Colbert Report - segment on Bitcoin 4/17/2013

[Pangia]

Don't know if there are any Stephen Colbert fans here, but last night he did a segment on Bitcoin.  He's an extremely popular comedian with a very large 'viewer-ship' - in the millions.  So I think that it's safe to say Bitcoin was just exposed to several million last night. I wish that it were more positive.

I think that the most interesting thing is that at the end of his interview of the NPR guy (Adam Davidson, host of Planet Money on NPR ---who knocks Bitcoins), the NPR guy says that NPR doesn't take Bitcoins as donations, YET!

Not the best coverage for Bitcoin, but still, it was exposed to several million viewers.

http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/wed-april-17-2013-alan-cumming

[tdahsu]

Got the timecode for when it starts?  I don't have the time to sit through all 27 minutes...

[Saturn7]

Any UK friendly links out there? Can't stream it to the UK

[Pangia]

Sorry. It's right at the beginning.. After he pokes fun at CNN. It's within the first 5 minutes.

[Pangia]

The only link available right now is from the show's website.  There hasn't been a youtube posting of the show yet.

[WishIStartedSooner]

Not the best coverage for Bitcoin, but still, it was exposed to several million viewers.

That was as positive as coverage gets! You have to understand Colbert humor. He is giant parody of idiots.

Kind of like how Flash Gordon was a parody of shitty movies, but it's such a good parody you don't figure it out until the chick says "thats what makes us better than you."

This is huge.

[Pangia]

Indeed this was huge. 

For those who don't under Stephen Colbert's humor, give this quick video a look.  It's his roast of Pres. Bush in 2010 (Pres. Bush looks extremely uncomfortable at times, LoL).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FTF4Oz4dI

[tutkarz]

its not that bad. They was laughing at bitcoin because its recent crash in price but well crash was true so its not like they are saying something wrong about bitcoin. I think bitcoin price didnt show us anything yet and i think there are more big things to come. Just imagine if the price would drop from $50 000 to $100 in two days ...

[Pangia]

Ok. So the consensus seems to be that this was overall good publicity for Bitcoin.  That's good then.  Several million people have now heard of Bitcoin.

[slothbag]

Its funny because Adam was far more critical of bitcoin than Colbert, even to the point where you could tell Colbert actually knew a bit bitcoin and was trying to prompt Adam give a good explanation or to provide an argument as to why bitcoin was NOT a valid money.

My take is that Colbert is pro bitcoin, trying to give it a favourable but subtle plug..  Pitty Adam was such a douche about it.

Still quite amusing though.

[ElectricMucus]

Bitcoin has become what it deserved: A running joke...

[herzmeister]

My take is that Colbert is pro bitcoin

He isn't. It's called irony. Or playing the devil's advocate.

[slothbag]

He isn't. It's called irony. Or playing the devil's advocate.

Ok, maybe not pro bitcoin, but certainly wasn't as dismissive as Adam.

[rebuilder]

The interesting thing, to me, was that apparently Bitcoin is now enough of a household name to lampoon like this. I'm surprised, actually - this kind of humour requires people to have some familiarity with the subject matter.

[Hei_]

lol epic beginning

[bb113]

wow, I am happier and happier with my decision to stop listening to NPR a few years ago.

[BubbleBoy]

The general idea is that geeks on the internet have invented a currency that has a variable value and you should probably avoid it, unless you want to buy drugs. A few seasoned daytraders and potheads might find the segment interesting but the vast majority of the viewership will take it as a joke. There's no inducement to investment so don't expect a tsunami of money to hit mtgox from Joe Sixpacks and housewives.

[cypherdoc]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=179686.0

if you want to understand the mindset of Davidson, a boy dressed in man's clothes.

[gogxmagog]

I dunno what anyone was expecting here. Colbert is a satirist, a tv entertainer. his job is to find flaws in people and things in current events and make fun of them, not to promote anything, and certainly not to deliver unbiased news coverage, hell, even the news agencies don't do that. of course, studies have revealed that ~80% of Americans derive their political opinions, and even decide who to vote for, from tv comedy shows like SNL and Tonight show. It kinda shows in the quality of the leaders they elect again and again.
I'm just not sure how he could make a Bitcoin cheerleading session "funny", I know since he was a major Bush-basher everyone thinks he's got some humanitarian agenda behind his comedy, but honestly. He's a showbiz guy, all he wants is attention and admiration. I'm sure he's paid well too.

[J23450N]

I understand thatColbert is a satirist, but the guest is not. He really gave it a negative spin IMO, and gave crummy and trolling answers. That kind of exposure is not necessarily good. You could tell Colbert wanted to have an actual discussion about what money or value is and why a decentralized currency could be beneficial, but all the NPR guy gave was basically "it's for hardcore nerds and libertarian quacks, and btw don't invest in it". He didn't give a balanced assessment or apt explanation.