Steve Bannon | Philosophy Tube

[@PhilosophyTube]

patreon.com/philosophytube would be an excellent site to visit this month! This video is currently being incorrectly copyright claimed by a Canadian company, so I may lose the ad money off it. It's not a huge amount, but it makes a difference - especially since this video was my most expensive yet. If you've been thinking about signing up to help me on Patreon, now would be a great time!

[@chrismain3968]

Done! I love your work, Olly! Please keep doing what you do!

[@Arrakiz666]

And just like that, I'm already erect. Give me that C O N T E N T, KZbin Daddy!

[@d.rabbitwhite]

I understand that it was stated as 'incorrectly', yet I don't understand how a video titled steve bannon can be copyrighted.

[@artisticcrossbreed]

As a Canadian, I am sorry.

[@Arrakiz666]

Hey Olly, did Count Olaf from The Series of Unfortunate Events ever constitute a reference for the arsonist? Because that's who he reminds me of.

[@913zzzn]

"The exits are to the far left" is one of the most iconic lines you have ever written, truly.

[@TiagoMorbusSa]

That one sticks with me, for some reason :)

[@dias8726]

The Raddest Scorpion the match line was amazing

[@ValVonRhine]

I've watched this video soooooo many times, and I JUST GOT IT. 😖 I'm useless.

[@matiasgarciacasas558]

Dude this entire video is iconic

[@arachne6074]

I wanna like this comment, but the like count is at 666

[@AlexGardipe]

I'm still gushing over "Do you have a match?" Because it doesn't require you to agree or believe or anything, you just have to be willing to give the arsonist a chance and ignore the massive red flags in front of you. And then you're complicit because you wanted to trust someone who leveled with you about how little trust there is. Just. Guuuuuh, Abigail you are an amazing writer and creator!!!

[@scorchgid]

I watched it again another thing I missed about this video. The asking for a match is Bannon asking you to just support him and let him set the world on fire. I'm maintaining that this is the best PT video. Because there's always something I discover about the subtle messaging

[@-ed-ge-]

Honestly I can't believe the first time watching I didn't realize fire was an analogy for fascism. "You could even say I'm anti-fi.."

[@meat-teilung6861]

That is actually not Abigails writing, but from Max Frisch, whose book 'The Arsonists' Abigail references.

[@Zarsla]

I believe that the Arsonist, ask for the match in his other matches too.

[@devforfun5618]

@@-ed-ge- with all the stuff about smoking ? -smoking is cool -but it causes cancer -yeah, but it is still cool, lets discuss about the coolness

[@ContraPoints]

CONCERNS RISING

[@lolcatjunior]

Make a video on Jacque fresco and the venus project, or just Jacque Fresco.

[@kevandeg]

P R O B L E M A T I C

[@wdirtymonkey]

This video was bottled fire. Great cameos

[@TrevKen]

What's with the Corbyn Bashing?? Tell him, Contra, Corbyn has never blamed immigrants! (evidence please) Great video other than that.

[@theatheistpaladin]

CONCERNS INTENSIFIES!

[@Shoranos]

One of my favorite little things about the Arsonist: when he asks his questions, the answer he gets doesn't matter. It's about his response to those answers. It's about making the audience feel good about what they believe, regardless of what it is, so they feel like they have more in common with him, and give him more credibility.

[@bentaylor809]

Basically an English Ben Shapiro

[@terratorment2940]

@@bentaylor809 or an evil dora the explorer

[@squashfei8907]

... as long as they are white.

[@elegy8187]

Exactly, and this is clearly demonstrated through the reading of the horoscope too

[@killer0095]

The Arsonist is Abigail's best character by far, so charming, personable, and evil.

[@samtheeaglescout1490]

The tone and pacing of the Arsonist’s voice is what gets me.

[@jamesamala7371]

"fuel can be a lot of things, wood, paper, matches--" *"the society in which we live."* "Anything really!" *"everything potentially."*

[@comyuse9103]

i'll get a lighter

[@lemmonboy6459]

comyuse THATS NOT WHAT HE MEANT D:

[@pilarm.a.5976]

oh, so we *do* live in a society

[@jamesamala7371]

In light of recent events... Would anyone like to help me pour gasoline around the tories' houses?

[@comyuse9103]

@@jamesamala7371 i'm poor and live in america, so i'm always lookin' for a good out. you get me that sweet sweet citizenship and i'm down

[@piedpiper1185]

You can't fool me Ollie. That isn't a fireman costume. That's Freddy Mercury

[@charlx8979]

PiedPiper11 I WAS THINKING THIS THE WHOLE TIME

[@notbot2648]

Oh heck lol I just automatically assumed it was Mercury.

[@AlexLecorn]

No, you know it's a fireman costume because of the suspenders. ;)

[@daedreaming6267]

Now I wish that Ollie was in Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@FakeSchrodingersCat]

@@AlexLecorn Freddie Mercury wore suspenders quite a lot.

[@elliel.5915]

I love how the arsonist says that he doesn't really read the newspaper and that journalists are not to be trusted, and yet every time he appears in a video he's reading the newspaper

[@elliel.5915]

@@fruitygarlic3601 Ooooooh you're right, didn't think about that while watching Abi's latest video. I will always be here for more Arsonist lore.

[@pnutz_2]

it turns out papers are very good for starting fires

[@devforfun5618]

@@pnutz_2 and by paper we mean the news

[@Ian_sothejokeworks]

Almost like Trump saying he never watches , despite always knowing what they are saying about him.

[@yahyaehsan1164]

@@devforfun5618and by fire we mean facism

[@milkteamachine]

"He was probably so Chad that he shared a border with Cameroon" CRIMINALLY underrated joke.

[@winter20k67]

@Dan Holan chad as in the country, which borders the country of cameroon

[@Nanook128]

@Dan Holan Chad is a caricature of the stereotypical "alpha" male.

[@bryan.conrad]

How have you been on the internet for the last three years without brushing against the term Chad? No judgement, just wondering how you swam through the Hudson without ever smelling shit before.

[@marekwygnany924]

And a great resposibility on our shoulders liest To bring the saying into glory it deserve

[@HobGungan]

I had never heard it before Nat's Incel video, which predated this I believe (or at least I saw that before this)

[@randomavatar1625]

I can't get over how good this is, especially the Arsonist character. The horoscope thing really stands out, taking 'You must be someone very special' from simple mysticism in the same way fascism relies on a self appointed destiny. But the last 5 mins stands out the most, the man stockpiling chemicals, building a molotov (and not being polite and thanking the delivery man was a nice touch) wants a match and no one in their right mind would trust him, yet he's already laid the groundwork for compliance. Can't light up a cigarette without being called an arsonist, that's my right etc etc. So Good!

[@crucified_to_the_world]

It's only 45 minutes, but I still felt like it was weeks waiting for more of the Arsonist character because it's an excellent metaphor. Such a good piece of writing

[@BibleStorm]

Can't call someone a dirty jew without being called a racist? What has the world become?

[@emmyfarout2538]

@@crucified_to_the_world can you give me a quick explanation of the arsonist? i think i understand what he's a metaphor for but I'm not sure totally. is it that he's representing complacency? or subtle fascist indoctrination?

[@bolt_vanderhuge]

@@emmyfarout2538 Fire is a symbol of fascism, so an arsonist is someone spreading fascism, or just a plain fascist. He tries to lull you in by playing up the conversation and being friendly. He pretends to be poor and having lived a storied experienced life by lying all the time. He draws you in and tells you you're special, unique, and he seems a nice fellow so that feels like a special compliment. The fascist tells you you're worth more as a person than the archetypal 'other', that you may be predestined for a better place in the world. Then he asks for a match, and if you're naive enough to trust him or if you haven't been clued in yet, he threatens to burn down your home with you inside. If you invite a fascist in and give them power, you can lose everything. (Read up on the play The Firestarters for a more extended metaphor)

how is Steve bannon a fascist?

[@WadeWojcik]

The arsonist skit is just brilliant. I love how disarmingly charming your character is, drawing you into his spiderweb, as the scene slowly descends into horror. Reminds me of the psychiatrist scenes in Until Dawn.

[@Kiss_My_Aspergers]

Ooh, I like that comparison!

[@anarchogarfieldist1652]

This is my first ever video from him, and I'm in love steadfastly with his content.

[@jochenklausberger9076]

I am really reminded of the fire raisers by Max Frisch. A great book that I had to read in school and absolutely did not appreciate one bit but every so often I started thinking about it more and more. You should give it a go. It is rather short so a quick read as well.

[@hldr4345]

The nose tip though, so good

[@akirasaito1551]

The way he asked if we had a fire. It was just chilling

[@MCArt25]

"You wouldn't, by any chance, have... a match?" I've been watching this video time and time again, and this line still gives me goosebumps. Such fantastic acting, such fantastic writing, and it hits so hard and accurately that it makes you shiver every time. You've outdone yourself with this video, truly.

[@kenatodd1767]

I'm rewatching this again for the same reason

[@artistbervucci1716]

@@rickym6301 Not, in any world.

[@AnimatedStoriesWorldwide]

Can you imagine calling him Geordie man, 10000 years after he transitioned and can't be called a man in the present?

[@freddiet.rowlet525]

I love the little sneaky things in here "The exits are to the far left" "You might say I'm Anti-Fire"

[@couldntthinkofacoolname9608]

Is this what being dogwhistled to feels like?

