Is Rape Off Limits for Jokes?

[s0me0nesmind1]

So I watch pretty much any political comedy show that is out there - I definitely catch every Bill Maher, and every John Oliver. Hands down the best 2 by a long shot.

But I also tend to give the others a chance. I tried the new daily show after Jon Stewart left. I gave it a good month - but after weeks of not getting a single laugh in any episodes other than 1 or 2 "heh", I realized the show really went down the crapper. That's how I feel now with Samantha Bee's show. I gave it a chance - and it was actually initially kind of funny. But they went down the politically correct rabbit hole - and episodes like this latest one is a perfect example.

Samantha did a segment this week on rape - specifically actually, male rape. But her main point wasn't raising awareness really. Her main point in about 75% of the segment was simply a message of "Raep is NOT Funnay!1!1oen!!". The irony is that she quoted rape jokes from other TV shows (including one from Bill Maher) - I laughed at those more than her stupid jokes.

So that brings me to the question for P&N. Are rape jokes off-limits? I'm not talking specifics - I don't care if it's a male - female, male on male, female on female... Doesn't matter to me. I evaluate jokes based simply on if they are funny or not. Mostly because I'm not a politically correct retard, and I actually prefer to enjoy life instead of always trying to find ways to be offended.

If I recall, there have also been studies showing that joking about an ordeal is actually healthy for recovery.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

So I watch pretty much any political comedy show that is out there - I definitely catch every Bill Maher, and every John Oliver. Hands down the best 2 by a long shot.

But I also tend to give the others a chance. I tried the new daily show after Jon Stewart left. I gave it a good month - but after weeks of not getting a single laugh in any episodes other than 1 or 2 "heh", I realized the show really went down the crapper. That's how I feel now with Samantha Bee's show. I gave it a chance - and it was actually initially kind of funny. But they went down the politically correct rabbit hole - and episodes like this latest one is a perfect example.

Samantha did a segment this week on rape - specifically actually, male rape. But her main point wasn't raising awareness really. Her main point in about 75% of the segment was simply a message of "Raep is NOT Funnay!1!1oen!!". The irony is that she quoted rape jokes from other TV shows (including one from Bill Maher) - I laughed at those more than her stupid jokes.

So that brings me to the question for P&N. Are rape jokes off-limits? I'm not talking specifics - I don't care if it's a male - female, male on male, female on female... Doesn't matter to me. I evaluate jokes based simply on if they are funny or not. Mostly because I'm not a politically correct retard, and I actually prefer to enjoy life instead of always trying to find ways to be offended.

If I recall, there have also been studies showing that joking about an ordeal is actually healthy for recovery.

Tell that to my son and daughter whose best friend was kid napped and murdered when they are very young.

Some traumas you just don’t joke about. If someone is. They are probably masking a shitload of hidden pain at a worrying level.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Tell that to my son and daughter whose best friend was kid napped and murdered when they are very young.

Some traumas you just don’t joke about. If someone is. They are probably masking a shitload of hidden pain at a worrying level.

I'm sure people have had traumatic experiences for all different kinds of things - does that mean they are off-limits from jokes?

 

[glenn1]

I'm sure people have had traumatic experiences for all different kinds of things - does that mean they are off-limits from jokes?

No but rape jokes typically aren’t funny; they’re just a shorthand way of wishing another to be humiliated (with rape being the means of that). And typically the “joke” is leveled for reasons of having a differing opinion or acting in a way the person making to joke objects to.

 

[nOOky]

If you have to ask...

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

No but rape jokes typically aren’t funny; they’re just a shorthand way of wishing another to be humiliated (with rape being the means of that). And typically the “joke” is leveled for reasons of having a differing opinion or acting in a way the person making to joke objects to.

By all means, if the joke isn't funny then it isn't funny. I guarantee though everyone has laughed at a rape-related joke at some point in their life... Whether you realized it or not...

 

[glenn1]

By all means, if the joke isn't funny then it isn't funny. I guarantee though everyone has laughed at a rape-related joke at some point in their life... Whether you realized it or not...

I’m sure everyone has laughed at mean spirited jokes before. Hell some of Eddie Murphy’s old comedy movies are painful to watch now because of the blatant homophobia. Doesn’t make his jokes or tale jokes any funnier.

