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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Or is Jimmy Carr just a misogynist arse hole?

389 replies

VioletCharlotte · 23/09/2017 12:08

This week I went to see Jimmy Carr's live show. A friend of mine had tickets and asked my go along at the last minute as their mate dropped out. Now I've never really had an opinion on Jimmy Carr, he's just someone I've never paid much attention too, so didn't really know what to expect.

Most of the 2 hours were filled with cracks about rape, special needs children, blind people and women. I came away feeling quite sad that this is what's considered comedy. Friend (male) says I've obviously had a sense of humour bypass, but AIBU in thinking actually it's just not funny and Jimmy Carr is actually just a massive idiot?

OP posts:
Justanotherlurker · 23/09/2017 12:58

He mostly plays of his persona now, most of his jokes where written for him in the past by Franky Boyle and a few others.

But at the end of the day, humour is subjective and it's fine for you not to like him, its when you automatically assume that everyone else should not like him is where it starts getting authoritarian.

Dark humour as always and will always exist

sharklovers · 23/09/2017 12:59

He’s brilliant! My 2nd favourite comedian. I love that no subject is out of bounds and the whole point is to feel bad laughing at the subject matter. It’s a combination of thinking “fuck me, you can’t say that” and laughing so much it hurts. But, at the end of the day it’s just jokes.

ZenHeadbutt · 23/09/2017 12:59

I can't stand him. He knows what he is doing and it's sad and pathetic that he chooses to tell jokes that are so idiotic. I get the impression that he isn't stupid which makes it worse.

He's No 2 in my most disliked comedians joint place with Russell Brand. No 1 is Frankie Boyle. I still am 'offended' by his joke about Katie Prices disabled son. I was idly flicking through the channels when he was telling it. I'd missed the warnings that preceded the show but even so I thought the joke disgusting.

Ktown · 23/09/2017 13:00

His form of satire is just a cover for being a dick.
A lot of comedians do similar.

HappyAxolotl · 23/09/2017 13:02

A couple of years ago a group of work pals got hold of last-minute tickets for Jimmy Carr. They liked blue humour, had seen several off-colour comedians and thought they knew what they were going to see.

They walked out after the first half of the show was entirely about sexual abuse of children. And it was the victims who were the butt of the jokes.

MargaretCavendish · 23/09/2017 13:03

My mum went to see him and had a similar 'are we really all sat here laughing at rape jokes?' moment. And her comedy tastes run quite dark, but she just felt that it had crossed into a place where it wasn't laughing at misogyny or mocking people who hold those views, it was laughing directly at women for being women. I think the problem is he does so much TV work - where obviously there are much greater restrictions on what he can say - that you can think you like his humour but still be unprepared for the stand-up. He himself comes across as an intelligent and pleasant guy - he was great on Desert Island Discs - but in some ways that makes it worse; it's not like he doesn't know the way that a lot of his audience see his jokes, and he's still more than happy to do and profit from it.

MargaretCavendish · 23/09/2017 13:06

But, at the end of the day it’s just jokes.

But jokes matter - they can shape how people see the world, and what they think of as acceptable. I read a really powerful piece a few years ago aimed at men who make/laugh at rape jokes. It pointed to research that shows that convicted rapists believe themselves to be incredibly normal - they tend to think that all men do what they do, and they were just unlucky to be punished for it. While you might be laughing at a joke because 'no one really thinks that', you're encouraging the person thinking 'yes, this is what we all think really'.

LittleBooInABox · 23/09/2017 13:09

I like him. He's a comedian and big jokes are those which split the crowd. It's the wow factor. I bet his actual personality is different from his stage one.

Just don't go see him again

Original poster
VioletCharlotte · 23/09/2017 13:16

It's just jokes
But if he was making jokes about black people there would be an outcry.

Yet jokes about women and people with disabilities are ok? Why is that?

