In the excerpt from Carl Hiaasen's Razor Girl, Yancy might have seen humor in a TV portrayal of Southern rural life that was heavily influenced by alcohol and stereotypes. The humor would have been more light-hearted if Buck, a character in the show, were simply a harmless figure rather than something more problematic.
However, Buck was not just harmless; he was a negative influence, even serving as a source of inspiration for less discerning viewers like Benny the Blister. This highlights how certain portrayals can have unintended harmful effects on impressionable audiences.