Attacking Comedy That Offends You Is An Attack On Free Speech
If you've watched the news, read the papers, or use any kind of social media within the last few years you will have noticed an unsavory trend that has seen increasing exponential virality.
Everyone is getting offended by everything
Whether you have been witness to it or not there are an ever growing number of ultra politically correct far left militants that are hell-bent on campaigning for a cause for people whom they've never even met and who never asked them to campaign for them in the first place.
And no, this post isn't about politics. It's far more serious than that. This is about maintaining our freedoms and rights as a human race.
If you're not quite sure what I'm talking about let me tell you about a case that proves my point about how deadly political correctness can be.
In November 2009 a psychologist working in the US army, Nidal Halik Hasan, opened fire on the other troops on the base while shouting God Is Great in Arabic. Thirteen people were killed.
It was soon discovered that the Pentagon knew all about Hasan's radical ideologies way before this act of terrorism. They were aware of a whole bunch of emails he had been sending to other radical Muslims. Even his colleges at the army base had expressed their discomfort about him to others, saying that he was "a ticking time bomb".
So, how on earth could the US government and the senior army management simply allow this horrific mass murder to take place? Well, because the powers that be within the US army were too afraid of being accused of racially profiling someone to take any action against him. Because of the unyielding pressure of political correctness in the modern age, thirteen people tragically had to die.
While this story is tragic, the effects of the over offended can be seen strongly in comedy. The 60s, 70s, and 80s were full of original, ingeniously witty TV comedies. Such as Monty Python, Faulty Towers, and a slew of others. Each and every one of these shows delved into the realm of what overly sensitive people today might wrongfully call sexist, homophobic, or racist.
One notable example might be what many people would consider to be one of the best 30-minutes of TV comedy ever written and performed, the Faulty Towers episode called The Germans. The whole 30-minutes is stuffed full of non-PC jokes that wouldn't dare be part of any contemporary TV sitcom. One particular scene shows a resident of Faulty Towers, Major Gowen, using racial slurs against West Indians and Germans.
Sadly, due to the increasingly sensitive nature of some TV viewers today, these scenes are now completely removed from the episode whenever they air it on TV.
“If you can't say "Fuck" you can't say, "Fuck the government.” ― Lenny Bruce
But what most people fail to see, of course, is that the writers John Clease and Connie Booth are by no means supporting such racial slurs. They are, in fact, doing the opposite. They are making a joke out of the Major, a completely fictional character, who is ignorant and prejudice towards other cultures and races and that is just totally fine because racism is wrong and we should make fun of those who practice it.
So, how is it that I can so confidently say that such TV moments were categorically not racist? Well, for one, simple reason. It is a comedy. Comedy should have no bounds.
When horrendous, unthinkable things happen such as war, the Holocaust, slavery, disease, and oppression, it is human nature to want to make things better. Unless, of course, you are the one causing the suffering. And we can often make good of any bad situation by simply having a laugh.
“I know why we laugh. We laugh because it hurts, and it's the only thing to make it stop hurting.” ― Robert A. Heinlein
During the war and the great depression, comedy shows and sitcoms were broadcast on radio stations all day long every day. Such shows would often attract audiences of 30-million listeners. 30-million people wanted to listen to comedy in the middle of a war because when the chips are down and all seems lost it's the small things that really matter. It might be that one-moment one gets from that sketch on the radio. It might trivialize the seemingly insurmountable issues you are facing by poking fun at them and so, making them seem just a little bit less horrible.
I don't say things to be offensive; I say things because they're funny to me. It amuses me. - Marilyn Manson
Of course, being intentionally prejudiced against a specific group of people is a horrible thing, but when we are forced to conform to extreme political correctness it only strips away our freedom of speech and our ability to express ourselves.
Today's stand up comedians have fallen victim to the ever-tightening PC noose around their creative necks. More than ever, comedians are having to censor their own material making it less offensive and more politically correct just to appease what many journalists are calling the snowflake generation
Comedians like Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, Jimmy Carr, Bill Burr, and Doug Stanhope are reprimanded repeatedly by television regulators after making offensive jokes on TV because the regulators have been forced to do so after numerous complaints by the over offended viewers who feel they are entitled to restrict the comedian's freedom of speech.
