Stephen Fry: My Favorite American City
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2011
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One of the reasons we don't know whether limiting access to guns would effectively decrease the homicide rate in America is because the Congress passed a law that bars the Centers for Disease Control from conducting such related studies.In the United States, gun rights are a sacred cause of the right and are protected vehemently. As Steven Pinker says, "anything that might compromise the right of everyone to have a gun is squelched." The word "anything" seems to even include research. A lot is at stake - people's lives - by not conducting research to find out how to control gun violence in America. We need to keep politicians accountable to the people, and pressure them to enact policies founded on solid research. This first means though that such research is no longer suppressed.
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STEVEN PINKER
Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist who conducts research in visual cognition, psycholinguistics, and social relations. He grew up in Montreal and earned his BA from McGill and his PhD from Harvard. Currently Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard, he has also taught at Stanford and MIT. He has won numerous prizes for his research, his teaching, and his nine books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, and Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.
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TRANSCRIPT:
STEVEN PINKER: One of the big puzzles when it comes to understanding violence is why the American rate of violence is five to ten times higher than that of other wealthy democracies. There are countries that have spectacularly high rates of violence mainly in Central America and North and South America and in Southern Africa. But it's funny to see the United States not quite up there but much higher rates of homicide than our peers in the British Commonwealth and in Europe.
Now the ready answer is well, that's because we have all those guns. And that is part of the answer but it's not the total answer. Because even if you subtract out all of the gun homicides in the United States and you just look at all the murders committed with ropes and candlesticks and knives and so on. The United States still has a higher rate of homicide.
But and we also don't know for sure whether the favorite remedy of many people on the liberal left, namely tougher gun control, would have an effect in lowering homicides given how many guns are already out there. The United States has more guns than people so restricting the sale of future guns is a small measure. Maybe it does but no one really knows for sure. And we do know that the United States itself had quite a spectacular reduction in violent crime starting in the 90s and again in the 2000s. It certainly wasn't because massive numbers of guns were taken off the streets. Quite the contrary. So there's a lot we don't know but tragically and boneheadedly the U.S. Congress passed a law that the Centers for Disease Control was not allowed to study gun violence as a public health problem. Now that is insanity. That is an example of political interference with conductive research.
In the United States gun rights are a sacred cause of the right and anything that might compromise the right of everyone to have a gun is squelched. I've talked about many of the threats to academic freedom from the campus left but the political right is far more pernicious because they actually have power. I mean academics, it's often said that academic debates are fierce because so little is at stake but when it comes to government a lot is at stake and the suppression of research on gun violence is an example of how the right is also guilty of suppressing freedom of inquiry and it's one of the reasons why we really don't' know how best to reduce gun violence in the United States. - Наука та технологія
Stephen actually captures the United States and all of its diversity very well. He did a hell of a job. I'd like for him to do a 12-part series, actually. There's more he could cover, and I'd be thrilled to watch it.
Wow! I've always loved British humor, but this is the first time I've ever heard a Brit paint America in such an optimistic light. Their overwhelming pessimism is generally part of what makes them funny imo.
I would love to see him travel around Canada next time. Haven't seen much of it and would love to travel there one day.
Nunya Bidness I'm speaking of the self-deprecating humour that most Brits possess. The British outlook is never as it seems. It's an extremely complicated society w/ a population that posses a better than average IQ. I know of no other people that have perfected the art of motivation through simple innuendo. I was born in Belfast and have spent significant chunks of my 45 years in the UK.
Eric Bush British humor=constantly taking the piss subtly. It's a unique sense of humor, and usually pretty enjoyable.
Blake Butler For such a small country the UK is incredibly diverse. Case in point. Liverpool & Manchester are mere miles apart, but the people of the two are incredibly different in many ways.
It makes me smile when folks from other places love my country - I hope we are always a warm host for guests from abroad. I have greatly enjoyed traveling to various parts of the globe and every country I've been to has had good people, interesting history and culture, and beautiful landscapes. I think Stephen Fry just has a open heart for these things, and I respect and appreciate that.
I've lived in NYC, Atlanta and spent significant time traveling to Texas cities and California. I love this country so much and it's diversity of land and culture. I was born & raised - and now live again - in Kentucky. I'm proud to be from here, to be here now and to say I've not ventured out - because I have and I've enjoyed it very much. I love my country and all her regions & people. I'm where I belong now, back home in Louisville with family and old friends nearby. I encourage everyone to explore and find new places. Take a great road trip and stay for a day or two in some places. Get to know our great land... our great people. Cheers to all!
I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Louisville went there for someone's homecoming. Everyone knew him in that city.
