Vice Investigates

I was so mad when VICE left HBO but I quickly found this show on Hulu and I was excited. I check often to see when the new episodes are coming back on. Also, I think some mad trumpers went on here to give this show "1 star" ratings. Seems fake when there's five ratings of 1 star.

At first, I thought it was going to be a refreshing and insightful take on the #metoo thing, and at first it was, but then it becomes clear about halfway through it's just another feminist rant. Booo. The other episodes were good. This one sinks the series though. Predictable and cowardly.

The 1st episode about hip-hop:

There is a difference between hip-hop and rap and this is rap.

Hip-Hop - Fugees, Das EFX, Naughty By Nature, Wu-Tang, Brand Nubian, Aceyalone, Black Eyed Peas, Talib Kweli and Mos Def, Ugly Duckling, Pharcyde, Outkast, Jurassic 5, Sugarhill Gang, Tribe Called Quest

Rap - Eminem, Tupac, E40, Public Enemy, N.W.A.

Of the Hip-hop side, the most extreme might be the Wu-Tang but the overarching feel is a lyrical competition. Many of the others have messages about freedom, equality, enjoying life, or simply rapping about rapping.

And there is much to be said about protecting children. Parents should be offered of lyric content so they can make informed decisions about what their children are exposed to. And exposure is the problem. If you put the idea of suicide or drugs in someone's head, their range of choices in lifestyle increases. The Amazonian Pirahã tribe doesn't even have a concept of suicide. It's just not something they are exposed to. The number of suicides increases when a famous person commits suicide. The most notable account that differed was with Kurt Cobain and economists attribute it to Courtney Love as she spoke out in condemnation of the choice her husband made.

The examples they gave were more like the Eminem or Insane Clown Posse variety. There is no culture. In the show, kids rapping about the intracacies of suicide or running around with assault rifles is reckless.

Even topics I was not too interested in at first glance won me over. Cannot stop watching this show. They get the most interesting topics and go deep into the heart of the matter. Journalism with balls.

The #MeToo one, and I was shocked at how unprofessional the interview was with Jay Asher, conflating infidelity with sexual harassment is completely unconscionable in addition to, I can't even say bad journalism, it wasn't journalism at all. I'm as left-wing as they come and a strong feminist, but this kind of conflation hurts the movement's credibility and doesn't do anyone any favours. I'm still shocked by what I watched, with the interviewer expecting Asher to prove a negative (which is impossible), and basically giving him a damned if you do and damned if you don't scenario... if he stays silent, he is guilty by his silence, if he defends himself he is trying to silence his victims. That is absolutely insane logic, where any accusation automatically becomes a verdict of guilt. And, again, infidelity is not a crime... if every person who ever cheated on their spouse at a convention were to curl up in a ball and never leave their house again, the streets would be empty by a large factor I'd guess.

Oy yoy yoy, I loved Vice when it was only online, loved it on HBO, but watching one episode of this Hulu iteration and I doubt I'll ever watch it again. It lacked integrity, not just journalistically, and how it ever got past whoever the editor is is as shocking to me as the reasoning of the interviewer who seemed intent on inserting herself in the story as well instead of reporting on it. Bizarre, just bizarre.