Thoughts on Political Correctness and Humor.

[benburch]

Political Correctitude is humorless by its nature.

It is brittle, shrill, dogmatic, and unquestioning.

Only by being Politically Incorrect can one force people to different points of view or cause them to question the things they believe. Even if they then decide that what they believe is the correct thing, this means they come back to that point of view with the perspective needed to actually OWN the position.

The really great comedians; Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Woody Allen, etc, all used politically incorrect statements and imagery, often presented as deadpan pronouncements, to create humor though absurdity and cognitive dissonance. Yes, their humor offends, and it is supposed to offend, but I think that the world would be a poor place without their likes.

Discussion Solicited.

[Helga Scow Stern]

1. James Hillman might say that being politically correct

is a form of possession.

Possession (by an archetype, god, or myth) is a humorless and dangerous state. In The Soul's Code he wrote of Hitler's lack of humor.

[JimmyJazz]

2. You're comparing yourself to Bruce, Carlin and Woody Allen???

Now THAT's FUNNY :rofl:

[benburch]

3. Nope!

Never mentioned myself. You did. Those guys are GODS.

[JimmyJazz]

4. Yeah. Ya did.

On edit: You should be more careful. People might mistake your healthy confidence as cockiness. I'm just saying.

[benburch]

6. Where did I mention myself?

And why do you need to be gratuitously insulting? Does this topic threaten you?

[JimmyJazz]

12. First: I am not stupid, so stop treating me as though I am.

You posted this just minutes after telling several people that they are lacking a sense of humor because they didn't find your flamebait amusing.

Second, I am not threatened by you or any other keyboard warrior. That's just silly. Your thread was locked and then deleted. That should tell you something, but apparently not.

[benburch]

20. If I have a thread locked and deleted...

It tells me that I struck a nerve. More than half of my threads are locked and/or deleted, or hadn't you noticed? Maybe not, because I never complain about it.

[JimmyJazz]

24. No. I hadn't noticed you before.

:shrug:

[crispini]

8. LOL. Now THAT's funny.

[JimmyJazz]

14. Thanks, but I did an edit. I shouldn't have posts deleted just because

I am a humourless cow. ;)

[kick-ass-bob]

7. No - it was just coincidence that you post this minutes after

the "dark humor" thread was killed.

Could you be any more transparent?

[benburch]

15. Could you be less on topic? nt

[kick-ass-bob]

16. could you be more obtuse? nt

[JimmyJazz]

18. or more disingenuous? nt

[crispini]

5. Well,

Context is everything. A comedian, by the very dint of being a comedian, comes surrounded with meta tags that say "humor." It may be offensive, but the fact that it is presented by a comedian in the context of a comedy or show routine indicates to everyone around that it is intended as humor or satire.

Postings on a "general discussion" message board on the internet, however, do not convey "deadpan" very well, especially if they do not come with the "humor" meta-tags. Borowitz, for example, clearly tags his writings as "satire."

And I for one think that wishing bad things on people in a time of trouble is not humorous at all.

[MamaBear]

9. The Aristocrats

The Aristocrats is a 90 minute documentary about the "dirtiest joke of all time." It features about 100 comedians talking about, and sometimes telling, the joke in question.

In his comments, George Carlin talked about setting a boundary as to how far he would go, and then deliberately crossing that boundary, and then trying to get the audience to come with him, and in the end, if all goes well, the audience is glad they came.

With Carlin in particular (probably because I've seen and heard so much more of his stuff), I find this is true. I find myself laughing at stuff I would normally find very, very offensive.

If you get a chance to see The Aristocrats, please give it a look-see. It's political incorrectness (before political correctness was defined) to the nth degree.

I ended up being really glad for the journey.

[true_con]

10. You forgot Mel Brooks.

Do you think Blazing Saddles could be released today?

[benburch]

13. No, it could NOT be released today.

Which says something VERY sad about what we have become.

[Texasgal]

11. This dosen't have anything to do with

who are what we find humorous.

Stop back-peddling.

[crispini]

21. Yep, disingenuous to say the least.

:eyes:

[benburch]

23. You want this thread to be about your anger...

When it is a thread about humor.

Which is disingenuous in the trump suit.

[crispini]

26. No, this thread is just a very passive aggresive way for you

to tell all of us that didn't find your previous thread "funny" that we are overly politically correct. Congrats, message received! :thumbsup:

Edited to add: Care to respond to my earlier point about "context?" I think it's a pretty good point, and you appear to have missed it completely.

[KyndCulture]

17. And currently, today Carlos Mencia

His humor forces people to confront their political correctness and address the underlying racism. I think it's brilliant.

[Batgirl]

19. The Onion

Definitely to be avoided by those who don't appreciate irreverence.

[benburch]

22. Malloy reads ONION stories deadpan, as though they were real.

And it PISSES people off every single time!

Good humor should always piss somebody off.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. Context is important. & Often ways to correct a good joke to better

For example:

What is the difference between a Republican and a computer salesman? The Republican knows when he is lieing.

Change "salesman" to "salesperson" or "marketeer" or "seller". Change "he" to "they" (the neutral third person singular in use since Shakespeare's time, and fighting back against the artificial proscription of the 19th century).

What is the difference between a Republican and a computer seller? The Republican knows when they are lieing.

[Moderator]

27. Locking

I think we know what this is about.

If you have any questions, please contact the admins.

Thank you
DU Moderator