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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be impressed by Frankie Boyle's hunger strike?

283 replies

Isabeller · 20/07/2013 17:08

grauniad link here

OP posts:
hazeyjane · 20/07/2013 22:48

but really he seems to be a decent person I just don't see how a decent person makes the sort of jokes that FB has. They aren't 'lazy' jokes, they are demeaning, hurtful and insulting about vulnerable individuals. They give credence to the idea that it is ok to mock people with disabilities.

VitoCorleone · 20/07/2013 22:48

Fuck him. He's a vile cunt.

Cherriesarelovely · 20/07/2013 22:49

I used to find him.funny....I do think he can be quite clever but then I heard his Katie Price joke (I don't care which context it is meant to be heard in it is vile). Then his Madeleine Mcann joke which was unforgivable....again, unbelievably vile and have gone right off him.

Oddly my friend's brother is similar, he feels the need to shock by making "ironic" racist, sexist jokes all the time, loving the reaction. In actual fact people who don't know him just think he is a racist git.

hazeyjane · 20/07/2013 22:49

Much more succinctly said, VitoCorleone!

Wonderstuff · 20/07/2013 22:51

I thought he was funny on Mock the Week, but the show he did after that I didn't enjoy - whatever my opinion of his comedy credentials I think that for anyone to go on hunger strike in support of people they don't know because they feel strongly that they need to be supported is admirable. As others have said Obama and the American government is the villain here, it is disgusting that Guantanamo continues to exist.

Frankly I find some of the opinions on here grim - to wish someone dead because they have caused you offence Hmm

Panzee · 20/07/2013 22:56

He often goes too far for my taste but I do admire him for what he's doing here. It's a disgrace that Guantamano is still going and people are still in there without having going through the legal process.

BreadNameBread · 20/07/2013 23:01

Frankie Boyle is an extremely nasty man. He is very articulate and intelligent which somehow makes his jokes even more offensive.
His joke about Katie Prices disabled son was beyond disgusting. He has never apologised for it. Whatever you think of Katie Price noone deserves that type of hateful comment. Imagine what her other children will think if they ever hear what was said about their brother.

I have no problem with rude edgy comedy but Frankie Boyle is a step to far. It's a shame as he is extremely quick witted.

hazeyjane · 20/07/2013 23:02

I do not wish anyone dead, and my opinions on FB aren't about whether he offends me, but by the fact that he makes vile disabilist 'jokes'

Wonderstuff · 20/07/2013 23:09

I was referring to dementedma's comment.

But the general - Frankie Boyle who has offended people is a cunt vibe, ignoring the fact that he is making a stand against US politicians are allowing people to be held indefinitely without trial I'm finding quite puzzling.

You don't have to like him to respect what he is doing surely?

HaveIGotPoosForYou · 20/07/2013 23:11

I usually find him a complete tosser but fair play to him he's doing something for a good cause and am completely on board with this.

It must be difficult.

6 hours without food makes me moody.

EatYourCrusts · 20/07/2013 23:15

I actually don't know a thing about him. Never saw Mock the Week, don't know what joke he made about Katie Price's son.

More publicity about Guantanamo is useful. Did you all see Mos Def (Yasiin Bey)?

hazeyjane · 20/07/2013 23:24

It isn't just FB, Clive Stafford Smith and many others are fasting for 1000 days, as part of the campaign Stand Fast For Justice.

I am impressed by the campaign, the op asked if she is UR to be impressed by FB being part of the campaign. Personally I find it hard to be impressed by the actions of someone who promotes hate and disabilism in the way that FB does, however worthy the cause.

I hate seeing him continuously referred to as a 'controversial' comedian, as though there is something challenging and revolutionary about his routines. When in fact a lot of it is the equivalent of a 15 year old shouting 'retard' at someone with learning disabilities.

numbum · 20/07/2013 23:27

I haven't read the replies (which normally bugs the crap out of me) but the idiot made jokes about Baby P and Madeleine Mccann at a family festival a few years ago. He is not a decent person!!

Iaintdunnuffink · 20/07/2013 23:30

Ahh, a fast. Not a hunger strike.

Lilka · 20/07/2013 23:58

Some of his 'jokes' are really horrible and inexcusable (some of them are very witty and funny though), but very few people in this world are all bad with no good in them, and Frankie Boyle is no exception to that. He can be a complete arsehole, but he's hardly Ian Brady or . I can hate and be completely disgusted by some of the "jokes", and still respect and like some of his actions and politics, such as this and him donating the 50K. Saying that FB is 100% horrible is unreasonable (but liking all of his jokes is also unreasonable and not nice as well IMHO). So OP, YANBU to be impressed by the fast.

ShellyBoobs · 21/07/2013 00:12

He's a fucking vile, horrible cunt of a man.

I sincerely hope he goes all the way with this hunger strike.

He'll still be a fucking cunt if he starves to death for this cause, after all the hateful bile he's spewed over the years.

Alisvolatpropiis · 21/07/2013 00:22

I do find Frankie Boyle funny in the context of him being on a panel bouncing off other people. I found his own show,shown on ch4 woefully unfunny and often grossly offensive,the jokes about Katie Price's disabled son for example.

Though he has something to say,I don't think he, as a father, is doing the right thing here. He's will to starve himself to death? Wilfully deprive his children of their father? Idiot.

MoleyMick · 21/07/2013 00:24

Agree with Wonderstuff. How can you wish someone dead because they are offensive? And how come this is a thread filled with outrage against FB and lots of "vile cunt" etc, instead of a thread about the appalling situation in Guantanamo Bay?

Lilka · 21/07/2013 00:27

The strike only lasts 1 week! There's a chain of people, one person fasts for a week, then the second person starts etc etc.

Guantanamo is a disgrace

ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm · 21/07/2013 00:27

Because this is an AIBU about Frankie Boyle?

cornyblend37 · 21/07/2013 00:43

'how come this is a thread filled with outrage against FB and lots of "vile cunt" etc, instead of a thread about the appalling situation in Guantanamo Bay?'

perhaps because the OP is 'impressed' with FB due to his doing the equivalent of the cambridge diet for a week.

I might be impressed if he apologised for his disablist jokes.

sashh · 21/07/2013 00:43

Disappointed Obama has not yet moved to close guantanamo. He has, he's been blocked.

Bogeyface · 21/07/2013 01:04

When I first heard about this was very sceptical. Not a fan of FB's comedy at all, I find him very offensive so I assumed that this was more of the same.

Then I found out that it was genuine and was quietly impressed.

Then I found out that it isnt him doing this by himself, he is going without food for a week and then someone else is doing their week and so on. Which has left me thinking that yes, it is good that he is part of the campaign, but also thinking that isnt quite the grand gesture it has been billed as. I wonder if it has been bigged up by his agent because of the back lash against him due to his vile "comedy".

I am not suggesting that he doesnt believe in what he is doing, just that it is a rather handy of saying "look! he isnt a bad guy really!" and the original article I read suggested that he was doing all by himself!

lilyliz · 21/07/2013 01:13

aye right and I believe in god and fairies,Ian Brady been on strike for years and still here

Panzee · 21/07/2013 03:26

'Only' a week comments, love it. I can't even last on 5:2!