Why is Family Guy often used as an indication of low intelligence?

[Vohn_exel]

I've seen it on this site and hundreds of message boards. Everytime someone talks about what they consider a stupid person, they seem to mention "Loves Family Guy." Sometimes, they'll mention how they can quote Family Guy or quotes Family Guy to thier friends.

I don't understand why this makes a person stupid. They don't seem to care if you quote anything else to your friends, but the moment you use Family Guy quotes, you've lost 400 IQ points. It might not be the hieght of wit and hilarity, but it is funny. I see no reason to call someone dumb for liking a simple cartoon show.

 

[Sark]

Alot of people think that it is stupid. I really don't think this was worth making a thread over. To get a good understanding of the Family Guy hate, watch the South Park episodes about it.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

Using 'funny' quotes as a substitute for a real sense of humor is pretty lame anyway, Family Guy or not. And Family Guy is a very stupid show...

I won't go as far as judging someone's intelligence on what TV shows he watches (mostly in fear of people finding out I watch Project Runway and using it against me ), but if you quote something like Family Guy a lot you're not exactly showcasing your intelligence.

 

[The Unskilled78]

Because people are stupid.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

It's okay.

Now, "The Simpsons". That's a giant piece of shit. AND ALWAYS WAS.

I gave it more than its fair chance to make me laugh. It has failed.

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

They made fun of Christians in a couple of episodes, which is the equivilant of murder in the States.

 

[LiquidGrape]

Because if something is popular it is stupid, whereas unpopular things are only unpopular becausce everyone else is too stupid to like them.

Only people that listen to obscure Swedish pop music, watch French "art" films and play games like "The Graveyard" are allowed to have an opinion.

Heeeeey, I take affront to that.
Just because you have eclectic taste doesn't mean you're elitist.
- Though Family Guy IS stupid.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Because if something is popular it is stupid, whereas unpopular things are only unpopular becausce everyone else is too stupid to like them.

Only people that listen to obscure Swedish pop music, watch French "art" films and play games like "The Graveyard" are allowed to have an opinion.

Heeeeey, I take affront to that.
Just because you have eclectic taste doesn't mean you're elitist.

True, but you know there are a large number of people who think that they are superior for not "conforming" to the social norms.

Thus conforming into the role of "non-conformist".

 

[LiquidGrape]

Just because you have eclectic taste doesn't mean you're elitist.
- Though Family Guy IS stupid.

No, it doesn't. But using someone's taste as an insult does.

Oh, absolutely.
- Although I don't see why only people fitting the above description would resort to that kind of slander.

 

[reg42]

A lot of their humour is just really stupid, and they rely way to much on cut-away gags. This is why I prefer American Dad.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

IT'S WORSE THAN THAT TIME I DID _____ in

LIKE THAT TIME I ______ to ,

Rinse and repeat every 2 fucking minutes. McFarlane has absolutely no clue how to structure a joke. Let alone a funny one.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

Because if something is popular it is stupid, whereas unpopular things are only unpopular becausce everyone else is too stupid to like them.

Only people that listen to obscure Swedish pop music, watch French "art" films and play games like "The Graveyard" are allowed to have an opinion.

-_-

Using funny quotes as a substitute for a real sense of humor is pretty lame anyway, Family Guy or not.

This half-justifies it, but somehow quoting anime and sci-fi films makes you more intelligent.

Only if you're around fanboys of said anime or sci-fi film.

Dropping a reference here and there isn't bad, and if you do it sparingly and with a modicum of wit it can be amusing. But just mindlessly repeating some quote from a show you like in an attempt to be funny only proves that you have a shitty sense of humor. It doesn't matter if it's Family Guy, Monty Python, Firefly, Naruto, Dr. Who, or anything else.

As I said, it doesn't help that Family Guy is the kind of show that mainly caters to the lowest common denominator, but that's not really the point. Watching a stupid show doesn't make you stupid. Frequently regurgitating said stupid show's jokes does.

 

[Bosola]

Yes, the jokes aren't particularly cerebral. Then again, if I'm hoping for intellectual stimulation, I think I'm going to look somewhere other than a cartoon. Even SP isn't much better - a few strawmen 'Liberals' and making your political opponents obese caricatures does not constitute 'satire', Mr Internet.

Ultimately, if you want to think, go read. Go talk. Go discuss. Because entertainment has to balance a lot of commitments: it needs to be accessible, it needs to not be wordy, and it needs to be 'tune-in-able' - meaning that a viewer can turn onto a channel and quickly get hooked. Once these are satisfied, there's not much room for thoughtful reflection. It's not that cartoonists are stupid, nor that viewers wouldn't be interested in thinking, but just that it's difficult for a TV programme to compete with its rivals when it can leech viewers without being able to easily pick them back up - as is the case with jokes, discussions and scenes that stretch out longer than a minute.

/opinion

 

[Baby Tea]

They made fun of Christians in a couple of episodes, which is the equivilant of murder in the States.

I think it's more linked to the fact that they have useless, throw away 'shock' humor in their episodes.
Anyone see the Episode of South Park where it turns out Family Guy is written by manatees who randomly pick subjects?
I honestly think that's true.

Any moron can say something offensive, throw in an obscure pop culture reference, and cheap slap stick. I swear if you take an episode and cut out all the 'like the time I...' cutaways, you'd be left with 8 minutes of show. Less if you cut short all the purposely drawn out 'gags' like Peter holding his knee.
Some call that 'hilarious'.
I call it 'Uhh, we can't think of anything funny to write. Let's just drawn this out, and people will laugh because it so drawn out, but really they are laughing at our inability to write legitimate comedy.'

The first and second season (Vol 1 and 2 DVD Box Set) are by far the best episodes, since the 'cut away' gags were minimal, and the writing was actually funny. And then, after a few seasons, you're left with cheap shock humor, endless cut away gags, and obscure pop culture references (that 95% of the audience don't get but laugh anyways to seem 'in the know'). That's why it makes people sound pretty stupid when they quote it.
Because it's stupid.

 

[GrinningManiac]

It was basically a really crass Simpsons

Now, if you like The Simpsons, then Family Guy is the same, but with really low-brow moronic jokes and really 'high-brow' jokes that aren't actually in any way funny, relevant or thoughtful

If you hated The Simpsons, then Family Guy is the same, but even dumber

If you hated The Simpsons, but thought it would be better f it had more stupid pop-culture references and more blatant references to sex, then you're a weird person, but this'll float yer boat

 

[Awesometown]

McFarlane has absolutely no clue how to structure a joke.

Seth MacFarlane doesn't write every episode I don't think he has ever written one except the pilot.

family guy is okay if you just want a laugh and not have to think about but american dad is clever and funny so I prefer it over family guy.

 

[RIOgreatescapist]

Guess we'll have to ask scientist's to craft a list of tv shows that don´t turn us into total retards then.

 

[Kaisikudo]

I are loves Family Guys, it bees funny and is no indakashun of my smartness.

I'm not a idiot.