 

[UglyCasanova]

There shouldnt be off limit jokes

 

[Moonbeam]

Rape jokes haven't been funny to me from my time in Alaska where I got so drunk I took a bar tender's bet I couldn't wrestle a Polar bear and rape an Eskimo girl and reversed what I was supposed to do to each.

 

[UglyCasanova]

 

[imported_tajmahal]

It's OK if it deals with President Trump's children and you're a progressive/Democrat.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12076153


"The threat to President Trump's grandchild follows a threat actor Peter Fonda made against 12-year-old Barron Trump, the president's youngest child.

The actor tweeted that Americans upset with the White House's separation of illegal-immigrant families "should rip Barron Trump from his mother's arms and put him in a cage with paedophiles."

"Pat Dussault, a Canadian TV writer, wrote, "Don't worry, we're coming for Chloe, too" the social media website."




Just as others in here think it's OK to attack a candidates wife.

 

[Zorba]

I really don't think anything should be off limits for a comedian. However, it should be funny and not in the "I said something politically incorrect so it must be funny" way. I can't specifically think of a rape joke I've heard, but I know I've laughed at some online.

Last time I went to the local comedy club it was same redneck guy that just yelled politically incorrect stuff the whole time. I didn't find it funny at all, and really annoying, because it just wasn't funny, and the yelling was super annoying. I've heard similar material from other comedians that was hilarious because they were actually good comedians.

 

[BoomerD]

Back in...the 60’s(?), the Playboy Unabashed Dictionary defined rape as an unnegotiated piece...

 

[ImpulsE69]

Personally, I don't think any topic should be off limits to jokes. Throw a rock and you'll find someone who is offended by something that the majority haven't experienced. In this current over sensitive culture people are forgetting that jokes/laughing are a way to talk about a subject. Comedy is different to everyone. Not everyone is going to find the same jokes funny. For instance, I never cared for Andrew Dice Clay. I just never found him funny, but obviously millions did, however there are plenty of other shock comedians I find hilarious.

But I'm a white male so my opinion doesn't count.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Tell that to my son and daughter whose best friend was kid napped and murdered when they are very young.

Some traumas you just don’t joke about. If someone is. They are probably masking a shitload of hidden pain at a worrying level.

When you start personalizing things people are making jokes about, you are no longer the concern and should just walk away. Your perspective gives you a bias that most people in that situation can't see past and no one is going to convince you otherwise. It doesn't mean you are wrong for having those feelings, but it isn't up to everyone else to cater to your feelings.

And before we go down the road of 'you don't know until it happens to you and then you won't find it funny.' There are plenty of things I don't like that people make jokes about daily, I'm just open minded enough to know they aren't directed at me and just because I might find them in poor taste doesn't mean they should be stamped out. You can choose to be offended and angry and make people shut up, or you can shrug it off and remove yourself from the situation and go about your life. If more people just did this little thing, the world would be a much better place.

Condemning things because of 'this' or 'that' will be the downfall of society.

 

[MrSquished]

It's OK if it deals with President Trump's children and you're a progressive/Democrat.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12076153


"The threat to President Trump's grandchild follows a threat actor Peter Fonda made against 12-year-old Barron Trump, the president's youngest child.

The actor tweeted that Americans upset with the White House's separation of illegal-immigrant families "should rip Barron Trump from his mother's arms and put him in a cage with paedophiles."

"Pat Dussault, a Canadian TV writer, wrote, "Don't worry, we're coming for Chloe, too" the social media website."




Just as others in here think it's OK to attack a candidates wife.

This from the guy who probably had a lynching effigy of Obama in his collection. Like a shitload of other Tea Party'ing anti-Obummers did.

 

[Commodus]

I don't think it should be. Here's the problem: a large number of women have been victims of rape or attempted rape, or have had many, many instances where it was looming as a potential outcome (a creepy 'friend' or coworker, for example). And in many cases, these incidents leave lasting psychological trauma.

This isn't to say we should censure comedians who use those jokes, but just... show some taste. You don't need to make jokes that trivialize someone's very real pain and suffering just for the sake of being 'edgy.'

 

[MomentsofSanity]

When you start personalizing things people are making jokes about, you are no longer the concern and should just walk away. Your perspective gives you a bias that most people in that situation can't see past and no one is going to convince you otherwise. It doesn't mean you are wrong for having those feelings, but it isn't up to everyone else to cater to your feelings.

