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?

My point is; ( & I'm sure I've explained this at least twice)

Just because you're a comedian telling jokes that some people may find offensive - it doesn't mean you're an uncaring person. Likewise, if I laugh at jokes about disabled people - that doesn't mean i'm a horrible person. Anyone who thinks it does is being a little silly ....in my opinion.

And like I said, banning jokes is ineffective. just more liberal fascism at work.

Listen to certain types of music if you want to hear some real sexist, homophobic stuff. This 'medium' is where most young People are getting their attitudes from.

I agree that there is more offensive material in music.

I also agree that if you say or do something that causes someone else distress, it does not make you a bad/immoral/uncaring person.

But the point is that when we are talking about this distress, the focus isn't the feelings of the person who says or does the distressing thing. The focus is the feelings of the person or people who it has been said/done to.

If someone steals my bag, I ask for it back or report it to the police. I do not stand around debating whether or not they are, in their heart of hearts, a thief. I don't take into account the flowers they bought for an old lady, or how well they treat Algerian children ( I suppose I might do if I was the wooly social worker you mentioned). All I care about is that they stop stealing my property.

The same is true if someone makes an anti-Catholic comment over and over again. I don't care how they feel in their heart of hearts or whether or not they are a bad person. I just want them to stop making unpleasant remarks to me. It isn't a therapy session that I am putting on for them - I don't need to hear their whole life story so that I can get to know the real them. It is about how their behaviour effects me.

Obviously in the case of a TV comedian it is not about just me, but about how society as a whole feels about the person's behaviour or comments. What it absolutely isn't about is the overall goodness or badness of the person who made the comment/behaved in a certain way.

If you laugh at disabled people, via a joke or otherwise, you are not just a horrible person you are a complete, no holds barred, cunt.

Glad yopu said it posie as if I had it would have been deleted merci!

btw DP I have scoured the thread for the answer to 2shoes question and I couldn't find it.

MillyR

I completely respect your opinion. I just think where comedy is concerned normal boundaries can ( and should ) be pushed a bit. I'm talking about adults here, and the vast majority of adults can separate entertainment from RL situations and are not constantly imitating FB in their normal day to day life. They have common sense.

You could use pornography as an example.
Most normal men know women aren't always "up for it"

2shoes asked me if I'd feel the same if I had a disabled child. I said I would. That's the only question I've seen her ask me. Sorry.

Coming back to this topic of abuse of children and whether jokes about it can be funny, I've just remembered that when the whole Roman Polanski story was in the headlines last year and all the Hollywood slebs were supporting him, Chris Rock (whom I normally loathe) was very funny, about rape of all things. But, of course, it was all about the way he told it...here.

DP...dangerous to use porn really, as an example of things not transferring to real life, it has shaped a generation of perception of sex, sexuality and women's place within it. Neither you or I are young enough to know this affect.

Perhaps I was thinking of Riven's question, which bits are funny regarding humour about people with disabilities...care to take a shot at an answer?

I'd far rather be with a man who has one off the wrist whilst watching porn and finds FB funny - than be with a liberal anti-porn weirdo drip.

There's something not right about men who say they don't like pornography.

YABU for thinking Denis Leary is a comedian he's Bill Hicks light.

DoesNotLikeRipOffTiggaxx

is masturbation not frowned upon by the catholic church?

Oh for gods sake.

Why would I lie about being a catholic?

Look, disabilty can be funny. An episode of Fawlty Towers took the piss out of a guest who had a hearing aid. Is it ok to laugh at that....someone who is partially disabled?

Where do you draw the line?

lol and roffle at SWC

Lol Riven....

Dp - "There's something not right about men who say they don't like pornography."

Do you not see how you repeatedly hang yourself by your own petard, dp?

Do you purposely hang yourself on MN?

You think there's something wrong with a man who doesn't like porn.....so many jokes, DP, and so little time.

And you think disability is funny.

What's Gene Hunt like in real life? Progressive? I do think your world is like George and Mildred on acid.

oops sorry for stealing your line Speedy.