(Untitled)

[zil]

Okay... so it's my first post here, and I'm always paranoid about posting to communities, so please be gentle with any criticism

Comments

[krazyhippie]

Of course I think it's a decent reaction, but then again I'm in a feminist community. I doubt you'd find a lot of people in a feminist community that would say you're overreacting to sexist or racist jokes.

[zil]

Yeah, I think that was exactly what I was curious about. I (perhaps optimistically) assumed that the forum where I originally posted that poll was a very enlightened/progressive place, and I was surprised that so many people were still okay with such jokes. It was the IAM community at BMEzine, which normally preaches tolerance on a grand scale. I think it shook my faith in even 'enlightened' people, so I had to bring it here to make sure there are still people out there who agree with me.

[krazyhippie]

I certainly do. :)

I found those quotes rather disgusting, not humorous.

[seph_hazard]

GrrrrRRRRRRrrrrr.

[sunshyncat]

There's a fine line between a funny joke and an offensive one. About half of those jokes cross that line. Then again, they are quotes from a TV show. The character saying them might be portraying a sexist, ignorant jerk. In that context they might be funny (if you are laughing at what an unbelievable jerk he is), out of that context they are offensive.

[meredith_mae]

To clarify: Patrick is the "dumb friend" who sleeps with a lot of women. Coupling has been compared to Friends, so think of him as the "Joey" character. Jeff is the one who is incompetant with women and always says the wrong thing. Jane is kind of ditzy and off in her own world. None of the characters are supposed to be perfect, which is why there's a show about them all trying to find a relationship.

Of course... we can debate the portrayal of perfect vs. imperfect characters and how it reflects society, as well...

[sunshyncat]

Thanks for the description. I probably wouldn't find the jokes offensive in that context. I would just groan, giggle and shake my head. I have always loved the un-p.c. Archie Bunker type character.

[skate97]

same here. the show, in my opinion, is really funny. in a groan and roll your eyes kind of way, but funny none the less.

[londonesque]

Don't worry, I find this stuff offensive too, and you most certainly don't need to lighten up, it's them who need to grow up!

[kahvi]

I suppose if the characters are, in context, portrayed as complete idiots, I wouldn't mind, so maybe part of the problem here is context.

It is. Coupling is a Briish show, and the examples you have stated about are typical of British humor, e.i. sarcastic. We aren't meant to go "OMG - he tries to sleep with all the women he knows, that's so funny because it's TRUE!", we're meant to go "OMG - that's so wrong for him to say, what kind of stupid person would say that", and find humor in that. I have a very close British friend. We make the most horrible racist and sexist jokes together, but the humor - again - is that what we are saying is so ourageous. In other words, we are making fun of the absurdity that opinions like that exist. Eh, it's kinda hard to explain... Humor IS hard to explain - but I hope I managed to explain at least why I feel it is quite the opposite of sexist

[kahvi]

Err, "Briish" should be "British", of course.

[luighseach]

But when someone quotes it out of context, doesn't that change it a bit?

[kahvi]

That would depend on the context it is put into, but yes, of course. I just wanted to point out that they aren't meant to be sexist in the show.