“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.” ― George Bernard Shaw
Even more frighteningly, the issue is intensified by the fact that the snowflake generation are using social media to publicly ridicule and beat down any comedian who uses anti-PC language in their comedy. So many comedians are too afraid to write the material they truly want to. They are scared of what the public reaction may be if the content isn't entirely family friendly.
I do notice there seems to be a bias in this PC culture. For example, black comedians make jokes about white people all the time and no one gets offended, but turn that around and have a white person make a joke about black people and a funny thing happens. Black people will laugh if it's a good joke, but white people will often get offended. That makes no sense at all. We need to lighten up just a little bit.
I have also noticed that some of the people who get terribly offended about a joke are often times not even part of the demographic the joke is about, which to me also doesn't make any sense. What's even more interesting is some of those same people have no problem making fun of things they don't agree with or find different from their own understanding, a perfectly natural thing to do.
“There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.” ― Erma Bombeck
For example, I once was reprimanded for making a joke on Facebook about Italians. I am Italian, by the way, and we make fun of ourselves all the time without anyone who is Italian ever getting offended. The person I offended was not Italian and thought my joke was racist. Then a few days later that same person posted this image on their Facebook page.
I find it interesting that someone so easily offended about me making a joke about my own heritage, a heritage they are not a member of, could chastise me for the humor and then turn around and post a picture of Donald Trump looking like he's Hitler. Why are they not sensitive about that? What happened to their political correctness?
Was I offended? No, not in the least because it's a joke and I totally support their right to express themselves. But what makes them feel justified to post such an image while maintaining they are concerned about a joke being offensive? Why do they not see the double standard?
Often, the things that easily offended people say while chastising someone for offending them is way more offensive than the original offense that triggered them and still, they don't see the irony or offensiveness of their accusation fueled rants.
I find this aspect of human behavior very interesting and am puzzled by this emotional blind spot exhibited by people who proclaim to be so sensitive especially when they are offended by something said that does not represent their demographic or aligns with their identity.
“I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.” ― Billy Joel
Some people just take life too seriously, which is fine if they were not so effective at shutting down people who have a broader sense of humor. They seem to have forgotten that laughter is important. If they don't find something funny they can just change the channel or leave the room. That's why there are so many choices for entertainment, to begin with, we all have different tastes and no one is forcing them to watch or listen to what they don't like.
“A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
There’s no point trying to be solemn for solemnity’s sake. Even in the darkest, most trying and difficult moments, I believe if something is funny, you have to laugh. Seize the opportunity to escape the situation, even if for a few seconds, and welcome the release.
Laughter is a remarkable healing force, allowing you to forget yourself and bond with the person you are laughing with.
Laughter is a great tool to strengthen relationships and resolve disagreements. We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine, and it’s true. Laughter relieves stress, elevates mood, and makes you more resilient. And it’s also good for your relationships.
Laughter brings people closer together, creates intimacy, and serves as a powerful tool for managing conflict and reducing tension when emotions are running high. Whether with a romantic partner, friends, family, or co-workers, you can learn to use humor to smooth over disagreements, lower everyone’s stress level, and communicate in a way that strengthens and deepens your relationships.
But if we jump on people or comedians for making a joke, going so far as to ridicule them or suppress their ability to express their humor, even if we disagree with their humor or find it offensive, then we stifle humors ability to reduce tensions, bring us closer to understanding each other, and increase our resilience. And how drastically sad is that?
“The only real laughter comes from despair.” ― Groucho Marx, The Groucho Letters
The slightly ironic thing is that the snowflake crowd are in many ways doing the complete opposite of what they seek to achieve. Instead of censoring offensive comedy, some comedians are now purposely being as offensive as they can possibly be with their material in a backlash to the easily offended populous as a way to fight back against liberal oppression, saying that it's OK to be a little offensive from time to time because we are humans. We are not perfect and sometimes joining in on a joke, even if it's at one's own expense, can be a most joyous thing.
