To be gutted at the DVD of comedian Stu Francis?

[MargaretGraceBondfield]

So sat with DH looking forward to watching Stu Francis, I think he's very funny and inoffensive.

So it was joke a minute for about half an hour and then bombshell: He told a joke about rape victims, something about rapists not being able to take no for an answer (He's a one liner comedian and so brilliant word play) and so I thought well the word play is funny, but content was a bit off. Then he told a joke about rape victims, along the lines of if they don't think it's funny, fuck 'em. Now I'm uncomfortable. Still watching. Then he says 'I was in an elevator with a spastic.....ooops sorry I know that's the wrong word, lift'

I'm still stupidly thinking perhaps this is more about the language, benefit of the doubt.

And then (sorry) he repeatedly says 'retard' and proceeds to talk like someone with severe special needs. At this point I thought that he was definitely a stupid twat.

AIBU to think that there are endless things that are funny in this world and we do not have to laugh at rape victims or people with special needs or disability?

Sorry if this topic has been done to death, but I was so shocked by another comedian taking cheap shots that I had to raise this.

I'm glad I started this thread as I was quite gloomy yesterday! I have seen Dara, like Tim and also Simon Amstell...very funny.

Whose that young scottish comedian, quite new. he's very funny.

I know the one, Kevin something....phew the acceptable list is growing!!

Kevin Bridges.

Oh Tim Minchin is just wonderful. Depends on what you find offensive though. My Orthodox Christian Dad isn't that keen on 'Ten Foot Cock and A Few Hundred Virgins' for example.

As the funny comedian Steve Hughes says is subjective. Tim Minchin isn't ignorant or deliberately offensive. He's just an atheist. Perfectly valid.

Have you heard his Storm/homeopathy song?

Do you think comedians don't target race because they don't think there's anything funny to say or because they'll get lynched?

I don't think the way a person with SN speaks is funny btw, but I wonder why the line is blurry for some people there.

Yep Marcus Brigstock and Jh!!

Oh yes bran. I love Marcus and Jeremy. In fact I like Radio 4 and most who appear on it. Phill Jupitus for example, Sue Perkins, Sandi Toksvig and on and on.

I think the good ones are all intelligent aren't they? Is that the common thread?

Chris Rock's niggaz sketch is a good example of how you can tackle race without offence.

I agree with Marcus Brigstocke and Jeremy Hardy and I'd also add Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis and Sandi Toksvig (all on Radio 4). The Now Show which is on periodically (featuring SP and HD and occasionally MB) is very good and often makes jokes at sexist or misogynist happenings in the previous week.

For me the offence is all about who you are being invited to laugh at. Like Alan partridge who said hugely offensive things but you are only ever laughing at him.

I like;
Miranda Hart
Paul Merton
Eddie Izzard
Ross Noble
the one from Swindon - can't remember his name though
Marcus Brigstocke

I adore Marcus Brigstocke for his ranting against David Blaine and coining of the word 'git-wizard'.

Lee Mack is also not generally offensive but you have to like his 'type' of humour.

We saw vast amounts of live comedy when I was pregnant a few years ago - I honestly thought I might go into labour watching Ross Noble I was laughing so much. On the other hand I sat through Ricky Gervais calculating how many days I was into my pregnancy, making mental lists of what I needed to buy and resenting the money I'd spent on the tickets on marginally less than I still resent the £15 I spent on Screamadelica when I was a student!

Tim Minchin is wonderful but I suspect my very religious MIL wouldn't have bought me his DVD if she'd known what his act was like!

I'd go along with that Pagwatch, it is definitely who you're invited to laugh at.

SN/disability is funny...if you're laughing at the way some people react to SN/disability. But laughing at the way someone speaks is shite.

Race is funny when laughing at your own, but I can't think anyone else could get away with Chris Rock's jokes....Jim Davidson did try!!

Stewart Lee is funny and inoffensive. :)

ShowofHands I agree with much of your list but have crossed Russell Howard off (and switched him off) since I heard him use the R word on one of his DVDs.

Oh no, not him too. I may just drop him a letter.

Whast wrong with screamadelica?

done, letter sent.

I seriously thought you were talking about Stu "oooh I could crooooosh a graaaaaape" Francis for a moment! I felt as if my childhood was being violated.

Josie Long has made it into my list of favourites in the last month.