Having followed Lindy West since the days her movie reviews would trickle down the I-5 corridor from the Stranger to the Merc, it’s weird and sort of fascinating to see that the woman who got me to crack up at this review of The Blind Side is now the same woman who is basically running point in the fight to get male comedians to possibly rethink who they’re aiming their next rape joke at, and why. It’s also sort of crazy that there even has to be a fight, and yet, of course there has to be a fight, because no status quo has ever been shifted, even slightly, by just kinda sitting around and waiting for people to politely change their minds in private. It’s never happened.
So, as Alison Hallett has been pointing out, the most recent skirmish happened on W. Kamau Bell’s show, and then the fallout happened in Lindy West’s inbox, and now, to conclude this little trilogy of Cringe and Yikes, here’s Bell with not only a succinct sum-up, but a game-changing idea that could be to comments sections what scrubbing bubbles are to pesky soap scum and shower stains.
That sound you hear after Bell asks “Is this what it’s like to be white?”: that’s one of the best sounds you’ll ever hear from a comedy crowd, because it’s the one where the laugh itself, while escaping your body, is surprised with a quick one-two to the gut from messrs truth and understanding.
Is that comma in the headline, necessary?
“Lindy doesn’t want to censor comedians”, she just wants to tell them what jokes aren’t allowed. Oh, you mean censorship. Gotcha.
FACEPALM.
J.cas, I beg of you. Spend 5 Fricking minutes thinking just a tiny bit harder about your statement.
Speaking of thinking harder, why did you capitalize “Fricking”?
You should invest in a dictionary so you can understand what censorship means. In this country we have something called freedom of speech. Rape jokes may be tacky, but saying “YOU CAN’T SAY THAT” is lame as fuck and everyone knows it. Well, everyone but this cow named Lindy West and her feminazi blowhard followers.
j.cas. Bro. Dude. Dude-bro. It’s apparent you’re just a squirrel trapped in a burlap sack on this issue but seriously, try watching the video again and again and again and again (Clockwork Orange style preferably) until you at least respond like you’ve seen it. And for someone braying that we all need to find another issue to whine about, you certainly are VERY quick to emerge (hysterical) every rape-joke-in-comedy thread. Good luck!
I watched the video and failed to understand Lindy’s point, and none of her supporters can seem to articulate it either. Jim Norton used logic to defend freedom of speech. Rape jokes are tacky, we all agree on this. The problem comes from Lindy and her followers saying they don’t want to censor comedians, yet their ultimate goal is to do just that. If you weren’t a troll you would be able to respond with a succinct summation of Lindy’s position, but you won’t because you can’t. I hope to be disproven but I have my reservations. The ball is in your court.
For the 47th fucking time: Lindy said of course one can SAY what they want, but don’t be shocked when someone calls you out as a dick. Like you, j.cas. I’m not editing your egregiously stupid comments, just pointing out you’re a fucking dummy. AND A DICK.
So her point is rape jokes are tacky. You know who else said rape jokes were tacky? Jim Norton. Your rag keeps milking this issue when there’s no issue at all – glad you finally copped to it. Next.
J, we can do your homework for you, but we can’t make you not a sociopathic dumbass. That’s your job, bud.
To be honest it seems most of you are so aggressive because it’s been made clear that you have no point other than what the comedians already agree with. You’ve had ample chances in this comment section to clarify for those of us who you claim don’t understand what your point is, but instead of attempting to clarify it (as Mr Bloatface Humphrey abysmally failed to) you lash out.
Again, if you have any point to clarify other than “Lindy feels rape jokes are tacky” then please go ahead. Otherwise, keep on milking this non-issue.
warning for the 99% of americans with lives: don’t waste your time reading this or watching the youboob video. but if you made it to the comments already it’s probably too late.
I, for one, will keep “milking this non-issue” until men and women can go to a comedy club and not fear being subjected to the indignity of rape jokes.
Also, let’s give J the respects he deserves for standing up for stand-ups. He trying to stop Lindy West and her feminazis from literally forcing comedians to do something they really, really, really don’t want to do. I mean, how tacky is that? There should be a law against forcing people to do things that they don’t want to.
