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?

@Stinkerbells

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.

Sexism doesn't bother you?

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

Also, a genuine question. Why is it ok to say women are better at this and women are better at that yet when one says that a man is better at something, there's outrage?

Women are allowed double standards, dontcha know?

@Stinkerbells

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.

Still, at least you admitted it was sexist. The OP won’t.

Women are allowed double standards, dontcha know?

Give us an example, don’t be scared.

@flaviaritt

He's entitled to an opinion but that's a statement not an opinion.

I don’t see the difference. He’s stating an opinion.

"I find men funnier than women" = opinion "Men are funnier than women" = statement

He is entitled to an opinion and we are entitled to think of him as we will as a result. He is a twat though if he is arrogant enough to think he is in a position to make a blanket statement

@LaLaLoopsieLoo

Ahhh, the irony, getting upset about the opinions of an old boy, crying misogyny and sexism whilst throwing insults at another woman. The art of conversation and debate is dying, how sad?

You can always count on hypocrisy female banter and camaraderie.

You can always count on hypocrisy female banter and camaraderie.

Awww did a little woman hurt your feelings?

damnthatanxiety

It’s a statement of opinion. Like “Red Dwarf is crap” or “Henry Cavill is fit”. Adults don’t need to hear “I think” to understand the difference between opinion and fact. This couldn’t be anything other than an opinion.

Men think women have a good sense of humour if they laugh at their (the men’s) jokes.
Women think men have a good sense of humour if they (the men) are funny.
It’s all changing thank god but it’s fucking sad that some ignorant people seem to go along with this myth.

@Pumperthepumper

Women are allowed double standards, dontcha know?

Give us an example, don’t be scared.

I would but not sure if I should start with the relationships board or aibu or chat. Oh where shall I start pulling threads from?

@Pumperthepumper

You can always count on hypocrisy female banter and camaraderie.

Awww did a little woman hurt your feelings?

Yes

*Men think women have a good sense of humour if they laugh at their (the men’s) jokes.
*Women think men have a good sense of humour if they (the men) are funny.

Exactly this.

I would but not sure if I should start with the relationships board or aibu or chat. Oh where shall I start pulling threads from?

Wherever you like, but crack on please. My patience for this kind of goady bollocks is wearing thin.

Pumper I didn’t admit anything. The operational word in that sentence was ‘if’.

Like I said it’s subjective, you can try and force your opinions on me, I will just agree to disagree.

Right you are. My apologies. I'll get right on it for you, m'Lady.

@flaviaritt

damnthatanxiety

It’s a statement of opinion. Like “Red Dwarf is crap” or “Henry Cavill is fit”. Adults don’t need to hear “I think” to understand the difference between opinion and fact. This couldn’t be anything other than an opinion.

No it isn’t. It’s more like ‘black men are uglier than white men’ or ‘women are more stupid than men’.

We have words for those kind of statements too.

This has been pointed out to you loads, and it’s really not hard to understand - ‘I find Sean Lock funnier than Jo Brand’ = opinion. ‘Women are less funny than men’ = sexist.

@Stinkerbells

Pumper I didn’t admit anything. The operational word in that sentence was ‘if’.

Like I said it’s subjective, you can try and force your opinions on me, I will just agree to disagree.

Wait, so is it sexist or not? What do you think?

No it isn’t. It’s more like ‘black men are uglier than white men’ or ‘women are more stupid than men’

Which are, again, statements of opinion. The difference is that the first (‘uglier’) is purely subjective. It can’t be proved or disproved and is, therefore, a purely aesthetic opinion that the holder can’t be responsible for. The second is different; there is evidence that women and men are roughly the same in intellect. If someone ignores that evidence, that’s sexist.

@flaviaritt

No it isn’t. It’s more like ‘black men are uglier than white men’ or ‘women are more stupid than men’

Which are, again, statements of opinion. The difference is that the first (‘uglier’) is purely subjective. It can’t be proved or disproved and is, therefore, a purely aesthetic opinion that the holder can’t be responsible for. The second is different; there is evidence that women and men are roughly the same in intellect. If someone ignores that evidence, that’s sexist.

And humour is what? Subjective or not?

Without looking for any deeper, hidden meaning, I’ve just taken it on face value that this is just his opinion formed through experience. I don’t like or dislike him, he’s just an old comedian (am I being ageist by saying that?) - It’s not intentional or malicious, just an observation.

Find it unsettling that people are cautious to voice their opinions incase it isn’t the ‘right one’, someone can take offence and brand them, in this instance ‘sexist’ but what was his intent? Did he set out to offend every woman on the planet? I don’t think so. If you believe something different then I respect that.

@Stinkerbells

Without looking for any deeper, hidden meaning, I’ve just taken it on face value that this is just his opinion formed through experience. I don’t like or dislike him, he’s just an old comedian (am I being ageist by saying that?) - It’s not intentional or malicious, just an observation.

Find it unsettling that people are cautious to voice their opinions incase it isn’t the ‘right one’, someone can take offence and brand them, in this instance ‘sexist’ but what was his intent? Did he set out to offend every woman on the planet? I don’t think so. If you believe something different then I respect that.

Who cares? It’s whether or not that’s a sexist thing to say - and it is.

Once this thread dies I doubt I’ll think about Michael Parkinson for another twenty years. His intent is fairly irrelevant - aside from being just another misogynist trying to push women back into a box.

Stinkerbell I didn't realise his DIL is a comedian

Which does make it a pretty dickish thing to say!

I never really found female comediennes funny either. Victoria Wood, Dawn French... just didn't get it I suppose. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley were spot on fantastic but that was scripted with the chance for a retake.

I do firmly like Sarah Millican and now that I've seen a lady on netflix called Ali Wong, I like her a lot too. Ali uses expressions and timing very well.

I find a man's world funny, from the point of a male comedian, but do men find the women's world funny, from the point of a comedienne?

I find a man's world funny, from the point of a male comedian, but do men find the women's world funny, from the point of a comedienne?

I think you're right there.
Men just don't see points of view other than their own, in the the way that women do. (Obviously exceptions exist)

It's not sexist. It's his opinion based on his experience. I agree with him, does that make me sexist, or is it ok for me to say that as I'm a woman? Apart from Katherine Ryan, I don't find female comedians as funny as male comedians, although in normal conversation and as authors, I think they are equally as funny.