Just my thoughts... (Destiny)

by kidtsunami , Atlanta, GA, Friday, August 21, 2015, 17:20 (3479 days ago) @ CruelLEGACEY

I've talked about this on Facebook quite a bit lately. Ricky Gervais made a great point about this subject; something that I think gets lost in the shuffle too often. On the subject of offensive subject matter in comedy, he said "nothing is off limits... but there is such a thing as 'bad jokes'".

This is where we see the difference between the great comedians and the not-so-great comedians. Lots of comedians will go out and make offensive jokes in an attempt to be "edgy" or whatever. But the best of the best will find a way to construct jokes in such a way that they can use typically offensive language without offending. Louis CK is the master of this, IMO. He uses words that you would never think a middle-aged white American man could possibly get away with, but he writes his jokes in just the right way. He doesn't marginalize people with his jokes. If he brings up sensitive subject matter, he does so without making anyone feel victimized or attacked.

Seinfeld is also very good at this. He doesn't go as far offside as Louis CK, but his show brought in plenty of heated subject matter without being at the expense of any particular person or group.

Exactly. If you make a joke, and someone criticizes it for being offensive, and your only defense is free speech, then maybe your joke wasn't that funny or constructive.