Of course, there is also a dark side to comedians pushing their offensive humor as far as it can go, because it tends to lean toward more simple-minded toilet humor, slapstick, and an overwhelming amount of forced bad language and sex jokes. This all takes the place of what previously could have been well thought out witty humor that uses offense as a natural, organic part of the joke, instead of being forced into the joke as an unnatural, belligerent, and obviously, artificial fashion.
“You gotta laugh because if you didn't you'd cry” ― Craig Ferguson
No matter how hard comedians try to fight back against the snowflakes, the reality is that this crowd does weld power because of advertisers. Today, so many people are so quick to lodge complaints against TV broadcasters and other companies that TV executives are now too afraid to invest money into original writing talent just because it may be too edgy or offensive for certain demographics of their viewership.
The problem is made even worst as TV broadcasters are held at the mercy of their advertisers. Today advertisers recognize the power of the snowflake crowd and their ability to rant and rave on social media about their brand if they are seen as being slightly offensive or prejudice. Advertisers will point blank refuse to advertise on shows that could be construed as offensive by pretty much anyone and if the advertising money isn't there then the show will never be broadcast or made no matter how good it could be.
We've all seen this played out on YouTube in recent years. To protect advertisers and their all-important revenue streams YouTube has introduced new measures to aggressively censor any content creator that produces slightly edgy content by stripping away their advertising revenue, their bread and butter.
“Humor can make a serious difference. In the workplace, at home, in all areas of life – looking for a reason to laugh is necessary. A sense of humor helps us to get through the dull times, cope with the difficult times, enjoy the good times and manage the scary times.” ― Steve Goodier
Some people make videos about history and war is a prominent feature of our history and it should be openly talked about so we can learn from our mistakes, not to mention history is really interesting. But any video that so much as mentions the word war, in many cases, has been entirely stripped of advertisements because god forbid that someone out there is offended by recounts of actual historical events.
We can't blame YouTube or even the advertisers for this mass censorship. It really isn't their fault. They are just responding to what the public wants to protect their own revenue and any business would do that.
It is the easily offended, the complainers, those that are quick to reprimand people who seek to speak freely and unimpeded that are the ones truly responsible. They are the rotten core, the true cause of what will have to inevitably be the rapid decline in creativity.
“Worry is the secret weapon perpetrated upon us by the dark forces of the world that lurk in the shape of fear, uncertainty, confusion, and loss. We, on the other hand, have our own secret weapon against these incorporeal fiends. It is laughter.” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
But is it really that wrong to be offended? No, of course, it's not. Everyone gets offended from time to time. It is natural. It is human nature to take a dislike to comments or actions that cause us upset. The public has always taken offense. That's not new.
What is new and what is the true problem today is people's feeling of entitlement that is given to them by being offended. Because many millennials, especially in the West, have grown up during a time relatively free of violent war, free of oppression and poverty, they have never known what it's like to not have everything, to not get what they want. This has instilled some people with a feeling of gross entitlement, a feeling that them being offended actually means something.
Well, let me tell you straight. Being offended doesn't mean anything. It's a natural human response and it's OK to be offended or even disgusted at other people's actions, but it absolutely does not give you the right to control how others behave and talk. If someone calls you stupid you rightly should be offended, but that doesn't mean you can start a campaign to stop people from using the word stupid. That would be stupid and it's also a little something we like to call oppression.
“Laughter is good for you. Nine out of ten stand-up comedians recommend laughter in the face of intense stupidity.” ― Jim Butcher, Proven Guilty
Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about every young person out there, far from it. I'm simply talking about a small, small minority, but, as is often the case in life, it's the few that spoil it for many.
But why is being so openly offended and making sure that everyone possible knows how utterly offended you are such a bad thing? Well, there is a fundamental problem with being offended and making a big deal of it.
What someone finds offense is subjective. What each of us is offended by is vastly different from person to person. What offends us depends on our social and economic background, our religious views or lack of, the relationships we've had, how you were brought up, where you live, your political affiliation, your ethnicity, sexuality, age, gender, even your diet.
Just because you are offended by a specific thing it does not mean that the rest of the world should be because we are all unique and varied and if we weren't then wouldn't we all be exactly the same and have the same beliefs and that doesn't sound like that much fun, does it? You would think a snowflake would appreciate that we are all different and unique but apparently they do not appreciate others being different and unique, only that they are. How ironic and oppressive.