[@IAMOzymandias]

@@couldntthinkofacoolname9608 I suppose. However these aren't dogwhistles that incite racist violence, hatred, prejudice and generally edgelord jokes that almost no one laughs at.

[@leoseling4413]

Aren't these really explicit, though? Sure, hard to catch, but hard to catch for everyone and once you do, you're not going to wonder what it means.

[@FakeSchrodingersCat]

@@leoseling4413 That's basically how dogwhistles of any kind work. If you get the reference they are usually very obvious and hard to mistake, it is only a mask against the general public who do not have a deep enough understanding to recognize the meme.

[@leoseling4413]

@@FakeSchrodingersCat My point is, even my mom would get "anti-fire"

[@Personal_Chizo]

A 10,000 year-old skull? Are we finally getting a Shaun cameo?

[@Personal_Chizo]

...oh no

[@tomhubl879]

@@Personal_Chizo same

[@Theo_Caro]

PLEASE.

[@CerealGamingTV]

WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE AND SKULLS

[@Jessica-vl7dr]

It didn't have sunglasses though

[@LividE101]

33:25 "Immigrants don't lower wages; bosses do" This sentence actually made me completely reconsider how we talk about the impact of immigration on the economy and economics in general. So thanks, I guess?

[@TheNightWatcher1385]

Then you’re easily swayed.

[@samueloak1600]

@@TheNightWatcher1385 why tho?

[@TheNightWatcher1385]

Samuel Oak Because it’s a silly sentence, and not really a solid point. The value of one’s labor is determined by three main things: 1) How rare your skills are. 2) How much you’re willing to sell your labor for. 3) How much others are willing to pay you for that labor. If there’s a saturation of unskilled labor in a market, unskilled labor is worth less and wages will drop or stagnate. That sentence tries to brush all that aside by basically just saying, “Don’t look at the policies driving your wages down, just blame your boss!”

[@regisglass5464]

@@TheNightWatcher1385 apologies but aren't those things based on what said bosses state is your value? I am a bit puzzled why you disagree by agreeing with the comment.

[@TheNightWatcher1385]

Regis Glass No. The value of something is a mutual agreement between an employee and an employer and tends to be an aggregate of the value of that labor across a market. It’s also a competition. If I want to sell my labor for 15 dollars, that’s my choice, but why would a boss, whose priority is to make a profit, hire me if the market is saturated with other workers willing to sell their labor for 10 dollars? So the original point is basically saying, “your boss is evil for making the most economically logical choice.”

[@SalRashiq]

Tell 'em, Abi.

[@yojelle1]

The golden one’s response to this video is absolutely hilarious. He starts out by saying that he hasn’t seen it because he’s “too busy”, but he assumes Olly called him some names. Then he calls Olly “physically inferior” and he says that anyone who criticizes him is just jealous of his big muscles. The video was only 3 minutes long but I couldn’t stop laughing for five minutes afterwards.

[@conorkelleher2571]

@@firstnamett4656 This dipshit pretends that Ollie is "Antifa-funded," so he can more easily dismiss him. You don't respond to childish whining.

[@AvalonisHere]

@@firstnamett4656 Survive The Jive offers no facts or reasoning. He nitpicks and puts words in Olly's mouth. He gives fascist dipshits (you) excuses to ignore this video.

[@zachfakelastname]

@@firstnamett4656 maybe try arguing it yourself instead of sending people to scripted videos that can hide there lies and twists behind clever language

[@zachfakelastname]

@@firstnamett4656 I literally just asked you to defend your point so I could argue with it and then you didnt do that, I really hooe you see the irony in that. You don't really say any thing that can be debated, you just state your opinion and act like it's up to every one else to prove you wrong, no one is going to waste there time going and watching another video just so they can argue with some dude on the internet. Tell us what they said in your own comment and you might get a response

[@thedudefromrobloxx]

@@firstnamett4656 my dude, take a look at yourself. I mean really do some introspection. Is this really worth it.

[@ChuckyMarks]

"All exits are to the far Left" Hell ya.

[@michaelcrockis7679]

"You even can say I'm antifire" :)

[@jonnymcjonjon8714]

Omg I just got it!

[@q.s.9810]

Bruh I’m stupid

[@alexscriabin]

speaking “anti-fire” with a British schwa-“-r” to sound like “antifa” is genius.

[@Azkadelya]

I absolutely love that the Posh Guy says, "That's the worst part, the FEAR." and then instead of talking about how terrifying it must be always waiting for the next fire, constantly in worry if you or your loved ones will go up next, starts talking about how it's bad for HIM. Because he doesn't like that some places have 'no smoking' signs up. Too real.

[@CamelDance]

'So chad he shares a border with Cameroon' That's it. Nothing in this video can top that joke

[@DarkPrject]

I actually didn't get that one. Mind explaining it?

[@Paulinemoke]

@@DarkPrject "chad" is an Incel term for very "masculine man who gets laid a bunch", but well, is also of course the name for the country "Chad" ;-) If you don't know what Incels are - good for you! Also check out Contrapoints video of the same title

[@gaybroshevik4180]

^found a virgin

[@chrisisteas]

​@@DarkPrject Other than the meme Chad, Chad is also a country that borders Cameroon. If you're confused about the Chad meme, I'd say google it.

[@DarkPrject]

@@chrisisteas right. Forgot there was a country called chad. Kinda obvious in retrospect.

[@Moro_Wins]

"If he was really so great he wouldn't have been born in a body susceptible to liver disease." Highlight of the video for me.

[@PhilosophyTube]

Hee hee, that's my favourite line too!

[@ILikedGooglePlus]

How can you have just one favourite line? Surely "You might say I'm Anti-fire", "And whether you believe that, or whetger you're correct, its a nice hottake", "Superfascist!", "Transcendentally male", and "In case there's a fire during tonight's performance, the exits are to the far-left" deserve equal credit as some of the best quotes on KZbin

[@rubykr]

I Like Google Plus “exits to the far-left” I CANT BELIEVE I NEVER NOTICED THIS ONE damn

[@moredetonation3755]

Also explains why Davis Aurini can take a dozen sips of whiskey and never imbibe a single drop

[@matthewkossolapov159]

"The exists are to the far left" - god damn it Oliver

[@Sternmann]

The one on the right is just a revolving door

[@alexsmith2910]

Awesome joke, Oliver.

[@User24x]

I don't get it. Exists?

[@c3r6s9]

@@User24x he means the way out of this awful system lies with the far left, politically

[@1980EW]

@@User24x Exits- The OP had a typo.

[@alethearia]

I love the "I'm not fascist, I don't worship the state" argument. It's like when my dad goes "I'm not in a cult. If I were in a cult I'd do everything that the leader told me." Like... he told you to say that so...

[@voidify3]

What cult is he in?

[@francookie9353]

@@voidify3 Omg, Karen, you can't just ask people what cult they're in. 😗

[@thedumbdog1964]

Your dad? What?

[@Gingersnaps_the_pumpkin_kitty]

@@voidify3 Trump cult of a lack of personality (probably)

[@OfficialROZWBRAZEL]

@@francookie9353 I understood that reference.

[@joachimmacdonald2702]

The basis of fascism in acknowledging that there’s a problem, but then blaming literally anything other than the system which causes it.

[@Reprodestruxion]

Joachim Macdonald or blaming the system but..... how to make the system more systematic? 🤔 💭 💭 💭

[@DeoMachina]

This is so true it's not even funny. There are some far-right loons I work with and they'll say the exact same shit as me, word-for-word, and then they zoom off to blame black people or jews for some reason.

[@Reprodestruxion]

DeoMachina I know more about to handle things than the people that handle things... I’d do the same but even more of it! Quote unquote

[@WerewolfofEpicness]

@@DeoMachina fascists are much like socially right liberals

[@minivergur]

@@WerewolfofEpicness fiscally liberal, socially conservative

[@Nkjin996]

pour one out for the gays that had never seen a Philosophy Tube video before and were absolutely NOT prepared for a hot guy in a discount porn parody fireman outfit to show up and distractingly explain the cultural effects of decreasing empathy on a societal scale (its me) (im gays)

[@amikae4470]

well you're in for a ride!, philosophy tube is all about that!...and philosophy too ig.

[@jose-qp4yz]

yeah i find it difficult to finish a philosophy tube video cos i get distracted by how attractive he is. like this fireman costume is making me think of things

[@clickhere2d1e]

When Olly said "your ass belongs to me" I felt that. We all felt that.

[@josephineparsons78]

But aren't we all just gays?

[@tobistein6639]

@@clickhere2d1e About 15 minutes in he does this fun little shoulder shrug thing that was particularly distracting

[@Advancedgod]

The choice of "Why do we build the wall?" is so good. They build the wall to keep out an enemy, but later in the song it is revealed that the only difference between "us" and "the enemy" IS the wall.

[@kennydreadfuls861]

The fact that it was written back in 2010 shows how long this sentiment has been building, and how short sighted the movement is. Building the wall is harmful to everyone.

[@griggerykimothy4865]

@@kennydreadfuls861 whose song is this?

[@pinkseonghwa]

griggery kimothy It from the musical Hadestown, written and composed by Anais Mitchell.

[@marinao4412]

I also like the video ending with asking for a match, just like hadestown

[@tenchimuyo69]

Perhaps also fertility.

[@robingwynn5380]

Maybe antifa should start referring to itself as the Volunteer Fire Department

[@robingwynn5380]

This is a joke that will be funny to a very specific cross-section of people

[@zakethekid1333]

@@robingwynn5380 I hate you.

