"Please Don't Make Fun of the Disableds"

[Yeshuasdaughter]

As someone who is mental in the head, and mental in the legs, this song really made me laugh. Have fun not taking yourself seriously.

 

[Jordy]

I don't really get it.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I think the comedy of it is,...the expressions of being uncomfortable amongst the audience members,...and Ricky Gervais just standing up there singing in full voice as if he is doing something positive,...and acts as if he has no clue as to what he is doing to the audience. Like most comedians, the idea is to push those boundaries and make light of serious topics. I think he accomplished that.

 

[1ForAll]

I think the comedy of it is,...the expressions of being uncomfortable amongst the audience members,...and Ricky Gervais just standing up there singing in full voice as if he is doing something positive,...and acts as if he has no clue as to what he is doing to the audience. Like most comedians, the idea is to push those boundaries and make light of serious topics. I think he accomplished that.

I was just curious if you feel that public video/song helps or hurts the disabled more in society, regardless of the comic's intent?

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I was just curious if you feel that public video/song helps or hurts the disabled more in society, regardless of the comic's intent?

Regardless of the topic,...even controversial, serious topics,...comedy is a medium for us to let down our guard and talk about them. With that perspective, I don't think he was making fun of the disabled per se, but rather how people are uncomfortable with talking about it. We need to talk about it. The whole video was to show how "cringeworthy" the topic of the song is, and the audience's reaction. I think if you don't understand the video,...there might be a tendency to take it as something that it is not,...and the "social justice warriors" will make a fuss that doesn't need to be. This whole idea that "I am going to be offended,..for you." is total BS. I think the worst thing we can do is to have this idea that "disabled" individuals are weak and in need of protection,...when in reality, some of these people are some of the strongest of character and don't need or want people to be "offended" for them. I think the biggest harm to the disabled in our society, is people feeling the need to be their protectors and making a fuss.

 

[Jordy]

Regardless of the topic,...even controversial, serious topics,...comedy is a medium for us to let down our guard and talk about them. With that perspective, I don't think he was making fun of the disabled per se, but rather how people are uncomfortable with talking about it. We need to talk about it. The whole video was to show how "cringeworthy" the topic of the song is, and the audience's reaction. I think if you don't understand the video,...there might be a tendency to take it as something that it is not,...and the "social justice warriors" will make a fuss that doesn't need to be. This whole idea that "I am going to be offended,..for you." is total BS. I think the worst thing we can do is to have this idea that "disabled" individuals are weak and in need of protection,...when in reality, some of these people are some of the strongest of character and don't need or want people to be "offended" for them. I think the biggest harm to the disabled in our society, is people feeling the need to be their protectors and making a fuss.

Sometimes extra vulnerable people do need protection, pc culture is not the way to do it though. Unless you can find a way to make predatory people not exist of course.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Sometimes extra vulnerable people do need protection, pc culture is not the way to do it though. Unless you can find a way to make predatory people not exist of course.

Predatory people do exist for sure. All you can do is neutralize the behavior, whether it be face-to-face, or legally. Having said that, it definitely takes a special kind of insecure jerk to be a predator, or even making fun of vulnerable people,...people we don't need in our society.

 

[1ForAll]

Predatory people do exist for sure. All you can do is neutralize the behavior, whether it be face-to-face, or legally. Having said that, it definitely takes a special kind of insecure jerk to be a predator, or even making fun of vulnerable people,...people we don't need in our society.

Thanks for your reply earlier! What about discrimination? That is very common against the disabled, and for those who look or act different as compared to general folks? That has nothing to do with weakness, but others' perceptions of the disabled or for those with certain conditions, and in how they treat them. Media often is behind that perception. Also, realize it is hard for those being taken advantage of to often fight back, as often one needs enough money or a good lawyer to legally fight back against those in powerful positions resorting to such, and as even laws supposed to protect certain disadvantaged groups, they are not necessarily enforced or there may be loopholes.

So, in general I find humor with a negative slant against groups of persons as more offensive than not, as sometimes the one doing the comedy there or supporting such may lack empathy there or have hidden bias' or anger against that group, or want them to be seen as weaker, through humor, thinking they'd get away with that more. We cannot assume the messenger had good or neutral intent, nor bad intent I agree, but on the safe side, I just roll my eyes and cringe at such attempts as more discrimination, anger or other can occur through such generalizations, regardless if we want to admit it or not.

