Sandra and Woo's Moat Arc

[t209]

So I am not sure but I kinda have issue with the's "both sides" argument, especially the recent Lava Moat arc, also felt reactionary.
I mean Oliver seems rather progressive type and anti-authoritarian, not to mention that he's a German who should know better.



Starting from here:http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2020/06/10/1185-nightmares/
And Ends here: http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2020/09/11/1209-klm/

Comments seem to be very ignorant sounding even if they aren't Trump supporters. With the recent Capitol Hill issue, my tired nature with fake centrists--and people who believe them because they don't look like Trump or "establishment"--especially since I spend time in the gaming community and those types seem to be common. Let's not mention South Park, which also shared his "political opinions".
I know both sides unwilling to talk, echo chamber (almost got into anti-SJW crowd before spending time here realize how much of a shill they are), and political discourse are serious issues, but no one is making a critique on being moderate...at least making a facade.
Here are my moments (or rather gripes), not sure if the author "care" about protestors being beaten for protesting brutality and just cherry pick "rioters" for "balance".






So what you think about this arc? Then again, I am tired of South Park or any "political" comments based on that show recently.

Comments

[sara]

It's this a strip that's been funny in the past?

[t209]

Yeah, it used to be funny.
But when it did politics, it wasn’t like this.

[tcampbell1000]

I don't think the "side" I identify with is about satire or criticism (that way lies the very cultishness that I despise), but satirizing the current climate is a tricky task, and I don't think Oliver is up to it.

Like, you can pick on both sides, fine. Overzealous cancellation and looters who use protests as cover do exist, fine. But you've got to acknowledge that one side is way more dangerous than the other, and here's a hint: it's not the side that can't agree on what "defund the police" actually means.

Those first few strips could have started an interesting journey, because I'm sure viewing CNN and FOX as if they were two channels of equal authority would make antifa seem as scary as cops to a kid. But there's no indication that Sandra's going to learn any different, or that Oliver knows any different, either.

(The sharpest barb here is that we probably should be paying more attention to how the world's Jeff Bezoses... er, "Mr. Bozzoses"... are profiting just fine in times of pandemic, unrest, and sedition. I don't think Bezos is actually scheming to have looters destroy local retail, but I doubt he minds the message of "the world's too scary, stay inside, let the internet deliver your packages instead of going to local businesses." But even that doesn't really work, because too often, I can't tell when Oliver's going for humorous exaggeration and when he's showing something he thinks is just a real thing that happens all the time.)

[t209]

http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2020/06/02/boardroom-suggestion/
I don’t know but he kinda have that tone, mostly in “I am on your side, but that doesn’t mean I can criticize it...Solely”.
At the “political compass” strip’s compass, Oliver made both “Virgin centrist and Chad centrist” (middle of the point and far ends of each bars respectively. He also claim to be right wing (though mostly or hopefully as a joke due to his dislike of SJW as sole reason) but didn’t stop him from working with Powree, an Indonesian.
Still most of the strips do have anti SJW tone but part of me seems that he is thinking it as sole representation of “left”. I mean he is a German, who should have nuanced understanding of such ideology as spectrum rather than side.

[reveen]

Well, I guess it does accurately reflect a lot of centrist delusions.

On one hand you have the delusion that the centrist isn't part of a demographic that is basically immune to the wild hog behaviour of the police. Like, living in a neighbourhood with a Homeowners Association in the first place precludes that.

On the other hand you have the delusion that civil strife is going to lead to rioters personally coming over to roast their house just because. Partially because of the aforementioned privileged relationship with policing, partially because it just doesn't work like that.

[t209]

The thing is that if it’s accurate depiction of centrism—consider that I am worried about young people using the above rather than generalized term as correct definition, I mean you can be Libertarian who realized that free healthcare and government intervention isn’t that bad or like *ugh* Sargon of Akkad—intentionally or accidentally.
But this is what happened if you are using “everyone is idiot” since 2007 and try to apply it but your sources are probably cherry-picked or meme that were probably exaggerated by reactionaries but has enough “common sense” to make it seem balanced. Also Libertarians being more popular safe space (being skeptical on organized religion did help with general appeal among non-religious young people) did help out despite their claim that only sensitive and progressive people practicing it.
But thing is that Oliver is from Germany, which has mainstream being more progressive and actually should be skeptical of “common sense” assumptions. Aka someone who should have known better.
I think he might be becoming Ishida of Sinfest, but as South Park knock off than thinking that Straw Feminist (read: Transphobic and anti porn militant) is legitimate position.

