Poll: Rape is totally okay to joke about, right guys?

[AnarchistFish]

Have a good read of this http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9766-The-R-Word

That's intense.


OT: This is a tricky subject. In some ways I think that comedy is separate from the rest of life and there aren't really any lines in comedy because everything is for the sake of provoking a certain reaction. It doesn't really otherwise undermine the subject or imply that people don't think that it is a serious thing outside of getting those laughs, it's just the way you get those laughs when you want them. But then again, it can seriously screw people up who are sensitive to those subjects, but then where do you draw the line? I guess with rape it's different to homosexuality or racism, cos if you are a victim you're almost certainly gonna be affected by it at a deeply ingrained level, but still.

 

[blindthrall]

Sure, you tell me where you live, I'll break into your house and drug you, tie you to a radiator and rape you repeately. I think at least raping you until you bleed and have internal bruising. Then once I'm done I'll make jokes about how you cried like a little girl and I was obviously the winner of this argument because I had raped you and it was hilarious how your tears mixed with the blood coming out of your body.

Let's see just how much you laugh.

Alright, on a more serious note. Sometimes rape can be funny. Jokes about the perpetrators going to prison and making new friends are worth a few black comedy chuckles. Offhand jokes about dropping the soap in a boy's boarding school shower will elicit a few laughs.

But sitting in front of a rape victim and telling jokes about how she was obviously asking for it and saying thay it would be hilarious if she was gang raped for protesting about the jokes you made? Somewhat less amusing.

How about, and I'm deadly serious, before you make a rape joke and say it's fine because no subject should be taboo, you either get raped or meet someone who has been raped. I know someone who was raped in the girl's toilets of a club. Someone followed her in, shoved her into a cubicle, stuffed a belt into her mouth and raped her.

Want to make a joke?

You know, I would absolutely call your bluff and make a joke about a girl being raped in a club, but I can't think of any funny way to add the belt into the story. So, yes, I want to make a joke. Problem?

I got ya: "If it had been a Gucci belt, they'd be married."

 

[robot slipper]

It's alright to make a joke about anything, provided that:

A)There's no genuine malice behind it.
B)The joke is actually funny.

This. Though if I were a comedian, I would try to find subject matter that was a bit more light-hearted - to me comedy is about pointing out funny or silly things about life. I can't think of anything about rape that is actually genuinely funny. It's just not a funny subject in any context that I can think of.

I guess it's all about personal taste. I don't personally think there's a lot of humour to be found in topics like rape, cancer, death, puppys being drowned etc. but some people do. They are well within their rights to make jokes about it if thats their style. But, like the poster above said, as long as it's not personally directed at someone with malice.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I want to high five you so hard for this thread, I don't even give a shit about the topic but having the only options being no is fucking stupid.

Ahahahaha what is with the Escapist and the sanctity of internet polls.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Have a good read of this http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9766-The-R-Word

I've never read a more articulate and personal account of why it's inappropriate to use rape as a subject of comedy. Basically the laughs generated in no way make up for the hurt caused and therefore the ends doesn't justify the means.

I'd suggest any budding comedian ought to go through the physical and mental horror of rape before being allowed to make jokes about rape to the general public.

My personal opinion: If you make a rape joke (aimed at a person like in the other thread's example) you are just being a ****, end of story.

Pretty sure you've been quoted tons about this already but here goes. So for a normal comedian nowadays to perform a routine they first need to get raped, murdered (somehow coming back to life), tortured, spent years with a mental illness, become and old person, get a sex change, become fat, nearly commit suicide, blow up a building, fight in a war, have every political viewpoint in the world and even more and THEN and ONLY THEN can they make a joke about anything.

I fucking hate that argument, the "You can't joke/talk/debate about it because you've never had it happen to you!"

 

[blindthrall]

Rape isn't funny period.

And I'm pretty lax about limits of what you can and can't joke about (example: This is the probable last words of an unknown office intern working at one of the Twin Towers in downtown NY. "Hey that plane is gettin' kinda close". Or the unknown last words of Jens being at vacation at Legoland Billund. "See? You can stand up in the rollercoas(splat)..." See?)

Rape isn't funny (unless she's on her) period.

And if you think those are edgy jokes...well I'll leave you to your opinion.

 

[Hazy992]

There's an easy argument that I can make and it is this:

If you can find me one rape victim that finds any rape jokes funny, I will concede your point that jokes about rape can be funny.

Good luck.

But you could say that about any dark joke. Should people stop making dark jokes altogether or is just the rape jokes you don't like?

Do you know what's worse than rape?

Spoiler

A starving African baby.

Spoiler

And if you think that's even remotely funny you must be extremely detached because I don't think any emotive person would find that funny at all.

Yeah I reported the OP. Problem?

It's actually depressing when you think about it. Probably has something to do with this. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death]

You actually reported the OP? Seriously?

 

[MrFalconfly]

Rape isn't funny period.

And I'm pretty lax about limits of what you can and can't joke about (example: This is the probable last words of an unknown office intern working at one of the Twin Towers in downtown NY. "Hey that plane is gettin' kinda close". Or the unknown last words of Jens being at vacation at Legoland Billund. "See? You can stand up in the rollercoas(splat)..." See?)