The English people who dislike America have probably never spent much time there.
Its too easy to jump on an anti-American band wagon because, to be fair, most Brits get force fed American TV and poor foreign policy...
Brits don't get force fed our foreign policy. I think you're confusing Britain with poor Latin American, African, Middle Eastern, or Eastern Asian countries
The only me I think the correct term is indirectly force fed. Thanks to our government, any war the the US seems to wage usually results in British blood being spilled eventually. Something I dislike about both of our governments.
or maybe they did and that's why they hate it lol
America is great, it has problems like all nations. If I had enough cash I would move there in a heartbeat but I detest the actions of the US gov in recent decades but my UK gov has almost as much blood on its hands. I do bash western countries for corporatism/oligarchy but I would rather live in the west by a long shot!
@@helphelpimbeingrepressed9347 Corporatism/oligarchy? Really? No one forces you to patronize a corporation. Corporations are not elected, they don't write laws. You're patronizing a corporation when you bought the computer you're sitting at.
I love that noise he made around 0:13.
I've lived in or near the SF Bay Area for 50 years, lived in 5 states & 2 countries, been to a dozen countries & nearly all the states. What Stephen says is so true; from here, a few hours' drive takes you to Yosemite, Tahoe, Big Sur, Big Trees, Mt Whitney, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mono Lake, Monterey/Carmel, Sierra Nevada, Gold Country, Wine Country, etc. These are all vastly different & beautiful places inside California. SF itself is great too.
The US really is such a beautiful and diverse country. There are so many sights, cultures and wonderful people.
I hope to go back to San Fran again one day. Hired a car twice in San fransisco and drove down to Sandiego stopping at all the great places along the way. Took in Palm springs and Las vegas too. What a drive, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway with the ocean on your right and the top down on the car. I can't think of a better way to spend four weeks holidays. I can still remember the feeling of excitement and total freedom and adventure. What a feeling!
I'm from England, but I live in Los Angeles.
Been to San Francisco a few times. Beautiful city, but after having spent so much time in LA, was somewhat taken aback by the friendliness of San Francisco residents. I wish the people there weren't so bloody nice, it just makes leaving so much more upsetting.
LA people are way friendlier than San Francisco
One of my best memories in life was when I went on holiday to San Francisco. The bay area is absolutely gorgeous. I used to live in Humboldt County in northern California, and the redwood trees are breathtaking. I thoroughly enjoyed spending a significant part of my life in California and travelling.
Greatest city in the UK: I had the best time ever in Edinburgh. It was beautiful and everyone was extremely nice with a lovely sense of humor. You guys across the pond have some amazing people/places as well! :)
If I could afford it, I would live in Edinburgh
Surely Luton
The most glorious thing about the United States is that almost every State is different from the one before, and each has one or more areas of unique (and sometimes breath-taking) beauty that you would happily travel for miles to see. In between is mile upon mile of soulless landscape, albeit the open flat plains where nothing seems to happen, modern city centres that all look the same, and wide boulevards of endless shopping malls and take away food shacks. But this is what makes the US what it is, and is why so many of us fly back there each year. Like Stephen I love the rolling pastures of Northern Kentucky, the majestic mountains of Montana and Wyoming, the powerful deserts Arizona and Utah, the drama of the Grand Canyon, and the blue skies and olive-coloured vegetation of California. I have fallen in love with Cincinnati, Miami, Charleston, San Diego and Seattle, but as Tony Bennett rightly sings, I've left my heart in San Francisco.
I'm originally from Cincinnati. fantastic city, very underrated. i agree with you. the U.S is honestly the greatest country on earth when it come to its natural landscape and topography diversity i think.
+scooter4849 Anyone planning to visit Cincinnati should be sure to visit a Graeter's Ice Cream shop for one of the best ice cream experiences in the World, see the Pig Bridge and the City's beautiful Union Railway Station, its fabulous water valve folly at Eden Park. Does anyone know what happened to Jaguar's Steak House? It used to serve one of the finest steaks in Oho.
James GU4. Check out The Jersey Shore.
Hey, shout out from Montana for Montana. Thank you Steven!
It's so refreshing to see a European not have a condescending attitude about Americans.
You have to remember that American history is our history as well. So it's hard not to be concerned with some of the more extreme things happening stateside. How many Americans do the same with Europe and have a few cliches about each country they fall back on?
Stephen Fry also has the luxury of being able to travel the US and meet normal people from all over - a sure fire way to change someone's attitude. I'd love to do the same but I don't have a million euros and 2 years free time.
"you've got yourself quite a nation here"
oh gosh
thanks
And yet most of what he said seemed to me to be about the country (the land), not the nation (the people).