[longboxingwhileblack]

Yuck.

[lordultimus]

This sort of shows why I identify as a moderate, not a centrist. It's not that I refuse to take sides, it's that I try to avoid extremes.

Yes, both sides (in the U.S., though I hear Britain and Australia aren't having very fun times) are getting increasingly extreme, but recently one side has been proven to be extreme enough to actually be dangerous, so I'm going to side with the side that can't agree on what "defund the police" actually means until further notice.

[t209]

Yeah, I think Oliver is trying to do that but his take hasn't been executed well.
Basically, I wonder why no one is commenting on such "both sides, but probably I based it on cherry-picking" notions, probably it's considered "safe space" even if such people detest such word and relegated to "defund the police side" (I mean other than critics, not many people like to admit that their discussion board on Trump, non-Trump but reactionary, Libertarians or even anti-PC is safe space). I think they really didn't watch Kang and Kodos (Douche vs. Turd is questionable since it was made during Kerry vs. Bush...and also creators are sorta supporting the Hawks if you watch World Police. Guess this is the benefit of being known to make old people angry for cheap shots) or trying to take its message but not doing anything besides "I say so" (Southpark is guilty of it, or if they promoted it or attracted to people who already believe in it).

Cohen: The point is it does not matter which of the awful candidates you vote for…
Greaney: Which is a complete falsity. When you have somebody who is clearly an aggressor, then… evenhandedness is actually favoring the aggressor.

A lot of Generation X edgy types--especially Ennis included what with A Walk Through Hell and Jimmy's Bastards--becoming more like "trying to not take sides, but doesn't seem well-informed despite making fun of such subject" after blasting Bush or moral guardians alot. Probably the issue of "do whatever I please" culture done to the extreme.
Still, I might dread if anyone here--since scans-daily isn't South Park fans or understand anti-PC humor other than "evil" (because too young or know George Carlin or Duckman) even if they aren't vitriolic critics--assume them as "Trump supporter" after finding South Park Republicans* (or didn't assume that right-wing person can't be pro-gay or pro-abortion, aka Libertarians but more amiable to left).
*Which is coined by Andrew Sullivan and Brian C. Andersen rather than the creators. Though I do appreciate someone realizing the dangers of dichotomy...before going back at it again for the former.

[deh_tommy]

Preach.

[sadoeuphemist]

To be frank this does not come across as centrist at all. 'Billionaire is funding BLM protests for nefarious reasons' is straight-up a right wing conspiracy theory, this just swaps out Soros for Bezos. And what is the lava moat other than a cartoon version of Build the Wall? Author comes across as a chud who's trying for a veneer of respectability.

[t209]

Well, Oliver seems to be anti-authoritarian, anti-prison industrial complex (the arc where millions of people are arrested for seeing Larissa’s nude pic, and had a governor got his pocket filled by prison companies and only avoided when politicians were bribed to pardon them) , and anti corporate.
But as you said, it does come off as far right tone and didn’t help with his disdain for SJW, or assume that tumblr or Twitter idiots as sole members of “the left”.
You know complaining echo chambers while being stuck in one, that okay because believing the above and don’t need to have self assessment more.

[longboxingwhileblack]

Anti-SJW centrists tend to expect marginalized people to find a common ground with people who'd rather we not exist. It's easy to be anti-SJW when your right to exist isn't up for grabs every election cycle.

[t209]

I hear you,
I’ve seen most of my video game and comic friend doing just that. Pointing out how social message is implemented in media is one thing (Marvel writers being an example, didn’t help that many were too new or too young to remember the pitfalls of poorly implemented commentary ala Marvel Civil War), but reducing it to “two sides” without any insight is just as bad...but no one is pointing that out (didn’t help that centrist is considered untouchable by mainstream anti establishment circle, worse when they get out into a single monolith despite its diversity and mostly a loose term, like what if you are a Libertarian who wanted social progressivism or a socialist willing to listen to market economy’s insight).
Yeah, same with Garth Ennis who sounded less like “crude but insightful” to “angry old man shaking cane while being pseudo intellectual”.

[t209]

So I found this comment. I hope it’s just a joke but his “anti SJW” stance might need questioning (like either I hate tumblr user who can’t understand common sense, or anyone who take interest in civil rights are moron stance).
https://i.ibb.co/n0FL4wf/D3383737-5-CF9-4079-99-CC-D5470-CDE21-FE.jpg (His comment).
https://i.redd.it/hdibjjl673l41.png (Image links).
And the source: http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2020/07/01/1191-full-compass-unity/