|
Post by Michael Coello on Jul 12, 2012 1:17:58 GMT -5
She went to a comedian she never saw or heard before, and was surprised by his material.
Research, people!
|
|
|
Post by Spankymac is sick of the swiss on Jul 12, 2012 1:22:24 GMT -5
God, I love Tosh. He's a great kayfabe asshole, and it works for his comedy. And yeah, in comedy, nothing should be off limits, as long as the comedian can make it funny. If the joke works, then it works, no matter the subject matter. That's why I love Tosh, who goes out of his way to really construct a joke, vs. someone like Anthony Jeselnik, who says "shocking" stuff for it's own sake just to get a reaction.
|
|
|
Post by HMARK Center on Jul 12, 2012 1:37:24 GMT -5
No single subject matter in comedy is off-limits. It's more about how a comic handles various subject matters, whether the comic is talented at his/her craft or not, and various other factors. Many comics aren't talented enough to handle certain heavy or controversial subject matters without simply being grotesque, but a talented comic, which Tosh is, can do so in a way that makes clear the absurdity of what he/she is joking about. To say something, anything, is "never funny" is simply inaccurate, as it implies that there is no audience that would laugh at whatever the subject matter is. That's a rather large, unrealistic assumption to make. Never forget that stand-up comedy is an act. Just because Al Pacino played Tony Montana doesn't mean he's a coke dealer. Just because Ralph Fiennes was in Schindler's List as a commandant doesn't mean he's a Nazi. Just because a comic makes a joke about something controversial doesn't mean he/she thinks that subject matter is something to take lightly in real life. This isn't to say people aren't allowed to be offended by certain subject matter; everybody's line of demarkation for what one finds offensive is unique, after all. I agree with this, but I don't think it applies to Tosh here. A talented comedian can make even the most grotesque subject matters funny by highlighting the absurdity of the matter. And I do agree that there is some humor in even the darkest situations... but how Tosh handled the person who criticized him really pisses me off. I get she threw you off your game, but to say, as the person who yelled at Tosh put it, that's really ridiculous IMO. I honestly don't think it is, given the context that she decided to insert herself into the act. Had he singled her out from out of nowhere, just pointing to her as an audience member and doing that, it becomes more difficult to defend, but I think the situational context alters that. Part of what made my uneasy about her article was how she said she felt the need to speak out due to her "principles." To me that seems to imply she would stand up and yell at the screen at a movie, interrupt a Broadway play, try to block people seeing a potentially offensive piece of art, all in the name of her "principles." Again, people don't have to like certain acts, people are allowed to find certain things offensive, but it's really not our place to seek to stifle an artist's creation, especially while the artist is working on it. If the artist sucks and/or enough people don't like their work, they'll just go away, regardless. I know I'm basically parroting a lot of what Jim Norton said on the subject this morning (albeit a lot more cleanly than he did), but he really covered most of the bases concerning it. Nobody should have to put up with being told "you shouldn't find this offensive, get a thicker skin!", but not comedian/actor/painter/etc. should have to tolerate their work being interrupted like that, either, and having their basic human character judged based on an act they're putting on.
|
|
|
Post by mysterydriver on Jul 12, 2012 1:49:21 GMT -5
I heard that the owner of the club this happened in is claiming the girl didn't storm out and waited til the end of the show to complain. That could just be them trying to avoid a storm of hate towards said club, though.
Also, any comedian who has said anything in support of Tosh has since been battered by random groups accusing them of being "rape culture enablers." I follow Patton Oswalt on Twitter and he was getting ripped apart for daring to joke about Tosh apologizing (and all he was doing was referencing how he apologized to a blogger about 4-6 months back).
That said...yeah, an offensive comedian said something offensive and someone got offended. News at 11.
