If you didn’t catch The CultCast Special Edition episode we released this last Saturday, you can download it here.
What’s so special about it? Well, besides giving you our honest hands-on review of the new iPad, we decided to include an impromptu pre-show discussion on the Agony and Ecstasy Of Steve Jobs, the powerful monologue by Mike Daisy that’s been getting press lately for being partly fabricated.
Our frank discussion revolved around this notion: Mr. Daisey’s monologue focussed consumers’ attention on labor conditions in China, and in that light it has done a world of good. Should it matter that it’s not 100% true?
Erfon Elijah is the producer and host of The CultCast. When not editing podcasts or watching Mrs. Doubtfire, you’ll find him on Xbox Live hunting CoD Ghosts foes like the Predator. Here are his tweets…
22 responses to “Does It Matter That Mike Daisey’s Play Isn’t 100% True? [CultCast Discussion]”
Yes. Of course it matters. What a ridiculous question.
Daisey marketed the show as being a work of non fiction based on first hand experiences.
He lied. So yes, it matters.
It matters because he presents the entirety of his monologue as the truth and knows that the audience is listening and accepting it as the truth, and does nothing to correct that misconception. Mike Daisy’s answers in This American Life’s Retraction episode clearly shows that he was knowingly misleading the audience simply to get a positive response to his work (of fiction).
Yes it matters, because the headline reads that he lied, and that will be the majority impression of the issue. His lying is a disservice to his cause.
“in that light it has done a world of good”
It’s done exactly the opposite. People who believed his lies will eventually find out that it was all a fabrication. They’ll believe there are no problems, instead of being informed about real problems that still exist.
He didn’t lie for some greater good, he lied to line his pockets. He exploited the workers just as much as the factory bosses do and for the same motivations — money.
Of course it matters. Otherwise it sets a precedent that it’s ok to lie as long as you get your point across.
Hasn’t he now hurt his message? There are issues with working conditions and the like at Foxconn, but all people are hearing now is that it’s all lies.
Once again just tired of hearing anything having to deal with this fat bastard give it a rest already.
Yes, it matters. Read Gruber’s post about it today for the take of a responsible adult. Daisey’s a joke and deserves to be vilified.
I’ve seen Mike Daisey perform three different monologues over the years, including this one – and he’s an amazing artist. The Agony etc was a tour de force – taking us from his addiction to all things Apple (hilarious!) to his increasing curiosity about the company itself – and then to China.
The tale would have been just as powerful if he’d left out the parts about the guy with the maimed hand, and if he’d noted that the hexane incident happened elsewhere previously. I wish he’d done that – and if he’d told Ira Glass up front, this would never have blown up in his face. It really is a tragedy. My heart goes out to him.
(And don’t call him a fat bastard.)
It matters because Daisey made it seem like everywhere you went to Apple suppliers you would find armed guards, poisoned workers, underage workers and maimed workers when we now know that this is all lies, and when there was some truth to the claims, that the incidents were very rare.
Not only did he say these things in his show, he actively went out and did interviews and wrote op-eds in the NYTimes promoting these lies and distortions.Now, anytime people present first-person observations of a problem, even if it is real, people will be less likely to believe them.
He’s a shameless liar and deserves no respect.
Daisey made it seem like all these incidents were commonplace and easy to find and that Apple was simply and cold-heartedly allowing this to happen. When the truth was that these incidents were either very rare, and in Daisey’s case, entirely fabricated.
There were no armed guards, the average worker isn’t suffering from n-hexane poisoning, underage workers aren’t commonplace, the typical worker isn’t suffering from gruesome joint injuries due to workplace neglect. In fact, Apple themselves documented these issues (where true) publicly before Daisey even went down there.
Daisey is also being a weasel by simply claiming it’s theater when he very actively peddled his bald-faced lies to every media organization that he could and went on TV programs with his made-up stories. In the theater is one thing, writing NYTimes op-eds the day after Jobs dies and then going on HBO with Bill Maher is another thing.
