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Original poster

Ricky Gervaise Armageddon yay or nay?

209 replies

pandosadick · 30/12/2023 23:53

I'm stunned and not in a good way. Watched for a bit but found it too offensive. Apparently when he's on stage and making these 'jokes,' he's in character, like an actor playing a role how? He's gervaise doing what he does. Saying what he says… the fact that he regards anyone who disagrees with him as fucking idiots is laughable. His humour isn't nuanced or sophisticated and I'm pretty certain that the live audience who laughed aloud his jokes about disabled children weren't there for the nuances either.

OP posts:
Original poster
pandosadick · 31/12/2023 01:58

fridaynight1 · 31/12/2023 01:54

I'm not a fan but it's a yay from me.

He sometimes makes me laugh but mostly not. Finding someone funny is subjective and I'd never tell someone else what is and what isn't funny. It's up to them.

He reminds me of my DH. A bit annoying, a bit rude, very dry sense of humour, very clever but never ever boring.

That's so lovely that your husband can still make you laugh

OP posts:
Blahdeblah12345 · 31/12/2023 02:02

I usually like his shows but didn't think this one was as funny as previous ones. That's it. I don't feel the need to froth and rage about it. Everyone knows what to expect at this point so maybe don't watch it you're gonna be offended?

Happyme2024 · 31/12/2023 04:43

Nay.

Absolutely LOVE Ricky too! Seen him live. But this show just wasn't funny. I wasn't offended, just found it really miserable, bitter and ranty. Talking about cancer and dead babies is not my idea of a good night out- its not a good subject matter. His comedy is usually clever and nuanced, but I didn't think this was. I am going to watch it again to give him the benefit of the doubt. Just not funny/clever enough.

Scorchio84 · 31/12/2023 04:53

We saw the tour over here earlier in the year & while we both enjoyed it, like pp's have said though it isn't his best one & I'm a fan of his

I'll watch the Netflix version with maybe fewer (or more?) drinks & see if it makes a difference

MrsJamin · 31/12/2023 05:05

He's 100% right about being woke - it's an absolutist regime now and nothing but total adherence is acceptable! The minute on "HER penis!" in the last special was so on the nose, just so clever. This one I didn't laugh out loud about much but I liked it and can see why people don't get his style of humour.

Lwrenagain · 31/12/2023 05:05

Nay on this one, didn't tickle my rickle this time.
I'm excited for the dave chapelle one though. The Ricky one felt rehashed.
Ricky to me is like a very strong, pungent blue cheese.
I understand people enjoy its layers of complexity and sophistication, but it's a very required taste.

I've enjoyed a few stand ups of his, I found afterlife a masterpiece but I didn't enjoy it, iyswim?
The office, terrific
Derek, nah
Idiot abroad nah
Extras nah
Hosting golden globes yay 😂

garlictwist · 31/12/2023 05:12

I enjoyed the one he did last year and felt like it struck the right balance of making salient points in a genuinely comedic way. This one felt too deliberately shocking and a bit offensive. I don't think every joke needs to be so overtly insulting. It makes it lose it punch and seem gimmicky.

Sassysmom · 31/12/2023 05:14

Yay. Anyone who doesn't like his style of humour should remind themselves that they are under zero obligation to watch his shows. As for whether his jokes are offensive or not: everyone's view of humour is different. It's fine to say that you felt offended by a joke. But to say that a joke is offensive is incorrect.

GuessItsANameChange · 31/12/2023 05:35

It's fine to say that you felt offended by a joke. But to say that a joke is offensive is incorrect.
Either is fine, thanks.

Sassysmom · 31/12/2023 05:39

GuessItsANameChange · 31/12/2023 05:35

It's fine to say that you felt offended by a joke. But to say that a joke is offensive is incorrect.
Either is fine, thanks.

You clearly don't understand the distinction. You don't get to say what another person should or shouldn't find offensive. It's fine to say that you felt offended by something. But to claim some right to deem a joke offensive is bizarre. Humour is inherently subjective.

