Posted 14 July 2005 - 02:10 AM
It's been a while since I saw a Daily Show interview, but the ones I've seen in the past, while they mock, do not generally do so by twisting what the person said, quoting out of context, et cetera. They tend to interview people or groups who are wacky and weird enough that they are just inherently funny without such misrepresentation. At least this was the case with the interviews I've seen.
If they try to take that tack here, and presuming Jay's responses are reasonably mainstream immortalist/transhumanist thinking, then the piece will generally only make us look bad to those who are not naturally sympathetic to us in the first place.
And if they are mocking us, isn't it kind of a sad testament to our society that people find the idea of scientific progress to radically extend people's lives to be funny? Could you imagine a Daily Show 'mocking' interview of cancer researchers or artificial heart manufacturers? Makes about as much sense.
Hopefully, if it does mock us, it will fall flat on all but illiterate ears.
There is some hope that they may mock respectfully, and in a way that implies it might not be so funny after all (but don't get your hopes up)!
Allan Randall
PS: I love the Daily Show!