As was demonstrated in the past year, that's a HUGENORMOUS assumption

Well, yeah. Sometimes I like to assume that people have brains....

I wouldn't have quite the same issue with folks on the street, for some reason, even though in some ways it's more unfair than making someone who agreed to be on the show look clueless - they bought their own ticket, so to speak, if they agreed to do the show (and usually have something they are trying to publicize).

True, but I don't expect folks on the street to have prepared for an interview -- there's no reason they shouldn't be clueless, so it's less embarrassing that they are.

Sometimes I like to assume that people have brains....

I think you're the one doing the assuming. I have a good friend who's the smartest guy I know--a Harvard grad and a Rhodes Scholar who works in policy (international economics) has no interest in television. His wife, who does Green Economics, is the same way, as are most of their friends. They are just not that interested in pop culture.

Sometimes I like to assume that people have brains....

Well, there's your first mistake.

I'm feeling particularly misanthropic today. Possibly partly because TPTB messed with the schedule for the semester, and now our assignment that's due next week changed from a really easy one to a really hard one.

I'm getting my haircut after work today and I'm ready for a change. What do people think of this [link]

I wouldn't say it's mullet-y at all. I like it. But it does look like it would require a lot of product.

Megan - very cute.

Robin, as so often is the case, is right. Smart does not equal aware or knowledgable about all. Where's Bob Bob? He can tell some great stories about the leading philosophers of our time and their inability to do basic tasks.

I think you're the one doing the assuming. I have a good friend who's the smartest guy I know--a Harvard grad and a Rhodes Scholar who works in policy (international economics) has no interest in television. His wife, who does Green Economics, is the same way, as are most of their friends. They are just not that interested in pop culture.

Good point. I still think that politicians should have some knowledge of pop culture, or at least have interns that can tell them about this weird comedy news stuff before they go on.

Where's Bob Bob? He can tell some great stories about the leading philosophers of our time and their inability to do basic tasks.

Totally. My friend's husband is a classics prof and an insanely smart guy who can hold forth on philosphy, art, sports...but he's not the most practical guy on the planet. Things like time and keys and chores just pass him by.

Either way it makes a little uneasy.

This is me, except extremely uneasy. I actually don't watch the interviews, largely for this reason. But I think I'd be almost as uncomfortable with on-the-street interviews -- it'd be a little better because it wouldn't feel like the people were targeted for that kind of humiliation, but still...

I still think that politicians should have some knowledge of pop culture, or at least have interns that can tell them about this weird comedy news stuff before they go on.

Yeah, they should totally be briefed. I think some of them think they are smarter than they actually are, however. And they underestimate how smart TDS/Colbert people are.