[@felixeleutheria]

I HAVE BEEN THINKING THIS thank you

[@jazwhoaskedforthis]

VFD

[@ladygagarin1660]

If only there was a way that members could identify one another. Some sort of...tattoo, perhaps?

[@Mexie]

concerns have been raised about capitalism. the public knows what's going on. THEY'RE ENRAGED!

[@minivergur]

THEY SAY capitalism isn't only wholly incabable of combating climate change - but actually it's root cause 🤔

[@cool_sword]

@Abraham Lincoln dammb dude rely makes u thing!

[@mikkykyluc5804]

@@david21686 go beg your bourgeois masters for scraps like a dog then. meanwhile, us socialists will break our chains and build a new and better world.

[@david21686]

@@mikkykyluc5804 Actually, I'd rather train myself to develop skills that are in demand, and earn my scraps through consensual transactions. I'll also use market competition between "bourgeois masters" to ensure that I get the best possible scraps, while those very "bourgeois masters" are incentivized to produce greater quantities of high-quality scraps.

[@newfleshrecords]

​@@david21686you respond like a high schooler that just got caught smoking in the bathroom.

[@ILikedGooglePlus]

It's been a month since this video came out, and I've watched it quite a few times. Every single time, I notice another layer of detail. Not a single line or frame is wasted, everything brings something extra to the table

[@danatronics9039]

Such as the one slide of the boiled frog in the intro. Very clever.

[@sophia4740]

Danatronics what’s the boiled frog about?

[@dragoninatrenchcoat]

I never noticed the boiling frog before!! On my first rewatch what got me was "no smoking allowed in the theater". I literally said "Fuck you Oliver Thorn" out loud, glad I was home alone

[@j.yossarian6852]

@@dragoninatrenchcoat What does that mean for someone who it went over the head of?

[@dragoninatrenchcoat]

J.Yossarian The boiling frog is a reference to the saying that if you try to put a frog in boiling water it’ll jump away, but if you put it in cool water and slowly turn up the heat it’ll let itself get boiled

[@zasterahasalwaysbeenhere]

cannonically, this takes place after the Ben Shapiro episode

[@mirdalan]

Why do you say that? What puts it ahead of the Shapiro video?

[@gamebrainthinks1613]

@@mirdalan the arsonist mentions a house of a family of 4 buring down. He even mentions 2 little girls. Tom Bentley had 2 little girls, so I think it was his house

[@whotoldyouthisurl]

@@gamebrainthinks1613 "get gent, Tom Bently"

[@ridleysomeliana-lauer5814]

@@gamebrainthinks1613 he also mentioned a nasty fire in the Ben Shapiro episode, so I think this takes place first. If there is a canon there is.

[@ZappBranniglenn]

Which is a bummer because now we won't get the debate with Ben Shapiro where Olly plays Tom Gently if Tom is dead.

[@kaos922]

"You wouldn´t, by any chance, happen to have...a match" This line gave me literal chills. The character is so perfectly crafted, amazing work Abbie.

[@tamarbeker1701]

Abbie*

[@kaos922]

@@tamarbeker1701 thanks updated my old comment.

[@tamarbeker1701]

@@kaos922 thanks! I like it when the internet agrees to listen instead of starting a fight

[@kaos922]

@@tamarbeker1701 no reason to fight. She wasn´t out yet when I wrote the comment, you reminded me, I updated. No skin off my back. PS: transphobes can fuck all the way off.

[@tamarbeker1701]

@@kaos922 totally. Absolutely. I wholeheartedly agree with every word.

[@kattitude130]

this is my first philosophy tube video and im only 5 minutes in but i think im attracted to men now is that normal edit: now i could wonder if i’m attracted to women LOL but the truth is i am aromantic asexual and happy with it. it has been fun seeing all the replies and assumptions made, trans rights everyone

[@xRockLobster75x]

Pretty much, yeah.

[@nevergreen4219]

Yes

[@bulshock1221]

With Olle? Yeah, pretty normal.

[@EduardoHerrera-fr6bd]

you are a healthy

[@IAmKrego]

I'm a cisgender heterosexual male and I would absolutely have a non-platonic drink with Olle to see if there was anything there. :P

[@breandadavis3168]

"In case of a fire, the exits, are to the far left..." Goddammit you're so clever.

[@echowoods7977]

especially when you think about the fire = fascism allegory used throughout the video

[@MorganCPaige]

Breanda Davis that was a good one

[@sarahgraves6759]

Damn I didn't catch that.

[@abdallahshakeel7036]

@@sarahgraves6759 me neither it was a pretty subtle

[@GrahamChapman]

One-thousandth thumb up... Never seen the transition from "999" to "1tn" before... Anyway, yes, I agree with you.

[@maddiebarraclough7812]

For anyone wondering about the song, 'How We Build The Wall' by Anais Mitchell, a song from the musical Hadestown - it was not, at the time it was written, intended to be a reference to Trump. It was written 2006-2011 and is, very generally, as is this video, about fascism and its exclusion narrative. (However, Anais Mitchell and the producers of the musical have embraced the new political context in which the song's lyrics are... eerily familiar... and Hadestown, a version of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in which Hades is a fascist mine owner and Eurydice is an impoverished worker, has been edited to have a more overtly political message. Not all of the new lyrics exist online yet, but hopefully soon.)

[@TwentySeventhLetter]

that's frankly a fucking magical accident

[@maddiebarraclough7812]

@@TwentySeventhLetter oh it sure is, but Trump is far from the first to suggest building a border wall. In American politics it could be a reference to John Jay or Steve King, or it could be playing off historical walls like the Great Wall of China or Hadrian's Wall

[@gwacie98]

God I love Hadestown- I’m going to go see it in May and I am Beyond Excited

[@christopheringram1605]

Billy Bragg also does a version which I like very much

[@XenaBe25]

@@christopheringram1605 I'm madly googling old Laibach tunes right now. "Build the Wall" reminds me of some of their songs. I can't quite put my finger on which one (s) in particular might have been a strong influence. Imma check out BB's version of the song shortly :)

[@princecookies]

Damn, going through and looking at your old content, you pay trans people a great deal of attention, and mention us in many more places than another creator may mention us. At the time, I read this as just really, really inclusive, which to be fair, it is, but I feel like you were dropping us some dummy thicc hints and we all just missed them lmao

[@piedpiper1185]

Honestly, I started watching around when this video came out and I thought that (s)he was born female-trans to male because of all the trans rights mentions he dropped. I was slightly surprised when turned out to be the opposite.

[@what-uu3zn]

In one of her other videos the arsonists newspaper reads that a family was saved by a transgender firefighter

[@jazwhoaskedforthis]

I thought that PT was just being very inclusive and a good ally for the trans friends they (SHE) had in the YT space. Turns out Abby was LURKING.

[@General12th]

If she was dropping hints, I think they were subconscious. Even she didn't know about them at the time.

[@voidify3]

@@piedpiper1185 lmao yeah, my dad was like "is philosophy tube a trans man? talks about trans ppl a lot" after watching this video and i was like "nah" at the time but then she came out as a trans woman

[@NickTheGrimace]

"Died like a cuck." God damn the number of incredible 6 second clips in the episode is unbelievable

[@justbeyondthecornerproduct3540]

I love how 10,000 years later, Lady Foppington's descendant is still obsessed with skull shape.

[@makari8884]

this is the best comment!

[@gibblet7041]

Hey man, she got around alot, eventually one of them would have.

[@TalkingSoup]

it must needs be remarked that this comment is solid gold

[@justbeyondthecornerproduct3540]

@@TalkingSoup Thanks very much!

[@justbeyondthecornerproduct3540]

@@makari8884 Thank you!

[@christopherwilliams6848]

Having watched this a few times, there's something I've overlooked in the video before, but I actually really like, around 17:18. Notice when Mr. Arsonist talks about the climate of fear surrounding the arson attacks, he doesn't mention the actual arson at all. What he criticises are the people who are calling others arsonists, people who are overzealous, to be sure, but not actually hurting anyone. Unlike the arsonist himself. I think the parallels speak for themselves. Love it.

[@MorganCPaige]

Skulduggery Peasant beautiful, the L A Y E R S

[@theroadstopshere]

The "better keep buying more newspapers and shitting on trans people" joke hits different now 😂 An absolute classic of a video on the way fearmongering and clever language are used to draw people into a worldview and radicalize them, and that cover of "Why We Build The Wall" sends shivers down my spine. It's so cheesy, but so good for that. Abby really made a great video here, and it's kind of funny seeing how well she pulled off the super-masculine firefighter look and the classic masculine suit knowing what we know now.