His lies are repeated and extensive and he actively went out of his way to insult those who questioned him until the truth came out. Right on his blog he even writes about how he spent weeks in China when we know now that he spent only 6 days.
Worse, he hurts real activism and activists who may come up with a sensational story about real problems somewhere.
Daisey is nothing but contemptible.
Daisey made it seem like all these incidents were commonplace and easy to find and that Apple was simply and cold-heartedly allowing this to happen. When the truth was that these incidents were either very rare, and in Daisey’s case, entirely fabricated.
There were no armed guards, the average worker isn’t suffering from n-hexane poisoning, underage workers aren’t commonplace, the typical worker isn’t suffering from gruesome joint injuries due to workplace neglect. In fact, Apple themselves documented these issues (where true) publicly before Daisey even went down there.
Daisey is also being a weasel by simply claiming it’s theater when he very actively peddled his bald-faced lies to every media organization that he could and went on TV programs with his made-up stories. In the theater is one thing, writing NYTimes op-eds the day after Jobs dies and then going on HBO with Bill Maher is another thing.
His lies are repeated and extensive and he actively went out of his way to insult those who questioned him until the truth came out. Right on his blog he even writes about how he spent weeks in China when we know now that he spent only 6 days.
Worse, he hurts real activism and activists who may come up with a sensational story about real problems somewhere.
Daisey is nothing but contemptible.
Truth is “exactly what happened”. Lies are alterations of truth, whether tiny or extreme. Daisey managed to whip up a righteous frenzy against Apple by exaggeration, theatrical license and outright falsehoods. As a result, Apple has been publicly attacked by the media and workers rights groups without mercy. Unfortunately, it’s all been for nothing, as the “horrible situations” Daisey blew out of proportion and even fabricated weren’t the truth. Daisey has misled tens of thousands of people about how supposedly bad Apple is. He is guilty of slander because of the harm he has brought to Apple and needs to take responsibility for his actions, not just cover his butt with “I’m not a journalist” and “theatrical license.”
Quite fortunately his reputation is now in tatters because his lies have been exposed. He is the boy who cried “bad Apple” one too many times, and now no one will save him from the repercussions of public opinion.
Of course it matters! This guy has no right to spew falsehoods about Apple. Apple should sue his fat ass off the stage!
It matters, but it’s the wrong focus. In ‘This American Life’s retraction, they say upfront that they discovered after research that all of the issues raised by Daisey are factual. It all happened. What’s not true is that Daisey witnessed them.
I think it’s appalling that commentators like John Gruber have written in condemnation of Daisey in their defence of Apple, because the focus of their attention is misplaced. In the early days of the iPhone I recall that Gruber was provoked to profanity over Apple’s decision not to allow developers to write for iOS, and yet over this issue, his only concern appears to be Apple’s reputation.
Even the idea of workers living in dormitory compounds is horrifying, let alone long working hours or the employment of underage workers. Just horrifying.
Personally I never read or heard anything from this man. I only read stuff from the NYT and from other activists.
So it makes no difference to me. My opinion of Apple’s and Foxconn’s exploitation and abuse of adults and children in China remains unchanged.
What else did he lie about?
Buy HP, Dell If you are so stupid to believe that they treat Chinese workers better
Damn Gruber ripped him a new one.
He IS a fat bastard, and he is beneath contempt. A professional liar!
Well said! The big fat elephant in the room that isnt as sexy on news progs STILL isnt making headlines.
Actually, that’s not quite right. There were NEVER any armed guards at the gates at Foxxconn. Some of the things he talks about have been reported. Some things are total fabrications. Daisey used the workers for his own profit and when the truth wasn’t sexy enough for him to sell his “theatre”, he began telling lies. To compound things he got so caught up in his web of lies, he kept lying.
Does the topic deserve attention and reform? Absolutely… But do it with the TRUTH. The truth is even more important when he decides to target one company.