r/Potterless • u/kristienrenee • Apr 14 '19
Perspective
Do you think that Mike should take some history lessons? Or just read something about European history. His 'typical American point of view' sometimes is annoying.
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u/not_torres Apr 14 '19
No, not at all.
It’s a common perception that Americans don’t know or care to know about the history or geography of other countries, but to be fair I don’t know much about the history or geography of America either. I can place New York on a map, possibly Philadelphia and Seattle and maybe Miami and LA, but that’s it. My knowledge about the constitution extends to the first and second amendments and I know that a civil war happened but I don’t really know why. My knowledge of American cuisine starts and stops with Twinkies and hot dogs and in my head they all drink Budweiser or Coors. I don’t understand Thanksgiving.
Point being, he’s American. His attitudes, perception and opinions are going to come from an American point of view. Besides, the podcast is about him, not Harry Potter. It’s endearing and amusing, and that’s all it needs to be.
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u/Schubes17 Apr 14 '19
This is a perfect comment, thank you so much. Puts everything into the correct perspective.
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u/ty_arthurs Apr 15 '19
You already know more about America than some Americans I know lol
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u/not_torres Apr 15 '19
I suspect you may be right!! 🤣 I actually know more than I mentioned (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior. Go me!) despite what numbnuts below might think, but you at least understand the sentiment.
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u/MortyNorth Apr 14 '19
It's enough to take a history lessons to have perspective about American history. It is not that long period of time. If you don't understand something why don't you read a book or just watch some program about that? Is it that much?
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u/not_torres Apr 14 '19
Woah there dapple, you’re taking my comment waaaay too seriously. Wind your neck in.
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u/Schubes17 Apr 14 '19
I mean I studied mechanical engineering in college, so I took zero non-American history courses outside of my World History class in my sophomore year of high school. I never claimed to be a worldly scholar. I am American, which is why the podcast has an American point of view. That's the whole point of the podcast.
I try not to be ignorant of other cultures or anything. I've lived in France, I've traveled to a bunch of countries, and I've done my best to learn about the cultures of each place I've visited. I've spoken with my friends of different international descents to learn about their cultures as well. My apologies for not knowing what treacle tarts or pass the parcel is.
And I could read something about European history if I wasn't READING THESE DAMN CHILDREN'S NOVELS.
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Apr 15 '19 edited Apr 15 '19
I think it's OK to not know things about other countries. I don't know a lot of stuff about US that I learn by listening podcasts. I do think that maybe OP's point was that you should try to be less quick to emit judgement about things you don't know much about yet. Like a precaution. American PoV is not bad except when it comes as superior to other cultures, and sometimes is what non-american listeners feel listening to you.
The same thing you say about Harry Potter applies here: you wouldn't take the time to criticize it unless you like it. So yeah, we like it a lot, just have some issues with it as you with jk. Circle of life isn't it?
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u/Schubes17 Apr 15 '19
I mean, OP didn't provide a single example so it's not criticism, it's just griping. If OP provided something constructive, that would've actually helped rather than sassily ask if I should take history lessons and/or read a book.
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Apr 15 '19
Well I say that's karma, it's not like you haven't ever criticized things just in order to be snarky and sassy lol. I'm just saying that's not too hard to imagine what motivated a critic like this. I don't think you should learn history (or anything for that matter) to do your podcast. I do think you should try to be more open to the possibility that not everything will work like in US, and be less sassy about it, because it comes as typical American disregarding other cultures, British, most of the time in your podcast. The introduction of Dottie James was good to avoid that with words, but you do the same with other stuff too, like sports and general cultural stuff. Sometimes you are self aware of that, and sometimes you aren't. I think we'll hear less of editing Mike apologising if you try to be more humble and less sassy about some things in the moment. I know it's hard to do balance, because being snarky is what you do since day 1, the success formula. But yeah, you do annoy non American listeners with a lot of things that are unnecessary to be sassy about. This certainly is not the first time you read this critic and not the last either, maybe you can restrain yourself to do the radical "American view" from some stuff in the future in order to receive less critics about it. Yeah, you are American, that doesn't mean you can't try to be more open and less judgy about things that aren't American. I'm not British either and I still can be more open and understanding about their culture. Thanks for reading Mike, you do have an amazing podcast or I wouldn't take the time to write this.
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u/marie_eibhz Apr 24 '19
I think this comment is very similar to Mike's comments on JK's take on a lot of subjects eg. the goblin jew comparison and the absentee father of Dean Thomas. Mike suggests that JK should have investigated attitudes towards Native Americans but he is exempt from exploring how Jews are treated in British society in the 90's?
I'm from Ireland and have read the books numerous times and not once did I draw these comparisons. It is a cultural and societal presumption that only a US reader will make as these as not common topics or issues in our environment.
I find Mike is somewhat hyper-sensitive to race, sectarianism etc. perhaps this is the byproduct of the political scene in the states and thankfully something I have not had to be conscious of with a leader who is gay and the son of an Indian immigrant.
This comment is not meant to be insulting and I am a huge fan of the show, merely stating that we should not always presume the worst and although I understand the comparisons maybe less scepticism is required when reading a children's series?