Scorchio84 · 31/12/2023 05:41

Lwrenagain · 31/12/2023 05:05

Nay on this one, didn't tickle my rickle this time.
I'm excited for the dave chapelle one though. The Ricky one felt rehashed.
Ricky to me is like a very strong, pungent blue cheese.
I understand people enjoy its layers of complexity and sophistication, but it's a very required taste.

I've enjoyed a few stand ups of his, I found afterlife a masterpiece but I didn't enjoy it, iyswim?
The office, terrific
Derek, nah
Idiot abroad nah
Extras nah
Hosting golden globes yay 😂

Oh wow I didn't know Dave Chappelle has a new special coming out! I saw him here in Dublin last time he was over & he was brilliant so I hope it's a recording of that one.. actually I don't even care because I love him 👑

GuessItsANameChange · 31/12/2023 05:46

Sassysmom · 31/12/2023 05:39

You clearly don't understand the distinction. You don't get to say what another person should or shouldn't find offensive. It's fine to say that you felt offended by something. But to claim some right to deem a joke offensive is bizarre. Humour is inherently subjective.

Show quote history

Of course I understand the distinction, it just isn’t necessary to qualify every statement of opinion by announcing that it is only your opinion, that Is not how people usually speak.

If someone says “that movie was exciting”,
”that cake tasted nice” or “that book was scary”, most people are perfectly capable of understanding that they are expressing an opinion without responding “No, that’s incorrect, you have to say that you found the cake tasty”.

CeaselesslyIntoThePast · 31/12/2023 05:48

Some people cannot understand irony. And it's essential to find the humour in what he does.

Sassysmom · 31/12/2023 05:56

GuessItsANameChange · 31/12/2023 05:46

Of course I understand the distinction, it just isn’t necessary to qualify every statement of opinion by announcing that it is only your opinion, that Is not how people usually speak.

If someone says “that movie was exciting”,
”that cake tasted nice” or “that book was scary”, most people are perfectly capable of understanding that they are expressing an opinion without responding “No, that’s incorrect, you have to say that you found the cake tasty”.

Show quote history

Nope - you don't understand the distinction. Your examples aren't comparable. When people say that a joke is offensive they are in effect stating that it is wrong for anyone to find it inoffensive. You can see this in the vast number of comments about RG's jokes that contain observations about, say, children with cancer. Anyone who says they weren't offended is demonised. It is important to make the distinction - especially in the context of a discussion that involves people calling for jokes to be banned, or a comedian to be cancelled, or for certain subjects to be "off limits". The examples you gave above demonstrate that you don't understand this distinction.

KvotheTheBloodless · 31/12/2023 06:01

You've missed the entire point of his act. He doesn't actually believe people should be cruel to children with cancer or similar - he's pointing out that jokes are jokes, and that offence is highly subjective. Nobody has the right not to be offended.

Once you accept that as the premise for his act, it's really funny, and he makes a very valid point. Freedom of speech is so important, you can't start banning people for being "offensive".

KeepYaHeadUp · 31/12/2023 06:03

TheaBrandt · 31/12/2023 00:39

Nay. Really like his manner and much of his earlier stuff but this just didn’t work. It was like he was trying to just say the worst things possible for shock value and those things just weren’t particularly funny. Not clever or observational at all like much of his earlier work and the office /awards ceremonies etc. Didn’t seem like he was at the top of his game at all.

This. Turned it off after a few "jokes" just didn't land. He's less funny more shocking these days which is a shame.

GuessItsANameChange · 31/12/2023 06:05

Sassysmom · 31/12/2023 05:56

Nope - you don't understand the distinction. Your examples aren't comparable. When people say that a joke is offensive they are in effect stating that it is wrong for anyone to find it inoffensive. You can see this in the vast number of comments about RG's jokes that contain observations about, say, children with cancer. Anyone who says they weren't offended is demonised. It is important to make the distinction - especially in the context of a discussion that involves people calling for jokes to be banned, or a comedian to be cancelled, or for certain subjects to be "off limits". The examples you gave above demonstrate that you don't understand this distinction.