“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what." [I saw hate in a graveyard -- Stephen Fry, The Guardian, 5 June 2005]”
My point is, where does it stop? I'm slightly offended by people who drink instant coffee, but am I going to protest against it or call the police? No, because me being offended doesn't matter. It gives me no rights and it's not my place to tell others how to behave. At the end of the day, no one is being harmed and no crime has been committed so why should I care.
“Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.” –Heinrich Heine
Everyone out there is offended by different things. You can guarantee that no matter what you think of there will be someone out there in the world who finds it offensive. You can never fully police every thought, freedom of speech, and people's behaviors because doing so would be trying to police everyone and everything that they say.
The so-called snowflake generation are trying to police thoughts and free speech and the ironic thing is that the vast majority of the millennial mind police would consider themselves to be very liberal, wouldn't you say?
Now, I don't know about you, but I would say that attempting to prevent people from thinking a certain way, saying what they want, and stopping them from behaving in a natural and human way is the opposite of liberal. It's actually incredibly fascist, something, ironically, they seem to like to call anyone who points to this simple observation.
Again. I find this irony a very fascinating aspect of human behavior. That offended people feel they have the right to prevent others from exercising their right to free speech demonstrates not only the height of hypocrisy but is itself a fascist idea more offensive than the original offense that offended them and they are completely blind to it.
They profess that it is OK to be different and think different and act different and be unique, while at the same time protesting against people who are different from them.
“Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice.” –Henry Louis Gates
Whatever you personally find offensive is completely up to you and is OK, but I think you either have to have free speech or nothing at all, especially when it comes to comedy, because as soon as you start to draw lines between what is OK to make fun of and what isn't, you start policing people's thoughts and people's free speech and that is a slippery slope into a war on peoples intelligence and rational thought, two things that we must fight to defend no matter the cost.
The very fact that cases are being won in court over someone expressing their unique thoughts that a small minority found offensive, is a very sad precedent for democracy, free speech, and everything that makes being human, being free, and being able to express ourselves so great and so precious. This phenomenon sets a very dangerous precedent that should make us all very worried about the future of free speech.
“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.” –Adlai Stevenson
One has to ask, by censoring comedians for making offensive, to some, jokes, aren't the courts suppressing their right to free speech just like the Nazis did? Didn't we fight against the Nazis to preserve our ability to speak and act freely and avoid totalitarian oppression?
So, it begs the question. Who is really exercising oppressive ideas here?
To finish up I implore you. The next time that someone gets offended and complains at you for sitting the wrong way in public, breastfeeding in public, for eating meat, for using gender pronouns, for openly supporting your favorite political party, for casually flirting with a stranger, for innocently touching another human being, for praying for your chosen deity, for earning more money than your peers, for making a simple joke, or simply because you don't identify as a non-conforming, gender-fluid pansexual cabbage, do not stand for it.
Not for a moment. Because at the end of the day you are only being yourself and believe me there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. If simply being yourself and doing what you know and what comes naturally to you offends someone else than it's their problem to deal with it, don't let them make it yours or anyone else's.
Amen brother :)
And delete the " in
Posted using Partiko Android
Thanks for pointing out the edit. Fixed.
A long way to read ;-)..... many good thoughts and quotes and inspiration...
Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to read it.
Read and resteem ;-)
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It depends what you mean by "attacking". If you mean, as you discuss here, that attacking is actually criticizing, or saying how offending you are, then you are 100% wrong because that criticizism is itself protected free speech. You are waxing lyrical here about the various ironies of these crticizism, which I agree with you are highly ironic, without realizing that you too have a blind spot.
The right to free speech protects someone saying "shut up". Imperatives are a style of speech. It doesn't mean they are mind code that will definitely get executed in the brain of the listener.
Attacking comedy that offends you is certainly dumb, but it's a continuation of acts of free speech.
I agree with you 100% that saying you are offended by a joke is protected by free speech, something I clearly pointed out in this post. The fact that someone is offended does not give them the right to start a campaign to ruin a comedian's career thought, also covered in this post.