"Viral video" and "fake" go together like "Justin Trudeau" and "Completely unqualified". About the only thing interesting about the precocious Canadian prime minister's viral stunt is that the media played a key role in making it happen while mocking one of its own and completely ignoring basics like "journalism" and integrity".
The short version of the story is that the notoriously unintelligent PM who got the job because of his last name had someone prepare a few words for him about quantum computing. And then delivered it.
And the media lost its mind. These are a few of the more embarrassing headlines that made Western media outlets look like Russian or North Korean papers.
Watch Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nail a question on Quantum Computing - In-Depth-Kansas City Star
Justin Trudeau explains quantum computing to stunned reporters- Irish Time
Trudeau never fails to impress and explains quantum theory - Daily Mail
Justin Trudeau Explains Quantum Computing, And the Crowd Goes Wild - Fortune
Man of Your Dreams Justin Trudeau Casually Drops Quantum Computing Lecture in Press Conference - Vanity Fair
VIDEO: Internet Freaking Out Over Justin Trudeau's Quantum Computing Explanation - CBS
Justin Trudeau Gives Snarky Reporter A Lesson In Quantum Computing - Huffington Post
Everyone involved in the manufacture and distribution of these headlines should be banished to Russia to write up glowing press release about Putin's latest viral video. That's how shameful this is.
The whole thing was an obvious fake. Trudeau had a memorized speech that he wanted to give to fix the idea that he's a mindless lightweight. And so he gave the speech no matter what the question was.
It was the math lecture heard ‘round the world. The Canadian Prime Minister, standing in front of a blackboard filled with complicated math equations, seemingly delivering an off-the-cuff explanation of quantum computing.
But, according to the tape, the whole thing was a bit more staged than most realized.
“I’m really hoping people ask me how quantum computing works — I was excited to deepen my knowledge of that this morning,” said Justin Trudeau to open a press conference wrapping up his visit to Waterloo, Ont.’s Perimeter Institute on Friday.
Trudeau was not technically asked about quantum computing, however. The spark for his explanation was merely a joking pre-amble referencing Trudeau’s original statement.
“I was going to ask you to explain quantum computing, but when do you expect Canada’s ISIL mission to begin again, and are we not doing anything in the interim while we prepare?” went the question.
“Very simply, normal computers work by … either there’s power going through a wire or not,” responded Trudeau, before launching into a one minute explanation of the theoretical computing system.
“Don’t get me going on this, we’ll be here all day,” he said.
No, we won't be. Because Trudeau had X amount of material memorized.
The whole thing is pathetic. If a politician whom the media didn't like pulled that same stunt, he would have been laughed to death. But beyond that, it's about the degradation of Western "journalism" into something that is hard to tell apart from the Russian or North Korean propaganda variety. It's not just media bias which is pervasive and thorough to the point that no contrary narratives even enter into it.
It's that beyond simply being one-sided, the media is increasingly becoming an echo chamber for manufacturing cults of personality for its favorite politicians, whether it's Obama, Trudeau or Bernie Sanders.
And that represents a serious threat to our democracy.