Rape joke gone too far?

[ljen]

Comedian Bill Maher is no stranger to controversy and offensive jokes, but when he flung a cruel rape joke at the expense of "The View's" Elisabeth Hasselbeck, she wasn't going to take it lightly.

The two sparr and throw insults back and forth to each other, as Elisabeth is noticeably (and rightly) agitated.

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Do you think that rape jokes are every

Comments

[loganberrybunny]

This isn't a direct answer to the question, but it's interesting that sexual crimes, including but not limited to rape, are generally considered by society to be (almost) entirely off-limits: one startling modern exception is that there's actually a (very tame) joke about paedophilia in a Bill Bryson book, but somehow he seems to have got away with it.

Consider the number of hotels and suchlike that host light-hearted murder mystery weekends. Somehow this sort of thing is seen almost as family entertainment: an Agatha Christie dramatisation can easily be screened at 5 pm on a Sunday. Now, imagine the same hotel hosting a "rape mystery weekend". All hell would break loose. The disconnect seems rather odd.

[robintheshrew]

Rape jokes are NEVER appropriate. I'm disappointed, Bill.

[facingtheanimal]

Rape is not something to ever be joked about, no matter what. I find Elizabeth Hasselback very argumentative but I don't think she did anything wrong comenting about such a thing. he used the excuse that she is a celebrity and she was 'fodder' for being attacked and I don't think was good enough. Rape jokes are just disgusting, especially knowing it was joking after someone was raped.

[scarred_tigger]

off-colour humour is ok sometimes, but making 'jokes' about such a serious subject is totally outta line, there is no excuse for it at all.

[fayanora]

IMHO, only those who have been raped have the right to make rape jokes.