Is Sir Michael Parkinson within his rights?

[flaviaritt]

Says men are funnier than women. He says, ‘It's a very contentious statement, but they're much better'.

My view is that, by the age of 85, if you think men are funnier than women, it’s just your opinion based on your experience and nobody should be getting riled up about it.

Reasonable?

Lots of people mistake their opinions for facts. It saves them the mental rigour of having to reflect upon or question those opinions.

It’s rarely a likeable quality.

@flaviaritt

If you live to your 80s without understanding that being funny/having a good sense of humour isn’t exclusive to either gender then that’s impressive, particularly for someone whose job it was to talk to people!

I don’t think it’s a matter of understanding anything. It’s completely subjective, isn’t it? He finds men funnier than women.

Yep, but it just seems like quite a sheltered view in my opinion.

Yep, but it just seems like quite a sheltered view in my opinion.

In what way?

I can't get excited either way, tbh when I read the thread title my first thought was surprise that he is still alive.

Christopher Hitchen said that also. I took it to mean he had historically only interested in women who were less funny than him so he could be the funniest in the room and consequently he observed that the women he knew were not funny. Women are for looks and fucks for these men. And for caring duties.

@Chasingsquirrels

I can't get excited either way, tbh when I read the thread title my first thought was surprise that he is still alive.

My first thought too!

Definitely quite a few people thinking he was dead, then.

@Sparklingbrook

Am I the only person who didn't realise MP was still alive.

Cross post!

@flaviaritt

Yep, but it just seems like quite a sheltered view in my opinion.

In what way?

Because it implies to me that he has a limited sense of humour. That’s his opinion, and mine is that I think it’s a shame he doesn’t have a laugh with women in the same way as men.

Sparklingbrook you are just quicker than me!

Because it implies to me that he has a limited sense of humour.

Don’t we all have a limited sense of humour? Some people think Carry On is funny. I don’t.

His opinion. Shared by sexist men everywhere.

I don’t agree.

But then I was never a fan of him fawning all over other men in his interviewing days. We don’t agree on much, I’m sure.

What a goady op

Old famous man makes sexist remark.

Op agrees and says they like him even more now that he has made sexist remark.

Mumsnet, predominantly women, many of whom hilarious rightly point out what a sexist prick.

@flaviaritt

Because it implies to me that he has a limited sense of humour.

Don’t we all have a limited sense of humour? Some people think Carry On is funny. I don’t.

I’m just sharing my opinion, which is what you asked by creating the thread. Is that allowed? I’m explaining why I disagree. Or is Parky the only one allowed a view?

I’m just sharing my opinion, which is what you asked by creating the thread. Is that allowed? I’m explaining why I disagree. Or is Parky the only one allowed a view?

Of course, I was just responding.

I thought he'd died? No wonder he needs to try and stay relevant then.

OP...be honest, are you Michael Parkinson? I promise I won’t tell

The quote is from Stellar magazine. MP appears to have written a book and is being interviewed with his son. This is the full question and answer-

Your book is essentially a love-letter to fathers. Why do you think men find it hard to express their emotions?

Michael: Most men I know are the opposite, they’re very sensitive and also very funny. That’s the thing I like most about men. It’s a very contentious statement, but they’re much better than women in their sense of humour. There you are, that will get me – if I were on [any social media channels], I would be in trouble right now.

OP...be honest, are you Michael Parkinson? I promise I won’t tell

Sssh.

I think it’s always useful to know who’s a sexist pig, not that I didn’t already.

@AlternativePerspective

My eXH worked in a shop during his student days. He once served Michael Parkinson and said he was an arrogant twat. He had reserved an item and when eXH asked what the name was he replied as if to say “don’t you know who I am?” Arsehole.

From previous employment, I'm an absolute expert in a completely blankfaced 'Oh, I'm sorry, I'll have to go and ask somebody who you are, then' and leave them fuming the other side of a barrier.

Maybe he means funny peculiar.

He can say that if he wants. I just think sometimes men prefer men’s humour and women prefer womens. I like a lot of female comics and female led comedies that my husband doesn’t. We have slight different senses of humour. Mine is better of course

In terms of people I meet/general public, more of the women are funny.
In terms of professional comedians I can think of more male ones than female, it seems to be harder to be a successful/funny female comedian than a male one, and even more difficult to be an attractive female comedian, but I’m not entirely sure why that is as as I say, in ‘real life’ I have met many more amusing women then men.

@Sparklesocks
My thoughts exactly re OP being MP.
Humour and who is most humorous is very subjective. I have and do work with some hilariously funny women.
Tbh I don't really care what MP thinks.