Poll: Frankie Boyle challenged over Down's Syndrome joke

[Agayek]

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?

Yes.

Anyone should be allowed to say whatever they want (provided they are not encouraging violence against another or intentionally creating a situation where harm can result) whenever they want, wherever they want to say it.

Anything less is a gross violation of the basic right to free speech.

If someone is offended by what is said, they have the option to choosing to not listen to it. There's a number of ways this can be accomplished, and anyone that says otherwise is an idiot.

 

[Bosola]

So, does anyone here actually have an info on what the joke was?

 

[Plank of Wood]

It's Frankie Boyle. What do you expect?

 

[Sven und EIN HUND]

Sooner or later, a comedian is going to say something that'll offend someone in some way, it's inevitable, come on.

 

[Red Right Hand]

To be honest, Frankie Boyle is funniest when he's telling semi-sick jokes. Too often he goes for the horrific ones and I don't think they're that funny. Also, he's from Edinburgh. Dirty Bastard!!!

 

[Julianking93]

I've seen plenty of people make jokes about disabled people.

Why is this guy being called out on it?

Oh and free speech FTW

 

[Korolev]

Is this comedian going to jail over his jokes? I don't think he is.
Does he have a right to make such jokes? Of course. He can make such jokes ALL DAY LONG if he wants to. And no one will arrest him or fine him.

So the question isn't whether or not he has the RIGHT to. Of COURSE he has the right to make such jokes. He ain't in prison is he?

No, what you are asking is whether or not society should accept it. And that is up to each and every single individual one of us.

It's like when some people complain that they aren't allowed to make racist jokes. They actually are allowed to, so long as they don't follow people and harass them constantly. No one has taken away anyone's right to be offensive. What these people are really complaining about is the fact that it is no longer socially acceptable.

And that's just tough beans to them.

 

[Sebenko]

Stupid *****.

How can you be a fan of Frankie Boyle and then expect him not to offend you at some point?
Oh, I guess talking the piss out of people is fine until it's relevant to you, huh?

I fucking love Frankie. Everything he says is fucking hilarious.

 

[WrongSprite]

Thing is, what she found offensive, somebody else laughed at. What she laughed at, somebody else might have found offensive. It swings both ways.

Actually,

It's always funny until they target you.

Sums it up better.

 

[YouCallMeNighthawk]

I Love Frankie Boyle just because he goes places most comedians wouldn't dare touch on.

Besides he's only joking not like that it's his offcial view on the subject!

Let me ask you this, would it be ok if someone with a disability told a joke about scottish people? or would it be considered wrong? It works both ways.

 

[cieply]

Freedom of speach is freedom of speach, if you don't like what you hear, don't listen to it. It's PRECISELY what's it about. But some people feel that freedom of speech is freedom to talk what they want to listen. How are those idiots diffrent from muslims. Talk about tolerance...
You don't like the comedian's act, you go out from the show. Finito.
God people are so stupid.

 

[Qualko]

We need less freedom of speech, it annoys me. Especially when it comes to the internet.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

If it weren't for jokes that can be considered offensive, there would be a lot more tension in the world.

 

[D_987]

Stupid *****.

How can you be a fan of Frankie Boyle and then expect him not to offend you at some point?
Oh, I guess talking the piss out of people is fine until it's relevant to you, huh?

I fucking love Frankie. Everything he says is fucking hilarious.

Ok, first and foremost you're reading a sensationalist tabloid, so the full-story may not be apparent.

Secondary, "stupid *****", I really don't see how you can insult the women in this story - she didn't stand up and complain - if anything Boyle created the controversy himself by forcing her to talk to him regarding her issue. Of course she has the right to be offended - you'd have to be incredibly moronic to not understand that point - yet she didn't actually do anything.

Personally I find Frankie Boyle to be the comedian for stupid people; everything he says is aimed at the lowest common denominator and appears to get laughs just because he insults someone...

 

[ProfessorLayton]

It's tasteless, but I've heard much worse come from comedians. Honestly, though, you shouldn't make fun of anyone who can't fight back or for something that they can't help.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

So, does anyone here actually have an info on what the joke was?

Here you go.

http://k3tten.blogspot.com/2010/04/punching-me-in-face-would-have-been.html

He not only made the jokes, but noticed her discomfort and then started speaking to her about it, right there in front of the audience.

We need less freedom of speech, it annoys me. Especially when it comes to the internet.

Not so much less freedom of speech, we need people to use freedom of speech with a bit more responsibility. While I like freedom of speech, freedom to be a beligerant asshole towards those who can't fight back is hardly a laudable aspect of modern society.

Also - a lot of people in this thread need to shut their pie holes frankly. The "dumb *****" never said that Frankie Boyle should be prosecuted, censored, locked up, or anything else. She pointed out that she felt sickened by his comments, which is perfectly understandable if you aren't a sociopathic teenager who is still at the stage of development when it is "cool" to swear a lot.

 

[JenXXXJen]

Oh come on, it's Frankie Boyle. Insulting people is his thing.

 

[lockeslylcrit]

My girlfriend is deaf, and whenever I make a deaf joke or Helen Keller joke, she laughs along. Only the most uptight get angry over a simple joke.

 

[Danzaivar]

Sick jokes are funny because of the moral outrage they cause. All this woman is doing is making the jokes funnier.