@@smadaf If that’s the point you’re trying to make, watch the interview he did with Craig Ferguson where he said he would feel safer knocking on any door in America to rely on a stranger, if he needed help, than any other in Europe.
I can link it in this conversation thread if you like.
I'm Irish, and I know a lot of especially liberal Americans complain about how they aren't number one, their healthcare isn't the best, they need to be greener etc, but there is something about it that makes it so attractive, enjoyable and beautiful. It didn't attract so many immigrants throughout history for nothing.
I'd agree with San Francisco. I lived in the Bay Area for 4 years and loved it!
San Francisco and NorCal are definitely my favourite parts of the US. Lived a year in LA and made a couple of visits up North on the 101 and it was amazing as far as Nappa Valley..
I got so excited when he said he loved Kentucky! I love it too, Mr. Fry :)
and in certain areas driving by kinda feels like a mild roller coaster at the right speeds : )
Interviewer: what is your favorite city in America?
Steven fry: I really enjoy New York and Chicago, but San Francisco would be my favorite place to live, Northern California as a whole is pretty cool. Fuck it, if I were to choose a city in the US it would be the whole US.
Well put!
As a San Franciscan I can only agree with him. I've been to most of the world's great cities and love many of them, but as the song goes: "My home upon the hill, I find I love you still. I've been away, but now I'm back to tell you: San Francisco, open your Golden Gate, you'll let no stranger wait outside your door. San Francisco, here is your wandering one, saying I'll wander no more. Other places only make me love you best."
Ok I guess he liked all parts. Doesn’t surprise me I loved the place when I lived there for 8 yrs. The yanks are a great bunch friendly, welcoming, engaging, love a laugh and never met one who wouldn’t give you the shirt off their back if you were in need and I can say that with a hand on my heart. Truly amazing place you would never be board. 50 big kisses to all your wonderful 50 states love from the Irish girl ye minded so well
Good taste, Stephen Fry! Northern California rocks! I've lived in several states, & chose to live in the Santa Cruz Mountains for most of my life. It's very beautiful, has supreme weather, ready access to magnificent natural & cultural environments and a lively, liberal population that's hard to beat anywhere I've ever been.
+SIMKINETICS The liberals are the ones that are destroying the prosperity of this state.
***** With that attitude, you should move to Mississippi.
+SIMKINETICS I never really thought much about San Francisco and the Bay Area, despite the fact that I have cousins out there, though I had never been until I was 22 for my cousin's wedding. But I saw this video many years ago and this really made me rethink my perception of SF. By the time I made it out there for the wedding I found I was greatly impressed, mainly because of the cool climate in August, since I'm from New England, and we deal with a lot of humidity over here, which bugs me so much. But I also saw a great deal of the suburbs and rural areas to get a hint of the Northern California feel. I'd love to move out there, as a recent college graduate, and it helps knowing I have family there to assist me if I need it. But on a side note: I don't follow politics, so I really don't give a damn what the population believes, unless it's radical on either spectrum, left or right.
Seamus Kennefick Politically, Bay Area folks aren't generally radical. There's simply a legacy of anti-establishment attitude that remains from spawning the Hippie movement, university free-speech (UC Berkeley & SF State), and a liberating attitude about a wide variety of beliefs, mostly from the '60's. Today, Middle America seems radically right-wing to most here. In that regard, the East Coast & Northeast are most similar to the Bay Area. Yet, there's plenty of variation among its 7 million inhabitants, and a generally high level of mutual respect for new & novel ideas. and a fairly low level of intolerance.
If your college major & personal interests are in the sciences & technology, you'll likely thrive. If you're into health & fitness too, you'll have plenty of opportunities to find your niche with others.
As for heat & humidity, they're rarely experienced together. A great advantage is that annoying insects comprise a small fraction of those in most areas of America. In winter the weather can be very rainy & cool, but the rest of the year is rather sunny with occasional morning fog in some areas, and amazing micro-climates that vary wildly from place to place! The best spots to live are mostly near or in the lush Santa Cruz Mountains that bound the western edges; but that makes them desirable & expensive.
The biggest downside can be *traffic*, so it's best to live close to work & play, if possible.
What was your college major?
I think I found a career counselor and realtor on UA-cam. Who woulda thunk it?
I majored in Communication- media studies, specifically. Had a minor in Theatre mainly for writing and acting lessons. Prefer drama (Death of a Salesman, Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) over musicals... Not much of a techie or a health nut, but I could probably find something. I can learn to be a Giants or A's fan, while I'm at it.
Wooo! I live in Humboldt county in northern California. He even came through my town on his tour of America. I wish I could have met him.