[@Hipsternebula]

i cannot believe how good your character work is. like truly the arsonist's monologue scenes were blisteringly good, and that script wouldn't be out of place as a classic audition monologue also that fireman outfit is definitely a keeper

[@Hipsternebula]

@@soumilroy thank u for noticing 😔🙏

[@HobGungan]

Not gonna lie, probably gonna be using the Arsonist scenes for my next audition

[@noahlindeman1875]

I know there are already a bunch of comments on it, but the amount of detail in the Arsonist's writing is fantastic and I wanted to gush. The references to fascist talking points and tactics are so fast and clever I had to re-watch like five times to catch them all. At different points, The Arsonist subtly (and not so subtly) 'out-groups' every fascist boogeyman to the viewer; journalists, college students, socialists, transgender individuals, and the 'Jewish Elite' are all referenced throughout his segments. Another great running storyline is how he brings the viewer around on Bannon. The Arsonist immediately undercuts every disparaging comment he makes against Steve Bannon, revealing his true intentions. His line about Bannon being popular among the white working class serves double duty as an 'appeal to popularity' fallacy, and as an 'in-group' signifier for the listener. This is culminated brilliantly with the cigarette metaphor. The Bannon protest story shows how how fascist ideology is often masked by cries of "freedom!", and how opinion can be turned around on marginalized groups. Together, this allows The Arsonist to hit the talking point of "I know [this person] is bad, but you and I both know who the real enemy is," with terrifying panache. Additionally, the various now-unverifiable-due-to-fire jobs The Arsonist held serve to give all his statements an air of authority (another commonly used logical fallacy), pulling the naive into his claims. This is bolstered by the continuous camaraderie be builds with the viewer through inclusion, confession, and outright flattery. His response to the viewer's 'answer' about their religious beliefs would apply to to a polytheist or an atheist equally, revealing the manipulatively impersonal nature of The Arsonist's agreement. This is also done in the preceding horoscope bit, which itself is notable for the quick advice to distrust old friends and lovers, as they may be talking about you behind your back. Even before he starts talking about heavier fascist ideas, the arsonist already sows distrust in anyone but him. The whole video is wonderful, hilarious and informative, but I am awed by the amount of commentary and opportunity for analysis you put into The Arsonist.

[@Crawver]

I've seen a few people in the comments enjoy the arsonist, but miss what he really was trying to demonstrate. This comment right here, demonstrates and has put it into better words than I would have thought possible.

[@mduckernz]

Wow! Great analysis! Well done 🤗

[@koboldcatgirl]

I think the most fascinating thing about the Arsonist-and we saw this again in the abortion video-is that ultimately, he's genuinely a fairly banal person on his own. Every now and then, his careful politicking gives away to blatant ill-concealed emotion, such as when he's fretting about the enemy destroying "everything that we've built", or his transparent hunger when he asks you for a match. He also clearly just doesn't understand a lot. Here, he confuses "socialism" and "communism". In the abortion video, he almost loses his cool several times, and you see his twisted, fumbling logic for what it really is-a load of emotion-driven fallacies about his "right" to a family, his twisted ideas of the "right to life" and what it what means. He's every bit as small-minded and inane as every other fascist. The real secret of the Arsonist is that while he's very good at his job, he's not actually some cool movie mastermind. He's deeply foolish, deeply ignorant, and his ideas *are* doomed to collapse beneath their own weight if he gets the chance to implement them. The question is never "is he right?", but "can we stop him before he burns everything down?" (Also, I notice now the callback-a family of four, with two little girls. Sneaky, Olly.)

[@NiflJonne]

Neat comment. Don't forget the hint at the barnum effect in the horoscope bit, or maybe that is just me reading that into it. ; ]

[@NiflJonne]

@@xamthe3rd I missed that

[@ethanrichmond3992]

Notice when the video cuts to the Arsonist. When Olly mentions something burning, we see him for the first time. After Olly says that Bannon's "ideas can be appealing", we cut to the Arsonist further trying to relate to the audience and appeal to them. When Olly says that Bannon is selling a story, we cut to the Arsonist telling us more, talking about how he was a former lecturer. When Olly notes that we may not be the first to smell the smoke, the Arsonist returns (also note how, unrelated, the Arsonist's philosophy about trans people is the same as Yer Dad's from the Transphobia video). And finally, when Olly says that Bannon will not overtly tell you fascism is the answer, we see the Arsonist for the final time, arguing to get rid of "firefighters", and finally trying to get you on his side once and for all. This video is great. I keep returning to it, it's so full of meaning and symbolism.

[@xRockLobster75x]

I totally agree! While I love all of Olly's recent videos, I feel this is certainly the "tightest" video that's not about his personal experiences. The writing, visual storytelling, and performances (especially of the Arsonist) keeps me coming back again and again.

[@Whosaskin]

The Arsonist is certainly an entertaining character.

[@MrRoyalKiller1]

@@trellabrella9903 While I agree with you (Gladdic is being silly), be careful with the 'echo chamber' thing. Echo chambers are gradational, not binary; to an extent all ideologies are echo chambers, with some being more, and some less extreme. Let us be glad we find ourselves in the right (left) one ;)

[@Feonixpreator]

I was hooked by 'Steve, the color of your soul is between you, and god. But your ASS belongs to me'

[@UCH6H9FiXnPsuMhyIKDOlsZA]

Cuts back to the Arsonist calling for investigation into firefighters while making a Molotov cocktail, no less.

[@xiricada7121]

I’m old and trying to learn here, so apologies if this sounds insensitive. After seeing the “coming out” video, it’s amazing how Abigail was right there, in front of my eyes, and I was struggling to see her - like something was “off”. It makes completely sense that she was “trapped” on that bad job. She was always there, using a different voice and hair style, like a badass actress, acting all her way through... Keep fighting, girl!

[@alexwallace6904]

Just seeing this, but this is so incredibly wholesome. I’m glad that you are learning, and bettering your understanding of things!

[@shugafoo2847]

I am so glad to see old folks who break the steriotype of being transphobic and homophobic, thank you very much!

[@Summer-uq1vr]

Im young and also trying to learn and its nice to know we have the time to work together, if that makes sense?

[@kakonthebed]

Based grandad/grandma 💖

[@fourlightsorchestra]

I believe you're only "old" when you're out of touch with the art and ideas currently going on in the world. You may have been here longer than some folks, but judging from your comment, ya ain't "old"!

[@CervantesVI]

"Family of four, burned alive. Two little girls and their mother and father, burned to a crisp." This section has an even more sinister layer to it now that Olly's Ben Shapiro video exists.

[@beruman]

oh shit you're right

[@soupsoup4245]

Oh no.

[@couldntthinkofacoolname9608]

The Philosophy Tube Cinematic Universe is getting heavy. MCU could never

[@theocean1973]

@@couldntthinkofacoolname9608 this...IS A SEQUEL.

[@kylewatson4193]

@@theocean1973 Nah, the Ben Shapiro video is a PREQUEL

[@ratguy101]

I actually found the "posh former lecturer" character to be the most interesting part of this video. The idea of people claiming to be "reasonable, open-minded centrists" while slowly turning into "arsonists" without even realizing was super interesting. That's pretty much how Steve Bannon works. He's not the fuel, he's the accelerator.

[@PhilosophyTube]

Hah, it's interesting you read him as slowly turning into an arsonist - in my mind he was the arsonist all along and just a barefaced liar trying to trick you! That's why everywhere he claims to have worked has burned down, and why he tells lies about himself like growing up without advantages when he clearly had loads!

[@ratguy101]

@@PhilosophyTube Well, if you watch Bill Maher's interview with Milo(undoubtably a "fire accelarant" himself), you'll notice some eerie similarities. Maher is initially wary to side with his guest, but quickly starts to find shared opinions on "free speech" and the left's supposed "overreaction" to right-wing(read: fascist) thinkers. By the end of it, he's pretty much just siding with Yiannopolous entirely, going so far as to agree with his (entirely wrong) take on transgender people using the washroom. If you had asked Maher wether he supported the alt-right at any point, he would have sincerely said no. But his actions, conscious or otherwise, are helping the arsonists either way.

[@steampunker7]

​@@PhilosophyTube From my own perspective, I think either read of the character is valid. He may indeed be a representation of the kind of wolf in sheep's clothing who knows damn well he's peddling poison and the exact sales pitch needed to move product. He may also indeed the kind of well intentioned but intellectually isolated soul simply passing on the poison and picking up just a bit of it himself every time he does. Not that long ago I had a falling out with a friend of mine. Good guy, smart, funny, decent fellow. I started noticing though in his FB posts some worrying things. First it was showing support of Gamergate. Then griping because Battlefield V was going to have female playable characters and that "historically inaccurate. Then raging about how "feminism was ruining gaming. Then cheering because he was going to "own cucks" in a game. Then bitching about how an article brought up and chided TotalBiscuit's involvement in Gamergate. Then cheering when a female developer for Guild Wars was let go after a minor spat with a poster during an online Q&A session (apparently her making a crack about having something "mansplained" to her was deeply offensive to him.) Final straw came when he posted up something about Nazis not existing on his wall and we had it out. All the while of course he would claim he was all for women in gaming (he even made female avatars himself you know.) At one point in our discussions he even repeated that "feminists are trying to make men irrelevant" line by quoting Kathleen Kennedy out of context and reading into her statements. But inch by inch, step by step, I watching him slowly but surely parrot and then adopt Alt-Right talking points until it came to a head. And even when I posted articles up showing, very clearly, that yes there ARE still both self described and in all but name Nazis still around today he did everything he could to loophole his way around or say they "weren't actual Nazis." But that's what I saw as well in your lecturer character. That gradual creep towards a fascist mindset that he himself might not even be fully aware he's doing. True indeed some folks that drift to the far right were already, at their core, fascists in the making. But equally true are those who end up there because they either can't or won't hold the mirror up to themselves and see what they are becoming.

[@MCArt25]

@@PhilosophyTube that was my take as well. He is one of the Arsonists from Frisch's play, except unlike those, he's never so cross as to announce that he is, in fact, an arsonist.