Rape isn't funny (unless she's on her) period.

And if you think those are edgy jokes...well I'll leave you to your opinion.

Oh I'm sorry but I had backed myself into a corner and was forced to come up with jokes that had at least a bit of an edge while being sleep-deprived (not an easy task mind you. Tell you what I'm gonna call it the day. Good night good sir).

 

[ultrachicken]

Have a good read of this http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9766-The-R-Word

I've never read a more articulate and personal account of why it's inappropriate to use rape as a subject of comedy. Basically the laughs generated in no way make up for the hurt caused and therefore the ends doesn't justify the means.

I'd suggest any budding comedian ought to go through the physical and mental horror of rape before being allowed to make jokes about rape to the general public.

My personal opinion: If you make a rape joke (aimed at a person like in the other thread's example) you are just being a ****, end of story.

I think you forgot about the part where the author said that he doesn't speak for all rape victims. Not everyone who's been raped will shut down, vomit, or have a fit at the mere mention of the word.

 

[GartarkMusik]

Basically, either everything is okay to joke about, or nothing is. Your choice.

 

[rob_simple]

It's alright to make a joke about anything, provided that:

A)There's no genuine malice behind it.
B)The joke is actually funny.

This. Though if I were a comedian, I would try to find subject matter that was a bit more light-hearted - to me comedy is about pointing out funny or silly things about life. I can't think of anything about rape that is actually genuinely funny. It's just not a funny subject in any context that I can think of.

I guess it's all about personal taste. I don't personally think there's a lot of humour to be found in topics like rape, cancer, death, puppys being drowned etc. but some people do. They are well within their rights to make jokes about it if thats their style. But, like the poster above said, as long as it's not personally directed at someone with malice.

I agree with you for the most part, but I think what a lot of people seem to assume is that people who find jokes about rape funny actually go out of their way to do so. If something appeals to my sense of humour it makes me laugh, but I don't make the conscious decision to find something funny.

I remember a long time ago I was talking to an insufferable woman and she asked if I liked racist jokes. I replied that I like jokes that are funny, at which point she proceeded to tell a completely normal joke but ended it with 'You fucking ******.' I said, 'that's not a racist joke' and she said obviously it was because she dropped an n-bomb. I tried to explain to her that that's not a racist joke: that's just being a racist.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I think anything can be comedy if it makes you laugh, (even though I admit sometimes I'll laugh while at the same time going 'oh for fucks sake') but a lot of people confuse jokes from which offense can be taken with jokes which are told specifically to offend.

And anyone over the age of about 21 who says things specifically to get a rise out of people is a talentless hack that deserves a square punch to the face.

 

[Eynimeb]

Damn, what a disgusting thread...

People shouldn't *want* to make jokes about rape.

I'm all in favor of free speech, but... bleh.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

And anyone over the age of about 21 who says things specifically to get a rise out of people is a talentless hack that deserves a square punch to the face.

I am pretty sure your hand would be fractured really good by the time all the internet trolls have been dealt with.

 

[RoBi3.0]

Here's a question: Why should comedy be immune to criticism only by virtue of the fact that it is comedy?

Also,

Why are dark/edgy/risky jokes amusing?

Various reasons. We need laughter. Everyone's tastes in humour are different, and for some, darker humour is to their taste. Laughter can take the sting out of things that we fear, make us feel safe. It can act as a coping mechanism. Everyone is offended by something, and when we start dictating what may or may not be made into a joke, you open the doors for severe restriction of speech.

It is worth asking the reverse. Why, in a world where any subject can be made into a joke, when even a small child can be exposed to the sort of slapstick humour that should, by all means, be traumatizing (just look at poor Wile. E. Coyote), when there are jokes that span the entire spectrum of 'light' and 'dark,' should rape be exempt?

I know victims of child abuse who can make jokes about it, people who have been beaten by partners who can nevertheless make light of the fact, and yes, even rape victims who can spin a joke out of it. For some people, such humour holds no fear, may even help them. Not every rape victim is a joke away from a nervous breakdown, and it's patronizing to assume otherwise. Yes, some people can be offended or hurt, and yes, occasionally the joker should apologize for causing such distress, but that doesn't justify widespread banning of certain kinds of humour simply because said people may be hurt or offended.

EDIT: I looked at that article about Daniel Tosh, and one thing the woman said stood out to me.

I don't sit there while someone tells me how I should feel about something as profound and damaging as rape.

That, I think, is very important. For someone to tell you how you should feel about something is indeed wrong. But it runs both ways. You can't just sit there and lecture a person on how they absolutely must find rape jokes funny, but it's just as bad to sit there and lecture someone about how they must find rape to be a serious and traumatizing subject that they must only ever treat seriously and sternly.

This, I think, is the problem. People here aren't specifically trying to defend rape or rape jokes specifically, but the assertion that they must feel such a way about rape, and may never treat it in any other fashion. It could be any other taboo topic, and receive the same response.

