How we form and defend stupid opinions | Bengt Washburn | TEDxUniversityofNevada

In this hilarious performance, comedian Bengt Washburn shows how we use the phrase "well that's what I heard" to form and defend stupid opinions about controversial topics like aging, global warming, racism, and swallowing spiders in our sleep. Bengt Washburn grew up in a large Utah town (1,200 people) as the fifth child in a small Mormon family (7 children). He and his wife, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, have lived in 6 different cities, (and 2 countries) over the last 16 years. Since Winning the San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 2001, Bengt has performed in 48 states and 10 countries and made appearances on Comedy Central, The Late Late Show with Craig Fergusen and Conan O’Brien. Most people who know Bengt would say he is a logistically impaired ditz, but his comedy is usually described as intelligent, surprisingly universal, and profoundly funny. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@moonsting]

Who's here after seeing him on drybar comedy? 😂 "Well that's what I heard" 😆

[@christopherscott3264]

“PAIR-A-DIG-UM SHIFT” 😆😂🤣

[@kashyapshirodkar7947]

Why is this guy so underrated!

[@cloelles]

This guy is great! Way funnier than most stand-up comedians on Netflix.

[@irongastelum6202]

I was just going to comment the same thing lol

[@Antigegner]

yes, he's underrated!

[@itguy6547]

Just recently discovered Bengt and I'm a big fan of the way that he approaches things and I'm happy that I'm finally hearing about him. Go Bengt!

[@MsKelmiller]

"...there in the spider belt." Lololol Love this dude.

[@rubywilcox7405]

My fav comic! I just love your style of intelligent humor and with this crowd, it seems like you took some really cool risks with topics!

[@pjmueller2221]

He's hilarious! Love his stand-up shows, wish there were more!

[@zeroedout]

His album in Spotify, Bengt Over In Europe is one of my faves

[@mrgrtd8447]

Eating cereal in front of the desktop, I blew milk all over the place watching this.

[@shawntapp3456]

Good clean comedian...👏

[@Aiyan777]

Funny dude! " How to clean a crime scene, how to hide a body!" 😆 Even funnier than on Dry Bar Comedy.

[@jfalbo]

Yep! I'm going on 55 and I never finish any

[@heidiWava]

Ha ha h..

[@BretSimmons]

Great job, Bengt! Hilarious, hilarious, hilarious - there, now folks will believe it.

[@SilencioG]

Thanks Bret!

[@pocahon8460]

Funny

[@sparkyspark964]

First saw him on dry bar comedy channel. He’s great 👍! ❤️💛💜💙💚❣️

[@lenethh-j8516]

Really good stuff.Just watched you on Dry Bar /KZbin. you look 20 years younger here. I love how you gave such a pleasant gentle introduction to the art of rhetorical argument. Many thanks. I'm stopping so I can search for some more of your vids.

[@NFOsec]

My GOD! This was by far one of my favorites of Bengt. He did a full Wash and Burn at this TEDx talk! I'm a fan of knowing how and when to address bias, but this brought a new life to my approach. Thanks Bengt!

[@christopherbic7688]

Wash and Burn!! That is hilarious. Praise GOD!!!

[@NFOsec]

@@christopherbic7688 I try. I just tell him I hope he doesn't get Bengt out of shape coming up with new material. Never a shortage that's for sure.

[@christopherbic7688]

@@NFOsec Brian, your try is more than try. You are amazing. Your comment is incredible. Carry on Sir. ML

[@yjcwoud3890]

Just discovered Bengt via the Guardian newspaper, what a great find! LOL.

[@steveouk90126]

He touches on an important difference between this and previous generations. The ability to form and retain long-term memories is diminished due to the omnipresence of connectivity--that is, why remember something when you can Google it or ask Alexa, Siri, etc.? That's part of the reason why younger folks are full of attitude but not information--they don't retain anything beyond the moment they use it. This is a recipe for disaster in the coming generations... Of course, for those of us who _can_ form and retain memories, this will be a goldmine for our futures.

[@rogersledz6793]

Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!

[@sherryt9152]

You’re so funny Bengt! I hope you get famous!!

[@tjcomedy]

Loved it! Really nice callbacks. Nailed it.

[@louiseforde5502]

Thank you so much!! You just made my day.

[@lukaspribyl9784]

"You got to keep learning, when you get older ... You have to unlearn, when you get old, and that's hard ... (unlearn) behaviour, that's the hardest." Yes, it is damn hard. It is also hard to realize that there is something to be unlearned.

[@bengtwashburn8585]

true- just realizing what you need to unlearn- sorting through all of it

[@Navin.R.Johnson]

Hilarious! Even the edgy stuff gets a laugh, which is hard to do these days.

[@brettneuberger6466]

Brilliant! That TV bit was so funny!

[@denengeakpera5867]

He got more laughs here than he did on dry bar. Very funny

[@datrandimtho6171]

Bro

[@heiheigrace6460]

I love almost everything he does.

[@christopherbic7688]

This talk is a culmination per say. He is serious with these serious people. HaHa

[@AineCoolshannagh]

Brilliant

[@oppositeofh8]

sorry it took until march 2024 to see this. bravo, Bengt! 😹😹😹😹😹 5/5 😻😻😻😻😻 5/5

[@deborahellison6579]

Dear Bengt....Where are you? I think you are hilarious and I can't find where to hear you.

[@SilencioG]

Hello Deborah! I’m starting to tour a little more now. I was staying home for most of the pandemic

[@storyaboutmosquitoes9441]

Where is this mans netflix special?

[@piercelouks8933]

I want him to come speak at my high school

[@newlifenowife3522]

why are you wasting your time in hhiigghh ssccooll.....

[@donwanna3906]

Quite possibly the funniest person from Utah. Now that I think of it, quite possibly the only funny person ever from Utah.

[@brenda324]

This guy is funny.

[@WendyBWilde]

I think a metal detector is a lovely, thoughtful gift. I'm confident Mackenzie Crook would agree.

[@oUncEblUnt420]

This is great I love his approach

[@carolinamendezhernandez7225]

The way this speech fits into today’s world health concerns situation!!!

[@martymcmannis6581]

He's great on dry bar. Same material

[@kepo1811]

I clicked because I notice the name is Bengt. The only Bengt I know is comedian. So I curious...

[@vernondecker9532]

Bengt is funny, that's what I heard, his dry bar special is better same material but refined I suppose.

[@TheEmbrio]

Has Trump watched this bit and taken the advice litterally ?!

[@travisrose8478]

This speech gave me cancer.

[@bengtwashburn8585]

How is your cancer? Better I hope.

[@matttrafton2725]

Why isn't he on Netflix? Must be the Scandinavian name. He is too white. If he wore a dress and was brown then perhaps....

[@ZA-wm6mm]

This guy is a comedian not a candidate for a TED talk