Fans of the TV comedy Community tend to be concerned for that show’s future. Its creator, Dan Harmon, was unceremoniously fired after the most recent season finale. In his second sweeping, emotional extended interview with redditors, Harmon cried twice. He didn’t, however, speak very ill of Chevy Chase, his star with whom he had a notoriously contentious relationship.
This was also a week of a particularly innovative AMA—a young woman visiting Mali relayed questions from users to young children facing a coming food shortage. Perhaps it was somewhat due to the translation, but many of their answers were heartbreakingly terse and earnest. “How do you see the western world?”/“I don’t know the Western world,” went one exchange. “What is the happiest you have ever been?”/“when I met my best friend,” went another.
Other people Reddit met include a reporter who’s an expert in how money influences elections, a 23-year-old who lives in his truck despite an income that easily would afford him an apartment, and a high schooler who takes requests for unusual balloon animals.
A note on terminology: AMA stands for “ask me anything,” while “IAmA” is simply “I am a;” AMAA means “ask me almost anything.”
do you think chevy understands most of the jokes on the show? (Lamurias)
no
2) IAmA head writer for the world’s most expensive children’s television show – LazyTown. AMA.
How on earth did you get this job? (cydnay)
A friend recommended me for consideration. I flew up in the dead of winter, no sunlight, lava fields, like going to Mars. Was interviewed and…didn’t get the job. Then the guys they hired instead of me didn’t work out…so I got the call. Sometimes the bridesmaid gets hitched after all.
3) Third World Child AMA with translator via satellite
Are you happy? (Apokalyps)
I don’t know. I think a doll would make me happy.
Which outside source should we be most concerned with? (3vanhask)
As a reporter, I’m most interested in the idea of these dark money groups, the social welfare nonprofits that can spend millions on electing people without disclosing their donors. Sure, super PACs are important, and the millions of dollars being given are certainly worth noting, but at least with super PACs, we know (in general) who’s giving that money. Anonymous money raises different questions–questions I think we should be talking about. Maybe everyone’s fine with anonymous money coming into the system. But it seems as if we’ve gotten to this place almost accidentally, without most people realizing it and without even having a discussion about it.
5) I work full time, make over $20 an hour and I live in my truck. AMA
How do you keep from getting your balls busted by police? (dirtymoney)
I have been accosted by the cops 3 times. All 3 they have taken me out, cuffed me, put me in the back of their car and searched the front of the truck. Since I don’t have anything in the back that they can go off, I never get the back searched.
Now, I just sleep most of the time at the parking lot at Kohls now. It’s private property and I guess I’ll do that until they ask me to leave. I’ve done streets and stuff, too though. It’s crazy how many people I have noticed doing the same thing now. Times are tough!
6) I am a nurse at a prison hospital. AMA
Have you ever considered denying assistance or deferring it to another nurse because you couldn’t bring yourself to help the person before you? (Huedsai)
We see a lot of child molesters. I would prefer not to know what the inmates are in for, but people talk around the hospital, be it officers or other nurses. I’ve never even considered denying care. I’ve never provided less than the best possible care I could to anyone. That’s a controversial attitude to have around our hospital sometimes. You hear a lot of “Oh, he’s just a chomo, I don’t know why you even bother.” and such.
7) I’m that Cthulhu balloon guy. I blew up overnight. AMA
Have you ever created a Mario? (ermk)
I made mario’s head before, but I have never done a full body. Here’s the link for Mario’s head: https://imgur.com/EBSjz
Photo via @Danharmon