^ Weakest response imaginable. Race jokes, rape jokes, 9/11 jokes – comedians are known for pushing boundaries. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. We all (mostly) agree rape jokes don’t work, but if a hack comedian wants to use them then it’s their right to use them. That’s really all it boils down to. If you think that’s not enough and that comedians shouldn’t be allowed to tell rape jokes, then you are indeed promoting censorship, contrary to what Lindy and her supporters claim to be doing.
Read this very carefully:
Lindy West is not asking comedians (hack or otherwise) to censor themselves. She is telling comedians (a) people have a right to call them dicks, (b) to take the goddamn criticism like a man when people call them dicks and (c) maybe use a bit of basic human empathy for people that have gone through the sort of violation that literally ruins lives every goddamn day.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY WORDS.
Super Chundy:
Congrats. We’ve made it there. Men and women can go to a comedy club and not fear being subjected to the indignity of rape jokes.
Tens of thousand of men and women go to comedy clubs around the country each week without fear of being subjected to the indignity of rape jokes (including prison rape jokes which are always funny), fat jokes, racial jokes, nerd jokes, bully jokes or dead hooker jokes or jokes about severe depression or mental illness or failed relationships or families or priest abuse, or cancer, and the untold number of painful subjects of the human condition. Subjects that lots of comedy goers have intimate knowledge of or have experienced deep trauma relating thereto.
Spaceman: So your point is what Jim Norton and virtually every comedy fan in the world already agrees with. Great! Comedians can say rape jokes, and you’re totally free to call them dicks for it. Anything else you’d like to add or was that all?
@j.cas
1) The reason we sound “aggressive” to you is because you are willfully not listening to anything that is being said, and it’s extremely frustrating that dumbshits like you exist. Unfortunately, you DO exist, and since you refuse to use your ears/brain (much like those hack comics) we are calling you a “dick.” (Let me know if you need a kindergarten teacher to come in and translate that for you.)
2) My face is not bloated in the least. Are you blind, too?
I do seem to have forgotten that part of the First Amendment were it states:
Congress, Chundy, and Lindy West shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech; or the right of comedians to make rape jokes.
My bad; I’m a bad American.
I would like to know what female comedians think of this issue. Amy Schumer has told rape jokes on her show, so her perspective would be interesting.
Paxton, here’s an interesting one:
http://amandabrookeperrin.tumblr.com/post/…
Bloatface: I’m not listening? From what it sounds like, you think comedians should be able to tell rape jokes (we all agree on this), and people who dislike them should be able to voice their dislike (we all agree on this). Great! I was under the impression this was called common sense and has been the approach most of us have always taken towards comedy, but perhaps the concept is new to you. Anything else you’d like to add before you get back to stuffing your chubby jowls with potato chips?
Oh, so now you’re pretending you weren’t saying the exact opposite earlier? Suits me! CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP (That’s me eating potato chips!)
Say what now? I never once said you shouldn’t be able to voice your dislike/disapproval over rape jokes. Neither did Jim Norton. Clearly you’re not even certain what you oppose about Jim Norton’s argument – nor is anyone else in this conversation. You make it too easy, really.
Don’t know why I’m bothering, but…
“their [Lindy and her followers] ultimate goal is to do just that [censor comedians]” (12:23 PM)
… does indeed sound quite the opposite of…
“people who dislike them [comedians] should be able to voice their dislike (we all agree on this).” (2:43 PM)
Someone’s right to voice displeasure is indeed the antithesis of someone demanding another’s voice be silenced.
Voicing dislike is quite different from censoring. I dislike Chris Brown’s music, but I’d never say he should be censored and banned.
Let me put it in more simple terms for you, since you seem to require it:
1) Anyone should be able to voice dislike at anything they dislike.
2) Nobody should be able to say “you have to ban this thing because I don’t like it”.
Pretty obvious common sense going on here. Hopefully this helps you to understand things a bit better.
Thanks for all your help, J. Really appreciate it.
I think this guy in the video is funny.
You know, W. Kamau Bell remains an unfunny hack who -for the time being- is enjoying some fame from people who are willing to reward him for his formulaic “white people are racist!” act.
But he’s on the right side of this particular issue.
@Spaceman, thank you for the link. That has to be one of the worst things for a stand up to run into. Interesting perspective