OP posts:
ZenHeadbutt · 23/09/2017 13:18

These two examples of Jimmy Carr rape jokes are quoted in a Guardian article 2012. I don't know if he currently tells jokes as offensive as these?

"What do nine out of 10 people enjoy? Gang rape."
What is rape anyway, he asks, but "surprise sex"?

How can anyone think those are funny?

Raizel · 23/09/2017 13:20

I'm with the haters on this one I can't stand the guy. He is so cringe-worthy it's unbelievable.

How is it clever or in fact quick witted to make fun of sexual abuse, rape or disabled people.

I find it funny though that the people who think he is really clever would probably be really offended if they were sat on a bus and they over heard a random person tell the same jokes.

Also have to get it out there Frankish Boyle what a cockbadger that guy is!

sharklovers · 23/09/2017 13:20

No 1 is Frankie Boyle. I still am 'offended' by his joke about Katie Prices disabled son

Frankie’s my No 1 as well. I’ve seen this joke live before it was televised. Fucking brilliant!

Ellie56 · 23/09/2017 13:21

Oh God I can't stand Jimmy Carr.His awful braying laugh drives me insane.

orzal · 23/09/2017 13:23

Oh how I miss Victoria Wood. Her shows were wonderful. I don't find Jimmy Carr funny.

Bluelonerose · 23/09/2017 13:24

I like him on 8 out of 10 cats. However after seeing some of his live stuff I was surprised at how dark his humour is, shame.
He is hilarious on the big fat quiz of the year though.

Kursk · 23/09/2017 13:25

I have heard that both him and Frankie Boyal are nice people off stage.

I think they are intelligent guys who know how write a good routine that sells a lot of tickets.

Original poster
VioletCharlotte · 23/09/2017 13:27

Orzal
I loved Victoria Wood. There's not many comedians now I actually like, apart from Russell Howard and I quite like Katherine Ryan but that's about it.

Oh and Miranda Hart - I love her!

OP posts:
SealSong · 23/09/2017 13:29

But jokes matter - they can shape how people see the world, and what they think of as acceptable. I read a really powerful piece a few years ago aimed at men who make/laugh at rape jokes. It pointed to research that shows that convicted rapists believe themselves to be incredibly normal - they tend to think that all men do what they do, and they were just unlucky to be punished for it. While you might be laughing at a joke because 'no one really thinks that', you're encouraging the person thinking 'yes, this is what we all think really'.

^ THIS, very much THIS

WishfulThanking · 23/09/2017 13:29

I've hated him since he made a joke about child abuse that mocked the child. Absolutely vile Angry.

MumBod · 23/09/2017 13:34

He is completely and utterly vile.

So is Frankie Boyle.

I don't understand why saying something foul is okay so long as you're in an expensive suit with a spotlight on you. If you came out with any of that shit while you were doing a shift in Tesco's you'd find yourself on a written warning.

RidingWindhorses · 23/09/2017 13:34

Misogynist tax-dodging cunt.

ocelot41 · 23/09/2017 13:35

I have always thought he was a creep - he has eyes with no warmth in them whatsoever. That kind of humour is not funny to me - it's just nasty. IRL I would run a mile from someone who was do unkind, so why would I watch a show with them in.

smellybeanpole · 23/09/2017 13:38

Sharklover- really ?his joke about a severely disabled child is fucking funny ?Confused explain please.
Can't stand Jimmy Carr and my all time vomit provoking "comedian " frankly arsehole Boyle.

RidingWindhorses · 23/09/2017 13:39

Jimmy Carr appeals to all the people out there who wonder "where have all the delicious anti-women jokes gone?" Jo Brand.

hazeyjane · 23/09/2017 13:40

'Just making jokes' about gang rape, all disabled children looking the same etc etc normalises verbal abuse and hate speech by arseholes who don't get the post modern irony, but love to make 'mong faces' to children at school or make rape jokes in the office. Ho fucking ho.

Jokes about race seem to be out of bounds though