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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:

Palace2 · 23/09/2017 16:44

Jimmy has regularly appeared at a local venue near me, a family member works there. Usually once the staff have got everyone in and seated and have the bar prepared for the brea they are allowed in too hover at the back, or side of the room. Oh no, not when Jimmy is on! If you haven't paid you ain't getting in. Nobody gets to hear or see him for free. He's the only celebrity who grudges a few young low paid workers the only perk of their job. Didn't particularly like him before I knew that. Now think he's a jumped up twat

user1490465531 · 23/09/2017 16:46

I think people that find the likes of jimmy Carr funny are a bit sick in the head anyway.
Anyone within the normal range of thinking would not find rape or disabled jokes funny.

sunflowerblue · 23/09/2017 16:47

Did someone just try and suggest that A Modest Proposal isn't satire??

*Why are people tripping over themselves to point out how intelligent and intellectually bright someone is, by way of 'explanation' for a particular brand of fairly vile material?

'He knows what he's doing.' 'He's really intelligent, you know.' Oh right. Crack on then.*

Indeed.

solarisIsAClassic · 23/09/2017 17:03

Can someone explain, in very simple language, WHY you find the jokes mocking disabled people or abuse survivors funny?

Laughing is often just the release of tension or suspense. It's why we laugh more when with other people than by ourselves. It's often funnier when we feel like we shouldn't be laughing. Getting the giggles in an inappropriate situation; laughter at a wake is a great example.

The thing I don't understand so would like someone to explain in simple words for me is how you can be offended on behalf of someone else.

Don't get offended by jokes. Get offended by the thing the jokes are being made about.

Foxysoxy01 · 23/09/2017 17:05

I haven't actually seen Jimmy Carr's stand up so can't comment on his act but wanted to say that when Frankie Boyle was first on TV and fairly unknown, aswell as the first few times he was on Mock the Week, I found him very funny!
He had a quick wit and great timing aswell as good material that amused aswell as made you think.

He then started to go too far. It was literally like he had a personality transplant and became really quite repulsive. It's such a massive shame as he was honestly one of the funniest men I had ever watched. Now whenever I see him on I just feel quite sad.

Although I'm sure it would be that I don't understand his brand of comedy and it's far too above me and I'm sure it doesn't particularly worry him one way or another if people find him amusing or not.

I find it sails too close to the wind for me. The likes of Alf Garnet who made it very clear he wasn't racist but was making fun of the people that were and mocking them for watching his show. Does that not make him nearly as bad as the racists or is that ok because racists are bad anyway so you can mock them as much as you like as you will never be quite as bad as they are. It all leaves a bitter taste for me.

EamonnWright · 23/09/2017 17:06

I think people that find the likes of jimmy Carr funny are a bit sick in the head anyway.
Anyone within the normal range of thinking would not find rape or disabled jokes funny

When did you start deciding what's normal?

coddiwomple · 23/09/2017 17:11

I think people that find the likes of jimmy Carr funny are a bit sick in the head anyway.

way to go to show that people who do no like him are intelligent, considerate and open-minded.

I find him funny, I don't expect everyone to agree, we don't all laugh at the same things. Do you really believe insulting someone who doesn't share your views is a good way to put your point across?

user1490465531 · 23/09/2017 17:12

So it's normal to find rape jokes funny?

user1490465531 · 23/09/2017 17:18

I guess it's easy to laugh at something that doesn't affect you but maybe if you had been a victim of rape or had a down syndrome child you might feel different.
Not sure if jimmy carr had a down syndrome child he'd be cracking so many jokes about them.

solarisIsAClassic · 23/09/2017 17:19

user1490465531

What's the joke? Surely no one can comment on every single one.

Post the joke and I'll give you a mark out of ten. My psychiatrist says I'm normal (does this count as a MH joke?).

Gottagetmoving · 23/09/2017 17:25

Frankie Boyle wants to shock people. He hates the hypocrisy of society who are indifferent to war or poverty but clutch their chests and are outraged by his 'jokes'

He speaks out about the treatment of women in Countries where they have little of no rights. He speaks out about the government's treatment of the sick and disabled..and he does work to raise these issues.
He gets passed off with people who are easily offended...because most are hypocrites. He wants you to feel uncomfortable.
If you are horrified by him...I think you don't really get him.

derxa · 23/09/2017 17:29

If you are horrified by him...I think you don't really get him. You're right I don't. But thanks for explaining what all round saint he is.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 23/09/2017 17:31

What tosh. The Katie Price joke was ugly and offensive and had no saving graces whatsoever. Neither do Carr's rape jokes.

