People often wonder why people say, “Shut up and _____!” to actors and other celebrities. The reason is, they usually say something painfully stupid that demands the response.

Director Rob Reiner is the latest who stepped up to the plate to say something absurd. Naturally, Chris Jansing of NBC didn’t call him out on it, nodding along approvingly like a seal waiting for a fish.

It takes quite a bit of gumption to compare Russians using bots and trolls on social media to a surprise attack by the Japanese that killed nearly 2,500 people including civilians.

It’s odd he makes that comparison and leaves out the 9/11 attacks that killed 3,000 people.

Or the Cold War.

When people engage in histrionics as a means of criticism, it weakens their argument. It’s one thing to be critical of Donald Trump. It’s another to make wild comparisons or conspiracy theory-like accusations which do nothing but draw attention away from his conspiracy theories.

People should take a moment to stop and think about what they’re going to say. As for Chris Jansing, unless she agrees with Reiner, she has a responsibility to ask a simple question. “Why do you think that’s a fair comparison?”