Offence in comedy

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Does anyone on here actually know anyone who gets offended by anything in comedy? I keep reading that all these people are being offended by this and by that, there's often a media story suggesting "outrage" at something or another, yet I don't see any of it at all. Yes, I see debates about what might be considered offensive, but that's a completely different matter. I never see anyone get offended by a joke or a comment.

I'm starting to think this is just another way of trying to divide people. It's becoming far more common nowadays. If you're not on one side, you must be on the other. The media know that any post suggesting something is offensive will result in clicks, yet I've never read a media report with names of people who are offended by something. We're being played like an orchestra.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Offence in comedy

Edit: Decided to remove my comment as it went slightly off tangent.

[JamesWales]

Re: Offence in comedy

I think like usual, it's a handful of loud, active intolerant people that convince themselves they are moral guardians and need to prevent anyone from enjoying something if they don't.

This Roy Chubby Brown example, when remarkably the council got involved.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-58488864

The guardian obviously don't like things that vary from their thinking.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/19/jimmy-carr-natural-born-killer-review-a-moral-vacuum-laughing-at-his-own-jokes

I do remember some genuine offence at Dapper Laughs a few years back

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dapper-laughs-itv-under-fire-over-dating-show-vlogger-s-rape-comedy-routine-9852224.html

Generally though I think you are right..we are told there is mass offence at this or that and it's usually a tiny number involved.

I can't remember who it was, but someone on here the other day was moaning at Musk for making light of that "salute gate" issue and said that the Nazis aren't a laughing matter. He has obviously never watched Fawlty Towers.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Offence in comedy

Andrew Lawrence is so utterly unfunny I find him offensive

[Heathblue]

Re: Offence in comedy

Andrew Lawrence is so utterly unfunny I find him offensive

I think he's hilarious, who is he ?, never heard of him, presuming it's a him !!!

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Offence in comedy

I think he's hilarious, who is he ?, never heard of him, presuming it's a him !!!

You have seen his stuff ?

I think he's shocking

Gives me the creeps

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Offence in comedy

I think like usual, it's a handful of loud, active intolerant people that convince themselves they are moral guardians and need to prevent anyone from enjoying something if they don't.

This Roy Chubby Brown example, when remarkably the council got involved.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-58488864

The guardian obviously don't like things that vary from their thinking.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/19/jimmy-carr-natural-born-killer-review-a-moral-vacuum-laughing-at-his-own-jokes

I do remember some genuine offence at Dapper Laughs a few years back

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dapper-laughs-itv-under-fire-over-dating-show-vlogger-s-rape-comedy-routine-9852224.html

Generally though I think you are right..we are told there is mass offence at this or that and it's usually a tiny number involved.

I can't remember who it was, but someone on here the other day was moaning at Musk for making light of that "salute gate" issue and said that the Nazis aren't a laughing matter. He has obviously never watched Fawlty Towers.

Edgy comedy will always get some complaints. I'm not sure if it still is, but Jerry Sadowicz's "Pall Bearer's Revue" was the most complained about TV programme of all time. I've seen it all and most of it wouldn't raise an eyebrow now.

I'll have a go at explaining the three links you've provided.

1. Councils sometimes make over the top decisions, regardless of who controls them. As Sir Humphrey says on Yes Prime Minister, "You just don't leave important matters in the hands of those clowns". I think we sometimes forget that councils are run by those who put themselves forward for power whether as a desire to do good in their community or as an ego trip. These people usually align themselves to the party most likely to get power to give themselves the greatest chance of being elected. They don't require qualifications to get in, just votes. You wouldn't run many organisations like this, but this is called democracy. You'll notice I haven't mentioned any parties specifically as I'll tar all councils with the same brush. However I will generally side with councils trying to act in the best interests, even if they decide things which appear foolish.

2. Reviewer slates show *shocker*.

3. TV pulls unfunny show due to it being shit. Advertisers might have had a say.

As for The Germans episode, it's the only one I won't watch, mainly because I think it is extremely cringe worthy. That's up to me. I don't consider it particularly funny. I'm sure others would argue they find other episodes of it less funny than that.

I don't have any problem with artists amending their own material to reflect more modern attitudes. If we all want freedom of speech this is surely a part of that. Oppressing comedy only makes people want it. Maybe it is better for comics to say what they want and receive the wrath of the public if they become too inappropriate.

[lardy]

Re: Offence in comedy

I can't remember who it was, but someone on here the other day was moaning at Musk for making light of that "salute gate" issue and said that the Nazis aren't a laughing matter. He has obviously never watched Fawlty Towers.

As the board's resident Mr Nuance, I'm sure you'll agree that context is everything. You'd be ok with your best mate calling you a silly twat, less so with your boss calling you one during an appraisal.

Brits have always taken the piss out of Nazis. Stand up comics for decades, Allo Allo, Goodnight Sweetheart; I'm not listing everything.

