Where's the line for Comedians

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Mariam82

I've read this thread a few times. My son has downs syndrome and over the years we have been used to the stares and the 'kind' generalised comments people make. Luckily for him I'm sure frankie boyle's 'joke' would by-pass him completely. It only hurt us as parents but we just take the view that in life there will always be these kind of people and we are better than that.

You are right Mariam, it doesn't hurt the children with Downs syndrome because frequently they do not understand it. But it does cause hurt and offence to the parents and families, who are the advocates of these children.
And yes, you are better than him because he has no humanity.

[Taggy]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I am not advocating censorship.....I am advocating sensitivity.....a sort of self regulated, in built, ethical compass.
And it wasn't a joke as such where Jimmy Carr made fun of Down's children, it was a sort of comment, a remark.
Which says a lot about the ethics of the man. If he thought that waht he said was funny, then he has a very sick sense of humour, no ethics and no moral compass.

I agree with all of that!..Its like i said earlier, its cowardly bullying not comedy!...Because Disabled people don't have a big enough voice he thinks he can get away with saying things about them that he wouldn't dare say about Black people or people of different race to him!

The negative image of late, portrayed of Disabled people in the media does not help & people such as Carr & Gervais think they have Carte Blanche to say anything they want...unless as i say its about Race!

Best Regards - Taggy

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I am not advocating censorship.....I am advocating sensitivity.....a sort of self regulated, in built, ethical compass.
And it wasn't a joke as such where Jimmy Carr made fun of Down's children, it was a sort of comment, a remark.
Which says a lot about the ethics of the man. If he thought that waht he said was funny, then he has a very sick sense of humour, no ethics and no moral compass.

I'm not saying you are advocating censorship, hon .... I just offered an answer to the question posed in the thread title ... Personally, I find there are certain types of comedy, certain jokes which are not funny because of their subject ... but that's only my opinion. I know, for example, that some folks object to obscenity in comedy ... I admit that I don't like it (me, with a vocabulary that would roast a sailor's parrot) if it serves no comedic purpose.

[DaveinGermany]

Humour comes in many shapes & forms & what appeals to one person may well be offensive to another, that's the nature of the beast. As to censoring it, it can't work as it's horses for courses because when alls said & done these people are trying to earn a living in their own way the same as everyone else.

Admittedly some things are nearer to the bone than others & if a particular comic is known for their abrasive style & is likely to offend your personal sensibilities switch off or over, that's really all that can be done. We all complain loudly enough when we feel we've been subjected to attacks & infringements on our personal liberties because of views or comments we may make, should our detractors be sanctioned & censored for their opinions too ?

As with all things there has to be give & take, the World isn't perfect so we've got to get along as best we can.

For the record, I don't really like Jimmy Carrs material, but occasionally he'll cause me to grin.

[jedimaster]

i am by no means in agreement with mocking vulnerable and disabled people, however where do you draw the line. I remember a very funny story told by jim davidson where at a disabled soldiers reunion one disabled squaddie walks up to
simon weston and says ' ullo simon, we was only talking about you the other day.......... was your ears burning again?

very dark,totally un pc and in bad taste yet bloody hilarious and a true story

[Taggy]

Originally Posted by jedimaster

i am by no means in agreement with mocking vulnerable and disabled people, however where do you draw the line. I remember a very funny story told by jim davidson where at a disabled soldiers reunion one disabled squaddie walks up to
simon weston and says ' ullo simon, we was only talking about you the other day.......... was your ears burning again?

very dark,totally un pc and in bad taste yet bloody hilarious and a true story

You draw the line at the point where the Target audience can't defend them selves!!..Simon Weston is ex forces and can give as good as he gets!...A Brain Injured Youngster unfortunately can't!...and if there's one person on here who could give me a good reason why a Brain Injured youngster should become a target for someones's comedy & cheap laugh's...i'd like to hear it!

Best Regards - Taggy

[robot1002]

I think most of what I would have said on this topic has been said..Jimmy Carr should be banned from television, and public theatres ,since his kind of comedy is NOT comedy..As for crossing the line,well , he's over it by a mile. Get shut, and give John Bishop the air time, he is a funny man no probs....

