to feel that nothing is off limits comedy wise?

[Heathcliffscathy]

when I think of things that have really made me laugh some of them would be VERY offensive to some groups (mostly religious, and I believe in god)...I'm thinking about Sarah Silverman, Dennis Leary's no cure for cancer, Chris Rock etc etc.

Comedy is about offence to a certain extent isn't it as the funniest things are the ones that are closest to the bone, laughter relieves anxiety and therefore the graver and most serious something is (like the nazi's for eg) the funnier it can be (vis the producers for eg).

Dave Allen had it in for Catholics and my catholic mother used to weep with laughter at him. Derek and Clive take the piss about Cancer to great effect.

Now there are some 'comedians' that I think are shit: Bernard Manning springs to mind...but I don't think that banning them or censoring or protesting is the way forward, just don't view!

There are threads on here regularly about topics that mner's feel are off limits to comedy, most especially special needs. But I'm pretty sure that many special needs adults wouldn't appreciate being singled out as something that cannot be a source of humour...the ability to laugh at oneself including the tragedies and limitations of our lives is really important isn't it?

I maybe totally wrong, and maybe it's only ok if it is a special needs person doing it?

[TattyDevine]

I agree with you to an extent.

If a comedian does an iimpression of someone with a condition and thinks that's funny, well, its not.

There is more to comedy than simply impersonating it. By impersonating it and thinking that's funny, you are essentially saying the condition is funny which is offensive.

However, there possibly is a way to inject humor into most situations - perhaps not so everyone finds it funny though.

I'd hate it if we couldn't joke about anything anymore - but if its not funny to begin with, and I mean if the majority find it distasteful and unfunny, then it should be noted and apologised for.

[Ryoko]

The history of comedy, political satirical comedy started in France due to the upset of the people before the revolution when they had no say, those making the jokes could be chucked in prison for it, I don't think anything should be off limits to comedy, it's part of the human condition to laugh in the face of adversity, at least leave us with our freedom of speech enshrined in comedy if nothing else.

If someone does something in comedy you don't like such as making sexist jokes against woman, you can have yourself a wonderful new career if you like making sexist jokes about men.

Thats whats so great about it, it is open for all, have a disabled son, you can just as equally go up on stage and make jokes about the stupid reactions people have to him or the stupid prejudice about him, as you can his disability and things he does.

[Nancy66]

I agree - offensive comedy can be very funny.

I am not going to be told what I can and can't find amusing.

[onimolap]

I think there are - or should be - limits. Not arbitrary censor-imposed ones; just awareness of impact.

Some offensive material just isn't funny (ie the joke isn't funny enough). Some very talented comedians can indeed make genuinely funny jokes out of anything.

comic geniuses are rare.

But those who just spout offensive material are not, and I don't think sense of humour is catch-all licence. Some of the Madeleine McCann and paedophilia "jokes" were truly dreadful. And humour should not be a trail blazer for racism or other bullying.

[EdgarAirbombPoe]

i agree. there are funny jokes about everything from the Holocaust to Herpes. joking about these things can make them less painful.

there are also unfunny, unpleasant jokes about these things - a total ban based simply on subject matter is daft, the intention if the person telling the joke is important, what the joke says also matters.

[MillyR]

I think there is a difference between professional comedians and the general public. If a professional comedian is performing in a show or on TV, I have a choice to not go to the show or not watch the programme. If people I know make jokes about things that cause me distress (in the workplace for example, where I haven't the option to leave), then that is unacceptable.

It is about finding a balance between people having freedom of speech, and people imposing that speech on people who do not want to participate.

[Odysseus]

I think that nothing in comedy should be offlimits and everyone takes it in the humourous way it's intended, with those that don't like it just turning over or switching off.

[AlpinePony]

YANBU - and I say this as Jew whose family was affected by the holocaust.

Personally, when life is shit I take the piss. Am not one for wallowing!

[LelloLorry]

Holocaust jokes aren't funny, anne frankly, I won't stand for them.

:o
No, nothing's off limits, but when comedians make light of issues you feel strongly about it can be upsetting I'd imagine.

[Odysseus]

I agree some things are upsetting - Harry Hill made a joke about "harelips" last week - I was upset. So I turned off and won't watch again.
We could write a comprehensive list that includes every single persons pet hate or thing that upsets them, but there would be very little left on it for a comedian to talk about.
Surely turning off is easier?!

[pointydog]

Nothing is off limits wrt comedy.

If you don't like something, yo choose not to watch that comedian or you complain to the broadcastign authority.

[MillyR]

I don't understand your post Pointydog. If people can complain about comedic content to an authority, that suggests that some things are off limits in comedy and that authority can censor them.

[2shoes]

yabu one because you said "special needs person"
and 2 because you obviously think that laughing at vunerable people is ok

[pointydog]

There is always an opportunity for people to complain these days and if there are enough complaints, then the council/the company/the school has to do something about it.

I don't think anything can be officially off-limits for comedy.

However, if enough people felt strongly enough about soemthing to complain, then possibly something might have to be done about it. That would be up to the counicl/company/broadcasting authority concerned.

[2shoes]

I do wonder if the people like the op who find this taking the piss out of sn comedy funny, would find it so funny if people took the piss out of their children.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

It's just not true to say it's open to all and if you don't like eg jokes against women you can have a career making jokes against men.
The things people think it is funny to make jokes about are always going to reflect who is in power in our society. Disabled people don't generally have much power, that is why they get laughed at. Why do you think so many more comedians make a living making jokes about women than jokes about men? Because most of the time the people who commission the tv will be able-bodied and male. They won't say 'Oh no, she's joking about men, that's not acceptable', they'll say 'She's just not funny. Let's get Jimmy Carr instead.'

[Heathcliffscathy]

'some of the comedians who make jokes about disabled poeple are doing at their expense. Pointing out the differences and laughing at them.
That is cruel and not funny.
Its different if you laugh at the absurdities in life faced by disabled people and the way non-disabled people wind themselves into knots or the ridiculous situations disabled poeple find themselves, and many disabled comediens do this well. But laughing at disabled people isn't funny.'

riven that's exactly my point. there are shit comedians and shit jokes, but nothing should be off limits to humour, nothing.

[Heathcliffscathy]

smallwhitecat, you're clearly incensed and hurt by my post and i'm really sorry that you are.

do you think it is impossible for an autistic adult to find humour in some of their limitations/difficulties in life? that is a genuine question.

[Heathcliffscathy]

and also, smallwhitecat, i don't agree that you have to be directly affected by something to find humour in it. but i do agree that it helps, mostly as you know your subject and it's painfulness a lot better and therefore are better able to make it the subject of a good joke.