The thing is Tosh never said "You should feel this way" He was making a general statement. If he had said "Man cheeseburgers are always fucking tasty. How can a cheeseburger not be tasty" I am pretty sure this would have would be an issue. The women would have thought to her self man he must like cheeseburgers. The fact is Tosh presented a point of view that was directly opposed to her own feelings, and instead of realizing that Tosh was making a joke and trying to be offensive she took it personally. That is her problem not Tosh's.

 

[peruvianskys]

That, I think, is very important. For someone to tell you how you should feel about something is indeed wrong. But it runs both ways. You can't just sit there and lecture a person on how they absolutely must find rape jokes funny, but it's just as bad to sit there and lecture someone about how they must find rape to be a serious and traumatizing subject that they must only ever treat seriously and sternly.

Are you seriously pretending that those are the same thing? That somehow all feelings towards rape, and by extension, all violent, destructive, and hideous actions are up for grabs? There's no difference between saying that you should take rape seriously and saying that it's hilarious?

You can feel however you want to about rape; we're not fucking thought police here. We're just saying that if you're shitty enough to think rape is just a laugh riot, then please keep it to yourself and please especially don't base your entire career on it.

As I said in the other thread, statistics repeatedly place the number of men who say they would rape if they knew they would get away with it around 33%. So clearly there really are quite a few people out there who aren't too down on rape as a concept. "Dark" or "edgy" acts like this are not only immature and stupid but they also feed that demographic of people because it allows them to express their seriously-held misogyny under the cover of satire or "just joking around," both inflaming their sociosexual immaturity while simultaneously exploiting and devaluing the issue at hand - the fact that women are raped dozens and dozens of times every goddamn HOUR in this country.

Odds are there were a few rapists in that fucking shitty little audience, just laughing along. A joke won't ever make a non-rapist into a rapist, but it certainly can help create an environment where sexual violence is not only excused but celebrated and laughed at. And that's fucking bad enough.

 

[rob_simple]

And anyone over the age of about 21 who says things specifically to get a rise out of people is a talentless hack that deserves a square punch to the face.

I am pretty sure your hand would be fractured really good by the time all the internet trolls have been dealt with.

I think some trolling can be quite funny when it's done well, but you're right: I'd need to arrange some sort of Fists Around the World campaign to make sure every deserving party received their punch to the face.

 

[Suicidejim]

I looked at that article about Daniel Tosh, and one thing the woman said stood out to me.

I don't sit there while someone tells me how I should feel about something as profound and damaging as rape.

That, I think, is very important. For someone to tell you how you should feel about something is indeed wrong. But it runs both ways. You can't just sit there and lecture a person on how they absolutely must find rape jokes funny, but it's just as bad to sit there and lecture someone about how they must find rape to be a serious and traumatizing subject that they must only ever treat seriously and sternly.

This, I think, is the problem. People here aren't specifically trying to defend rape or rape jokes specifically, but the assertion that they must feel such a way about rape, and may never treat it in any other fashion. It could be any other taboo topic, and receive the same response.

The thing is Tosh never said "You should feel this way" He was making a general statement. If he had said "Man cheeseburgers are always fucking tasty. How can a cheeseburger not be tasty" I am pretty sure this would have would be an issue. The women would have thought to her self man he must like cheeseburgers. The fact is Tosh presented a point of view that was directly opposed to her own feelings, and instead of realizing that Tosh was making a joke and trying to be offensive she took it personally. That is her problem not Tosh's.

That's fair enough. To be honest, I haven't really paid much attention to the incident, and I wasn't really trying to say whether or not Tosh himself did say something like that, but I did think that the quote itself held merit. It was derived from that incident, but I haven't looked into it enough to verify what was said and whether either party was 'right.'

 

[Darkmantle]

Sure, you tell me where you live, I'll break into your house and drug you, tie you to a radiator and rape you repeately. I think at least raping you until you bleed and have internal bruising. Then once I'm done I'll make jokes about how you cried like a little girl and I was obviously the winner of this argument because I had raped you and it was hilarious how your tears mixed with the blood coming out of your body.

Let's see just how much you laugh.

Alright, on a more serious note. Sometimes rape can be funny. Jokes about the perpetrators going to prison and making new friends are worth a few black comedy chuckles. Offhand jokes about dropping the soap in a boy's boarding school shower will elicit a few laughs.

But sitting in front of a rape victim and telling jokes about how she was obviously asking for it and saying thay it would be hilarious if she was gang raped for protesting about the jokes you made? Somewhat less amusing.

How about, and I'm deadly serious, before you make a rape joke and say it's fine because no subject should be taboo, you either get raped or meet someone who has been raped. I know someone who was raped in the girl's toilets of a club. Someone followed her in, shoved her into a cubicle, stuffed a belt into her mouth and raped her.

Want to make a joke?

See, here's the difference. No people were raped in the telling of toshes joke. Because it's a fucking joke. What YOU just suggested is that we ACTUALLY RAPE PEOPLE. And you have the balls to call Tosh sick?

EDIT: and all your examples are about MEN getting raped! what it's only funny to you if a guy get violated but if it's a woman OMG suddenly it's too far?


OT: you should start a counter petition*** too while you are at it OP, post a link in the OP