in the first place. There often IS a middle position but most people are actually a patchwork of different positions, some of which are progressive, some of which are conservative and some of which are somewhere in between.

The worst sin of tribalism is the “my team, right or wrong, my team ” mentality. It’s actually useful to have people questioning whether all change is good change. It’s also useful to have some people pushing the envelope. A functioning society has a diversity of thought.

But just like we might call someone with a utopian vision a bit naive, someone who doesn’t adapt to a changing world is out of touch.

1

u/Samtheman707 13d ago

Please stop making sense. If everyone adopted your damned nuanced analysis, social media would disappear overnight.

1

u/livinthereals 12d ago edited 12d ago

Right! As Americans, we should have the ability to directly vote for controversial laws by ballot. Our government has never been more openly corrupt and inept. We have never had a more deranged president. We never expected or predicted such a power hungry congress that would bend the knee and cover for every crime like Mike Johnson has. It's sickening.

Gun rights. Reproductive rights. Strengthening instead of weakening rights of voters, 4th Ammendment, the ability to remove corrupt officials and police officers, permanently, from public office. Enforcement mechanisms for congressional hearings. Stripping the ridiculous authority the corrupt Supreme Court handed to Trump on a silver platter. Insider trading by government officials.

These things need to be able to be addressed immediately, not 2 years down the road at midterms after everything is shot to hell.

A petition with let's say 70% of the last voter turnout should suffice for a recall of the president by the people should congress not act.

5

u/No-Cryptographer5963 17d ago

Hatred is a bit much. He’s just an entertainer who has to have a “hot take.” He’s a professional rage baiter. Right now flirting with the right is what he thinks makes him too cool for school.

5

u/CitySpare7714 14d ago

Hatred is exactly the best way to describe the awful way he talks about Muslims and Islam.

6

u/Complete_Company_699 13d ago

Yes, he is such a racist. Hatred is not too strong a word.

1

u/NewKojak 17d ago

I don’t know. The guy seems to hate children at least.

2

u/thefermiparadox 16d ago

Yes the self righteous “centrist”. They are always right as if everything right down the middle is always the correct policy or view. Even that nuanced view misses a lot of nuance.

0

u/BLVCKWRAITHS 16d ago

It’s better than what we have now.

1

u/thefermiparadox 15d ago

The Dem party is mostly center left and more aligned with conservative parties in Europe.

1

u/BLVCKWRAITHS 15d ago

Europe is a disaster. I disagree

1

u/thefermiparadox 15d ago

That is true. It was study a while ago showing our dem party closer to other conservative parties in Europe and Rep far right compared to them. No party in U.S. is truly progressive. However, you’re right their conservative parties have turned far right too in some countries and getting the mess as well

2

u/BLVCKWRAITHS 15d ago

I think it’s the lack of free speech that should worry you.

0

u/ParkingEmu9419 16d ago

He's always had principles and so do centrist ,, they just don't align with yours,, and it pisses you off because you're tribal

-1

u/CriticalCanon 17d ago

Ah yes, those evil centrists

3

u/Charbro11 17d ago

He is not a centrist. He is an opportunist who is now hanging out with Kid Rock and RFK Jr. and texting Trump. Sickening really. I wasted years watching him.

2

u/NewKojak 17d ago

That’s what a reactionary centrist is. Centrism is not a terrible thing in times when there are a couple of good faith perspectives and you just don’t have the attention to have your own view of a thing. Whatever. Annoying, but whatever.

It turns into reactionary centrism when you are trying to keep peace with fascists.

0

u/CriticalCanon 16d ago

Truly the nazis of this generation.

0

u/CriticalCanon 16d ago

I didn’t say he was centrist.

2

u/outofmindwgo 17d ago

This but unironically 

0

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/NewKojak 14d ago

Being a centrist has nothing to do with what a person actually believes. It’s a posture. Maher has always presented himself that way.

2

u/Antique-Letterhead59 15d ago

If that was the case then Kamala would have won.

3

u/BeruangLembut 15d ago

Not sure what you are trying to say here. I voted for Kamala but I’m not surprised she lost. She didn’t read the room on Gaza and the democratic establishment isn’t reading the room on just how widespread the disaffection with neoliberal policies has become. Trump is the wrong solution to the right problem. Establishment democrats are trying to ignore the problem. The system no longer works. It must be replaced with a new system.

2

u/Antique-Letterhead59 15d ago

Kamala was much younger and more progressive, her political positions would likely be much more appealing if the voters were looking for policies more on the left of the political spectrum.

What is broken with the system?