EDIT: Truly the worst thing to come of this was my tweet about how "People accuse Spoony of stealing from MST3k, but apparently he steals from Daniel Tosh" getting me blocked by the former ThatGuy personality. Although, considering I haven't followed his account in a few months, I think I'll live.
|
|
|
Post by Sero on Jul 12, 2012 2:41:58 GMT -5
To quote Anthony Jeselnik, "An offended audience member repeating a comedian's act from memory is worse than, literally, anything."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2012 2:55:21 GMT -5
I disagree. Rape jokes can be funny. Daniel Tosh, on the other hand...
Yeah, easy shot. I think he's okay. Not really a fan but I see the appeal.
|
|
Jimmy
Grimlock
Posts: 13,317
|
Post by Jimmy on Jul 12, 2012 3:01:29 GMT -5
No single subject matter in comedy is off-limits. It's more about how a comic handles various subject matters, whether the comic is talented at his/her craft or not, and various other factors. Many comics aren't talented enough to handle certain heavy or controversial subject matters without simply being grotesque, but a talented comic, which Tosh is, can do so in a way that makes clear the absurdity of what he/she is joking about. To say something, anything, is "never funny" is simply inaccurate, as it implies that there is no audience that would laugh at whatever the subject matter is. That's a rather large, unrealistic assumption to make. Never forget that stand-up comedy is an act. Just because Al Pacino played Tony Montana doesn't mean he's a coke dealer. Just because Ralph Fiennes was in Schindler's List as a commandant doesn't mean he's a Nazi. Just because a comic makes a joke about something controversial doesn't mean he/she thinks that subject matter is something to take lightly in real life. This isn't to say people aren't allowed to be offended by certain subject matter; everybody's line of demarkation for what one finds offensive is unique, after all. This is a great post. Honestly, the biggest shock to me is that there are apparently people who still don't realize that comedians will literally say anything and will almost never "hold back" on a subject out of 'good taste' unless they're, you know, Bill Cosby or somebody. Personally I don't even care for Tosh.0, but I find this whole thing ridiculous.
|
|
|
Post by Porky's Butthole on Jul 12, 2012 6:22:21 GMT -5
I have a feeling that Tosh might have been pressured into the apology by Comedy Central.
|
|
|
Post by WarChief on Jul 12, 2012 6:25:28 GMT -5
A comedian made a joke about something possibly offensive. This has never happened before, and it will definitely never happen again.
|
|
Ryanar
Samurai Cop
Posts: 2,429
|
Post by Ryanar on Jul 12, 2012 6:39:52 GMT -5
Stand up rape jokes aren't that funny. Not in an offensive way but in a really not funny way. I guess i've become too desensitized to that stuff that it does nothing for me.
But on the other hand
Racist, and Culturally Insensitive jokes are some of the funniest jokes i have ever heard.
|
|
|
Post by Piccolo on Jul 12, 2012 6:49:15 GMT -5
Is that the supposed "joke"? If it is, to find out if it's really acceptable, let's try a substitution exercise:
"Wouldn't it be funny if that guy got lynched by, like, 5 white guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just stuck a noose around his neck and strung him up..."
It's the same thing, except that lynchings of black guys are a heck of a lot more rare than rapes. Not sure if something like that would get defended in the name of comedy, but if not, I'd be interested to hear an explanation for why sexual violence against women is funnier than racial violence against blacks.
|
|
Captain2
Don Corleone
Big Daddy Cool
Posts: 1,990
|
Post by Captain2 on Jul 12, 2012 6:52:47 GMT -5
To quote Anthony Jeselnik, "An offended audience member repeating a comedian's act from memory is worse than, literally, anything." Even rape?
|
|
|
Post by willywonka666 on Jul 12, 2012 7:07:32 GMT -5
As a fan of comedy and a huge admirer of George Carlin I'm not sure that nothing is off limits. As for some topics, I guess someone will laugh at something somewhere, but if I were a comic it doesn't mean I'd touch the topic. You can get laughs doing a wide range of stuff, why even bother touching on some subjects? I mean really has anyone come off with a rape joke and it is sooo funny it makes their career? Doubtful. Some of it's shock I guess, but why bother?