Show quote history

When people say that a joke is offensive they are in effect stating that it is wrong for anyone to find it inoffensive.
People make moral judgments all of the time without everyone insisting they be couched with “in my opinion…”.

iloveeverykindofcat · 31/12/2023 06:08

I just found it a bit boring. Misanthropy isn't clever or original. Just a bit juvenile really. I liked some of his earlier stuff but it feels played out. "Everyone is dumb and I am really smart".

NotBadConsidering · 31/12/2023 06:12

It was great. He didn’t make a joke about bald cancer kids🤨. He made a joke about he makes videos for Make-a-wish requests, but only if they request it. He said “I don’t just burst into the room and say ‘wake up baldy, here’s me twerking on TikTok.” It’s not a joke about bald cancer kids, it’s a joke about an alternative twat version of himself who might be the sort of person to say that, but he isn’t and he doesn’t.

He even says, in the show, that people will accuse him of actually meaning offensive words like “retarded” in his show, (even though he clearly states he doesn’t use it in real life) because he’s good at what he does and convincing. He basically predicted something like a thread like this would eventuate. You’re just proving his point.

Auliza · 31/12/2023 06:14

I do get the humour, I’m a Jimmy Carr fan. Controversial too I know!

However Ricky Gervais’ stand up is just way too close to the bone, some of the jokes are hilarious but I find it an uncomfortable watch. I must say that Afterlife is brilliant though, the emotional rollercoaster that provokes is very clever.

Jellyx · 31/12/2023 06:19

I enjoyed it.
We all have different senses of humour 🤷🏻‍♀️

Jellyx · 31/12/2023 06:22

Southislandsea · 31/12/2023 01:47

If he spouted his "jokes" in the company of my disabled child - wow!
He would see my child cry and meltdown.
And sorry, but every time I see him, I think of a vampire.
He needs some serious dental work.
He can afford it, most of us can't.
He gives me the creeps.

Are you saying disabled people don't have a sense of humour and can't laugh at their own circumstances? Ironically , I think that's offensive..

SpidersAreShitheads · 31/12/2023 06:44

NotBadConsidering · 31/12/2023 06:12

It was great. He didn’t make a joke about bald cancer kids🤨. He made a joke about he makes videos for Make-a-wish requests, but only if they request it. He said “I don’t just burst into the room and say ‘wake up baldy, here’s me twerking on TikTok.” It’s not a joke about bald cancer kids, it’s a joke about an alternative twat version of himself who might be the sort of person to say that, but he isn’t and he doesn’t.

He even says, in the show, that people will accuse him of actually meaning offensive words like “retarded” in his show, (even though he clearly states he doesn’t use it in real life) because he’s good at what he does and convincing. He basically predicted something like a thread like this would eventuate. You’re just proving his point.

The trouble is that it’s too nuanced for people like OP who clearly have an agenda with their proclamations that all his fans are thick 🙄

It’s clever social commentary, and his personal views don’t align with the jokes he’s making because a) it’s just an act and b) it’s poking fun at people (both left and right wing alike) by parodying them.

I like quite edgy jokes - but only when I don’t believe there’s genuine malice. So for example, Roy Chubby Brown, Bernard Manning et al I find to be unacceptable and hideous because I believe they’re being their true selves, and genuinely bigoted. I think Ricky Gervais is similar to Jimmy Carr - and ironically Frankie Boyle - in that they don’t discriminate who they’ll joke about, but there’s no genuine nastiness or spite.

People are free to disagree. No one is compelled to find him funny. And it absolutely won’t appeal to all, which is fine. But to dismiss any fans automatically as idiots is bloody rude, and shows a lack of critical thinking. I agree it reeks of TRA trolling.

iloveeverykindofcat · 31/12/2023 06:50

I don't find it offensive. I do understand what he's doing. I just think it's played out and not as clever as he thinks it is. I've enjoyed a lot of his previous stuff but I think it's time to change the record.

Vegetus · 31/12/2023 06:51

pandosadick · 31/12/2023 01:03

Exactly my point is would that wanker actually have the balls to spew his shit jokes about disabled people to actual real life people

Show quote history

I don't know if you're doing this intentionally or not but you see to be mixing up a stand show with a moron confronting a disabled person on the street.