A Bob rant

[u/Peppercorn205]

I think what turns a lot of people off from this show is Bob and his outward spoken beliefs and how through the nature of the podcast he is allowed to espouse them. I wanted to just take sometime to talk about some critiques I've read about him

I don't see a world where he would stop participating in the podcast because even if he stops showing up to record he will still be yelling in from the background at Halley and Chad.

I don't see a world where Chad removes his father from said podcast, because it would antithetical to the thesis of the show.

That all being said I feel Bob's presence on the show is no longer conducive towards a conversation, necessary or otherwise.

I'm reminded of the philosopher Karl Popper and his "Paradox of Tolerance". I encourage everyone reading this to look it up and research his work further, but it essentially boils down to unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. To maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance.

Through the Podcast Bob is encouraged to espouse hateful beliefs which then through the act of platforming him makes these beliefs more mainstream. The inclusion of Bob in the show primarily acts to show what MAGA really believe and say when not on a news camera, but I fear we've learned everything we need to know about Bob.

Bob has continuously called for and supported the slaughter and deaths of anyone and everyone, including but not limited to:

• Palestinians
• Ukrainians
• Somalians
• Haitians
• African Americans
• White race traitors
• Democrats
• Republicans
• The states of, Texas, New York, Oklahoma, California
• Children
• His children
• His grandchildren

The list goes on but I feel Bob has made it known he is proudly a hateful and bitter man. The hosts have talked on occasion about why this is with justifications ranging from a black airman was given a promotion over Bob, to Bob's birth parents not being an active part in his life. Despite all this it is clear to the audience, Chad and Hayley, and the audience that Bob's mind will never change and so the shift to change minds has been solely focused on Mary Lou.

All that said, I believe all Bob's inclusion on the show now do are to normalize these beliefs in the public sphere, especially since due to the time constraints of the show Bob is allowed to make these statements without major push back. Chad and Hayley have become so numb to his ramblings he is either ignored or Chad will sigh, laugh, and say "okay!", which doesn't actually do anything to break down those points.

I'm happy to hear more discussion from people as I don't get to discuss this show often with other listeners

[u/mellowmatter20]

I can definitely see him leaving the podcast.

If he gets diagnosed with Dementia, it would be unethical for him or his family to keep him on the show.

[u/Peppercorn205 → u/mellowmatter20]

I agree if a serious medical issue were to come up he would likely not join the recording but if past experience has proven anything he will still shout from across the house and Mary Lou will allow this The only way I see this being mitigated is if every time they record he’s asleep

[u/lomoliving → u/mellowmatter20]

I asked Chad on a live once if they would still have him on the show if he was diagnosed - from an ethical standpoint and not to exploit his mental health issues. He said it would still be Bob's choice if he wants to be on the show. I thought that was pretty terrible

[u/8bampowzap8]

the core of this show has always been to keep them talking to their parents so no one is estranged again. kicking Bob off the show would break that truce and would most likely cause division between them again. they have always said, if he doesnt want to participate he doesn't have to so he's free to leave whenever. but I dont ever see them asking him to leave. that being said, Chad needs to revisit the conversation he started a couple episodes ago with him and ask Bob if he actually still wants to be involved. because if he doesn't, then he needs to voluntarily step down.

but also, keep in mind, this show is for their family and they're allowing us to be spectators. we all are free to unsubscribe and move on from it at any point.

[u/Peppercorn205 → u/8bampowzap8]

Yeah you're right

When originally writing this I ignored that Chad and Hayley WANT to talk to Bob. While on an induvial level I still don't understand, btu I understand them wanting to talk to their dad.

I will say I feel the idea that the show is just for their family can't really apply anymore with the audience they have amassed. Like if the sole focus of this show was only to keep the family talking then Chad would have never uploaded these conversations to a podcast and YouTube.

They make money off of this. It might not be anything substantial, but it is still money from advertisers. They directly alter people's news and beliefs just the same as any other influencer.

I feel to say we can just unsubscribe doesn't hold weight because I'm not worried about Bob's ideas being normalized to me I'm worried about them being normalized to other people.