Nothing would be lost if he didn't even do the joke. I wouldn't have said anything, and I would have laughed if it had been funny, but meh.
|
|
|
Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Jul 12, 2012 7:08:15 GMT -5
While I disagree with the heckler's viewpoint- I do think you can joke about any subject, provided the execution is good- the way Tosh responded here does come off as pretty toolish. What she shouted at him wasn't harsh enough for that level of a rebuttal from him.
But keep in mind I've never been a big Tosh fan to begin with.
|
|
|
Post by Confused Mark Wahlberg on Jul 12, 2012 7:24:14 GMT -5
Where was the 'joke' there, exactly?
And Tosh and his stupid facial expressions is one of the worst and most worthless comics I think I've ever had the misfortune of seeing.
|
|
JDviant
Unicron
XB1 username: lil giant robot
Posts: 3,103
|
Post by JDviant on Jul 12, 2012 8:03:10 GMT -5
Not sure if something like that would get defended in the name of comedy Yes it would, for all the reasons already stated. I also think some people are missing that the jokes that actually offended the lady isn't here, just the mean-spirited response to someone attacking your attempt to do your job. It's not like Tosh's response was a crafted one he had been honing from touring. I also support Don Rickles ability to make that black'racist' joke about Obama that created controversy last month. I'm not sure why Don Rickles making insults is news.
|
|
King Ghidorah
El Dandy
On Probation for Charges of two counts of Saxual Music.
How Absurd
Posts: 8,330
|
Post by King Ghidorah on Jul 12, 2012 8:15:30 GMT -5
Is that the supposed "joke"? If it is, to find out if it's really acceptable, let's try a substitution exercise: "Wouldn't it be funny if that guy got lynched by, like, 5 white guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just stuck a noose around his neck and strung him up..." It's the same thing, except that lynchings of black guys are a heck of a lot more rare than rapes. Not sure if something like that would get defended in the name of comedy, but if not, I'd be interested to hear an explanation for why sexual violence against women is funnier than racial violence against blacks. You assume blacks would get offended by that.
|
|
salz4life
Grimlock
Prichard is a guy who gets that his job is to service his boss.
Posts: 13,947
|
Post by salz4life on Jul 12, 2012 8:19:42 GMT -5
George Carlin would disagree Rape is horrible. But comedy is subjective and nothing should he off limits. +1 I don't need anybody to tell me what is and isn't funny.
|
|
|
Post by bigdamnheroes1982 on Jul 12, 2012 8:58:16 GMT -5
Laughter is an involuntary reaction that comes from the same basic part of your mind that produces fear. That is way offensive jokes can make us laugh. Our mind is telling us that what this person is saying is not of the social norm, so we should be afraid of it, but at the same time, our mind is telling us, it is not such a big deal, so lets just laugh at it. The point at which we laugh at a joke, and were we are offended by a joke is different for everybody. I find about 85 percent of what Tosh says funny, the rest is a little over the line.
With that said, no one is this world should ever EVER be allowed to tell us what we can and cannot enjoy, and can and cannot laugh at. This woman has every right to be offended, and so does anybody else. But, she should do at least a little research before she goes to a show. Just don't pay to see what offends you, and if enough people do it, then it will go away.
|
|
|
Post by Pooh Carlson on Jul 12, 2012 9:00:11 GMT -5
Is that the supposed "joke"? If it is, to find out if it's really acceptable, let's try a substitution exercise: "Wouldn't it be funny if that guy got lynched by, like, 5 white guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just stuck a noose around his neck and strung him up..." It's the same thing, except that lynchings of black guys are a heck of a lot more rare than rapes. Not sure if something like that would get defended in the name of comedy, but if not, I'd be interested to hear an explanation for why sexual violence against women is funnier than racial violence against blacks. The way I take the joke is the irony is supposed to be funny. Here's a lady standing up disagreeing by saying "Rape isn't funny!" and in turn, she gets gang-raped. It would be ironic and hilarious. (Not that I personally think it would be hilarious, but that's where I feel the joke is leaning towards.)
|
|