And the FBI was assigned to follow the film team on reports of a "vaguely middle-eastern man with a bear in an ice-crem truck", which has to be the funniest report xD

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[–] 147 points 2 years ago (12 children)

Sacha Baron Cohen is one classy son of a bitch.

He played Ali G. He risked his life interviewing conservatives. He infuriated the Kazakhstan government.

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  • [–] 53 points 2 years ago (5 children)

    Pretty sure Kazakhstan loves Borat, he brought the name Kazakhstan into public consciousness where as before people where like 'wtf is Kazakhstan?'

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  • [–] 79 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)

    I actually met a man from Kazakhstan in my store the other day. He gestured to me that he’d like to sleep in the parking lot and pointed, “in truck. In truck. No English.” Imagine my surprise when I said, “what language?” and this very Asian looking fellow said, “Russian. But not me Russian. Me Kazakhstan”.

    I got to use the translate app on my phone for the first time and when I said, “Ah, I’ve heard of Kazakhstan. I seen Borat.” He said, “No no no, uh, he is from London. He is not really from Kazakhstan. We hate him. We’re so tired of him. That is not what we are really like.” I said, “Oh I know that Kazakhstan is a former Soviet country and you guys are nothing like that. Borat is a man from England. He’s a comedian. I know it’s a joke.” “Oh it makes me so happy you know about the real Kazakhstan.” He said.

    Then I ordered him a pizza to be delivered to his truck.

    It was a fun experience meeting him. He was a great guy.

    We talked for hours using the Google translate app.

    There were a couple of gaffs. I realized after he left when I said “nice to meet you.” It heard, “it was nice to me too.” But otherwise it worked pretty well. It amazes me that we can do that nowadays.

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  • [–] 33 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    When Borat was fresh, I was in a new hire class for a major telecom you’ve heard of if you’re in the US.

    Somehow, the chatter came around to Borat, and someone challenged me on the existence of Kazakhstan.

    I’m not always great with people , so I did a double take - they were serious. I shipped them a GMaps link via chat…

    …and they proceeded to argue with me that said country couldn’t possibly actually exist.

    Once in a while, I wonder where that person ended up - no Ill will towards the misinformed, but I’m certainly curious.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    They're really no dumber than anyone else.

    They were wrong because they hadn't heard of it (not really their fault, it's not like we're all talking about Kazakhstan every day).

    They doubled down because that's what people do to protect their egos. Look up the backlash effect if you want to know why they didn't believe you even with a maps link. It's traumatic to be wrong and have someone prove it to you.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago

    The ability to self correct is one of the biggest differences between smart and stupid. A smart person might be wrong 1-2 times, before correcting on that point. A stupid person will value ego over truth and double down. This effect compounds over time, particularly when combined with an inquisitive mindset (another important marker).

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    An American not knowing the existence of Kazakhstan is pretty reasonable. But an American not knowing that New Mexico is a state is completely disappointing and happens way too gd often.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    I've heard differing things about Kazakhstan's reaction. Wasn't there a time where Sacha Baron Cohen would have been a dead man if he entered Kazakh borders?

    Also, Kazakhstan actually has a really nice national anthem that 100% does not deserve to be overshadowed by a satirical one that mocks their country.

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  • [+] -10 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    More recently though, he has spent his time complaining about the rise of antisemitism when he himself has done a fair amount of work contributing to it while in the character of Borat.

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/sacha-baron-cohen-tells-tiktok-its-creating-biggest-antisemitic-movement-since-nazis/

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  • [+] 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)
  • [+] -9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

    “In my country there is problem and that problem is the Jew”

    https://youtu.be/Vb3IMTJjzfo

    Yeah, you could argue that he was only making a joke or a political statement about latent antisemitism that was already present in society, but if he were the police (and he kinda IS policing antisemitism now), this would be called entrapment.

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  • [–] 18 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    you could argue that he was only making a joke

    What do you think Borat was, a bloody documentary?

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  • [+] -7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    You're missing the point. He deliberately encouraged people to express antisemitism and now he's complaining that people are expressing more antisemitism.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Do you think the people joking about things as he does, want more anti-semitism? Do you think he is responsible because they expressed their actual feelings, whereas he was doing it for comedy? Their feelings existed whether he drew it out or not.

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  • [+] -10 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Well, if an undercover cops manages to instigate you to do something illegal, the underlying desire to do it must have already been there, otherwise you'd just tell him to fuck off. But entrapment is still illegal because if he hadn't provided you with a chance to do it, you may not have followed through after all.

    What you seem to be saying is "entrapment is fine as long as it's done to people I hate".

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  • [+] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)
  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Well I’m not arguing that what he did should be illegal, just that I consider it bad taste.

    It’s like if I went and did a standup routine consisting of Holocaust jokes and then a couple of years later complained about a rise in antisemitism.

    If he was serious, he should at least publicly acknowledge that he DID contribute to the issue and formally distance himself from his old work. Otherwise, it just seems rather disingenuous.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)
  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Ah, okay. Great argument, I’m totally convinced now. /s

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago

    I have responded enough already, you don't want to be convinced and you are entrenched in your views that a Jewish guy is anti-semitic, and, as a comedian, needs to repent for poking fun at racists in the way that he did and nothing else could possibly be correct.

    "If he was serious" about what? It's of no interest to pick holes in your already Leedammer-esque 'arguments'.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    now he’s complaining

    Where, by the way?

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)
  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Apparently so, I just asked where. Your point is a fallacy though.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    Ah, okay then. The good old “you’re wrong because I say so.”

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    That's not what a fallacy is.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Simply calling something a fallacy doesn't make it one.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I didn't say it did, but it was a fallacy, and your response doesn't negate that.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Yeah unless you can explain WHY it's a fallacy, that's just your opinion.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I don't have to explain everything to you. You can search online for what a fallacy is to understand the concept first, then look at why I said it.

    It's still not my opinion just because you don't understand it.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I understand the concept of what a fallacy is. But like I said, unless you can explain what KIND of fallacy you think my argument is, simply calling it a fallacy thinking you've proven anything is a fallacy in and of itself. I don't need to make your arguments for you if you want me to be convinced of what you're saying.

    Adding an ad hominem on top just shows you have no idea what a fallacy even is.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    "that’s just your opinion" "It’s still not my opinion just because you don’t understand it"

    About the same. You aren't willing to be convinced of anything as I said, so no point anyway.

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