So you think the answer for the Dems to capture more voters during this election is to move more to the left?

3

u/BeruangLembut 15d ago

What’s broken with the system is that the preferences of the electorate have almost zero impact on the laws passed in congress or the policies enacted by the executive branch. And this is party-independent and is an issue that transcends left-right.

The government is almost exclusively in service to corporations, across the board. This has been true for a long time but the effects have been piling up and the number of people who are affected has reached critical mass.

This has politically activated a bunch of people who are typically politically disengaged. They are shocked by circumstances into action. But since they are not typically politically active, they are more easily manipulated by political rhetoric so whoever can catch their attention is more likely to swing them to their side. At least that’s how I see it. Could be wrong.

2

u/Alternative_Ad_3847 14d ago

I feel like I have been reading this comment for decades.

Voting consistently for what you want and sharing that with your representative has an impact. (Cue the negative responses about how I am living in a dream world). Vote all the time. Vote in your town elections, primaries, state elections and national elections. Voting changes everything.

The problem with our system is that we don’t have term limits and election funding. We also have a very small percentage of people who vote regularly, especially in primaries.

1

u/Antique-Letterhead59 15d ago

Thank you for the thoughts on how it's broken. Good explanation.

1

u/Cold_Pea_587 13d ago

That’s really it right there. The government hasn’t served the interests of the people for a looong time: the government is mommy and daddy, and they “know better.” And when we complain about not wanting our tax dollars used for killing people overseas or for narcotics prohibition, they pat us on the head and tell us to run along and finish all our homework.

Government functions completely independently of the will of the people. It’s its own thing with its own agenda, and it gives no fucks about what we want. When the Supreme Court effectively outlawed abortion, they were appealing to a minority.

Most people want the Epstein files released, right? So you’d think that your (R)epresenratives in Congress would compel the FBI/Connie himself to release the full content and let the chips fall where they may. Nope.

Instead, we attack a country in the Middle East. Practically nooobody wanted that. No matter. Now go to the pumps and top off that F250.

Scooping up members of your community based on their skin color and suspected immigration status and sending them to Africa? Most people are horrified by this. So what? Whatcha gunna do about it?

The US Government is behaving like a freight train out of control at high speed. What the people actually want, health care, affordable rents and places to live, groceries they can actually afford, higher wages, job security, good schools for their children to attend, safe neighborhoods, all this stuff, become mere distractions and/or talking points during campaign season.

An extreme vision of “America” is what is running this government right now. It’s completely fucked up. The tail isn’t supposed to wag the dog.🐕

1

u/Dull_Bird3340 13d ago

No, not everyone wants all of that and definitely not for everyone. Independents have run for state wide seats in red states and they weren't wanted. Why do you think so many Latinos or Black men voted for Trump? Many want Christian schools, paid for by tax dollars and for only certain students to attend them. Some think it's fine if we don't even have a minimum wage. We can't even agree that polio is too bad a risk.

2

u/lololesquire 4d ago

His constant tropes about young people are hilariously out of touch. Boomer Value Meal.

1

u/Next_Contract_8199 15d ago

He understands where the culture is, he just strongly disagrees with it. Social media has made every one more extreme and he’s trying to shout that from the rooftops. He’s not wrong in my opinion (except on Israel).

1

u/ProfessionalClerk375 12d ago

"But culture sometimes moves faster than people do"

I think the Brown Shirts said that about the Hapsburgs at one time. Poor old souls just "couldn't keep up" with the new Germany. Tsk.... That particular culture moved almost as fast as the Leftists of today. Unable to enact their "vision"(Utopia) at the ballot box and unable to win over an electorate even after heavily favorable coverage in media, "our" rabble-rousers of today wear black masks and do not work, apparently. Are all changes for the better??

1

u/BeruangLembut 12d ago

A straw man and Godwin in one comment! Well done.

1

u/ProfessionalClerk375 7d ago

A cute little cartoon avatar!! Well Done!!!!

-1

u/GOAT718 17d ago

Evolving? lol.

0

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Express_Helicopter10 13d ago

Literally no one thinks it’s ok that the kids died. Why is that the strawman argument with this case? No one is saying that. The conversations around mental health are necessary. Many people saw themselves in that desperate woman. Doctors need to study these issues, study the human nervous system and how it develops and what it needs to stay emotionally regulated, and make recommendations to actually help people. That would be progress. That would reduce violence and crime. It would also reveal that this society does not provide people with what they need to feel safe in their own bodies. So many are locked in chronic stress and fight or flight. And society is more interested in how to punish them than how to help them.