Listen to that growl at 0:13
Thank you for taking the time to really see us.
I live in Berkeley and I love it.
I wish he had mentioned Sacramento, a great city to live in, roughly midway between the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe/Reno, and also a convenient point for trips to the Gold Rush area to the east and Oregon to the north.
small towns are soo much better than the big cities.
I'm a native Seattlite. Culturally Seattle has become so watered down, it's really sad. It's sort of Ironic that the best and worst thing to happen to Seattle are the same thing: The tech boom. Billions of dollars in new money flowed into the city, but property values skyrocketed and most independent businesses in neighborhoods couldn't afford to stay open. Only bars and restaurants could survive. Every neighborhood in Seattle is a great place to get drunk now, but not much else.
If he tries to get to Sequoia National Park by going north along the coast from SF, it's going to be a very long trip. It's actually SE of SF, in the Sierra Nevada.
@TheIniquitous21 I agree, I just saw the series,and he did have some sny coments
but on the whole he was very respectful and acctually seemed to enjoy himsef too, and added his humor to it which made it fun to watch..
Funny. I live in Northern California and I really like it - I went to Kentucky for the first time this year and thought, "wow, I could definitely live here".
They are actually kind of similar...gentle rolling hills and a laid back local culture.
He is a British comedy legend and television personality. After a long comedic partnership at Cambridge University and the BBC with Hugh Laurie (House) the two made the definitive adaptaion of Jeeves and Wooster. Since then Fry has written books and plays, played Melchett in Blackadder, and hosted BBC trivia show QI, among other things.
He's not going to dish up a load of gags, his humour is more based on his charm and dexterity with language.
@fofalooza Mister Fry never pretends to know anything. His is usually using true knowledge and 1st hand opinion. He puts the smaller villages on the same emotional scale as New York - A mark of a true poet. I'm sure they are all quite beautiful.
That growl is just...cute! Can't really think of any other word for it ;) Seems to me that Stephen liked many, many cities. Too many to make a choice.
I love Stephen Fry. He is an incredibly smart, classy and funny man. I'm from Ohio and I think he'd love it here in the fall and winter.
I just barely learned today that Stephen Fry was gay. That blows my mind for some reason but that’s awesome.
You're kinda cute🥰
It's the most geographically diverse country in the world, and its natural beauty is by far its best feature
Wow. That is really cool.
Mine: Chicago, Boston, Seattle, New York, Denver
New England and the Pacific Northwest.
Quitnton Hodges. Upstate New York.
We would welcome you, Stephen, if you finally do decide to come to San Fran :)
I saw the two part BBC doc, he whiffed on Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. Not to mention Richmond (captial of the confederacy), yet Fry decided to discuss the civil war at Gettysburg. Fry could've stopped in Milton DE for a Dogfish Head beer too. It's flawed yet well done documentary of how an outside voice sees America.
@rashidclark That's true of downtown NY as well. In terms of clean downtown areas, Austin, Texas is pretty nice.
I'd probably say so as well. In California vicinity there's basically LA, San Fran, Las Vegas, Area 51, Route 66, Hollywood, I could go on and on. Would probably say somewhere there myself. Get a nice little house in the middle of it all. Would be hard to knock back New York or Florida though.
Fry is so right, even aside from the Bay area, Northern California is such an incredible and unspoiled place. And even a lot of Californians have no idea of the area (basically the whole northern third of the state), other than occasionally visiting the redwoods & north coast, or else just passing thru the rest of it on their way to "Ory-gun"!
I think Stephen would appreciate the irony of a Bible app advertisement inserted before a video of Stephen Fry.
Lived most my life in and around San Francisco. After 55 years I escaped to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina and love it. San Francisco will always look beautiful from a distance but living there is another matter. Unless you are filthy rich I'd say forget it.
Well thank you Stephen Fry from a Northern Californian.
Get out of California while you can
Stephen darling come to San fran again and I can show you the cool places we locals know about that the tourists usually don't get to see!
Haha I was worried when he said s.c. But Beaufort is amazing
I lived in Germany for a few years, and noticed a bookstore display of calendars, each one featuring a different country, so of course, I checked out the USA calendar. There was a picture of New York, and the Grand Canyon. But the other 10 pictures were nothing but flat plains for miles. Maybe an old truck, maybe some barbed wire. Barbed wire! Real scenic. I think europeans envy us for our vast stretches of uninhabited land, like we all still live in the wilderness or something. :)
+customcartoons lol that sounds like one interesting calendar! You shouldn't take it to heart.On a whole, europeans have very little to be envious about america, as we also have an insane amount of natural beauty. But fortunately we are steeped in thousands of years of recorded history.
jealous of unhihabited land?...id hate to live in a field in the middle of nowhere
I wanna visit the England one day. Ireland as well.
agree
I'm English and it would be foolish to not recognise the true beauty of America. It was far more wondrous before it was colonised by the Europeans of course but it's still vastly beautiful.
