Poll: Frankie Boyle challenged over Down's Syndrome joke

[Crayzor]

Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle has been called out over making jokes about and mocking people with down's syndrome by a woman with child suffering from the disability

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/apr/08/frankie-boyle-downs-syndrome

Some people have said that certain areas of society, such as people with disabilities, who cannot defend themselves should be protected from the humour of comedians, while others have said that freedom of speech should mean that comedians should be able to make jokes about anyone and anything.

What do you, the Escapist, think?

 

[Liberaliter]

He should be allowed to make jokes like that, he's a comedian, part of their appeal may come in being offensive. If we lose this ability then it is political correctness gone mad.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Freedom of speech For The Win here, for both of them.

He's allowed to say whatever the hell he wants, he makes his living out of telling nasty, spitefull (and occasionally very funny) jokes.
She doesn't like that particular strand of it, with good reason.

They can both voice their opinions about it.

 

[Arcticflame]

Comedians should be able to make whatever joke they want.

People should be able to be offended by them.

That's it. There's nothing more to it in my view.

 

[Crayzor]

But should somebody popular and infulential, like a comedian, be allowed to make jokes that could perpetuate a negative view of a certain group of people? Would you support a comedian making racist or anti-semetic jokes?

 

[Shanecooper]

SO long as its tasteful, he should be able to say whatever he wants.

 

[Valksy]

I don't believe that any one really should be protected from being the target of comedians as I don't know that it really qualifies as hate speech (which is prohibited).

However, Frankie Boyle has no right to expect an audience and if he carries on this path he will find himself off television for good. Stand up comedians can make a living from DVD and stage but there have been some who will never be back on the TV for the big coverage and big money - Roy Brown for example, or Bernard Manning. Tell edgy jokes if you wish, but don't fucking cry about it if your audience becomes niche.

From his reaction to the audience member and his later comments about it being uncomfortable for him too it seems that he knows he was making cheap shots. The question now becomes if he is willing to make that his career or not. That is HIS choice to make, not ours.

 

[DoW Lowen]

Frankie Boyle makes fun of everyone. And I mean EVERYONE.

He represents the few beacons of unapologetic comedy triumph. Just because it might be offensive doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

However, just because it is offensive doesn't necessarily make it funny. I trust Frankie Boyle, he always makes me laugh. However some people just drop a rude joke and a swear world and be 'controversial' and think the world should roll in the aisles suffocating on the sheer madness of it all.

 

[S.R.S.]

Wouldn't be the first comedian to be called out on one of his jokes. *cough*Kramer*cough*

 

[CakeDragon]

Ah good, someone else finally agrees that Frankie Boyle has gone too far and isn't funny any more.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

He should be allowed to say what he wants, but I am allowed to say that I find that kind of humour pathetic.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

I don't actually like Frankie Boyle's sense of humour, however I don't see anything wrong with him being allowed the freedom to make jokes about whatever he wants. People should know his sense of humour by now, if you're easily offended, avoid it, it's not hard to do.

 

[Ubermetalhed]

Frankie Boyle makes fun of everyone. And I mean EVERYONE.

This is very true, Boyle is a fantastic bad taste comedian. What was the woman even doing at his gig if she couldn't take that kind of humour? Were AIDS and cancer jokes funny for her but Downs syndrome wasn't just because it affected her? Frankie has done no wrong, this woman needs to be quiet and just accept it as bad taste humour.

 

[SNIPERFOX ft. Harry P.Ness]

who cares? he's scottish!

aw that cheeky scot!

 

[Kinichie]

Oh come on, Frankie Boyle is notorious for making jokes that are completely and utterly over the line and will offend pretty much anyone. Even on Mock the Week he offended many many people. He does it for a living. Some people need to realise that Boyle pretty much has no limits and will turn almost anything into a joke, so if you think some of his other stuff is funny, you are pretty much just waiting to be offended. If you know there is something, anything, that will offend you, then Boyle is probably the man to take the piss out of it. And if you get offended then it is your own fault for going to a comic whose routines often focus on bad taste, black humour and downright provocative reactions.

 

[Syl4r]

Bad taste humor is what he does best, and comedians in general should be allowed to say what they want

 

[Booze Zombie]

He's obviously joking... that's kind of his job.

I don't see the issue.

 

[NickCooley]

I think it's a bit hypocritical that she's fine with him taking the piss out of other disabilities yet she gets annoyed at the Down Syndrome comments. But whatever. If I'm being honest I really don't care.

 

[UnravThreads]

I've no sympathy for the woman in the linked story. She bought those tickets and she went to see him, knowing full well that he can be damned offensive. I'd wager she was laughing at most/all jokes before the ones that affected her, and those jokes would have been "offensive" to others.
Frankie's reaction was terrible though, and it really doesn't do his "image" any good. He came out of that looking like an idiot. If anything, he should have just moved on to the next segment of his show and *not* gone on a rant like he did.

I think... No, I don't think jokes should be limited (I'm not a supporter of censorship) BUT I think that there are lines you really, really shouldn't cross.