Come on in, the water's fine.

[thedivinegoat]

Firstly, 'cos I haven't done this for ages and LJ seems to be slightly broken at the moment, I have invite codes. If you want one, take one, (but let me know so I can strike it out).

CV6HRBB8NK55QAAADQHV
WN7PYF3CZDWHQAAADYEL
GVRZGE93BAZXJAAAECC6
W9T9FNC925VYKAAAECC7
DYGKF8MWS9BZ5AAAECC8
MCPRJV7MGJTXXAAABASZ

Secondly, have I said lately have much I hate Frankie Boyle? He's the main reason I gave up on Mock the Week, despite having Hugh Denise and Howard thingymabob, (the cute one from Somerset), because I couldn't take the constant rape jokes and generally sexist, racist, ableist, homophobic and transphobic humour that constantly fell out of FB's mouth. Well, he's at it again, only this time, when actually confronted by a couple who he'd really, massively upset, he totally failed to see what a shit he'd been and continued to be an offensive fuckhead.

Have spent sometime today with my friend and her son Harry, who I've know since he was born, and he's now two and gorgeous and such a cheeky monkey, (seriously, watching him head towards an open door, looking back at his mum, 'cos he knows full well he's not meant to be heading there, but hee! hee! look mummy I am! is the funniest thing ever) and has Downs Syndrome, this upset even more than it normally would, and I would really like someone to punch FB in the balls. Or where ever else it takes to get him to start emphasising with people.

Comments

[lilacsigil]

I'm not a fan of comedians for exactly this reason - I don't trust 99% of them. The Leverage show runner John Rogers used to be a comedian, and something he said about writing really resonated with me - he said the point of being a comedian is to "punch up". You don't kick people who have less privilege than you - you poke at those who have more. I've been thinking about that a lot recently, with all the stupid things people like Amanda Palmer have been saying, and here's another example. There's no cleverness, risk or edginess in mocking people with Downs Syndrome (or making the other jokes you mention).

I do wonder, though, if that couple could happily laugh along with him picking on other disadvantaged groups, until it was *their* group in the firing line. I don't say that meaning that it's their fault that they went, but that bullies aren't picky about their targets.

[thedivinegoat]

I must admit, when I first read the article, I did have the thought that they'd only noticed the ableism because their daughter has DS, and that they'd probably been laughing at jokes that would have other people in tears, because it had never occured to them how hurtful those jokes were.

There was an article in the Independent about "Comedy on the Edge" a few months back - triggered by the outcry after FB made a joke about all the servicemen who'd been injured in Iraq & Afganistan would really help our chances in the Paralympics (sp? I'm on my iPhone. Damn it's lack of spellcheck). The article was trying to examine whether we take offense too quickly or whether comedian push things to far. The bit that really stayed with me was a quote from the guy who runs the Comedy Store in London saying that when it opened, racist and sexists jokes were banned l, but since then he'd been forced to allow sexists jokes. (Forced how, and by who I don't know.) That bit made me really really sad, and apparently it just a tiny, tiny bit more acceptable to be sexist than racist. (I also suspect a lot more racists jokes are slipping under the radar than people would be willing to admit).

(I appologise for weird typos and spelling)

I miss comedy quiz shows.

[lilacsigil]

that they'd probably been laughing at jokes that would have other people in tears, because it had never occured to them how hurtful those jokes were.

Yeah. I don't want to make it all about them, because we live in a shitty world and we all have to choose our level of acceptable compromise.

made a joke about all the servicemen who'd been injured in Iraq & Afganistan would really help our chances in the Paralympics

See, now that could be funny, if it was aimed at Britain's (or Australia's!) stupid and expensive obsession with getting medals, but not if it was aimed at the soldiers or Paralympians. And that quote from the Comedy Store is really sad - though I think policing content rather than educating is a difficult road to take.

[gavagai]

Ah, that's where that phrase comes from!

I basically agree with this article from a while ago on Boyle, he really does just seem like a bully.

[lilacsigil]

Yes! "Punch up" is a great way to think, and I have a lot of respect for that mindset.

[ankaret]

Frankie Boyle has been on my list of 'people I would willingly run over with a steamroller' ever since the Rebecca Adlingham business, and now it's officially upgraded to 'people I would willingly run over with a steamroller, and then reverse back over just to make sure'. He's an unfunny, ugly-minded bully and people who say 'oh, he only spits hatred because he hates himself, he's an alcoholic' should put themselves in the shoes of the people he's insulting for a change.

[scrollgirl]

Hey, I saw you subscribed to me, so I've added you back! Just curious, how did you find me?