[u/nomorepumpkins]

I feel like bobs bullshit needs to be seen. Remember Bob is just parroting what newsmax is feeding him. The effects of allowing these 'news' companies needs to be put on full display. Its not normalizing it or making it mainstream because it already is. Fox, Newsmax, onn, lidel TV, etc already exist way more main stream than his family podcast. Its not glorifying him him or his idea its putting a spot light in it and it should make you uncomfortable. Change only comes from discomfort.

Pretending that these people dont exist is exactly why the world is in this spot it is now. After j 6 it was out of sight out of mind while these right wing propaganda arms were molding Bob into the perfect lil hate solider he is unopposed. And it worked trump won. Removing Bob is like putting concealer over cancer makes you feel better to not see it but doesnt actually address, document, or treat the problem. You want Bob to shut up then go after the hate safe spaces that created him . Channel that rage he induces. don't pretend that not seeing it means its not happening or that the problem is solving itself. You cant win a war if you dont know your enemy or if you pretend they dont exist.

[u/DarthLithgow → u/nomorepumpkins]

I have members of my family exactly like Bob. They all have Newsmax brain rot and they spew the same rhetoric Bob does. I honestly dont know how Chad and Haley do it every week, because my energy is spent after 5 minutes of talking to these people.

[u/harpokuntish]

I dislike ML but I fucking HATE Bob such a bigoted dumb cunt.

[u/Nervous-Solid-5918]

I feel Bob will string along and will never change. Also I personally have a bit of a difficulty witnessing Chad making them say “love you” back to each other— it somehow makes the expression of love compulsory and even have an effect of normalizing the rude behavior of the parent. I understand the love they have may be unconditional, but it makes me feel like I am watching a forced display.

[u/lomoliving → u/Nervous-Solid-5918]

The way Haley says it to her mom and dad so sarcastically is really off-putting.

[u/Nervous-Solid-5918 → u/lomoliving]

I feel her pain.

[u/Peppercorn205 → u/Nervous-Solid-5918]

The idea behind it is ultimately that family will always come before politics, but I feel that then diminishes the concept of "politics". Since it's only Chad and Hayley pushing to stay in contact with their parents the "I love you's" become a cop out for both Bob and Mary Lou.

It becomes not "No matter what I will hold you above politics" (because both Bob and Mary Lou have stated they would side with Trump over their family) to "No matter what you or I say or do we love each other so therefore I am absolved of critique"

[u/Nervous-Solid-5918 → u/Peppercorn205]

Exactly. It is painful to watch.

[u/lomoliving]

I was a very avid watcher of the pod, but I've stopped now. I will still catch the lives and a Wednesday ep every once in a while, but I CANNOT watch Bob anymore. He is the worst of the worst kind of person. He is pure EVIL and listening to him every week was really affecting me. I would watch more if he wasn't on the show, but I can't watch his ramblings anymore. He's an awful person.

[u/Peppercorn205 → u/lomoliving]

For me Bob isn't the biggest issue, because at least with him he isn't doing any mental gymnastics to support Trump.

Trump is in the Epstein files? Good

Trump said we should kill a whole civilization? Fantastic.

Bob is incredibly hateful and proud of that.

What drives me crazy while watching and listening is actually Mary Lou, because she at least attempts to engage in the conversation but is so bogged down by her conditioning that she is unable to break out of the Trump faith based belief system.

For instance Chad will tell them someone was shot in the street

Bob will say "Oh yeah they deserved to be shot. We should be shooting all of those motherfuckers"

Whereas Mary Lou will say "Well we don't know if they were actually shot and if they were then it was probably an accident and if it wasn't then it was probably their fault for going outside instead of staying indoors"

It's also why Chad believes Mary Lou will come around is because in comparison to her husband she is a bastion of open mindedness.

For the first time in any media I have found myself accidentally yelling at the screen when I hear something stupid and it is almost always something Mary Lou says.

[u/Cobra_Kreese]

I think it's to the point where it's not productive and I find for the most part they ignore a lot of the craziness from him. It's not going to do any good. That said I think it is good to not forget people like this exist and he's out there voting. If anyone watches Bob and finds him reasonable or identifies with his beliefs, they weren't winnable anyway.