The context of the Germans episode is that Basil is concussed and has a huge bandage on his head. Had John Cleese done two enthusiastic Nazi salutes outside the opening of Parliament just before it was first broadcast, I can imagine the reaction might have been a bit different!

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Offence in comedy

You have seen his stuff ?

I think he's shocking

Gives me the creeps

Nope, and to quote a line from a Fawlty Towera episode that is not the Germans, don't think I ever will do either.

[Heathblue]

Re: Offence in comedy

You have seen his stuff ?

I think he's shocking

Gives me the creeps

I'm currently binge watching the Auf Wiedersehen Pet series, at the point where Joe comes over from Arizona to buy the bridge, there has been a few scenes I think that wouldn't cut it in today's world but even without all the effin and jeffing that seems to be fine on telly after 9 in today's world the humor generated by the magnificent 7 and the script writers is IMO very good.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Offence in comedy

I'm currently binge watching the Auf Wiedersehen Pet series, at the point where Joe comes over from Arizona to buy the bridge, there has been a few scenes I think that wouldn't cut it in today's world but even without all the effin and jeffing that seems to be fine on telly after 9 in today's world the humor generated by the magnificent 7 and the script writers is IMO very good.

I don't disagree but specifically regarding Andrew Lawrence i think he's a horrible little right wing creep

He reminds me of that ex Monmouth tory mp David Davies.....swivel eyed , grinding jaw as he speaks

[JamesWales]

Re: Offence in comedy

As the board's resident Mr Nuance, I'm sure you'll agree that context is everything. You'd be ok with your best mate calling you a silly twat, less so with your boss calling you one during an appraisal.

Brits have always taken the piss out of Nazis. Stand up comics for decades, Allo Allo, Goodnight Sweetheart; I'm not listing everything.

The context of the Germans episode is that Basil is concussed and has a huge bandage on his head. Had John Cleese done two enthusiastic Nazi salutes outside the opening of Parliament just before it was first broadcast, I can imagine the reaction might have been a bit different!

Of course. But the point is about jokes that people find offensive and the example I gave was someone taking offence at a joke about the issue. As such, it's a presumably genuine example of someone taking offence at a joke.

So it does happen.

[JamesWales]

Re: Offence in comedy

Edgy comedy will always get some complaints. I'm not sure if it still is, but Jerry Sadowicz's "Pall Bearer's Revue" was the most complained about TV programme of all time. I've seen it all and most of it wouldn't raise an eyebrow now.

I'll have a go at explaining the three links you've provided.

1. Councils sometimes make over the top decisions, regardless of who controls them. As Sir Humphrey says on Yes Prime Minister, "You just don't leave important matters in the hands of those clowns". I think we sometimes forget that councils are run by those who put themselves forward for power whether as a desire to do good in their community or as an ego trip. These people usually align themselves to the party most likely to get power to give themselves the greatest chance of being elected. They don't require qualifications to get in, just votes. You wouldn't run many organisations like this, but this is called democracy. You'll notice I haven't mentioned any parties specifically as I'll tar all councils with the same brush. However I will generally side with councils trying to act in the best interests, even if they decide things which appear foolish.

2. Reviewer slates show *shocker*.

3. TV pulls unfunny show due to it being shit. Advertisers might have had a say.

As for The Germans episode, it's the only one I won't watch, mainly because I think it is extremely cringe worthy. That's up to me. I don't consider it particularly funny. I'm sure others would argue they find other episodes of it less funny than that.

I don't have any problem with artists amending their own material to reflect more modern attitudes. If we all want freedom of speech this is surely a part of that. Oppressing comedy only makes people want it. Maybe it is better for comics to say what they want and receive the wrath of the public if they become too inappropriate.

Of course, there are reasons for them, but they are also examples of people being offended by comedy and projecting that into others, which I think is what you were asking about.

[lardy]

Re: Offence in comedy

Of course. But the point is about jokes that people find offensive and the example I gave was someone taking offence at a joke about the issue. As such, it's a presumably genuine example of someone taking offence at a joke.

So it does happen.

I don't know who the poster was, but I imagine it's context. Leon's "jokes" as I remember it were nazi name puns, like "it's Goring be a long day" or something.

I doubt the poster was offended by Nazi puns, but more likely that he was doing them as an up yours to people a little concerned that he'd just done two nazi salutes at trump's inauguration event.

In fact, there was a time - not long ago either - when pretty much all of us didn't find genuine nazi salutes funny. Times and fashions change, eh?

[lardy]

Re: Offence in comedy

Maybe it is better for comics to say what they want and receive the wrath of the public if they become too inappropriate.

Money talks louder than any of us. Someone like Dappy/Dapper Laughs (can't remember his name) wasn't cancelled by a tiny group of offendeds while people queued round the block for his gigs.