We’ve let our entire culture be taken over by a pack of passive-aggressive self-righteous pussies (and that’s short for pusillanimous, you think-skinned cunts).
It’s well past time we got back to the old credo — “Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke.”
Trench or gallows humour was a way of easing tension distress, even fear, in times of war or worrying circumstances.
Perhaps purely to lighten the mood.
I remember when I was working with a team of men on an engineering project. Tea break came round, the headline of the Sun newspaper was.. "Donald Campbell dies attempting the world water speed record on Coniston Water lake district Cumbria"...
Some bright spark piped up and said
"They've just renamed Coniston Water ' "'Campbell Soup" there was a sharp intake of breath then, roars of laughter.
They would have a fit of the vapours now and demand councilling
(CAMPBELL SOUP was a popular brand of tinned soup in those days)
Great Essay! Here are some terrific youtube videos that provide awesome support for what you are saying..... from the best comics of all time: I strongly urge everyone here to click on these and check them out. This stuff is a treasure for posterity and a celebration of the genius of human spirit.
I wrote a very long Substack essay on why comedy - especially "lowbrow" comedy - is much more important to society than we understand, and that suppressing comedy is dangerous: https://aryngve.substack.com/p/make-clowns-funny-again
Francis, move to the US. We have a great thing going here with our buddy, the First Amendment. Not perfect here, but it's great. It's painful to see the UK fall like this.
Went to see Henning Wehn last night. He definitely didn’t get the memo about avoiding offence. Good show but the audience mostly grey hair and no hair so maybe that makes a difference.
It's bizarre because until relatively recently some British comedians used to be as offensive as possible. Tell an inoffensive joke and it seems like a children's joke.
Isn’t this just the thing? A few people can and usually do completely cow a larger group, unless one and then two, and then more people just say no, I’m not having it. The power to not to be manipulated is always with us. I’d crawl over glass (which given the current climate seems about right) to see Dave Chappell, Ricky Gervais, and other non-cancellable comedians take the show on the road, mercilessly make fun of everyone, and get us all laughing at our own absurdities. We need 10ccs of liquid South Park, stat. The hour is late.
A Canadian South Park fan! Proof positive we can all be good sports if we choose to be. Lucky you and Toronto. Laughter is the last refuge of sanity I think.
The problem with comedy it has become different political click groups and very tribel. Just like in high school with popular groups, the nerds, class clowns, goths and loners. I am a loner and we were a group that understands and respects the other loners wanting to be alone. Funny enough Konstantin said on another podcast that Triggernometry is looking for balanced people who respects the different variety of guests brought on without getting outraged and stomping off in a huff. It feels I have found a tribe of people who don't want to be in a tribe. Another loner conundrum.
In the political click group environment a joke is no longer a joke but a weopon of choice. Whether that be to promote their political virtue or a scolding iron to brand as hate speech. Comedians are now political podcasters preaching their gospel to the choir. When someone with substance and knowledge points that out they are full of shit they can pull out their safety net of "I'm just a comedian." This is what is ruining comedy for me. I am losing a lot of respect for comedians. Even Dawn French has hobbled upon her high horse of political virtue to condemn Israel. Comedians are becoming less funny and more part of the problem with social media. Stand up isn't stand up any more it is a social media click bait pile on. I do not know where comedy goes from here. "Video killed the radio star". Social Media has not just killed the movie star it is killing comedy too. Funny, I really thought it was going to save it.
I’m only surprised he hasn’t been arrested for inciting violence and then sentenced to 3 years with no chance of early parole!
The thin skinned morality police will always find offence in the slightest of remarks. They have a tumour in their humour. Sadly it’s not terminal and these lightweights will continue to clutch their pearls in mock indignation, quietly getting off on how they have been able to cancel someone.
I have it on DVD thank goodness. It’s reached the point where you really need to get your own copies of pre “great awokening” film and TV you might want to re watch.
We’ve let our entire culture be taken over by a pack of passive-aggressive self-righteous pussies (and that’s short for pusillanimous, you think-skinned cunts).
It’s well past time we got back to the old credo — “Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke.”
Trench or gallows humour was a way of easing tension distress, even fear, in times of war or worrying circumstances.
Perhaps purely to lighten the mood.
I remember when I was working with a team of men on an engineering project. Tea break came round, the headline of the Sun newspaper was.. "Donald Campbell dies attempting the world water speed record on Coniston Water lake district Cumbria"...