Maine!
Glad he showed New England some love.
He's talking about Redwood National Park... Sequoia isn't up near the Oregon border. Both are stunning places though and not too far from San Francisco.
Maine is like another world. I feel instantly calm and happy when I cross the border. It’s just the best.
I should clarify, by "not easy with modern tech", I mean it still costs quite a pretty penny.
Thank you, Stephen Fry! I find Britain to be a fine country, as well!
Every time I see Stephen Frye, I still think of Jeeves. He ought to do another Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie in ten years or so. Set it in the 1950's. It would be horrible and awesome.
Surprised he didn't pick Boston to be honest.
It's true, there are some absolutely breathtaking landmarks here in South Carolina. Now if only we weren't so backwards... good grief...
You're like a youngest child who outstrips the achievements of their siblings, you're going to get some stick for it.
He obviously prefers the vast valleys and colossal mountains of Norfolk though
I'm a little shocked he mentioned lowland South Carolina and Beaufort. It's not because I think he's wrong (he's not) but it is hard to pin down exactly why I find this shocking. I guess picturing Stephen Fry having some low country boil or walking through the art district of Savannah is hard to visualize. Maybe it's because it seems like one of those places that often goes unmentioned, yet regional folks love. Don't know, don't care. Thanks for the compliment Mr. Fry.
What is the name of your book?
How did I just know he was going to say San Francisco?
Dear Mr. Fry, So glad you enjoyed your stay. We're rather fond of the US, too. Thanks, The Americans
He meant Redwood National Park. Also, 0:12 Grrrr!
Northern California is indeed the best spot. as an Oregonian you can trust me 😊
Because I'm not a native English speaker (or just because I'm an idiot, I'm sure arguments could be made for either reason) I formulated it wrong - I think I was supposed to write 'with', not 'that have' to avoid implying that cities have all the things mentioned and that non-cities (I have no idea if there is a proper word for that) don't.
I also have no actual knowledge of the subject, it was just my best guess so there's a good chance I'm completely wrong.
Thanks Stephen! I like it too!
Makes me proud to be a San Franciscan
What a s-hole.
1. SF
2. NY
3. Chicago
My top 3 are the same, just in different order.
If you like "awe-inspiring and varied natural beauty" I recommend a visit to Scotland then you're opinion on beauty will change forever, but I may be a bit bias as I am Scottish lol.
San Francisco's changed a lot, even in just the five years since this video was uploaded.
What you mean?
It has changed in the last few years, but that’s what San Francisco does best: it changes while remaining indelibly SF. You cannot deny the parts of its spirit that called to the bohemians, the beatniks, the hippies, the environmentalists, the gay liberation movement, the techies...these waves of people leave their mark and scare the old timers, but the City still survives. I can walk out my door and come face-to-face with City’s very soul - it’s alive and well, in ever corner of town.
While Sequoia is amazing, he's speaking of the Red Woods. Sequoias are about 4-5 hours south east.
Stephen Fry loves Kentucky?
Well, here's one Kentucky girl who loves you right back!
@Gardialvoir2 New Orleans, bro. We duel at dawn.
In northern California and southern Oregon we like to call this area, "The State of Jefferson." We have a common culture among us that stands apart from the rest of our respective states. I love it.
I bet. And no doubt he has this better-informed attitude because he's actually spent time there meeting people and seeing the place for himself, rather than relying on lazy stereotypes.
Favorite city? All of them. Favorite State? Also all of them.
Was anyone else really turned on by the growl at 0:13?
Clicked. Read the description. Turned it off before it started because you told everything in the description.
san fransisco, great choice (not sure why i sed that when ive never been, but it looks beautiful lol)
Yes, quite the definitive answer.
Favourite!!!
I was hoping he'd say Binghamton
logic 101: correlation does not equate to causality
To be fair, America is pretty damn big. It isn't an easy task to move cross country even with modern technology. And we don't tend to get a lot of vacations so finding the time is another problem.
@vtc193 I LOVE your extra sharp! What's not to like about any extra sharp cheese?
Oh, Stephen, how sweet of you to speak so kindly of us! Makes me dislike having to admit that I'm an American a little less.
Being embarrassed of where you live? That's just ridiculous to me.
❤
I knew he was gonna say Kentucky
He actually referred to the people several times.