So I finally got exposed to the comedy show/documentary Penn & Teller: Bullshit! I always dug magician Penn Jillette because he’s a brutally honest post-modern free thinker and social critic, who does not blindly follow the left-wing liberal party line. He really got my attention when he attacked Michael Moore for deceptive tactics when making his documentaries, i.e. lying (Moore practices the ends justify the means).

So I watched a few episodes from various seasons of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! on my nightshift at work and found it very entertaining. Basically each episode covers something like astrology, penis enlargement, The Bible, talking to the dead, alien abductions, the war on porn, PETA, conspiracy theories, ghosts, loving pets, stats, war on Wal*Mart, taxes, etc.

There are some topics in which I was extremely happy that they tore to shreds, such as the people that go to UFO conventions and make up stories to sell their books and junk. The DailySkew reported live from Orlando at such a convention years ago. [Have fun finding that article, true believers! - Stan] I also knew a man named KEN TRACEY who said he woke up in a new season (“missing time” is an alien abduction sign). [It's also a sign that you need medication! - Stan]

They totally broke open the whole “talking with the dead” gimmick that John Edward does. I’ve been reading about skepticism for 15 years now, so it wasn’t “new” to me, but I’m sure it was new to many people who believe that bullshit. (Like uhmmmmmm every woman I know.)

Yet after I was watching these, I asked myself how I would feel if I watched them attack a topic I actually believe in. So I watched the PETA (People For Ethical Treatment of Animals) episode and was displeased that they didn’t get into the philosophy of why PETA believes non-human animals are equal to humans. Penn skipped over that assumption, so of course PETA’s movement and the reasons why ALF commits terrorism (or freedom fighting if you ask them) makes them look like cult wackjobs.

After I watched Bullshit! defend pornography, prostitution, teen sexting, second hand smoke, and other topics, I saw that they were extreme libertarians, hardcore skeptics, atheists, anti-green, and hedonists.

Which is fine, but it means the half hour episodes aren’t fair and balanced. Being such a genius like Penn could lead one into nihilism. After all, when watching Bullshit!, it seems that every social institution is misguided and wrong; everything we know about second hand smoke, obesity, detoxing, and handicapped parking is wrong. (The first 3 are all myths, and the last one is the government overstepping its boundaries.) Heck, they even attack Mount Rushmore. I saw their points, but disagree with some finer details. You see, taken to the logical end, I’m pretty sure that society can’t handle itself without having some things legislated. Most people who call themselves libertarians went to college and think the masses could think for themselves and govern themselves with Big Brother. I think Big Brother has his uses, because I don’t have as much faith in humanity like these people do. This disqualifies me from being ultra-cool, like Penn and some people I know who sometimes read the DailySkew. Indeed, these people want me to be like Penn, but my moral compass won’t let me. I believe in Good and Evil, and that most people would commit selfish acts if not supervised. Sue me.

One thing that I thought was very misleading was the pro-porn episode. They said porn wasn’t addicting and doesn’t ruin marriages or families. Yet according to Paul Byrd, porn was an addiction to him and he felt guilty about it, which negatively affected his life. He was spending too much time hooked on porn. Tony Vahl, myself, and others have written extensively about how porn is a gateway drug and creates unrealistic expectations from women (the 2011 woman must be shaved, enjoy anal sex, lesbianism, and money shots, doncha know?) over at No More Addictions. From the craigslist mutants I have spoken with, their road to picking up an STD and engaging in secret bisexual acts all started with porn.

Yeah, I know it’s not a gateway drug for everyone. Penn and Teller seem to be sexually liberated and happy about watching porn, as do others I know in real life. However, for anyone who can freely enjoy masturbating to porn or watches porn with his wife, there is someone who feels it degrades women and feels weak/guilty when he can’t resist the temptation to masturbate to porn when no one’s home (and thus deceive his wife).

I don’t believe porn should be banned, but I do believe it should be hard for a kid to access it on the internet. Does that make me a big, bad “regulator”. Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I’m such a square.

Penn knows it’s bullshit, so I’m not upset or angry like others may be. Heck, as co-founder of the DailySKEW, sometimes people don’t get that some of my articles are bullshit (i.e. skewed).  The show is refreshing and shows you a strong controversial viewpoint that you are not going to see on network TV.

Penn & Teller are outside of the left wing vs right wing debate, thankfully, and Bullshit is a worthy addition to your DVD collection.

Watch Bullshit!