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Original poster

Is Sir Michael Parkinson within his rights?

732 replies

flaviaritt · 07/11/2020 14:51

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?

OP posts:
monstermancs · 08/11/2020 20:16

Yes, he has the right to say this and you have the right to disagree with him.

Pumperthepumper · 08/11/2020 20:17

@flaviaritt

The report says:

“This meta-analysis suggests that, on average, men have higher humor production ability than women, as judged by independent raters assessing the humor produced by both sexes. This difference is small-to-moderate and may reflect divergent preferences and experiences of humor for men and women, stemming from evolutionary and environmental influences.”

No idea whether this is supported by the detail of the research, of course.

Read the study then. Which bit of that paragraph did you want to discuss when you haven’t read any of the findings? What discussion were you hoping for?
Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:17

monstermancs

True. But his experience correlates with mine. I have found men funnier than women, on average.

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 08/11/2020 20:18

@flaviaritt

SueEllenMishke

Okay. Why is that? Succinctness would be valued here.

Read it and find out!

This is incredible, you’ve really not done yourself any favours with this desperate attempt to ignore blatant sexism.

SueEllenMishke · 08/11/2020 20:24

@flaviaritt

SueEllenMishke

Okay. Why is that? Succinctness would be valued here.

Read the study yourself. You're the one that has shared it to encourage discussion. How can you discuss something you haven't bothered to read?!
Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:24

I don’t need to read it. Its conclusion seems pretty clear. But if anyone wants to read it and offer a more nuanced analysis, fine by me. I suggested it for discussion of the article.

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 08/11/2020 20:26

@flaviaritt

I don’t need to read it. Its conclusion seems pretty clear. But if anyone wants to read it and offer a more nuanced analysis, fine by me. I suggested it for discussion of the article.
You do. It’s conclusion isn’t what the article says it is.

What in particular would you like to discuss in the article, aside from the study?

Simplyunacceptable · 08/11/2020 20:29

Obviously comedy is subjective but Jo Brand is definitely far funnier than Peter Kay.

SueEllenMishke · 08/11/2020 20:30

@flaviaritt

I don’t need to read it. Its conclusion seems pretty clear. But if anyone wants to read it and offer a more nuanced analysis, fine by me. I suggested it for discussion of the article.
The study is misrepresented in the article. I know that because I've read the actual research. It actually supports many of the points I ( and others) have made on this thread.

I'm not going to summarise it for you if you can't even be arsed to read it for yourself!

You're unbelievable!

Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:32

🤷🏻‍♀️

All I can see here are people saying “waaa waaa, it doesn’t mean that!” (when the significance statement is clear). If you want to dispute it, go for it. I agree that you don’t have to.

OP posts:
Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:33

Obviously comedy is subjective but Jo Brand is definitely far funnier than Peter Kay.

True.

OP posts:
Plussizejumpsuit · 08/11/2020 20:37

Well we have free speech in this country so he can say what he wants. Doesn't mean it's true.

He's old and has spent most of his life in a deeply sexist world with very few women in positions to be funny in the limelight like he was. But he won't be thinking about this. He just sounds like an idiot saying the first shit that comes into his head.

laidbacklife · 08/11/2020 20:37

I think he’s generally a bit of an idiot but I do agree that men, on the whole, can be funnier than women simply because they do banal banter better. Women’s humour tends to rely on using language in a more complex way and I think men struggle to appreciate that.

Pumperthepumper · 08/11/2020 20:38

@flaviaritt

🤷🏻‍♀️

All I can see here are people saying “waaa waaa, it doesn’t mean that!” (when the significance statement is clear). If you want to dispute it, go for it. I agree that you don’t have to.

All I can see is an Op who started a goady post hoping for a fight and just made themselves look completely ridiculous. And misogynistic.

Now you might think that’s my opinion - I know how you like to argue for freedom of speech, after all. But you’d be wrong. It’s a fact - just like it’s a fact that ‘women are less funny than men’ is a sexist statement.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 08/11/2020 20:41

I suppose that he's entitled to his misogynistic opinion, just as you, OP, should be entitled to a free Parker pen just for enquiring 😉

SueEllenMishke · 08/11/2020 20:41

@flaviaritt

🤷🏻‍♀️

All I can see here are people saying “waaa waaa, it doesn’t mean that!” (when the significance statement is clear). If you want to dispute it, go for it. I agree that you don’t have to.

Are you for real?

You've shared an article which includes some research that you are claiming supports your arguments but you've not bothered to actually read the research itself.....

It's not possible to have a discussion with you about the study IF YOU'VE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO READ IT!!!

Ladywinesalot · 08/11/2020 20:42

Hmm I never thought about it before, but I think he may be right and I’m not sure why.

I don’t find many women comedians ‘funny’ in the way men comedians are.

I think I like women funny if it’s a really dry and scarcastic humour, but never slapstick or silly. Just doesn’t do it for me.

I could never find the female version of Michael McIntyre funny. I really dislike Miranda, and couldn’t tell you why!

Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:42

LadyMonicaBaddingham

Is that a thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:45

I think I like women funny if it’s a really dry and scarcastic humour, but never slapstick or silly. Just doesn’t do it for me.

For me, genuine slapstick (like Lee Evans) doesn’t work. I just don’t find it funny. I like Kevin Bridges/Russell Howard - silly and fairly victimless humour.

There are some women I do find funny. I find it harder to name them because they tend to have a lower profile, but they are funny. The humour tends to be similar.

OP posts:
Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:46

He's old and has spent most of his life in a deeply sexist world with very few women in positions to be funny in the limelight like he was.

Oh I don’t find him funny at all. I’d rather chew glass.

OP posts:
Stinkerbells · 08/11/2020 20:49

You are not being unreasonable OP. It’s very subjective, what might be the right opinion for one person might not be for another.

Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:51

It’s very subjective, what might be the right opinion for one person might not be for another.

You literally just said what I said, after saying I was being unreasonable.

OP posts:
Original poster
flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 20:52

Ignore me: sorry! Misread that. Thank you, yes, of course.

OP posts:
Pumperthepumper · 08/11/2020 20:54

@Stinkerbells

You are not being unreasonable OP. It’s very subjective, what might be the right opinion for one person might not be for another.
It’s still sexist though.
Stinkerbells · 08/11/2020 21:07

So what if he is sexist. That is his opinion to which he is entitled 🤷‍♀️ I’m not going to get worked up over it, sorry.

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