[@Arrakiz666]

@@ratguy101 Side note, but the whole Milo story is just so incredibly sad. Like I know he's a vile monster, but in the end it really wasn't us who killed his career, it was the right. As we've all told him, again and again, as a flamboyantly gay man, he can only ever be a useful idiot who's gonna get dropped like a hot potato at the slightest hint of trouble.

[@muhammadmirshkk1251]

love how he didn't have the match himself but asked for it. genius

[@sean2734]

I’m very dense. Why is it genius? Is it because fascists need to recruit people less extreme for them to be effective?

[@muhammadmirshkk1251]

@@sean2734 because it perfectly concludes the fire metaphor he is using this whole video. showing how the advocates of fascism like Bannon are the accelerators of the fire, the true igniters are the rage-fueled recruited (contributing to the said metaphor myself) and it's them who are the igniters of the devastating fire that is fascism (the arsonist doesn't have the match, people do,). this, combined with the story earlier about the cigar-smoking man associated with arson (how even these little sparks of people can be powerful. and the arsonist is misguiding these sparks), by literary standards, masterful. although by explaining the metaphor I might've ruined it, like ruining a joke.

[@thomasneal9291]

@@sean2734 it's because populist REQUIRE gullible marks to GIVE THEM the power, that's the genius of it. the best ones don't TAKE power... they have it thrust upon them by gullible rubes, anxious to be a part of the story they were told. and by now, you should think this sounds familiar... because it's basically the way every religion in the world operates, and always has.

[@gamingtime9716]

@@muhammadmirshkk1251 It is through discussion of a metaphor that you can analyze its strengths, though. The arsonist is himself a match. One of my favorite lines from him is that he says that he was not born into any privilege, completely ignoring his race (white fragility). He is one of the rage-fueled recruited, going through the icons of neo-liberal society and leaving a trail of flame in his wake.

[@benschmitt7035]

@@sean2734 he used the match already

[@aegis_knight]

For future reference/compilation for all you drama/theater kids and me: 3:29 (First scene) 9:39 Have you heard about these arson attacks? Dreadful. Simply dreadful. Here, it says a family of four burned alive. Two little girls, and a mother and a father charred to a crisp and they have no idea who did it. Mind you, I hardly ever read the newspapers and load of old nonsense most of the time. I never met a journalist I could trust but just occasionally I do like to indulge. I like to read the horoscopes. What's your sign? Oooh, let's see what the future has in store. "With mercury in retrograde, your energies are depleted. Beware of old friends or lovers who may be mocking you behind your back. You will strive for success, but until you make a breakthrough in yourself you will not attain it. Powerful energies swarm around you, by paying the proper attention you can learn to harness them." Mmm, you must be somebody very special. 17:19 Tsk, awful. It's produced such a climate of fear, don't you think? That's the worst part: the fear -- the suspicion. A chap can't walk down the street smoking a cigarette these days without being accused of being an arsonist. I say if I want to smoke a cigarette, that is jolly well my right as a free man. But light up in some places these days and people will yell, "Arsonist! Arsonist!" Take this chap Steve Bannon -- I mean, dreadful chap, don't misunderstand me. Simply awful the things he says, most of the things he says. Although you can't deny his popularity, particularly amongst the white working class. I'm a travelling salesman, so I get about a fair bit -- listen to a lot of people, real salt of the Earth people. I grew up very poor: no advantages in life whatsoever, so I've spent a lot of time around hard workers, know how they think. Do you believe in God? No need to say anything; I see the look on your face. I think that's a very brave stance, if I may says so. I think that's the best stance one can take on questions theological. Not many people would. And this chap Bannon, dreadful chap. But here's an article *chuckles* here's an article about Steve Bannon lighting a cigarette at the Oxford student union and somebody called the fire department! They had people in the streets yelling "Arsonist! Arsonist!" just for lighting a cigarette! 25:10 Apparently, most of the protestors outside Bannon's speech at Oxford were typical students. Idealistic. Socialist. Oh yes, a surprising number. As if they don't know that socialism/communism killed...I don't know how many hundreds of millions of people? I used to be a lecturer so I know students quite well. I was a lecturer at London Saints University, years ago. Awful tragedy with the library at London Saints. All the books up in smoke. 35:52 Apparently, they arrested one of the ringleaders of the Oxford protest. Some transgender boy. Or, or girl? I don't really understand that whole thing myself; I mean, I'm not a bigot. I'm quite willing to call people by whatever name, you know, but I don't understand why they make such a fuss? These activists, they demand that you not merely tolerate...but believe as well. It's Orwellian. Orwellian. I was young and brave too once, but never made that sort of fuss in my day. As I say, I grew up very poor, still almost penniless to this day. I was a waiter. Before I was a lecturer, before I was a travelling salesman, a waiter at a luxury restaurant in Piccadilly. Did you ever visit the hotel Mill and Smith? Magnificent, gorgeous establishment. This was all years ago, of course. Terrible what happened to that place; apparently, it started in the kitchen. Somebody left the stove on. All those people...not to mention the furniture! Although that was an experience, let me tell you, waiting tables at the Hotel Mill and Smith! You see the way the other half lives. All dressed up in their finest, nattering away. You're closer to the center of power in a restaurant in Piccadilly than you are if you were in the front row of the Commons, let me tell you. The extravagance with which the elites of the world operate, the circles in which they move, the amount of shekels changing hands...it is extraordinary. 39:34 Ah, thank you ever so much. Would you mind putting that over there with the others? You can leave this if you like. Can I offer you a drink? No? Very healthy for you. I don't know what the world's coming to these days. Nobody trusts anybody anymore, what with these arson attacks. To be perfectly frank, I think there's something fishy going on. I mean, who appoints these so-called firefighters? Who are they accountable to? Running around, breaking down doors, covering their faces -- bullying people for something as small as not changing the batteries in a smoke alarm! I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if there were one or two firefighters working with the arsonists. I like you. I feel like we've known each other for a long time. We're a dying breed, you and I. The world is changing. Seems like everywhere you look, flames are beginning to rise. And we have to be so careful not to lose everything we've built! I say...you wouldn't by any chance happen to have...a match?

[@MorganCPaige]

We might not be able to smell the smoke, so we should probably listen to those who can. HOLY SHIT THAT POINT GAVE ME CHILLS AM I CRYING?

[@chada4806]

It reminded me of Mrs. Schachter from the book: Night.

[@corbiecrow9738]

Na the smokes in your eye's

[@johnny--guitar]

I think the most terrifying line in the whole video is "would you put that one over there with the others?". The arsonist, no matter how much you try and stop him, *already has what he needs.* Even if you don't buy into his words, it doesn't matter. He already has the power, and he *will* use it. All that matters now is whether you support him, or start putting out fires.

[@draxiss1577]

I did *not* pick up on that 'shekels changing hands' dogwhistle The Arsonist does. It's incredible.

[@keegisuvakas6847]

eeh i didn't get that joke can you help?

[@draxiss1577]

@@keegisuvakas6847 It's not really a joke, per se. It's an antisemitic dogwhistle, and having The Arsonist slip such dogwhistles into his speech about how knowing how The Elites lives allows hims to imply that jews=rich=GLOBALIST CONSPIRACY THEORY. The Arsonist is trying to send the viewer down fascist conspiracy theory rabbit holes.

[@carmensimons5676]

Just to clarify shekel=Israeli currency

[@CommanderKatelyn]

@Callie Johnson yeah, it's pretty much what you said. The arsonist character is a direct metaphor to the real world fascists who use obfuscation to spread propaganda. He openly derides antifire, ie antifascists, for blowing the whistle on seemingly innocuous behaviours that could cause a fire, and claims they are working with the arsonists, a parallel to how fascists will claim their fascistic behaviours are, in fact, not fascistic, and also claim antifa are the real fascists for calling out when notable figures spread the fire, so to speak. Also I'm fairly certain the "all those books up in smoke" line is a reference to book burnings, not accidental ones caused by chance fires but rather the intentional type that fascist regimes tend to be fond of utilising to control the discourse.

[@egg5188]

@Callie Johnson I know I'm really late, but I wanted to add on. The arsonist is a character like Steve Bannon, which is not just an "I'm not a fascist, but..." character. The arsonist is a powerful manipulator whose messages become more potently fascist the more they can get you to believe. The "I'm not a fascist, but..." guy is very surface level, trying to just develop interest and spur doubt. The arsonist is probably best summed up like this "I believe the modern world has stripped society of many important values. I am not a fascist, I just doubt some of the power structures that exist. I believe in a simpler time, one without such manipulation and corruption. I am a traditionalist and if a rationally skeptical traditionalist is defined as a fascist, then I suppose all good people are fascist. If you believe in morality, you should be fascist too." Each step feigns reasonability, drawing one closer in with lies based on oversimplification, until inspiring existential doubt about fascism, ironic use of the title as a stance against society, and unironic support of unabashed fascists. This is close to Hannah Arendt's idea of the Banality of Evil, which is that fascism happens when people living under a fasciat government just 'do their jobs.'

[@IDFK531]

This is truly, in my humble opinion, the best video Phil' Tube has ever made. I watch it again every few months and every time I do I get a different message from it, I still notice new things in it even now more than a year later. The first time I watched this I didn't even catch "Immigrants don't lower wages; bosses do" it just went right over my head, the first time I watched this I was far-right wing, now I'm anarchist and I got a different viewing experience at every point on the political spectrum between those two points. It helped bring me out of the right and I hope it can help more people that were the way I was.