And before we go down the road of 'you don't know until it happens to you and then you won't find it funny.' There are plenty of things I don't like that people make jokes about daily, I'm just open minded enough to know they aren't directed at me and just because I might find them in poor taste doesn't mean they should be stamped out. You can choose to be offended and angry and make people shut up, or you can shrug it off and remove yourself from the situation and go about your life. If more people just did this little thing, the world would be a much better place.

Condemning things because of 'this' or 'that' will be the downfall of society.

If you go back and read my reply it was directly to the idea that joking about something is helpful to someone’s recovery to personal trauma. Of course that’s is personalized.

 

[Viper1j]

No but rape jokes typically aren’t funny; they’re just a shorthand way of wishing another to be humiliated (with rape being the means of that). And typically the “joke” is leveled for reasons of having a differing opinion or acting in a way the person making to joke objects to.

I don't know. I remember one that was going around quite a bit when I was a kid.

Truck driver pulls over to give three female hitchhikers a ride. They try to seduce him, and after saying he's married and that he's not going to do anything with them, they pull a gun on him, and have their way.

After they finish with him, they take him out to the woods, strip him naked, and tie his hands to his ankles. It takes three hours for that poor bastard to hop back out to the highway. A state policeman sees him, pulls over, and asks what's going on.

After telling his story, the policeman zips down his pants, and says "Damn boy! It just hasn't been your day today has it?"

So, who will march over that joke? truck drivers, women, or police?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

There's the Benny Hill level jokes which were intentionally bad like the "grape" one.

 

[Ichinisan]

No but rape jokes typically aren’t funny; they’re just a shorthand way of wishing another to be humiliated (with rape being the means of that). And typically the “joke” is leveled for reasons of having a differing opinion or acting in a way the person making to joke objects to.

The Bill Maher rape joke in question was pretty fucking funny.

The Samantha Bee segment was cringe-inducing. Especially when Crews shows up and they both start acting like their little bit was "funny." Performing in that style doesn't make something automatically funny. It was just really REALLY bad.

 

[HeXen]

That's why it's called dark humor. It has a niche crowd, but I do agree with the video, especially the part about the remark of when a 16 yr old has sex with their best friends mom, they have high 5's. When it's the girl and best friends dad, it's perceived totally differently, especially today than it was 20 yrs ago. There are double standards and that's just how it is.
This thread reminds me of a woman in my neighborhood back in the early 90's that we all viewed as the "fun" mom, she liked the young guys and would drink and smoke pot with us. Every Friday night was party night at her house and she never got into trouble at all despite how boys brag. But when rumors floated around about the male security guard at our HS having sex with female students, just based on the rumor alone mind you, he was terminated. Definitely some double standards and the humor regarding such go right along with it.

 

[zinfamous]

Norm MacDonald can make anything funny:

"I was watching Ted Koppel the other night, and he said the most disappointing thing about Cosby, is the hypocrisy."
<beat>
"No, you know? ...Actually, I think the most disappointing thing about Cosby is the rape. There was a lot of rape. I uh, I really think the rape was the most disappointing thing, there"

 

[woolfe9998]

I saw that too, just last night which is quite a coincidence since I hadn't watched her in months. I didn't think it was funny either. I did think her point was quite valid though. It isn't OK to make jokes about women being raped, but it IS OK to make jokes about men being raped. An obvious double standard. I was a bit surprised that she went out of her way to make a point about men taking the brunt end of a double standard given she's kind of a feminist comedienne. I give her kudos for that. I just wish she hadn't stopped being funny about a year ago.

And yes, I admit that I find some of the rape jokes funny too. Especially when directed at people who are going to jail for doing terrible things.

 

[Commodus]

I saw that too, just last night which is quite a coincidence since I hadn't watched her in months. I didn't think it was funny either. I did think her point was quite valid though. It isn't OK to make jokes about women being raped, but it IS OK to make jokes about men being raped. An obvious double standard. I was a bit surprised that she went out of her way to make that point, since she's kind of a feminist comedienne.

I don't think it's too much of a shock. When women talk about rape culture, they're talking about a society that seems to have no problems trivializing rape in many forms, whether it's jokes or celebrating when women teachers take advantage of underage boys. If you're going to convince men it's not okay to rape drunk women, you need to make it clear that trivializing rape is unacceptable in any form, including jokes about men.