Discussion How do you feel about offensive humor/comedy?

[Fragile]

I want to know how you guys feel about it, and maybe we could start a discussion on why you feel that way.

This is a very divisive topic, I know, especially now. In some places it feels like this style of comedy is extremely frowned upon because some people interpret it as a personal attack, but it's very popular and many people find it appealing, although some people take it a bit too far.

I personally really enjoy this style of comedy, I don't post about it here because some people are in a vulnerable position and it can bring their mood down, but even if I can understand how it may affect some people, it's something that has always been very entertaining to me. I kinda grew up with it, and laughing is better than wallowing in my many issues.

 

[LastFlowers]

It depends on why it's offensive. For instance, is it making fun of something that someone can't change and has little to no control over? In that case, I'm usually disgusted by it. I make jokes about my own situation, but it's my own situation, so I can do as I please, and I usually only do it as a way to vent, I'm not actually getting enjoyment or light humor from poking fun at my miserable existence. A lot of comedians have been through trauma themselves, all the more reason for them to know better what to joke about or what not to...ofcourse, that can also go another way in that their trauma has made them apathetic to the woes of all others, so any joke and any target is fair game (to them). At the end of the day, I've laughed at plenty of things that weren't inherently offensive, so that type of humor is just unnecessary to me.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

I enjoy all kinds of edgy and offensive humour. Socially acceptable jokes a la Amy Schumer et. al makes me want to run to the bus stop.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I love South Park and get almost all my beliefs from it so what do ya think?

 

[NumbItAll]

There's no limit to how offensive it can be, as long as it's funny enough. That's the key.

 

[Amumu]

It depends on the context imo. I'm not going to do that on a suicide forum but I love it otherwise.

 

[LONE WOLF.]

I love South Park and get almost all my beliefs from it so what do ya think?

The episode with Osama and the camel is a absolute classic!

 

[Symbiote]

I love offensive humor. From George Carlin to Anthony Jeselnik, to roasting humor and dark humor. I enjoy when humor doesn't have any boundaries and people can get creative with them. Let your mind wander.

 

[Mentalmick]

I do love me some Frankie Boyle.

 

[Symbiote]

I do love me some Frankie Boyle.

It was thanks to his accent that I was able to finally understand others that spoke like him.

 

[signifying nothing]

I think all humour/comedy is potentially offensive.

 

[Mentalmick]

Mock the week died when Frankie left. I still can't get his joke about the queen out of my head.

 

[Symbiote]

Mock the week died when Frankie left. I still can't get his joke about the queen out of my head.

That her pussy was haunted lolol...

I like the one where he joked about Richard Hammond crashing because he wanted to forget his wedding day.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

The episode with Osama and the camel is a absolute classic!

I'm not even sure what my favorite episode is, probably a tie between City Sushi, You're Getting Old, and Doubling Down. The latter two are actually somewhat relatively deep for South Park but still manage to deliver their message through offensive humor too.

 

[Fragile]

I honestly expected this poll to be much more in favor of not liking offensive comedy, I guess that twitter and reddit have ruined my perception of the internet lol.

 

[Mentalmick]

I honestly expected this poll to be much more in favor of not liking offensive comedy, I guess that twitter and reddit have ruined my perception of the internet lol.

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[sadbadpsychogirl]

i have a very dark sense of humor and i just laugh at what i find funny. however politically incorrect it may be. probably the main reason i don't do well socially

 

[lofticries]

So long as its funny and they don't use it in a way that's kicking a dead horse(meaning they don't overuse it. I like variety.) I don't mind.

 

[TessB]

I love it, especially on ss where you can talk about death very seriously one second and be laughing your socks off the next..When I meet someone with a dark sense of humour I just feel like they are a kindred spirit. Some people on here are just hilarious.. @GenesAndEnvironment @Mentalmick ..talking about you

 

[avoid_slow_death]

My favorite comedian. Told it straight.

 

[motel rooms]

It's impossible to have a completely inoffensive sense of humor

 

[bea1974]

For me it depends if it's clever and funny and punching up, or stupid and unfunny and punching down.

 

[maakies]

For me it depends if it's clever and funny and punching up, or stupid and unfunny and punching down.

I have this opinion. I work and associate with a lot of comedians. My partner does comedy and works for a prominent comedy writer. Sometimes I think my wanting to CTB is because of who I keep surrounding myself with. I have never been interested in being a comedian and I used to mildly enjoy dark, absurd, and edgy comedy. Now I have zero tolerance for it hahaha. I have a newfound appreciation for sincerity and drama more than anything.

Mitch Hedberg got it right.

 

[Snake of Eden]

My favorited type of humor is demented. I dont get offended easily but I am sensitive to certain things. I think South Park is a great example of comedy that treads well the fine lime of being funny and hurtfully offensive. I wish people made more fun of things like how awful life is in its essence, ultra rich people and their absurd entitlement to hoarding wealth and inefficiently extravagance that doesnt really bring any sort of true fulfillement or happiness. Gluttonous rich people and people who want to be them should be like them and big tech corporations and all corrupt governments around the world should be grilled to pieces and make fun of for the psychopaths that they are with their absurd obsession with power, stealing and fucking everyone over for their amusement

 

[OrcWitch]

Depends what is being said, about who and why. I can't see myself loving or hating everything that is offensive, I have to judge it on a case by case basis. I don't think what a famous comedian says can ever be just a joke, they influence their audience's opinion on any given issue. I will dislike what they say if I feel it's influencing culture in the wrong direction.

 

[Somber]

Depends what is being said, about who and why. I can't see myself loving or hating everything that is offensive, I have to judge it on a case by case basis. I don't think what a famous comedian says can ever be just a joke, they influence their audience's opinion on any given issue. I will dislike what they say if I feel it's influencing culture in the wrong direction.

In general I'm fine with it as long as it's not too hurtful and genuinely funny. Sometimes jokes are simply a facade to hide preconceptions, sexism, racism, etc behind a facade of humour. (Its just a joke!) Sometimes it also hits too close at home and I feel like I have to laugh just to hide that fact.

 

[Mr2005]

I was very careful about this when compiling footage from my youth. I know you have to be careful now and sometimes there's a good reason for it, other times it's just people that think you should bow down to their every whim and no one should. My conscience is clear that if anyone has a problem with it it's theirs and not mine. There's a very clear distinction but not everyone gets it. It's the same argument with free speech. Just because someone had an incident with some chewing gum doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to talk about it but what I shouldn't be allowed to do is start making chewing gum related threats just because if I can't it's taking away my rights to be a dick. It often comes down to my rights vs yours and entitlement as opposed to what's right and wrong

 

[OrcWitch]

Sometimes jokes are simply a facade to hide preconceptions, sexism, racism, etc behind a facade of humour. (Its just a joke!)

George Carlin talked about this decades ago. He would probably get called a cancel culture snowflake for saying so today.

 

[NotSureToEndure]

 

[eternalpeace]

It depends on why it is offensive. I am ok with gallows humour, and with jokes about bodily functions, but if a comedian's entire style is "punching down" at marginalized groups (not talking about the odd joke here or there but the entire style), I'm not interested. There's a lot of outcry about how people are ruining comedy by being "offended". I don't think that's the case. Times have changed, and what was funny twenty or thirty years ago isn't necessarily funny today. Is comedy supposed to be the only industry that hasn't changed in twenty years? Or do people believe that it's just not possible to make comedy without "punching down"? There are plenty of comedians who manage to do so, in my opinion. Some of my favourites: Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Ali Wong, Joe Lycett, Hannah Gadsby, and Kathryn Ryan.