[@clorofolle]

Oh wow! I know this comment is old, but if you see this and still watch this vid every now and then -- do you remember what your first reaction to it was? Or what really struck you and helped you reconsider your views? I often wonder if these videos actually help peeps stuck in the far right every now and then, and I'm so glad this one did it for you.

[@PalomaDreams17]

Broke: transgender man Woke: TRANSCENDENTALLY MALE

[@bigburd875]

Asended: *femail'int*

[@LithiumThiefMusic]

@@bigburd875 I believe you mean "bespoke"

[@charliemcqueen2023]

Most woke:Cheese man

[@kyle-silver]

Baroque: Lady Foppington

[@hahdhsjsjrkfn]

Yikes

[@MorganCPaige]

I laughed out loud at the “selection of whites” stock photo and will be using that often now, thanks for that

[@TheDrTwist]

Rewatching this makes me fully realize that Olly writes a killer freaking script. The villain asking if we have a match is freaking brilliant. using the fire=fascism metaphor and the smooth talking fascist using subtle language to draw others into the fold.

[@hannibalholmes7876]

He based most of the arsonist theme on a play called The Arsonists (Biedermann und die Brandstifter in it's original German). I had to read it for 10th grade German class for the first time and I absolutely hated it. I didn't understand what it was about and why everyone was acting so absurdly stupid. Having lived in the US for a year I had some interesting conversations with insane republicans. That combined with this video made me actually realize what the book was about. 10/10 would recommend. Also, dear Mr. King, the deep state is not going to take over, and even if it did your guns wouldn't help. No, having tonnes of guns among the German population would not have prevented the whole Nazi thing, those guys were voted in you fucking moron. Sincerely, fuck off. (This was a rant lol)

[@emmawalter5433]

"The exits are to the far Left" "You might say I'm anti-fire" "Selection of whites"😂

[@darthlynx5792]

What does "selection of whites"

[@emmawalter5433]

@@darthlynx5792 She's implying that when the British Nationalists say "Native British People" they are referring to Bretons, Picts, Celts, Anglo-Saxon, Vikings, and Normans; a group which oddly includes invaders from the European continent, but not refugees and other people of color brought to what is now the UK by circumstance or by force. In other words in order to be actually British, your ancestors have to be Northern and Central Europeans. That said a group of various white wines can also be called a "selection of whites" which is the joke she's making.

[@darthlynx5792]

@@emmawalter5433 Ohhh thanks

[@apinakapina]

It took me several times watching to get the "exits to the far left" line. Brilliant!

[@crouchingslavhiddenvodka1814]

"Today, we're gonna learn all about fire. Boy there sure is a lot of that around these days" *Confused Australian Screaming*

[@fruitygarlic3601]

*weeps in Californian gender reveal*

[@lars7935]

laughs in exploding forrest

[@anone.mousse674]

*screams in Oregonian confusion*

[@apeacebone6499]

gurgles in Washingtonian passive-aggression

[@GoErikTheRed]

Ah the good ol' days. Back when we considered a continent on fire to be noteworthy

[@Sajirah]

“I fight fires. You could say I’m anti-fi-“ *stares at camera* Not gonna lie, I completely missed that joke the first time around.

[@bignate2814]

I've missed so much stuff the first time. It's making me want to rewatch his videos

[@SuperUnleash]

@@bignate2814 an example of how thick and easily led left leaning people tend to be.

[@notrod5341]

@@SuperUnleash If you say so mate.

[@MesaAufenhand]

@Redswimmer28 no no THICC

[@SuperUnleash]

@Nspnspker ha! i am a former raging leftist , yet in time saw the folly in such one dimensional thinking. living and working in different countries meeting and talking to hundreds of different types of people, coupled with decades of study , when all is said and done ,i have come to the realisation that the hard left attracts below average iq people, where as middle of the road left wing ideals seem to attract average iq people .I very rarely come across any lefty with fresh ideas or thought processes of their own .high intellect left wing thinkers are few and far between ,all i see is regurgitation of dogma. Obviously there are the odd anomaly ,they are indeed refreshing in a world of mediocre myopic simpletons .

[@Syncopiia]

Don't know if you were trying to make this point, but one of the things your last bit where he asks for a match made me think of stochastic terrorism. A lot of modern fascists like to set the stage up for other more radical people to finish the dirty work. Or say, asking 'innocent questions' with obvious terrible implications/subtext, so they'll fill in the blank and radicalize themselves and feel that they came to their new position on their own. Saying things like 'somebody should do something about these people', to an audience that is sure to have just a few nutjobs who just need a little push to be made hostile and violent.

[@CorruptPianist]

Our President here in the states does plenty of that. A mayor almost got kidnapped by armed domestic terrorists.

[@jamiel6005]

This comment is suddenly very relevant since Donald Trump Jr just called for a civil war...

[@funnyvalentinedidnothingwrong]

@@growsitwell Source: _Dude Trust Me_

[@anomienormie8126]

yess I was thinking this too!

[@rainbowevil]

@@growsitwell not that IQ is a good indicator of much at all, but the average IQ *definitionally* cannot be anything other than 100... Seems like someone’s not as bright as they would like to think.

[@vedantthapar3666]

“He was then reincarnated as Davis Aurini” actually caused me to burst out laughing

[@halokirche2261]

Olly: *wearing a tank top* "anti-fire" Me: Smitten

[@XandraHomes]

Halo Kirche my bisexual butt just thought the same

[@swanstarr1441]

@@XandraHomes yeah me too

[@RyuKyu.77]

Bisexuals taking the W even after her transition, WE ADAPT, OVERCOME AND SURVIVE. Holy crap she was hot even in her cis days

[@basil5510]

So... you are saying that we should become some kind of "Voluntary Fire Department"? 👁️

[@Max-nk9xg]

some kind of anti-fire activists

[@OlPalJoe]

You're my friend now

[@Qorelin]

So that's it? What, we're some kinda Voluntary Fire Department?

[@otterhero6229]

Ee that's exactly what I thought when the video started.

[@valridagan]

Don't you mean "Volunteer"?

[@maxnaiman9606]

Oliver Thorn’s use of metaphor and theatrics elegantly illustrates controversial and thought-provoking views on politics and current events. His use of costumes, props, and charismatic characters sets the stage to take on topics such as facism, free speech, and populism through the lens of philosophical reasoning. The content is both engaging and relevant; I greatly enjoyed this video and look forward to more videos by Philosophy Tube.

[@ee-np1pb]

uwu.

[@obliviousotterI]

It really tickles me when people structure youtube comments like high school english essays

[@saulo4302]

A+++ I'm Very Proud!/10 Would assign again.

[@WendingWind]

might delete later idk

[@jacobfike3697]

The "transcendental male" shot is like 3x funnier now

[@tamarbeker1701]

Yep.

[@tamarbeker1701]

Although, it *was* said by a character of a trans guy, so it technically still works

[@ughwhydoidothisendme8477]

Fun fact: the song "Why We Build A Wall" is part of a musical called Hadestown that has just won a tony for best musical, direction, and score. The composer and lyricist, Anais Mitchell, wrote and produced this song during the first showings of the musical off broadway *ten years ago* The song is sung by Hades, and the actor has shown intrest in letting Trump watch the song and see just how insane he is.

[@jovanaspasojevic5049]

Omg yesss another hadestown fan!!!

[@codenamelambda]

Fun fact: I found out about Hadestown because of this video, and loved it ever since.

[@shannonconnery5001]

It blows my mind that this was written way before Trump's campaign and his whole "Build the wall!" thing. Anais predicted the future.

[@pilarm.a.5976]

@@codenamelambda Fun fact: I found about of this channel because of the Why We Build the Wall cover, and have loved it ever since

[@alexfields8785]

As interesting as thatd be. I doubt trump would realise the contradiction if h heard the song

[@InnuendoStudios]

thank you for the plug, daddy

[@Arrakiz666]

The fact that you called Ollie a daddy makes my day.

[@alisoncandiloro2947]

Make more vids I'm getting withdrawal

[@victorianeechan]

I can't stand this. Too many daddy's in the room

[@tmseh]

Don't worry girl, I'll handle these daddies.

[@CurtainRod]

Every night, I also thank my daddy for the plug ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@Desi-qw9fc]

The posh ex-lecturer was quite scary. "I like you." That one line is so loaded.

[@m-4136]

the covert white supremacy, very intelligent depiction of it

[@SaulSilvaPereira]

I've seen fascists compliment antifa leaders

[@sarcastichearts]

@@SaulSilvaPereira people in power often compliment left-wing organisers - they'll say something vague like "i love how passionate you are". those compliments are hardly ever genuine.

[@SpecArch96]

@@SaulSilvaPereira Antifa leaders? Like the president of antifa? The directors of antifa? The founders of antifa? _Nameless_ fascists complimenting the "leaders of antifa", hmmm. Sounds like bullshit, through and through.

[@umangmalik]

@@SaulSilvaPereira antifa doesn't have leaders, you're lying, fuck off.

[@DarkSciencez]

Abigail bein so transcendentally male she transcended into being a woman ayy lmao

[@johndododoe1411]

Abigail being the transcendental female erroneously born into a strong male body, contrary to the theory she mocks.

[@lilben4184]

@@johndododoe1411 *he

[@Eryna_]

@@lilben4184 Wait, I though they used she/her pronouns, but actually don't know. Have they ever released their pronouns?

