Pedophilia

[constantine]

beg to differ. i hear leno and others cracking on men getting raped in the jail's shower - and we laugh and accept it, but we shouldn't accept it. humor puts a dangerous situation on the back-burner - creates a lackadaisical attitude to problems that are better off addressed in a serious manner.

[Lightning Rod]

dino, dino, dino

I never pegged you for such a prude.

how many shades of brown does your nose come in?

how does humor interfere with serious discussion?

it doesn't
it STARTS serious discussion

[constantine]

the color of my nose is irrelevent . to link my comment to crawling up someone's ass is insulting, but i'll let it slide cause you're so cute and adorable. humor can open up communication and it can close it. i'm not a prude, but i do have a social conscience. i consider who might be affected by "humor" as you call it. i would not make a joke about downs syndrome or mental retardation - does that make me a prude? if so, so be it.

[Lightning Rod]

somebody's feelings are always going to be hurt by comedy
and these are the people who need it most, to be disturbed
because their thinking is obviously lodged on whatever the topic of the humor is

you can take the lofty 'social conscience' posture if you want to, but I prefer the irreverent.

The people that are 'affected' by my humor are the ones that need to be.

thanks dino, for the adorable remark

[constantine]

no hard and fast rules with comedy. anything and everything goes, but so do the reactions. i'm as irreverent as the next. as i'm sure you know.

[izeveryboyin]

You know I didn't find this funny myself, Bennie. But then, it's just a statement. There's no back-story, no imagery. The statement is just as is. And as is, it isn't really that funny. Not because I have some sort of moral conviction... I guess you can call me old fashioned but I need some sort of set up to find a jarring statement like that comical. I appreciate your determination to say what you want because outspoken guys are ALWAYS sexy. There's more than one reason I have a thing for Bill Maher. But, as a mother, and a former child( ) a statement like that is not going to be funny to me without a set-up. I think, though, that it really depends on who you're telling the joke to. When it it's personal to someone, it's harder to find it funny unless you're really that progressive, and like it or not, few people are. Because, forgive me D (and anyone who is Jewish) but the Hitler joke was funny to me. Even though it wasn't meant to be. Maybe you were just trying too hard, Bennie. Or maybe I'm over-thinking it. But then again, I'm also on the rag... and far be it for a menstruating woman to have a laugh.

--k

p.s I read your priest story. You came back and said it was just twisted satire. Satire is supposed to be funny. But that story wasn't funny to me either. It was a little disturbing.

[the mingo]

At work today on break I stepped over to the big cargo door to have a smoke. While I was standing there my eye caught movement low on the door casing. It was the carcass of a spider hanging from a strand
of the last web it ever made & spinning in the draft. Then on the floor I saw more movement. It was a single moth's wing caught in a crack in the cement & vibrating with the draft of the air currents. At my first casual glance it appeared that both these things had life, but the truth is neither of them did. It was just the wind.

[mousey1]

The thing about saying something like that
even for shock value
for impact
is the fallout
after the canned laughter dies
after the nervous titters fade

'cause then you're looked at different
an is he or isn't he pervades
you begin to cast an ominous shadow
doubted

Be careful what you say
the eyes and ears of the internet
are watching
taking cyber notes


That said, that caution alert out of the way. This is one topic, probably the one topic that has no humour anywhere near it. Child exploitation, a lifetimes worth of damage done.

I would exchange the punchline for a rap in the gut. Knock some sense into you.

As for the use of humour to draw out discussion. It certainly can ease the tensest of topics. But there are times when no one is meant to laugh, nor should they, ever.

[bennie2]

I guess I could explain the priest thing a bit more but I don't see the point.

I can't believe (but sort of can) the reaction this thing has received.

The joke was shit! It came into my head because I heard a story about these sick men who feel a need to fuck children and they talked about "the worst part is..." and the line came to me. being caught.

In a lot of ways I'm happy that so many people were offended, sickened or just plain not amused. It shows the power of words.

LR and I are on the same page. I think Nazz gets it as well, even though he didn't appreciate the joke.

There are two forms of comedy, the same as there are two forms of art. There is the pretty, safe stuff (the stuff that blends with your furniture. the stuff your mother would like). And then there's the important stuff. The stuff that says something, means something, causes 3 pages of discussion on an internet forum...

Some people are too scared to open their mouths for fear of offending someone. Well, someone is ALWAYS going to be offended, as LR said. That's why democracy is a stop gap until we figure out the correct way to order our societies - you can't please all the people all the time.

PS, izeveryboyin, did you just call me sexy? or was that sarcasm? I never can tell.

[stilltrucking]

Well shit man
why didn't you say so
If clay got it
it must be cool
shut up bennie
Clay is an idiot

[constantine]

two forms of art? two forms of comedy? is or isn't? i don't buy that. outrageous does not guarantee artistry or comedy. shock value is, well, shock value. i'm no prude and i don't think i play it safe in any direction. clay paints it as either or - sort of confrontational - most things rarely are.

[Doreen Peri]

mousey1 stated it perfectly. I wish I wrote that. Thank you, wise lady, for your sound and reasonable post.

Almost everything Clay says is confrontational. He'd probably tell you there are 2 kinds of peace and one of them is confrontational. *rolling eyes* Looks to me like you idolize him or something, Bennie. Dangerous ground.

.
.
.
Personal footnote that has little to do with this thread..... I'm tired. I think I've aged 10 years during the past 5.

[constantine]

and as far as who got it and who didn't - gee whiz, i wish i could be as hip as you guys. cutting edge - i'm impressed.

[Doreen Peri]

If laughing at pedophilia is hip, then somewhere along the line the definition of hip has been changed.

And dino, also I agree with you that this concept of "two kinds of art' and 'two kinds of comedy' isn't something I buy.

[bennie2]

Well, it's very possible that Clay is an idiot and anyone who takes anything to do with him must be a raving nutter...

I'm not asking anyone to "buy" my concept of "two arts" and I'm not asking for anyone to approve of what I say on these pages but, short of having my account canceled, I don't think I'll stop saying it.

And, stilltrucking, constantine... those were impressive passive aggressive responses from both of you. I'm impressed.

Well shit man
why didn't you say so
If clay got it
it must be cool
shut up bennie
Clay is an idiot

and as far as who got it and who didn't - gee whiz, i wish i could be as hip as you guys. cutting edge - i'm impressed.

I'm done with this thread now. I'm grateful that it's created discussion, up to the last few posts at least but when people resort to name calling... well... it's like a raised voice. Time to leave I feel.