shikamaru317 said:
I'm not even going to bother responding to most of what you said because I hate politics and don't want to get into a drawn out political debate. But I will highlight that statement I bolded because I couldn't disagree more. Multiple comedians thank this modern PC culture is killing comedy, shall I go down the list: Mel Brooks- “We have become stupidly politically correct, which is the death of comedy,” Brooks said. “Comedy has to walk a thin line, take risks.” Jerry Seinfeld- (speaking about the line of acceptability that comedians attempt not to cross) "They keep moving the lines in for no reason." (asked rather or not PC culture is killing comedy "Yes, yes it is" John Cleese- "It's so awful isn't it?' he said. 'It starts out as a halfway decent idea (political correctness), and then it goes completely wrong and is taken ad absurdum. You can make jokes about Swedes and Germans and French and English and Canadians and Americans, why can't we make jokes about Mexicans? Is it because they are so feeble that they can't look after themselves? It's very very condescending there." Gilbert Gottfried- "“Imagine if the most brilliant comedians in history were working today. They’d never stop apologizing. Charlie Chaplin would have to apologize to all the homeless people he belittled with his Little Tramp character,” Gottfried wrote. Dennis Miller- “The main problem with the present day inquisition squad is that many of our ‘open-minded’ watch guards are among our most close-minded citizens,” Miller wrote. Larry the Cable Guy- " “It's gotten way outta control, you know. I really think that we're at a point in this country where people really need to take the thumb outta their mouth and grow up a little bit and realize there's a lot bigger problems out there than what a comedian did a joke about" Chris Rock- (saying that he stopped doing acts on college campuses because the students were too conservative) “Not in their political views — not like they’re voting Republican — but in their social views and their willingness not to offend anybody." He also discussed how the prevalence of social media forces comedians into self-censorship. As he put it: “It is scary, because the thing about comedians is that you’re the only ones who practice in front of a crowd. Prince doesn’t run a demo on the radio. But in stand-up, the demo gets out. There are a few guys good enough to write a perfect act and get onstage, but everybody else workshops it and workshops it, and it can get real messy. It can get downright offensive. Before everyone had a recording device and was wired like fucking Sammy the Bull, you’d say something that went too far, and you’d go, “Oh, I went too far,” and you would just brush it off. But if you think you don’t have room to make mistakes, it’s going to lead to safer, gooier stand-up. You can’t think the thoughts you want to think if you think you’re being watched.” Howie Mandel- “It’s not fun anymore,” Mandel said with a shake of his head. “Comedy was fun. When I came out here, I couldn’t wait to hit the stage and try my wares, and step over the line and find out where the line is. Not anymore. Not fun!” Lisa Lampanelli- "To say that I’m a bit of an edgy comedian is like saying the Colorado theatre bomber is a bit of an eccentric. I’ve made a career out of pushing boundaries onstage, and I’ve never been a stranger to controversy. In fact, I’ve been picketed by more groups than a gay Muslim abortion doctor. And you know something? I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a take-no-prisoners type of comic, and I’m lucky because my fans get me and never have a problem with the politically incorrect themes of my act. But I am continually amazed by how a certain section of our society seems to be so freakin’ sensitive about jokes.“Completely inappropriate!” “Too soon!” “That’s disgusting!” No, these aren’t just things I heard on my wedding night -- these are some of the comments that spring from the PC police’s lips when they hear a joke they deem “politically incorrect.” Jim Norton- “(Western culture) has become a tireless brigade of social-justice warriors. Being outraged and upset and feeling bullied or offended are not only things we enjoy, they’re also things we have become thoroughly addicted to. When we can’t purposefully get our feelings hurt by a comedian, we usually find another, albeit less satisfying, source of indignation… I choose to believe that we are addicted to the rush of being offended, the idea of it, rather than believing we have become a nation of emasculated children whose only defense against an abyss of emotional agony is a trigger warning.” George Carlin- "Political correctness is just fascism disguised as manners" and "“Political correctness is America’s newest form of intolerance, and it is especially pernicious because it comes disguised as tolerance. It presents itself as fairness, yet attempts to restrict and control people’s language with strict codes and rigid rules. I’m not sure that’s the way to fight discrimination. I’m not sure silencing people or forcing them to alter their speech is the best method for solving problems that go much deeper than speech.” Rob Schneider- "Comics are the ones who are supposed to say the horrible things we all think but don't." |
You...don't understand comedy, clearly. All of those comics were immensely successful and many of their bits revolved around the idea of how 'political correctness' and 'soft language and euphemisms' were ruining the world...yet despite all that bitching, all that complaining, and all that bemoaning they still got away with and prospered by being offensive. George Carlin is my favorite comic of all time bar none and if you couldn't read between the lines and understand what was comedy, what was commentary, and how those things intersected and where they didn't overlap, that's on you.