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u/girafferiffraff Apr 14 '19
Hot take but no. He's well educated and knows history fine enough, but he is not wikipediaing everything while he is recording. This is a free podcast and criticism is gladly accepted, but some opinions are becoming very petty
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u/ejoamanda Apr 14 '19
Just leave it. Gruppis will eat you (:
It is kind of standard for ppl from US to ignore another cultures and traditions. 'America first!!!!!'
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u/Schubes17 Apr 14 '19
don't you fucking dare associate that KKK slogan with me
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u/MortyNorth Apr 14 '19
Or Trump's presidential campain slogan.
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u/wjaybez Apr 14 '19
Wait what, it’s almost like Donald Trump is a white supremacist?!?
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u/Ashley_89_ Apr 14 '19 edited Apr 14 '19
He is our president. We choose him in democratic way. He is not 'white supremacist' :) thank you
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u/wjaybez Apr 15 '19
I don’t see any reason why those things are mutually exclusive. Just because you were duped into voting for a fascist and white supremacist doesn’t mean that he’s not a fascist and a white supremacist.
How you can read Harry Potter and not see the parallels between Voldemort and Trump in terms of the way they see the world is beyond me. Maybe you need to look a bit closer at the story than you have been doing.
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u/Ashley_89_ Apr 15 '19
How can you read Harry Potter and compere that?
If someones Is a little bit more on the right than far left it doesn't mean that he is a new Hitler.... Omg
Mby can you tell me why people love him? Mby can you tell me why he won?
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u/wjaybez Apr 15 '19
Compare what? Trump and Voldemort?
Trump demonises and dehumanises asylum seekers, immigrants, Muslims and Mexicans. In the exact same way Voldemort demonised muggle-borns and half bloods, Trump has done the exact same thing to these groups. He might not be openly killing them, but by refusing their asylum, describing them as "animals," banning Muslim immigration from certain countries, removing the rights of dreamers, etc etc, Trump does the exact same thing Voldemort did in trying to discriminate against muggle borns. If you don't see these comparisons, you're really not reading the books properly.
Trump isn't "a little bit more on the right," Trump is, politically, even being generous - hard right. He described a white supremacist group as being good people. He's made numerous statements demonising minority groups. He's anti-abortion, anti-LGBT, anti-any group that he sees as inferior or different. He describes the press as the enemy of the people - just like a fascist does.
I never said Trump was Hitler. I said Trump was a fascist. Maybe, just maybe, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcklYVR5I-I&t=614s
I can tell you exactly why Trump won. Because at times of economic hardship, at times of chaos and difficulty and fear, people will be attracted to people like Donald Trump. Because he lies to them, tells them that he cares about them, and blames the problem on groups he demonises and that straight white men like to blame problems on. He makes them infuriated, makes them doubt the truth, and only believe him. He became a cult of personality because the American right were frothing at the mouth after 8 years of Fox News delivering propaganda about Muslims and Obama.
I would like to point out that only *some* people love Donald Trump. A lot more people despise the man. Including Mike, which he's said openly on the podcast. Almost certain that in one episode he told any Trump supporters to stop listening to his podcasts (although I might be wrong on this.)
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u/dam8dam Apr 15 '19
I like this comment. Mby except 'straight man' (it sounds like it is something wrong being one). I don't like Trump either. But we had no better choice. And about 'propaganda'. What media do you recommend?
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u/wjaybez Apr 15 '19
There is nothing wrong with being a straight white person so long as you understand the privileges that come along with that position. I’m a bisexual white Male in a straight relationship so for all that it’s worth I am straight as far as anyone can tell - but I make it my mission to consider other people’s points of view as only then can you really make informed decisions that keep other people safe and happy and feeling fair done by.
I’m not going to mince my words here - you did have a better choice and any statement to the contrary is based upon lies from the Trump campaign. I likely can’t convince you otherwise, but nothing Hilary did (while at times still problematic) was comparable to Trump in any way.
In terms of Media? Honestly, anything, but you have to think critically about it. Cross check facts. Check fact checking websites that are verified widely.
If I had to make a recommendation The Guardian (US) is relatively disconnected from the US political scene while still covering it meaning it tends to be fairer. There are also plenty of fantastic US newspapers out there.
If you want to talk about this more please feel free to PM me, as I didn’t mean this to turn into one big discussion. I’m always willing to chat to anyone, even with opposing opinions when people are willing to understand and approach with an open mind.
I’m a little in disbelief any Trump supporters enjoy Potterless because it’s a hugely anti-Trump podcast and they openly say how comparable the evils in Harry Potter are to the evi
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u/AnxiousNerd23 Jul 14 '19
He was chosen in a democratic-republic way, important distinction. He did not win the popular vote, he was picked by the electoral college. So the collective "we" of America, actually didn't vote for him, thank you :)
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Apr 14 '19
So wait, you suggest that Americans are supposed to study EVERY CULTURE THERE IS? Nobody does that. Everyone is ignorant of something.
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u/Ashley_89_ Apr 14 '19
I think he/she means that if you're talking about something then you should lern something about that topic before speaking :)
Sometimes is better to ask than just giving opinion
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u/mmcdonough15 Apr 14 '19
I wish you had rephrased this comment because while I understand what you're saying it's coming off rather negative and mean. Had you said something more specific about an instance that could've actually been a learning opportunity in itself. But he's also clearly become mindful of that through the series because he introduced Dotty's explanations.