'Ted' Punch Line Offends People With Lou Gehrig's Disease

[Fatass SVS]

Originally Posted by dan46n2

^ Reminds me of the current fiasco surrounding the Tosh "rape joke" thing going on now.

There's a lot more than the simple words of a joke that can impact whether it's giggly offensive or stupidly, cruelly offensive. A few years back a Texas gubenatorial candidate, referring I think to bad weather quipped that 'if rape is inevitable, just relax and enjoy it.' I'm sure he thought it was a funny thing to say. But in the context (a male public figure trivializing a violent, frightening personal attack on women to make a feeble joke about an everyday occurence) it was offensive AND NOT FUNNY. That last part, I think, is the true test of whether a joke, even one clearly over the line of good taste, is forgivable. If it aint funny, it's just a steaming, embarassing pile of FAIL.

[LaxBuddy21]

Originally Posted by BLind6613

rape jokes can be funny (know I am going to get **** for that)

One of the funniest I have heard is "Its not rape if you yell surprise" lol

[dan46n2]

Originally Posted by BLind6613

Also, from what I have read about the Tosh rape joke, I have no problem with the initial joke, rape jokes can be funny (know I am going to get **** for that) but it was the alleged personal attack against the woman in the crowd that I feel is the big issue there. When you personally aim a joke at a person in the crowd and say they should get raped, then that is over the line.

If the person hadn't interrupted his show then I believe none of this would have ever come about. If his joke was that bad then it wouldn't have gotten a reaction from the crowd and he'd have gone on with his set. Heckling or interrupting a comedian at a show with your views on their material opens you up to whatever ridicule they decide to throw at you, and sometimes it can be in poor taste. However, should you decide you don't care for their material then why not just get up and leave and never support that comedian (or artist, for that matter) again.

[BLind6613]

Originally Posted by LaxBuddy21

One of the funniest I have heard is "Its not rape if you yell surprise" lol

I've heard that too, and get a kick out of it all the time when I hear it.

Originally Posted by dan46n2

If the person hadn't interrupted his show then I believe none of this would have ever come about. If his joke was that bad then it wouldn't have gotten a reaction from the crowd and he'd have gone on with his set. Heckling or interrupting a comedian at a show with your views on their material opens you up to whatever ridicule they decide to throw at you, and sometimes it can be in poor taste. However, should you decide you don't care for their material then why not just get up and leave and never support that comedian (or artist, for that matter) again.

I agree that hecklers open themselves up to ridicule when they do that, and I think that is the sign of a good comedian, who can role with a heckler and make it funny. It shows they know how to be funny all on their own, and not just recite a joke that they, or someone else, was able to write when they sat down and were intent on thinking of something funny. But I just think he went a step too far with the way he responded to them.

[jbswear]

Originally Posted by Fatass SVS

There's a lot more than the simple words of a joke that can impact whether it's giggly offensive or stupidly, cruelly offensive. A few years back a Texas gubenatorial candidate, referring I think to bad weather quipped that 'if rape is inevitable, just relax and enjoy it.' I'm sure he thought it was a funny thing to say. But in the context (a male public figure trivializing a violent, frightening personal attack on women to make a feeble joke about an everyday occurence) it was offensive AND NOT FUNNY. That last part, I think, is the true test of whether a joke, even one clearly over the line of good taste, is forgivable. If it aint funny, it's just a steaming, embarassing pile of FAIL.

I remember that blunder. It was more than just a few years back...more like 20, I think. Ah...the rich and their lack of a real connection to the rest of the world...

[JoJodrum3]

I thought rape jokes were funnier before I knew (dated actually) someone who'd been raped and saw the damage that it does. It can be funny in some contexts though.

[LaxBuddy21]

Originally Posted by JoJodrum3

I thought rape jokes were funnier before I knew (dated actually) someone who'd been raped and saw the damage that it does. It can be funny in some contexts though.

My wife has been. Rape is a disgusting act perpitrated by disgusting people. Rape jokes can definitely be funny though.

[Fatass SVS]

Originally Posted by LaxBuddy21

My wife has been. Rape is a disgusting act perpitrated by disgusting people. Rape jokes can definitely be funny though.

Does your wife laugh at them?

[LaxBuddy21]

Originally Posted by Fatass SVS

Does your wife laugh at them?

Yep. She cracked up at the "Its not rape if you yell surprise" joke right along with me. She tells it all the time.

[Whatever Dude]

I've never heard a rape joke that I find amusing.