I never really tolerated this take on the show. And how many often accused Matt and Trey of being libertarians or even downright bigots even though they're trying to make a socialist statement on civilisation or the topic of the week like gay marriage and treatment of disability in media and how people could potentially be faking it for exploitation both of which were actually very well done and progressive especially the tourettes example.
Also they've ruthless mocked Trump in a story arc not only once but twice. And their latest season is so aggressively ruthless and savage, It feels like they're doing more for the liberal No Kings uprising than The current democratic party leaders who are all talk and no substance.
I'm not saying I don't fully disagree with people's disdain for the show (primarily the trans community. I can see why they hate South Park's guts) but to consider it a permanent stain on basic human decency and a horrid influence for milennials is honestly pretty hair splitting if you'd ask me.
Am I missing something here within these folks? is punching sideways/mocking everyone equally really any worst than complete douchebags straight up punching down for the sake of pissing off the unfortunate because they find it hilarious (Looking at you Tony Hinchcliffe, and Babylon Bee)? Are the South Park guys really to blame for shaping an entire demographic into not caring about any Global Disputes with Current Affairs? Or did the boundaries pushing and subtle satire simply got lost in people who either grewed up into the very thing they were mocking or viewed it as a cesspool of nihlist Slop?
IMO South Park just holds up a mirror to society (in probably 90% of their episodes, anyway). People who are comfortable / powerful in society won't like looking at the ugliness in that mirror. People who understand how fucked up everything is will appreciate the value of the mirror.
I think a smaller amount of their material is just them griping about various pet peeves, which is fine. They are human and very creative, so of course some of those types of things will come out in their work, too.
And some of it is just to be funny, pure absurdist jokes and gags. In the sense of "the universe doesn't care" types of things. Those land hard for me, but some people don't find that kind of thing funny. The people who don't find it funny aren't wrong, they just have different tastes in humor.
I think you nailed it. You can take what you want from their episodes oftentimes, they are not trying to convince anyone of anything but how stupid some people and things are from at least one perspective. That's it. When people act like they're anti leftist or something like that, they've 100% missed what was being done.