But you fans crack on thinking you are so much more intelligent and sophisticated than we pearl clutchers.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 23/09/2017 17:33

Sorry derxa that was a spectacular cross post. I was replying to Gottaget. I agree with you.

EamonnWright · 23/09/2017 17:33

*user1490465531

So it's normal to find rape jokes funny?*

For some people obviously.

Is this a trick question?

FattyCutty · 23/09/2017 17:40

Jimmy Carr said the only thing you couldn't make a joke about in the UK was Hillsborough because it's a tragedy that's touched people in a specific way. The guy is a prize fuckwit.

Gottagetmoving · 23/09/2017 17:50

You're right I don't. But thanks for explaining what all round saint he is

I would never claim he is a saint...and neither would he.

He reckons the people who are most outraged are the ones who harbour thoughts that his humour demonstrates....and they don't like it.

AbsentmindedWoman · 23/09/2017 17:51

"Laughing is often just the release of tension or suspense. It's why we laugh more when with other people than by ourselves. It's often funnier when we feel like we shouldn't be laughing. Getting the giggles in an inappropriate situation; laughter at a wake is a great example.

The thing I don't understand so would like someone to explain in simple words for me is how you can be offended on behalf of someone else.

Don't get offended by jokes. Get offended by the thing the jokes are being made about."

I have hidden disabilities. I'm not going to discuss them all on this thread, but for example my diabetes is often the punchline of 'jokes' and sneering that does real fucking harm.

I work with a diabetes charity. We see countless cases of children being bullied in the playground, saying they got type 1 diabetes because they were too fat. Which is bullshit.

If you are diabetic, you are much more likely to develop an eating disorder - again, these 'jokes' don't help.

I titter with nervous laughter in the wrong situations - you're right, that is the diffusion of tension in loaded situations.

Laughing does not automatically mean that something is funny it is sometimes a response to being overwhelmed by emotion.

Being funny, or witty - and these two can differ, some humour is simple and some is sophisticate, but both can be funny - is different to eliciting nervous giggles via saying the most malicious things you can think of.

AbsentmindedWoman · 23/09/2017 17:54

It's weird because when I read - genuinely astute and clever - remarks by Boyle on Twitter on social issues I generally agree with him and find him entertaining to read.

But what the fuck was he playing at taking a swipe at a disabled child? Not even a generic hypothetical person, but an actual real individual human being.

RidingWindhorses · 23/09/2017 17:59

Well I genuinely don't harbour thoughts that disabled people look the same because they don't. Part of the reason it's not funny is because it's not true.

I don't even think men find rape jokes funny per se, it's just that they make them feel powerful, sniggery, collusive. The sad ones I mean. NAMLT.

I don't think it's about humour - it's just a bonding method of attacking women passed off as bantz.

Foxysoxy01 · 23/09/2017 18:00

Gottagetmoving

You are quite right, I don't get him.

I feel I have a fairly dark sense of humour but I also find Stuart Lee funny in a thought provoking way so I'm not sure that I'm incapable of finding more difficult subjects amusing it's just that to me Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Carr and the like don't quite get what they are trying to say. They don't seem to grasp the complexity of the issues so revert to playground, all boys together humour.

Tameagobairanois · 23/09/2017 18:02

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like him (JC). He's really snide.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 23/09/2017 18:04

He reckons the people who are most outraged are the ones who harbour thoughts that his humour demonstrates....and they don't like it

Yeah right- everyone on here criticising him is only doing so because they secretly think it is acceptable to mock people with disabilities. What a fatuous argument.

UnconventionalWarfare · 23/09/2017 18:04

Oh dear who left the gate on the cunt farm open again

RidingWindhorses · 23/09/2017 18:09

The thing I don't understand so would like someone to explain in simple words for me is how you can be offended on behalf of someone else.

Compassion and consideration I suppose. Not everyone has that.

But I'm not sure I'm even offended on the behalf of disabled people perhaps I'm just offended for me. Disablist jokes are an insult to my intelligence, humanity and sense of humour level. They're very unsophisticated and generally appeal to the lowest common denominator. I don't understand why adults wouldn't be ashamed to pick on someone not their own size.

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