AIBU to find this " Best Gag of the Edinburgh Festival in poor taste?

[speakout]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-49389208

I have seen and read this "joke " repeated several times on TV in the past few days and find it in very poor taste. Newsreaders on TV have been chuckling. Tourette's can be a serious and debilatating condition and sufferers have huge challenges in everyday life. Surely we are a bit more grown up these days than to poke fun at people with a neurological condition?
Is is just me being stuffy?

Arguing that the Eton joke could be offensive is ridiculous

But true. You cannot possibly say that joke will not be offensive to someone. That someone isn't me or you, but someone who went to Eton will be thinking that it's offensive to stereotype all people who have been to Eton.

As said, offense is taken, not given. People take offense at all kinds of stuff. There was a thread a while back by someone who was very offended by their neighbours car number plate, because the letters were KKK. She was convinced that they must be massive racists, and maybe they were. Of maybe it was Kate and Ken and their son Kieran. Or maybe it was just bad luck, and that was the plate the car was allocated with.

I don't find the one that won especially funny as a pun and although I'm not offended by it, I think it picks on almost too easy a target. It's an exceptionally lazy joke.

I preferred the anti-depressant one, tbh. The only reason I don't find the Eton one extremely offensive is because in context, it was made by an OE.

'As said, offense is taken, not given. People take offense at all kinds of stuff'

True but people with disabilities should never have their condition used in a 'funny' play on words.

The etonion joke, mil jokes, diabetes jokes all totally different because they aren't minority groups living with a horrible mental health condition that people sadly laugh at.

People are focussing on “offence”. What we should be thinking about is whether jokes about neurological disorders should be given mainstream validity by getting high profile awards.

I've got Diabeties and am not offended by jokes about sugar or carbs

That's a ridiculous comparison. Unless your diabetes makes you do things in public which lead to you feeling intensely embarrassed and humiliated, or cause others to laugh and stare at you.

It's not funny. I'm not sure if it's offensive I wondered this when I heard it on radio 4 yesterday. Maybe someone with tourettes could say. I think it's just a bit lazy and poss in bad taste?

Regarding diabetes jokes, actually they can be a huge source of distress to some people. People with type one diabetes ARE a minority and do legally have a disability. It’s fucking awful for a child who, through no fault of their own, has to prick their finger ten times a day and inject six or more times a day, who could go unconscious from running around, who is likely to have been severely, critically ill at diagnosis, who is twice as likely to experience depression and/or an eating disorder, who has to do this every day for the rest of their or they’ll die, to know that their condition is a source of stigma and the butt of constant jokes.

And yes, injecting, testing or experiencing severe low blood glucose can be a source of humiliation or intense embarrassment. My experience of type one diabetes has heightened my empathy for other conditions. Would be nice if it cut both ways.

But the previous post was talking about not minding jokes about sugar and carbs.....

people always find and excuse to take the piss out of people with disabilities.

The etonion joke, mil jokes, diabetes jokes all totally different because they aren't minority groups living with a horrible mental health condition

I think many diabetics would find your comments hugely offensive. It's not a mental health condition, but it is a horrible condition, that can be fatal. And they are a minority group.

Of course, other diabetics might not be offended by your ignorance at all.

There's a massive difference between laughing at those in powerful position (Etonians) and laughing at people in vulnerable positions (people with tourettes).

Personally, I think we should be able to joke about anything but it really depends on the joke.

it depends on the joke if I personally find it funny/offensive.

There's a massive difference between laughing at those in powerful position (Etonians) and laughing at people in vulnerable positions (people with tourettes)

Not all Etonians are in powerful positions. Their parents might have been, maybe only for a while, but there must be many Old Etonians who are really struggling. Some might even have developed Tourettes!!

Surely the fact that the charity Tourettes Action has asked for an apology shows that op is not bu to think the so-called joke might cause offence? I can't believe the number of yabus. Are people really saying they can't even see the potential for causing offence, even if they themselves are not offended?

Are people really saying they can't even see the potential for causing offence, even if they themselves are not offended?

I'm saying the opposite, in that everything has the potential for causing offense.

You do realise that some Tourettes sufferers will be offended by Tourettes Action asking for an apology. Because Tourettes sufferers are individuals, with their own views and their own boundaries over what is offensive and what isn't.

Surely the fact that the charity Tourettes Action has asked for an apology shows that op is not bu to think the so-called joke might cause offence?

I think it shows they've spotted a great chance to get the charity Tourettes Action into the headlines ....

oh get off your high horse, OP. it's not funny but it's not offensive. Find something else more worthwhile to clutch your pearls over

Examples please. You may be right, but I can't think of how

Plenty of people deliberately say things that are meant to be offensive and to upset people.

Normally those people are the ones with the power and the privilege to get away with it - and to use such crass statements.

@BossAssBitch Why do you think it’s OK to be so rude about people who have concerns about this?

These people have no problem with jokes at the expense of the vulnerable so I doubt they care about being rude, Bertrand.

“I think it shows they've spotted a great chance to get the charity Tourettes Action into the headlines”

They could have done that by saying how funny they thought it was and making what’s he called an official sponsor. Certainly would have got them lots more support on this thread!

Plenty of people deliberately say things that are meant to be offensive and to upset people.

Stewart Lee had a brilliant 20 minute routine where he pointed out the nature of context in offence by refusing to tell a 7-word joke joke on the grounds that it was too offensive "despite having used every single word in the previous 20 minutes"

They could have done that by saying how funny they thought it was and making what’s he called an official sponsor. Certainly would have got them lots more support on this thread!

maybe they tossed a coin ?

Plenty of people deliberately say things that are meant to be offensive and to upset people.

Indeed they do, and sometimes the people who the remark is targeted at is offended, but sometimes they aren't. I can only be offended if I take offense. I can't be offended by someone trying to offend me but failing.

So, as I said, offense it always taken, it can't be given. If something doesn't offend me, no one can make me take offense.