[Taggy]

Originally Posted by robot1002

I think most of what I would have said on this topic has been said..Jimmy Carr should be banned from television, and public theatres ,since his kind of comedy is NOT comedy..As for crossing the line,well , he's over it by a mile. Get shut, and give John Bishop the air time, he is a funny man no probs....

Agree with that!..I've heard John Bishop interviewed a few times too & he seems a really nice fella!

Best Regards - Taggy

[jedimaster]

i agree to a point as i said i do not agree with taking the proverbial out of vulnerable people however should all disability be a taboo?also in the previous example simon weston was known by the guy however standup comedians do not have that luxury with their audiences i have seen stand ups take the mick out of disabled people in the audiece and the disabled people have loved it as they have felt included simply because has gone against the 'oh no mustn't take the mick out of him cause he's in a wheelchair' kind of thinking as i said before i don't know what the joke in question was so i can't comment and personally i think jimmy carr is a waste of airtime purely cos he aint funny or entertaining in any way, im a fan of qi but i will not watch it if he's on it

[Taggy]

Originally Posted by jedimaster

i agree to a point as i said i do not agree with taking the proverbial out of vulnerable people however should all disability be a taboo?also in the previous example simon weston was known by the guy however standup comedians do not have that luxury with their audiences i have seen stand ups take the mick out of disabled people in the audiece and the disabled people have loved it as they have felt included simply because has gone against the 'oh no mustn't take the mick out of him cause he's in a wheelchair' kind of thinking as i said before i don't know what the joke in question was so i can't comment and personally i think jimmy carr is a waste of airtime purely cos he aint funny or entertaining in any way, im a fan of qi but i will not watch it if he's on it

OK, to make things clear from my point, i'm talking about Disabled people who are so obviously disabled that they can't get the joke!

Best Regards - Taggy

[garinda]

Originally Posted by robot1002

I think most of what I would have said on this topic has been said..Jimmy Carr should be banned from television, and public theatres ,since his kind of comedy is NOT comedy..As for crossing the line,well , he's over it by a mile. Get shut, and give John Bishop the air time, he is a funny man no probs....

What about children who suffer from obesity, victims of child abuse, and people disabled by motor neurone disease?

Three jokes, originally written and performed by John Bishop.


John Bishop: "Being an England supporter is like being the over-optimistic parents of the fat kid on sports day." (From top ten jokes from the Fringe, 2010.)


John Bishop: My son always misbehaved and there was nothing I could do about it. So I asked an expert and she said the next time he has a tantrum don't get angry, just splash him with some water. I though this was weird but I tried it anyway. However it just made him worse. He just screamed even more.

I should probably not use the kettle next time...
Sickipedia Search Results - Bishop


John Bishop: How does Stephen Hawking know he has won a prize?

There's a ramp.
Sickipedia - How does Stephe...

[jedimaster]

Originally Posted by Taggy

OK, to make things clear from my point, i'm talking about Disabled people who are so obviously disabled that they can't get the joke!

Best Regards - Taggy

my point is should we stop telling jokes that offend someone if not why is it ok to offend some people but not others

[jedimaster]

Originally Posted by Taggy

OK, to make things clear from my point, i'm talking about Disabled people who are so obviously disabled that they can't get the joke!

Best Regards - Taggy

just to be clear, we can't take the mick out of man utd. fans then

[garinda]

I think any humour can be cruel, but it depends on the context, of who says it, where it's said, and to whom.

The only thing I ever struggle to remember is jokes.

I'm just trying to think of a joke that doesn't ask the listener to laugh at some target.

Are there any?

Because we create taboos, about certain things that are off limits, people will still make jokes about them, and some people will laugh, mainly because of nerves, that a taboo subject has even been touched upon.

I don't think you can ban certain subjects, though of course you can limit the audience.

I once heckled someone at a comedy club in London, at a joke I found offensive, whilst I was sat right in the front row.

My heckle was way funnier than his act, and also got a bigger laugh, than he'd been getting up until then.

He totally lost it, and left the stage, without saying another word.

Result.

People will continue to joke about things some will find offensive.

People should be free to complain about them, if they do.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by jedimaster

just to be clear, we can't take the mick out of man utd. fans then

Shut up Nerys.

You're so not funny.

Run along now.

You've rams that need milking.

After you've finished worrying the sheep, with their life coaching lessons.