[@StarPichu12]

@@Eryna_ Abigail is a woman and goes by she/her, that person is just being a prick

[@Eryna_]

@@StarPichu12 Yeah, I knew they were a woman but I didn't know if they were specifically using she/her

[@vladimirstok149]

Damn, that song saying "we build the wall to keep us free" really creeps me out, like some kind of cognitive dissonance...

[@Yet.Another.Rapper.KiG.V2]

I'd venture to say that most fascistic worldviews are based in contradictory assumptions. When they're not, they're usually based in primitive fears.

[@vladimirstok149]

@@Yet.Another.Rapper.KiG.V2 it didn't even feel like it was uniquely fascistic to me, it creeped me out because it's the same kind of logical void i'd expect from many people, including family

[@tima9790]

It's from a musical called Hadestown. It was written in 2006. Worth listening to the Hadestown album on KZbin if you get the chance.

[@joannamyers1268]

The music was so cool, so chilling, so addictive. It's brilliant

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

@@Yet.Another.Rapper.KiG.V2 leftists and conservatives both say this about eachother

[@Potatosti]

his "I like you" is terrifying

[@antoinethename9064]

"I like you." Pls don't

[@alexonline2340]

time stamp?

[@BryceZed]

@@alexonline2340 40:33

[@StuartAtkinson4467]

Yeah the dog whistle within a dog whistle was insane. "All these fires are dreadful and damaging, you wouldn't happen to have a light?"

[@homeworkbreak4237]

!!

[@kindle9597]

I love how everyone's stepping their aesthetics up thanks to Mademoiselle Points

[@biankah]

@@user-me7mm7gr1p You're alone here.

[@user-me7mm7gr1p]

@@biankah Haha. I don't care. What matters is im right. ;)

[@crucified_to_the_world]

Shame you're wrong then really

[@user-me7mm7gr1p]

@@crucified_to_the_world No, i'm right. You are just an extremist.

[@crucified_to_the_world]

@@user-me7mm7gr1p Yes, I'm the extremist; not the person denying someone's humanity just for the sake of it

[@radiobob1908]

Abigail really got the best of both worlds. She got to sing as Hades without straining her voice and now she gets to sing as Eurydice. That's pretty cool.

[@apersonwhomayormaynotexist9868]

I mean as a trans woman, vocal transition especially for singing is ridiculously difficult, it'd probably take her many more years to be able to sing eurydice, and she's a master of theater, most trans woman will probably never in a million years be able to unfortunately

[@sealogic4552]

It’s especially crazy given that Hades’ part in Hadestown is *punishingly* low. I’m a masculine cis man and I can’t hit those notes. The fact that she can hit those notes and still have a very feminine voice proves she’s just got a stupidly flexible vocal timbre. It’s a skill I’d genuinely like to learn some day, as a vocalist.

[@jplayzow]

​@@sealogic4552Honestly a lot of times your chest voice will simply not take you that low subharmonics are generally easier or fry etc

[@AConnorDN38416]

I really do love this trend with the leftist youtubers of having the other leftist youtubers do voice-overs for quotes from the baddies. Yay, Harris Bomberguy! Yay, Contrapoints!

[@felipemartins6433]

I'm starting to feel that there's an overarching story somewhere here...

[@miniciominiciominicio]

Yay, AngieSpeaks!

[@Aconitum_napellus]

@@felipemartins6433 What do you mean?

[@thomaster8870]

I am still waiting for the scene where he gets bitten by a radioactive dinosaur. Man, I love origin stories. They are always the best part and the only part.

[@TimdeVisser86]

Like if you share a Border with Cameroon.

[@BlancheNeigefan]

What if you're so un-chad you're the anthropomorphic manifestation of the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park?

[@imunderyourbed8082]

As someone with Chadian heritage I can at least say that my ancestors shared the boarder with Cameroon

[@bigburd875]

American military baces are technically american soil so technically we border Cameroon

[@TimdeVisser86]

@@bigburd875 Thank you for that horrific reminder.

[@wohdinhel]

CameROOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!!

[@glitchxero4687]

Baby Boomers 1980s: "We should give every kid a trophy no matter what, so that nobody feels left out." Baby Boomers 2000s+: "Oh great, here comes the 'everyone gets a trophy' generation to ruin America."

[@TheSolarWolf]

We are only as good as the generations who raised us.

[@quester09]

overcompensating for the beatdowns they regularly received as kids in the 50s

[@mrhotpinkbanana1081]

Meanwhile the kids who got trophies for doing nothing developed trust issues and anxiety because all these trophies did was make a child feel even worse for getting something unearned.

[@Amateur_Pianist_472]

Glitch Xero I felt humiliated when receiving a participation award. Sometimes I was bullied for it. I never attended trophy days because they were so boring. Entitlement was the last feeling. Every generation complained about young people. It’s nothing new.

[@cedrickulacz8468]

Wondering Spirit... SOCRATES complained about young people.

[@opalpersonal]

I JUST BARELY PUT TOGETHER THAT THE FAMILY THE ARSONIST TALKS ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING IS SUPPOSED TO HARKEN BACK TO THE BEN SHAPIRO VIDEO OF TOM GENTLY

[@alexbradshaw5466]

HOLY SHIT!

[@apersonwhomayormaynotexist9868]

Actually it's more likely that she wrote that in reference to this since this came out before

[@Bobylein1337]

This is such a masterpiece of anti-facist educational material that I rewatched it a few times but it kinda bums me that the title simply says "Steve Bannon" even though it's not just about him but uncovers how many facist populists promote themselves.

[@gking407]

Rægenhere II anyone using the term “Lefty’s” can hardly be expected to understand this video. Perhaps there are some others you could suggest? I want to see the world through your eyes for a change.

[@truewheeldon8265]

@@firstnamett4656 who the fuck needs to make arguments against fascism, it is provably evil

[@amberblackwell7687]

@@truewheeldon8265 As is free market capitalism.

[@reginaldbarclay1637]

You could make the argument that the simple, straightforward title brings in viewers who might not have watched if the title was more critical of Bannon.

[@thewanderingeuropean3522]

He got destroyed by Survive the Jive.

[@EliSantana]

Your acting chops were clearly evident during the guy in suit skits.

[@anselmschueler]

What do you mean by "chops"?

[@Wazzok1]

@@anselmschueler Ability/skills.

[@merikijiya13]

I love those segments.

[@slawidimitrov3750]

Olly, while I personally really enjoyed your earlier content as well, the small lectures and the calm discussions on philosophy in front of the book shelf, I feel like you're starting to create true dynamite here, with your thoughtful and purpose driven theatricality you are creating some of the most potent youtube videos i've ever seen. You're really pushing the platform both politically and artistically, and I truly think your work is amazing. The chills i got from the song in the end were insane. cheers!

[@amyreynolds7244]

Totally agree. The expansion into more overtly theatrical productions are heightening the impact of everything he does; it's like he took ContraPoints' advice about AESTHETIC and RAN WITH IT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE DIRECTION.

[@rhaeven]

Lefttube is realllly getting its shit together.

[@user-gw8kh1dx4c]

This is the best videos he's ever made, I've rewatched it like 5 times already and I never do that anymore on youtube because I don't have the time (even with content I love).

[@tamarbeker1701]

I totally agree, but also, *Abbie.

[@hareecionelson5875]

@@tamarbeker1701 *four years ago

[@opalpersonal]

18:02 - This part is very telling to me. He says he grew up 'very poor, no advantages in life whatsoever'. This immediately gives us insight into his mindset: that being a white male in his society does not make him more privileged or better-off than others. I think this is an incredible little detail that Oliver slips in here, because it immediately gives the audience broad knowlege about his viewpoint. His viewpoint being, that race and gender do not play a role in someones social standing or class mobility, and that he 'made it' simply by working hard - whether or not that class mobility depended on climbing on top of the backs of others, remains to be seen for The Arsonist. But I think we can all guess rightly about that.

[@alexandredelarminat5019]

Oh god. The "far left" was excellent. The "anti-fire" was excellent. The aesthetic is excellent. I'M ONLY 2 MINUTES INTO THE VIDEO HOW GOOD CAN THIS GET T-T

[@MCArt25]

so good

[@General12th]

IT GETS BETTER

[@moeezS]

The ending monologue is brilliant.

[@med5032]

it fell flat on its face, didn't it? if you have never seen Steve Bannon in your life, this video gives you next to nothing concerning his beliefs. not that I care for Bannon.

[@Kagomai15]

@@med5032 I don't see how anything fell on its face. I rather found this video impactful. About Bannon, our friendly firefighter literally said in his introduction that he doesn't care what Bannon personally believes. His actions, what he says, and what he demonstrably seems to support, are what Olly talks about in this video. He also uses Bannon as a vehicle to talk about broader subjects, which is a tactic Olly frequently uses in his videos.

[@MxGerryNava]

Concerns have been raised about how freaking good you look as a fireman

[@MCAndyT]

+

[@mobydick3769]

And in a wifebeater

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

And in a bowtie.

[@AzaleaJane]

Concerns have been raised that Olly and Hbomb are doing to turn me bi

[@jbkjbk1999]

Seriously people are fawning over Olly in a suit but ohhoho boy that fireman costume

[@neptunite5973]

I just gotta say I really appreciate the subtitles. As a non-native english speaker, it makes it much easier to understand, especially when it's complicated topics like this :) Great video as always ^^

[@eazy8579]

Ngl, The Arsonist’s sections were really relaxing between his voice and the music in the background

[@homeworkbreak4237]

And then the music gets slowly more ~funky~

[@Cutest-Bunny998]

If Harris Bomberguy could read more things at me while flames burn in the background I would appreciate it.

