[astral303]

How can Daisey's story be politically charged? It's only politically charged if we had an Apple party and an anti-Apple party (Slashdot party? Google party?).

Did you listen to the TAL retraction? Some of the key points retracted make all the difference between complete outrage (employment of 12 and 13 year-olds) and disappointment. Did you hear the most emotional scene in his story, of the man with the crooked hand, is a complete fabrication? Did you read the NYTimes article by Duhig and Barboza, which was factually correct, and think that was not enough exposure of the harsh working conditions at these factories? And if you heard the TAL retraction, you surely must've heard the bit where many workers do want to work over 60 hors a week, to make more money. That surely is an interesting factual point that splashes some gray into the black and white matter presented by Daisey.

All works of fiction on TAL are identified as such. IME when Sedaris et all retell their stories, they add comedy and drama via colorful descriptions of their feelings or using exaggerated analogies. However, they don't lie.

[aeeeee]

Politics in the general sense of politics of power and social activism (not all politics need to involve governments). I didn't read the NYT article but I've probably read enough snippets online to get the gist of it. I guess I'm more skeptical of dramatic stage readings (which this was) more than the average guy on teh street. Also I have no doubts (probably can't prove) that Sedaris makes up stuff that never actually happened for the sake of drama and comedy. Non-fiction just isn't that funny (here is one link I found related to the topic http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/press_box/20...)