Jimmy Carr

[Alan Harper's Tash]

But he did say it and it's been interesting to see the debate around it. The nature and limits of comedy, bad taste, morality are all worthy subjects for discussion, even if we don't agree.

Absolutely agree on that.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Absolutely agree on t

I'm offended you agree with me!

Fair enough. Everybody has the ability/right to be offended by anything.

What does being offended actually achieve?

That's a good question. I'd say it changes attitudes.

'Being offended' made us less tolerant of racism aimed at black people and particularly black footballers. It used to be mainstream, as we saw with the treatment of Sterling by the red-tops, but it's seen as unacceptable now.

 

[mccity]

Fair enough. Everybody has the ability/right to be offended by anything.

What does being offended actually achieve?

It's a decent enough question but being offended is a reaction to things that can help showcase that the thing was maybe bad.

If people didn't get offended at stuff we'd never learn what was appropriate or not at the rate we have done. Yeah it's annoying and in many ways unconstructive but often it's useful. If you call someone by the wrong name by accident and they get upset you're more likely to not make the mistake again than if they'd been chill about it. If a bunch of people get offended by a joke then maybe we're less likely to do a joke like that again than if they were chill about it.

Of course there's a modern trend of offendedness that can be obstructive. But this specific instance seems rather genuine

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I'm offended you agree with me!


That's a good question. I'd say it changes attitudes.

'Being offended' made us less tolerant of racism aimed at black people and particularly black footballers. It used to be mainstream, as we saw with the treatment of Sterling by the red-tops, but it's seen as unacceptable now.

Was that because more people were offended, or was that because people like Kapernick and Sterling took a stand and blew the wind of change.

This obviously neglects loads of other figureheads and champions of equality.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

I can appreciate both sides of this, but surely the non- brain dead can distinguish between the context of something said in jest as part of a stand up comedy show and the same thing said in a hateful context?
Also a bit of a slow burner this - the show was on Netflix from December. I think any genuine offence would have been caused / taken some time ago so I suspect those behind the sudden outrage now have their own motives.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

I can appreciate both sides of this, but surely the non- brain dead can distinguish between the context of something said in jest as part of a stand up comedy show and the same thing said in a hateful context?
Also a bit of a slow burner this - the show was on Netflix from December. I think any genuine offence would have been caused / taken some time ago so I suspect those behind the sudden outrage now have their own motives.

Yes that's basically it. The MP who has written a letter to Netflix has always been a big voice for the Gypsies and travellers so it's a convenient lighting rod to attract attention to this "cause".

They are both right for their own reasons. Jimmy Carr was entitled to make the joke and she is entitled to use it to raise awareness for her pet cause.

Carr didn't intend any harm even if he did intend to offend, but then some of us remember the Pontins thread where a story about illegal blacklisting of travellers was met with "yeah, fair cop" from some posters.

On that basis using examples like this draw attention to campaigns, even if it is a bit cynical, is fair enough IMO.

 

[BlueHammer85]

The problem is this. Jimmy Carr could tell a bordeline joke - 200 people out of 7.9 billion on this planet get offended and complain. The media latch on to it and report the ‘outcry’ … and then you have millions complaining on social media that the ‘worlds gone mad’, We live in a world of cancel culture’, it’s all these lefties’ etc etc. and the whole thing gets out of hand.

perfect for far right media and those with an agenda against the left.

 

[Bill Walker]

The problem is this. Jimmy Carr could tell a bordeline joke - 200 people out of 7.9 billion on this planet get offended and complain. The media latch on to it and report the ‘outcry’ … and then you have millions complaining on social media that the ‘worlds gone mad’, We live in a world of cancel culture’, it’s all these lefties’ etc etc. and the whole thing gets out of hand.

perfect for far right media and those with an agenda against the left.

I think you just summed up in a nutshell what "news" is about these days.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Fair enough. Everybody has the ability/right to be offended by anything.

What does being offended actually achieve?

Absolutely fuck all.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Absolutely fuck all.

I'm offended by your language...