We’ve already apologized at least once today for so many posts about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but we’re just gobsmacked that so many in the media — even reporters from The New York Times, with its layers and layers of fact-checkers — are so upset that CRTV’s satirical “interview” with Ocasio-Cortez has garnered so many views on Facebook.
It’s actually a very short story: A conservative outlet posted a comedy video that went viral and mainstream media outlets can’t deal.
But now The Verge, which bills itself as the site which “covers life in the future,” is on it, and apparently, there’s no sense of humor in the future.
A million Facebook users watched a video that blurs the line between bad satire and "fake news" https://t.co/wg86MFPNUs pic.twitter.com/xbDrM9eMju
— The Verge (@verge) July 24, 2018
Or alternatively you are stupid https://t.co/b2n9gQs9lZ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 24, 2018
What does that even mean? Call it bad satire if you want, but if you’re calling CRTV’s video “fake news,” we’ve got some bad news for you: late-night TV is filled with fake news programs like “The Daily Show” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Yesterday, Conservative Review network CRTV posted a video that remixed out-of-context clips of a PBS Firing Line interview with Ocasio-Cortez, alternating them with staged questions from CRTV host Allie Stuckey. In the fake interview, Ocasio-Cortez sheepishly shakes her head when Stuckey asks if she understands anything about politics, and she appears to think Venezuela is in the Middle East. CRTV’s website describes the piece as a “satirical sit-down” with the candidate. But on Facebook, it just said that Stuckey had grilled Ocasio-Cortez about her “socialist agenda and knowledge of government… or lack thereof,” with a winking smile emoji at the end.
Oh no, so people seeing the video on Facebook weren’t warned that it was satire. “The entire system of feed-scrolling on social media encourages people to casually consume media without checking its original context,” warns Robertson. “And no force on Earth, including Facebook, can save us from the clutches of bad comedy.”
OK, now we’re really confused … is the Verge piece meta-satire, or are they being serious?
https://twitter.com/rshowah/status/1021860968282955785
Bad satire= Stuff against people we like.
— Corn Chowder (@JLervikk) July 24, 2018
Besides unable to meme, the left has no sense of humor.
— Rackman (@AckRDA) July 24, 2018
And a million FB users knew it was satire. Why does the media always try to manufacture conflict?
— ? ßlair Anton ®️ (@blairanton) July 24, 2018
They're trying to defend her stupidity?
— ?????? Mama P. ?????? (@anniebeans59) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sam_5thEstate/status/1021854704899420161
Everyone not a leftist drone recognized it was satire.
I'm sorry. That may have baffled you. Let me be clear.
You are not smart.— "He didn't win,did he?"-Harry Reid&Democrat ethics (@Melvin_Udall_) July 24, 2018
It was obviously satire. Get over it.
— Jeff Webb (@Jeff99669) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/bigmikelewis/status/1021856878018670594
https://twitter.com/tribe82312/status/1021856878853279747
It was about as blurry as The Onion. Give us a break, this was a dumb thing to cry foul on.
— ? ᵀᴴᴱ ᴾᴿᴬᴳᴹᴬᵀᴼᴹᴱᵀᴱᴿ (@pragmatometer) July 24, 2018
They watched CNN?
— Chris Hynes (@realchrishynes) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/MartianLast/status/1021857112324857856
It wasn’t Michelle Wolf making abortion jokes, so we understand.
— SOMENYCGUY (@somenycguy) July 24, 2018
Do you guys realize you're the joke or are you also, like CRTV, in on the parody? Honestly can't tell.
— PleasantPups (@MikeEllisCope) July 24, 2018
Tell me you guys really aren't this stupid.
— RocknRollMom6 (@RockNRollMom6) July 24, 2018
Seriously?! This "cut up an interview and pretend to ask different questions" thing is like one of the oldest jokes on the internet. People have been doing this since the dawn of YouTube. And it's obvious it's not real. Stop freaking out over everything
— Nickster (@nicksterwixter) July 24, 2018
Comedy Central does this constantly. I'm pretty sure even Facebook users figured it out. https://t.co/DeTV6p1rMV
— FilmLadd (@FilmLadd) July 24, 2018
— Atlas Learned to Code While Shrugging (@DaveMBP) July 24, 2018
According to The Verge and other leftist sites…
"good satire" = lampooning Republicans
"bad satire" = exposing Democrats
"blurs the line" = our followers are too stupid to differentiate— Johnny Philistine (@TejasGator) July 24, 2018
It blurred no lines. It did expose some tender feels and a lack of humor.
— Mr. Will (@RoscoenOtis) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/sashatorma11/status/1021861098100871173
"Somebody made a video that I couldn't figure out was a joke." pic.twitter.com/djV7Am96gS
— Jim Backs the Blue (@JimBacksTheBlue) July 24, 2018
I thought it was pretty funny satire myself…
Wait, you libs think pedophile jokes are funny, so that explains a LOT.
— Carol Slaymaker (@Conserve2MAGA) July 24, 2018
This just in: That was not really Donald Trump on literally every episode of SNL for the last 2 years. It's actually a semi-famous actor with anger management issues in a disguise. True story! ??
— The Surly Viking ?? ?? (@surly_viking) July 24, 2018
I won a ticket to "The Ratio Show", is this the place? ???
— Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) July 24, 2018
Here’s a quick public service announcement from @neontaster:
BREAKING: This interview between Conan O'Brien and Bill Clinton is FAKE. That's clearly not Bill's mouth there. What are Republicans so scared of???? pic.twitter.com/s7j2yCa0GZ
— neontaster (@neontaster) July 24, 2018
Related:
Humorless crybabies compel CRTV to add a disclaimer to its 'interview' with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez https://t.co/V0KmWAZltk
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 24, 2018
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