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Forum: Internet Links Topic: political correctness killing comedy started by: Malcolm Posted by Malcolm on Feb. 01 2016,11:28
< Says man associated > with dead parrot. Author appears to be a dipshit.QUOTE Cleese is not wrong that the suppression of socially unpopular ideas could be a result of offended people browbeating comedians into not saying disrespectful things, but what he and other comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock don't seem to understand is that the political correctness they object to is not about suppression of thought, it's just about how young comedy audiences are less tolerant of racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia than the audiences these older comics are accustomed to performing for. Comedians only feel under attack because they keep digging in their heels and saying "you can't say anything anymore" instead of listening to the offended parties' objections, which causes the offended parties to intensify their rhetoric. Let's take a look at that bold part for just a second and even assume it's true. Get this shit straight: making a crack about something is not necessarily a shot at demeaning or making light of it. It's how some people exercise power over something or conquer it. If you can make a joke, then it no longer is taboo and maybe, just fucking maybe, people can start a dialog about it rather than fawning over a sacred cow. It does indeed have to do with tolerance, but not about whatever sociopolitical issues are boiling over at present. It has to do with your personal tolerance of addressing or listening to points of view which aren't your own. If that mark is so goddamned low that: 1) your default response is chalking the subject up to "forbidden" and not fit for words and... 2) you actively discourage and undercut others who do speak up ... then you're a fucking tool. Finally, let's check the ratings for the 18-39 demographic for TV shows, movies, and music. How many racist, sexist, or otherwise prejudiced titles make the list? QUOTE Cleese is 76 years old, and this is not his fight. Not to censor a man who's made priceless contributions to comedy, but he should have stayed out of this. He has nothing to gain by sharing his opinion. Says the 20-30-something associate editor of TV Guide that didn't have to put up with Anglican static when The Life of Brian came out. Posted by Leisher on Feb. 02 2016,10:33
Hey Liam Matthews, how about the offended party turn the channel rather than browbeating everyone else into their way of thinking? You continue pretending that political correctness is going to lead us to a magical utopia where everyone gets along. Meanwhile, consider this thought for a bit: Name some form of entertainment, or anything, that doesn't offended someone or isn't hated by someone. You won't be able to do that. So where does it all stop? Who decides when we'll have finally reached a point where nobody is offended anymore?
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