Just as non-disabled often get upset with each other over sensitive topics and are not seen as weak, I think we need to give the disabled the same respect when the topic and displayed fiction directly involves them! It is they who are being harmed by that, and maybe I can feel that not because I am weak, but because I have strong empathy skills, and as I dealt with discrimination because of the way I looked and acted. I have every right thus to be offended by that video, as it reinforces images in others' heads we are more disabled than able, or that we look and act a certain way. That is fiction too. Many disabled have hidden disabilities and many abilities.

Remember, although many who listen to such humor or resort to such may be great citizens and they can tell the difference between reality and comedy, and they can still treat the disabled as humans too with equal rights, many others cannot tell that difference or they are trained by watching such distortions to then believe that, or to see those persons then in a worse light, which encourages more harms against that group. I am all for humor, but why have that entire audience of supposed disabled persons look so dysfunctional and out of it? Others may think this is funny, but I never will. I feel for anyone who is upset by such content, and I'd never minimize their right to feel that way. That does not imply their weakness.

I appreciated your earlier reply as I think we all learn best by getting different perspectives. It sure causes me to think. Thanks!

 

[Fino]

The part I liked was when he said something like, "I'm not going to laugh at them. And I'm not going to laugh with them either, just to be sure."

 

[SusanLR]

From the looks on the faces of the audience I'd say they were feeling offended being put in the spotlight.
I would not want comedic attention brought to myself for a disability.
Don't bring attention to of any kind to it.

Some people might find it funny, and some with disabilities want attention.
They actually want "the poor me" feeling.
They want sympathy. Some feel they are less than to begin with and laugh off feelings of
self guilt.
Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

What about discrimination? That is very common against the disabled, and for those who look or act different as compared to general folks? That has nothing to do with weakness, but others' perceptions of the disabled or for those with certain conditions, and in how they treat them. Media often is behind that perception.

A related, but different topic,...and quite an unfortunate reality for many people. As much as we would think we have "evolved" and we live in a "civilized society",...the reality is that there are certain behaviors that are primal. Primal in the sense that there is something in all of us,...literally every predatory animal on earth,...even birds and fish,...that will prey upon what they perceive as "weakness", whether it be physical or mental. In humans, it can come out as controlling behaviors, mental abuse, physical abuse,...and outright murder. In the wild, it's called "natural selection". The strong survive,...until they become weakened. Every animal show about predatory behavior demonstrates this,...the lion following the herd looking for an easy meal. Even if you've had an aquarium, you see a group of fish picking on another fish until it finally dies. Human beings are no different,...sometimes more subtle about it,...sometimes not.

Being "different" also triggers these primal instincts,...we are social creatures, often seeking refuge with like-minded, or similar people,...we are very tribal. We see this in our politics, racism, social class, economic class, the little "clubs" and "groups" we attend, the friends we hang out with,...and often results in discriminatory thoughts and behaviors. These perceptions you speak of are as a result of our information "bubble",...we often lack perception,...as often highlighted by our political divide and the information we seek that confirms our biases,...OR,...we speak this way to gain acceptance and conformational bias.

So,...I might disagree with you about "that has nothing to do with weakness",...but will agree with "other's perceptions of the disabled or for those with certain conditions". I think both are at play here. If you look at human behavior from this primal, animal instinct, and tribal perspective. The better question here is how do we overcome these instincts as a society? Does it deny who we really are? Are we then masking the ugly truth about humanity?

 

[Storm Hess]

As someone who is mental in the head, and mental in the legs, this song really made me laugh. Have fun not taking yourself seriously.

You have to watch this!

 

[Storm Hess]

He did an excellent job on the show Derek.

Imo, a great show.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

You have to watch this!

Josh is an awesome comedian! At the end of that set, Josh tells of when he went to a restaurant,...and got the "...and what will he have?" question. It's funny, several years ago, comedian Christopher Titus tells a similar story of when Chris, a comedian friend with cerebral palsy, and a few other comedians went to a restaurant and the waiter said, ..."and what will he have?". I guess those comedians just destroyed that poor waiter with their antics.

The story,...

Michael Aronin on stage:
https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelaronin

 

[SusanLR]

@Neonatal RRT That one by Christopher Titus I found quite funny.
He can put true comedy into disabilities without it seeming as though he is offensive.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Storm Hess]

Josh is an awesome comedian! At the end of that set, Josh tells of when he went to a restaurant,...and got the "...and what will he have?" question. It's funny, several years ago, comedian Christopher Titus tells a similar story of when Chris, a comedian friend with cerebral palsy, and a few other comedians went to a restaurant and the waiter said, ..."and what will he have?". I guess those comedians just destroyed that poor waiter with their antics.

The story,...

Michael Aronin on stage:
https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelaronin

That was awesome! Thanks for sharing!