If we rule out any subject that could conceivably upset someone, we rule out pretty much everything. To say ‘that offended me’ is not the same thing as saying ‘that is offensive’. The former is a subjective statement that cannot be argued with. The second is an objective judgement that will it always be damnably difficult to get consensus on.
Everyone has a perfect right to take offence at anything, and I’ll defend that right, but nobody has a God-given right to go through life without being offended. So if you want to stop me making the jokes I want to make, you better have a more substantial reason than ‘that’s offensive’. Otherwise, with the greatest respect, my answer will simply be, ‘So what?’
This speaking about the subject matter of comedy "The reason these topics were chosen for comedy was not because they are, or were, funny in real life, but rather because the art of comedy is finding a way to create humour out of situations, not depicting life as it is. " It made me think where would life be without comedy in it? And one funny bone is not for another so we gravitate to what tickles us I guess. :O) Thanks for the link Cathie.
Mister Mxyplyzyk
I will read this and get back to you.
Too many words for most RBer’s unless they have a witch to burn.
Cathie Tranent:
Worth the effort. I even read it right to the end ….. :)
TextureoftheSin
I must be a witch
TextureoftheSin
That was well worth the read.
Cathie Tranent:
Wasn’t it!! And so relevant here right now!!
Adriana Glackin
Bloody brilliant read Cathie!
Anne van Alkemade
yep, good article.
Mister Mxyplyzyk
He kinda sums it all up with this quote
If we rule out any subject that could conceivably upset someone, we rule out pretty much everything. To say ‘that offended me’ is not the same thing as saying ‘that is offensive’. The former is a subjective statement that cannot be argued with. The second is an objective judgement that will it always be damnably difficult to get consensus on.
berndt2
very good article!
rjcolby
A good article with many good points. I did not laugh, even once…
John Robb
A good thought provoking article. Thanks for the link Cathie.
Mel Brackstone...
Everyone has a perfect right to take offence at anything, and I’ll defend that right, but nobody has a God-given right to go through life without being offended. So if you want to stop me making the jokes I want to make, you better have a more substantial reason than ‘that’s offensive’. Otherwise, with the greatest respect, my answer will simply be, ‘So what?’
Awesome!!!
Arcadia Tempest
This speaking about the subject matter of comedy "The reason these topics were chosen for comedy was not because they are, or were, funny in real life, but rather because the art of comedy is finding a way to create humour out of situations, not depicting life as it is. "
It made me think where would life be without comedy in it?
And one funny bone is not for another so we gravitate to what tickles us I guess. :O)
Thanks for the link Cathie.
Matt Penfold
Thanks for posting this Cathie, he really makes a lot of sense of a subject that can be very emotive and hard to examine objectively.
WoolleyWorld
a great read Cathy…thanks for posting!