[@johndododoe1411]

In case you forgot, "Bomber Harris" was the UK top general that ordered firebombing of German cities.

[@brittanykidwell9044]

I would also appreciate that so much 😍😍

[@brittanykidwell9044]

Me too please 😍😍😍

[@elijahosullivan1011]

everybody is making great critiques and analysis and i'm here like "olly looks hot as a 'fireman' "

[@communisttrash8590]

Olly is hot

[@mrelephant2283]

Olly wakes up looking good enough to eat - Me, a straight guy

[@victoriateneyck6035]

"I'm gonna make that whore my wife." That's what came to mind when I first started this video.

[@dias8726]

Elijah O'sullivan I’m not gay but - olly just hits different

[@vinicius99157]

The arson analogy is really good. Here in Brazil, a giant environmental crime occured, and the businessmen and the government are pretending it was just an accident. And it feels like they own the destruction, and not only that, but that they also own the way that destruction is seen. It's kind of a dreadful thing that makes me a little bit hopeless. Feels like this nationalistic view is so powerful, and "class conciousness" or something like that won't be enough to break it

[@Reprodestruxion]

Vinicius Morais manipulado pra fazer propaganda da direita como o rescate dos mineros no Chile, meu pais

[@MadJackChurchill1312]

“Oops”.

[@allisondoak9425]

Interesting! It’s being reported as an accident in the media I see but as someone who works closely with resource management law here in New Zealand I have been asking how that could be considered an accident. I should probably read more about it! It’s a terrible thing for everyone effected and I hope there’s some justice there

[@nickmarquez4794]

René Moncayo One of the reasons reactionaries like Bolsonaro are rising up into power is because of the incompetence of the left winged parties.

[@Reprodestruxion]

Nick Marquez Or strong armed tactics like the murder of mariele Franco and colluding with the gangas as usual to create an ambience of insecurity and thus mythologise the failstate. And I witness in my country the rise of the Brazilian economy and how they came here to spend. And this under a government that decided to appease imf

[@iquestionexistence8730]

The arsonist character is a magnificent metaphor, and Abigail's writing is bloody brilliant. A couple of years ago, when I was about 15, I embarrassingly fell down a sort of Tommy R rabbit hole, and got kind of sucked in by all the misinformation. I do wonder if my autism has anything to do with it because I used to (and still do to an extent, though I try not to) take everything at face value, and I believed that most people were telling the truth (very naïve I know). That's certainly not an excuse though, I still feel bad that I actually used to believe some of those racist things just because I assumed he was telling the truth. I indirectly partook in a form of bigotry without even realising it was bigotry. The only positive I can really think of that came out of it is the fact that I can somewhat see where bigots are coming from (usually a place of fear, ignorance, wanting a scapegoat etc). And I also understand that many of them genuinely believe they're not bigots. Take J.K. Rowling and her transphobia for example, she has even said it interviews that the thing she hates most is bigotry, yet she's actively spread misinformation about trans people, supported a renowned transphobe (Forstater) and has promoted an unmissably transphobic company, all of this to millions of followers! When you're inside that bigot bubble, particularly if you're surrounded by like-minded people, and particularly if you are a stubborn, ignorant, frustrated person, it's difficult to think critically about your own views. I'm so glad I humbled and educated myself, and I'm so glad that my preview in to bigotry was brief and didn't develop in to something much more sinister than stupid little prejudices in a teenage brain. All it takes is compliance, as Abigail put so perfectly in her video.

[@SaucyBoyFilms]

Coming here after the Ben Shapiro video to spread the theory that the family of four burned alive were none other than Tom Gently and his wife and two girls. THIS IS A SEQUEL TO A FUTURE VIDEO. MY BOY OLLIE'S GOT AN EXTENDED UNIVERSE UP IN HERE.

[@RicardoMoralesMassin]

o.0

[@AmateurContendr]

Honestly given the quality of the work, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually did that.

[@dwc1964]

@@AmateurContendr Voice of God says that it was unintentional, but it is now canon

[@harveyholmes9533]

I just finished a 2 year economics A-level and in all that time the fact that immigrants don’t lower wages bosses do never even came up once and I never even considered how ridiculous the idea that immigrants lower wages is

[@margaritam.9118]

Harvey Holmes You know why it never comes up.

[@thatchapthere]

Just because it's causally indirect doesn't make the statement strictly false, unless you assume that minimum wage must be increased (which it my well be).

[@harveyholmes9533]

nihilismful it really is I just finished the first year of a PPE degree and the economics section is taught purely in a neo-liberal lens

[@mattgianni8688]

Thats because within a neoliberal, even a capitalist, framework it is a true statement. Immigrants indirectly do lower wages if the market runs free.

[@thegoodfaithflowy]

the arsonist is legitimately fucking terrifying

[@Valeforer]

As someone from Argentina, I was very surprised at the "Populist is usually used to describe people on the right-wing". I didn't think "people vs the elite" could so easily be a right-wing position, because I didn't connect that concept with... well, half of right-wing USA conspiracy theories

[@pilarm.a.5976]

SAME

[@TheAlison1456]

I'm surprised at that claim because last I checked bernie sanders is a populist figure and was majorly supported on reddit, a leftist leaning website.

[@marekvincibr5884]

@@TheAlison1456 well je mentions left populism couple of times but for example Trump is certainly populist.

[@minzhewen5106]

Here in Brazil populist right-win politicians and their supporters like to claim only leftists can be populists bc it requires giving speeches to the poor about what they think they want (fair working rights, etc) but nothing really concrete. I think about that a lot

[@someonespotatohmm9513]

The thing that always strikes me is that as far as i know most populist are actually part of the elite and just use it to get their way.

[@Wind14011]

Olly is so good at playing the fascist that makes you happy he isn't one.

[@gamingtime9716]

I'd argue that he understands fascism better than many of its acolytes, so he is very well able to play up any of its aspects that he deems important to his message.

[@gavinthorud220]

The Arsonist is becoming my favorite character of Olly’s. Like, of course he’s evil and kinda creepy, but there’s a part of him that’s still like able and amicable.

[@joaodelgado6696]

thats the point a wolf in sheeps clothign

[@kazmark_gl8652]

He is an excellent metaphor for how Fascism can appear to most white people.

[@addylenwest8536]

I just love him because I love him

[@thomasneal9291]

@@joaodelgado6696 I was gonna say: "All the better to eat you with my dear!"

[@cloud_appreciation_society]

I remember when I first watched this video somehow a lot of the fascism = fire and arsonist character went over my head. After rewatching it suddenly has so much more depth and nuance. Fantastic video Olly

[@joeycasas]

That song at the end is haunting af So happy to contribute to your Patreon, Olly! I hope this reaches a lot of people who are otherwise clueless about "fire safety"!

[@Nuvizzle]

Amazing cover of probably the strongest track on Hadestown. The whole album is fantastic, though; and contrary to popular belief it significantly predates Trump, a fact which illustrates how cliche his rhetoric is. There have always been delusional wall-builders.

[@PedanticPig]

It reminds me of the song Build That Wall, from Bastion, which is from the perspective of the people being walled out, revelling in the futility of it.

[@honeybee669]

It's from Hadestown, a really awesome musical.

[@joeycasas]

@Tweevle yo I remember Bastion!!! And that song. Is easily my favorite from the entire game's soundtrack. Kinda neat to set "build that wall" and "why we build the wall" side by side to see the perspective from each side...

[@joeycasas]

And I looked up the original version of the Hadestown song. The one who sings as Hades has an awesome, rumbling voice. Found that article y'all mentioned , where the artist talked about how Trump's "build the wall" mantra is nothing new. Really puts things in perspective

[@MrMackan2001]

Wow, I never realised that the frog in the opening is being "slowly boiled and doesn't notice".

[@matiasgarciacasas558]

The more you watch this video, the more details you find.

[@anna-fleurfarnsworth104]

1:13 for those who want a timestamp

[@aurelia160]

I spat out my drink when he said "im not a fascist, im a superfascist",,, that was unexpected lmao

[@thewanderingeuropean3522]

Total misrepresentation of the word. It comes from a Latin word meaning over, which means Evola was basically saying he was not a fascist or beyond it.

[@aurelia160]

@@thewanderingeuropean3522 How is that relevant to my comment?

[@eruno_]

@@thewanderingeuropean3522 That doesn't make it any less funny

[@LukaBastinHowes]

The Aussie Nationalist The comedy from that doesn’t come from what it actually means, but instead from how it sounds to us without context. Olly even plays on this with the Super Saiyan animation right afterwards.

[@mrhoapro1]

@@thewanderingeuropean3522 what you're saying is just similar to how abridged Goku describe Gohan's ss2 form. so... the joke still accurate

[@durzio9630]

Im really appreciative that Abby hasnt removed her older works because this is a masterpiece.

[@doctorearman9343]

You said “there is no smoking allowed in the theater” and my high ass went to put my bowl out

[@jonahnesmith7004]

Did you have one of those moments where you just stop and stare for like 10 seconds trying to correct yourself

[@dougthedonkey1805]

Well, you followed directions

[@dshepherd107]

😂👍

[@loorthedarkelf8353]

I also got 'Follows Directions' on my report cards

[@dysmissme7343]

😂😂😂