Comments on: Knight Foundation pays $20,000 to Jonah Lehrer for speech about his lies

By: Tuck McNamara

Tuck McNamara — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:16:00 +0000

I can only hope that Lehrer fabricated this final quote in his public apology. It would be the cherry on top.

By: Fef

Fef — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:34:00 +0000

OK, folks, help me out: I’m trying to determine the source of the closing Bob Dylan quote that he ‘actually said’, “Failure is both necessary and terrible.” I Googled it, and that only circled back to this speech.

(a) Legit quote, or (b) can the guy just not help himself, or (c) was he snickering to himself on the way out?

By: That_Anonymous_Coward

That_Anonymous_Coward — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:11:00 +0000

But I still turned out just fine!

By: DavidFairbanks

DavidFairbanks — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:45:00 +0000

I feel like I should blame the free market now.

By: showme

showme — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:02:00 +0000

Yo, dawg, I heard you like lies so I put a lie on one of your lies so you can lie while you lie!

By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus

fuzzyfuzzyfungus — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:51:00 +0000

Should payments for speeches from Lehrer be referred to as ‘dishonoraria’?

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:30:00 +0000

Screw you. I kidnapped the Lindbergh baby.

By: Thad Boyd

Thad Boyd — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:09:00 +0000

Oh for fuck’s sake.

Hey, Knight Foundation. I was the man on the grassy knoll, I created Harry Potter, I killed Osama bin Laden, and I was the one who cancelled Star Trek. As a special bonus, I also just cribbed a line from The Simpsons and attempted to pass it off as my own.

If you need more lies before you are willing to give me twenty thousand dollars, I will be happy to think of some.

By: gracchus

gracchus — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:59:00 +0000

After Lehrer got caught I suspected that he might be a beneficiary of what I call the “Glass Floor.” Looks like that’s happened.

The term is one I thought of back in my dot-com days, when I frequently saw it in action. It’s an analogue to the famous “Glass Ceiling,” the invisible and unspoken barrier which prevents advancement in organisations beyond a certain level for certain people (usually those with duskier skin hues or vaginas).

The “Glass Floor,” conversely, ensures that certain individuals (usually white, usually with penises) will *never* be allowed to fail, no matter how much they screw up, no matter their congenital incompetence. The worst that can happen after one of their inevitable debacles is temporary stasis, but more often they’re rewarded with promotions, more money, etc.

Exactly why this happens I’m not sure. A lot of it comes down to social connections and the salesman’s superficial charm and ability for self-promotion, I know. But I’m betting a lot of it has to do with the fact that the people propping him up have invested so much of their own reputations in the screw-up that if he’s allowed to crash and burn their credibility will suffer, too.

So you’re correct, Rob, this grifter is only going on to greater things.

By: SedanChair

SedanChair — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:49:00 +0000

Having to accept such paltry honoraria: hasn’t he suffered enough?

By: Philboyd Studge

Philboyd Studge — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:06:00 +0000

Read title as “Tom” Lehrer, left quite disappointed.

By: waytomuchair

waytomuchair — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:52:00 +0000

That’s cool… but KITT could have probably used an updated rear spoiler instead. Or maybe Onstar.

By: Verbatim

Verbatim — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:40:00 +0000

I like how Radiolab still has a post up that says “The notion that Jonah is a “plagiarist” is beyond ridiculous.” then another that says “Hey, we checked all our shows that Jonah worked on, and they’re still alright. Well, we might have had to change a couple of them.” No “we were wrong” or “he fooled us, too”. Just “he’s our pal, and we don’t think he lied to *us*, anyway”. Can’t wait to hear this week’s repeat: “Lies, liars, and lie catchers. And the strange power of lying to yourself. Deception is on-air across the country this week.”

By: Rob Beschizza

Rob Beschizza — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:40:00 +0000

Forbes’ is the most spectacular of the media transformations.

By: madopal

madopal — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:22:00 +0000

Wait, and to heap on…did Forbes just use the word “humblebrag” in a headline? What’s next, them using butthurt when talking about political fights?

By: Rick Adams

Rick Adams — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:17:00 +0000

Yeah, I would say that making twenty-thousand for being an asshole leaves a “bad taste” in my mouth.

Shit, I could talk about being an asshole eight-hours-a-day for a month for that much money, and I’d still have plenty of material afterward. I’m starting to think Mr. Lehrer isn’t the only asshole in this story.