At the weekend I went to the Hexagon theatre to see a performance by a stand up comedian. This was a first for me and I admit that I enjoyed his show enormously. Milton Jones manages to entertain his audience without resorting to profanities and seemingly avoided being offensive to anyone in particular. Having said that I am sure the there would be people who would have found something offensive in his jokes but it is unlikely that they would have been there in the first place. Most of us will avoid deliberately attending things that we know may be offensive and yet there are those who seek out such experiences and gain great pleasure from complaining.
Comedy is about underlining the ridiculous and of course most things that we take seriously can be seen as ridiculous when viewed from a different perspective. We all do things that seem ridiculous to others and have all been laughed at. Mostly we brush it off but for some, being laughed at can be a torture, especially when young.
There was a time when comedians could joke about anything and offend anyone and everyone with relative impunity, but those days are long since gone. Professor Tim Hunt, recently made some pretty poor jokes about women scientists at a convention. They were not funny or even accurate depictions of women but he has paid a huge penalty for his remarks and was forced into resigning from his job. A career wasted and a life changed dramatically for a few misguided words that were not particularly offensive.
To lampoon Islam in any way shape or form is even more hazardous than the criticism of women. So far no-one. as far as I know has been murdered for mocking women, and yet public challenges to Islam are seen as capital offences and the world seems to have taken this on board and no-one will dare to stand up and highlight the ludicrousness of a cult that is above criticism for fear of being attacked physically.
Marge Simpson had a way with words; she loved Canada because it was "So Bland". We are in danger of going that way. Blandness offends no-one, it challenges no-one and has nothing much to say. Things unchallenged will continue as they are, which though comfortable for some is not necessarily a good thing. The world is in danger of levelling out and I think that in itself is pretty dull. No-one should be above criticism, even women and Muslims.
Comedy is about underlining the ridiculous and of course most things that we take seriously can be seen as ridiculous when viewed from a different perspective. We all do things that seem ridiculous to others and have all been laughed at. Mostly we brush it off but for some, being laughed at can be a torture, especially when young.
There was a time when comedians could joke about anything and offend anyone and everyone with relative impunity, but those days are long since gone. Professor Tim Hunt, recently made some pretty poor jokes about women scientists at a convention. They were not funny or even accurate depictions of women but he has paid a huge penalty for his remarks and was forced into resigning from his job. A career wasted and a life changed dramatically for a few misguided words that were not particularly offensive.
To lampoon Islam in any way shape or form is even more hazardous than the criticism of women. So far no-one. as far as I know has been murdered for mocking women, and yet public challenges to Islam are seen as capital offences and the world seems to have taken this on board and no-one will dare to stand up and highlight the ludicrousness of a cult that is above criticism for fear of being attacked physically.
Marge Simpson had a way with words; she loved Canada because it was "So Bland". We are in danger of going that way. Blandness offends no-one, it challenges no-one and has nothing much to say. Things unchallenged will continue as they are, which though comfortable for some is not necessarily a good thing. The world is in danger of levelling out and I think that in itself is pretty dull. No-one should be above criticism, even women and Muslims.
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