Some bright spark piped up and said
"They've just renamed Coniston Water ' "'Campbell Soup" there was a sharp intake of breath then, roars of laughter.
They would have a fit of the vapours now and demand councilling
(CAMPBELL SOUP was a popular brand of tinned soup in those days)
This is so British!!
On the plus side, when comedy clubs ban comedians for being offensive, we learn which ones to avoid. I'm not interested in going to a clapter club.
Do you have plans to do any stand-up shows this summer?
Great Essay! Here are some terrific youtube videos that provide awesome support for what you are saying..... from the best comics of all time: I strongly urge everyone here to click on these and check them out. This stuff is a treasure for posterity and a celebration of the genius of human spirit.
From Lenny Bruce on ....the word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpvQ7QjTDqs
from george carlin on lenny bruce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiy3mJnCjYk
Lenny Bruce on Obscenity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q7V4yyb9U8
Lenny Bruce on religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xb7aEU3uoc
I wrote a very long Substack essay on why comedy - especially "lowbrow" comedy - is much more important to society than we understand, and that suppressing comedy is dangerous: https://aryngve.substack.com/p/make-clowns-funny-again
totally agree. Long live lenny bruce.
Maybe you Brits should stick to sketch comedy. It's still the best in the world. In my naive opinion
Francis, move to the US. We have a great thing going here with our buddy, the First Amendment. Not perfect here, but it's great. It's painful to see the UK fall like this.
second. i'll introduce you to some real estate brokers...that will fix both your problems...or at least two out of three. :)
Went to see Henning Wehn last night. He definitely didn’t get the memo about avoiding offence. Good show but the audience mostly grey hair and no hair so maybe that makes a difference.
It's bizarre because until relatively recently some British comedians used to be as offensive as possible. Tell an inoffensive joke and it seems like a children's joke.
Isn’t this just the thing? A few people can and usually do completely cow a larger group, unless one and then two, and then more people just say no, I’m not having it. The power to not to be manipulated is always with us. I’d crawl over glass (which given the current climate seems about right) to see Dave Chappell, Ricky Gervais, and other non-cancellable comedians take the show on the road, mercilessly make fun of everyone, and get us all laughing at our own absurdities. We need 10ccs of liquid South Park, stat. The hour is late.
I hope South Park does another episode about Harry and Meghan soon.
I am going to see Ricky Gervais in Toronto this summer-can't wait!
A Canadian South Park fan! Proof positive we can all be good sports if we choose to be. Lucky you and Toronto. Laughter is the last refuge of sanity I think.
The problem with comedy it has become different political click groups and very tribel. Just like in high school with popular groups, the nerds, class clowns, goths and loners. I am a loner and we were a group that understands and respects the other loners wanting to be alone. Funny enough Konstantin said on another podcast that Triggernometry is looking for balanced people who respects the different variety of guests brought on without getting outraged and stomping off in a huff. It feels I have found a tribe of people who don't want to be in a tribe. Another loner conundrum.
In the political click group environment a joke is no longer a joke but a weopon of choice. Whether that be to promote their political virtue or a scolding iron to brand as hate speech. Comedians are now political podcasters preaching their gospel to the choir. When someone with substance and knowledge points that out they are full of shit they can pull out their safety net of "I'm just a comedian." This is what is ruining comedy for me. I am losing a lot of respect for comedians. Even Dawn French has hobbled upon her high horse of political virtue to condemn Israel. Comedians are becoming less funny and more part of the problem with social media. Stand up isn't stand up any more it is a social media click bait pile on. I do not know where comedy goes from here. "Video killed the radio star". Social Media has not just killed the movie star it is killing comedy too. Funny, I really thought it was going to save it.
These arseholes have always walked amongst us. But when, and why, did we start listening to them?
I’m only surprised he hasn’t been arrested for inciting violence and then sentenced to 3 years with no chance of early parole!
The thin skinned morality police will always find offence in the slightest of remarks. They have a tumour in their humour. Sadly it’s not terminal and these lightweights will continue to clutch their pearls in mock indignation, quietly getting off on how they have been able to cancel someone.
YeaH! I saw the finale episode of Fawlty Towers has been taken down.
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/fawlty-towers-episode-removed/
I have it on DVD thank goodness. It’s reached the point where you really need to get your own copies of pre “great awokening” film and TV you might want to re watch.