Poll: Frankie Boyle challenged over Down's Syndrome joke
- Thread starter Crayzor
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Comedians are one of the only people in the world who are allowed to be brutally honest with us about how they think (as long as it's done in an entertaining way) so I think that trying to impose a restriction on what can or can't be joked about is somewhat missing the point.
Look at Bill Hicks, a lot of his routines were extremely offensive to various peoples (some were worthy targets, some couldn't defend themselves and some simply just refused to defend themselves) and he would often go into explicit detail about his thoughts, feelings and experiences (need I mention Goatboy?), it even got to the point where some people considered him as more of a shaman or preacher than a comedian.
If he had been 'censored' then not only would his works have been less funny but they would have lost almost all of the meaning and purpose they originally had.
Look at Bill Hicks, a lot of his routines were extremely offensive to various peoples (some were worthy targets, some couldn't defend themselves and some simply just refused to defend themselves) and he would often go into explicit detail about his thoughts, feelings and experiences (need I mention Goatboy?), it even got to the point where some people considered him as more of a shaman or preacher than a comedian.
If he had been 'censored' then not only would his works have been less funny but they would have lost almost all of the meaning and purpose they originally had.
I believe that nothing is so sacred that it cannot be made fun of, provided that the maker-fun-of-er (worst word ever, by the way) has actually put some thought into what he said.
A clever little joke or a snide stab is okay.
Mockery and blatant insults are not.
Use your judgement to decide which of the two went on here, then make up your mind as to whether or not it's inappropriate.
A clever little joke or a snide stab is okay.
Mockery and blatant insults are not.
Use your judgement to decide which of the two went on here, then make up your mind as to whether or not it's inappropriate.
Very well said.Ubermetalhed said:
As far as I'm concerned (and, in fact, I had this discussion with my family yesterday): nothing is offensive unless you choose to be offended by it. If you react that way, then it's your problem and not the person who's supposedly offended you.
As long as they're within the law (racist jokes and inciting racial hatred are a world apart), yes, I'd support their right to make those jokes. As for whether I'd find it funny or go to see them: no, of course I wouldn't.Crayzor said:
Humour is a necessary thing. As long as there's no malice intended, anyone and anything is fair game for mockery.
I'd need to hear the joke. If it was actually funny, then yes, I think it should be allowed as it is "a joke"
If it isn't (and so many of these "scandalous jokes" often turn out to be just bigoted remarks and not funny at all), then what he said was just stupid and offensive
If it isn't (and so many of these "scandalous jokes" often turn out to be just bigoted remarks and not funny at all), then what he said was just stupid and offensive
In comedy, either everything is sacred, or nothing in. If people don't have the ability to see the comedy in even the most dire scenarios, we might as well be dead.
Why do people always have to find SOMETHING to whine and cry about? First, does the kid care? Is he aware enough to figure out that he was made fun of? Second, she knew what to expect when she bought the ticket. Third, everyone at some point or another has made fun of mental disabilities in some way, harmless or not. Fourth, this lady is a prime example of why our list of rights keeps shrinking.
So... who's up for cookies?
So... who's up for cookies?
Being a redhead, I've seen time and time again that it's not only socially acceptable to make fun of us, it's actually expected! So I say sod 'em. If it's a joke, then it's simply a joke and if one group of people can be needlessly taken the piss out of, then everyone should be in the firing line.
Anyway, who says that people with downs can't defend themselves?
They're really strong!
Anyway, who says that people with downs can't defend themselves?
They're really strong!
Do you do them in sign language? I just have this mental image of someone taking the piss out of deaf people in sign language and it's really, really funny.lockeslylcrit said:
This is true. Not many people "get" Scottish humour. It's like British humour but involves hating everything.LimaBravo said:
Protip: Freedom of Speech doesn't apply in this case.Syon said:
I know. I'm just so used to living among the soft Southern jessies that I've started explaining it in ways they'd understand. I also felt the cold this winter.LimaBravo said:
I need to go live at one of the poles for a year or two to harden myself up again.
The privilege to make money by telling jokes is balanced by other peoples right to call you out for being an ignorant fuck. Undeniably, the comedian has the right to make Down's Syndrome jokes. This is where the Free Speech part of the argument ends. Next is the far more difficult, more relevent issue of if you are a douchebag or not. Did he make these jokes in a clearly satirical venue, where it is apparent to the audience that he will say things that will offend many's sensibilities? Then he is not a douchebag, and most people will see that, no one will really care about the complainer excersizing their free speech. But if he was offensive and aggressive towards an individual suffering, then he is a douchebag, and deserves to be criticized for being so. Either way, things are going as they should.
Funny thing about humor: it's subjective. Some people are going to find it funny, some people aren't. Is that really a good basis for determining whether you should be allowed to say things?GrinningManiac said:
Well, maybe you should have it. Specifically for cases like this, where people think their offense justifies censorship of the source of their offense.LimaBravo said:
The idea that censorship is a tree-hugging-hippy idea is flawed. Maybe that's not what you were referring to, but its an issue that is certainly not far-left in origin. Christian conservatives (at least in the US) are famous for it.
Anything can be funny. You'll always find yourself laughing at something that you "shouldn't be laughing about"
Well, strangely enough, you are laughing at it!
Well, strangely enough, you are laughing at it!
So long as it isn't hate speech-ish. Humour that alienates one group is all the more funny to another. On a couple of instances I have been the targeted race/ lack of religion/ social crowd, normally I shrug it off. Except if it is directed at ME and just me.
But politically incorrect jokes are funny and they sell. They don't break any laws so let them continue.
[small]Wait, what did that guy just say about white South Africans...[/small]
But politically incorrect jokes are funny and they sell. They don't break any laws so let them continue.
[small]Wait, what did that guy just say about white South Africans...[/small]