Is this funny?

[TEB]

I don't find it particularly funny...in fact not at all,but as Seahorse has already said,I don't really have a lot of sympathy with the Lady in question....she must have known to some extent what his humour is like before the night,had he have been picking on a different group would she have been part of the audience laughing along whilst someone else was feeling offended?

I accept that humour is subjective and would have no desire for censorship,but something that worries me is how people seem to have lost the rights to be offended by stuff...as soon as you say you've taken offence you become a moaning weak one with no sense of humour...if we're going to be allowed freedom of speech then that should include being free to find something offensive also.

Exactly, she knew what he was like, she liked how nasty he can be, what then did she expect. Personally I find some of FB material to be cruel and crude and this is on mainstream TV so god knows what his live shows are like.

[Ian White]

Exactly, she knew what he was like, she liked how nasty he can be, what then did she expect. Personally I find some of FB material to be cruel and crude and this is on mainstream TV so god knows what his live shows are like.

So does that make it right i dont think it is in this day and age ,think what you would have done if it was a member of your family,

I think she acted the right way i dont think i would have and to be honest i think i would have been up on my feet having a right go back

All the best,ian

[TEB]

So does that make it right i dont think it is in this day and age ,think what you would have done if it was a member of your family,

I think she acted the right way i dont think i would have and to be honest i think i would have been up on my feet having a right go back

All the best,ian

Just in case you didn't read the article here is a pertinent quote:

"One of the reasons that we wanted to see Frankie Boyle was that we have seen him on shows like Mock the Week and have loved his humour, how dry he is, how nasty he is, how clever he is. We wanted to see him out of the confines of a TV editing suite, to hear him say things he could not get away with on mainstream TV."

So she knew what he was like and wanted to see him being even more nasty/clever etc, unfortunately she got more than she bargained for, I think she is being a tad hypocritical. As for me, then I wouldn't be there in the first place as I dont like that brand of humour.

[taff]

he is a bit close to the mark, I find him funny. He left Mock The Week because the Bbc were censoring his comments.
I think she knew exactly what she was going to see and only got upset when something he said became personal to her.

[lizzylemon]

Whilst I really feel for the lady who took offence, I think the point she wanted to see him live and un-censors does make her a tad hypocritical about the situation. Would it have been OK in her eyes for him to be nasty about black people, old people, women, mother in laws, blokes in white vans etc etc etc. If you want to laugh at other peoples differences, you must be prepared to carry on laughing when your own are pointed out. If you can't do that, then don't laugh at all.

[beefy]

In my humble opinion being nasty spitefull and rude does not equate to humor. To many so called "comedians" seem to think that making fun out of minorities and those who are unlikely or unable to stand up for themselves is acceptable. But while Roy Chubby Brown and the like sell out halls up and down the country it will continue. While the money keeps coming the filth keeps coming .
And to answer your question - No it's not

[Brengirl]

I don't laugh very much because I don't find many things shocking. Laughter is triggered my shock. So is vomiting.

[northepaul]

I liked him on Mock the Week, my son got his DVD live for christmas, watched that but didnt particularly like him in that and did think he went too far with some comments. So I can sympathise with the lady in question - she expected similar to Mock the Week with maybe a bit more swearing and crudeness...I can completely understand her anger.

[Seahorse]

BBC News - Frankie Boyle criticised for Down's syndrome joke

Not sure if it's just been picked up by the mainstream media, or whether the lady herself has pushed it but fair play to her, she's standing up against someone she sees as a nasty bully.

[pjh75]

That's a problem with standup, people often find it funny until the jokes are about someone / something / a situation that affects them personally.

I don't like any humour that targets disability, race, ethnicity, religion etc etc and get accused of being too politically correct.

I accept that people laugh at it, but personally choose not to.

[OllieMartin]

I believe at one point everyone in Germany was wearing jackboots, does that make it right?

Godwin's Law:
"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."

[lizzylemon]

I think it's hit main stream - the lady in question was on 5Live earlier today and it was a very interesting program. (It's probably available as a podcast)

[janeyo]

Comedians always take the mick out of people.
It's not funny that Heather Mills has only got one leg but the jokes are endless. Not her fault she only has one leg. But there are jokes about amputees, etc
The Downs jokes have probably been done many times before. Nobody is off limits to comedians. Had she not had a child with Down's she would prob have been laughing her head off too, as it would not have been personal to her.
I wonder which of his gags about other unfortunates she DID laugh at?

[Patchninja]

Well, I think the lady in question has learned a very hard lesson. I also heard her on Radio5 and she didn't sound like a silly woman.
Personally, a so-called comedian that has to rely on being nasty is not my cup of tea.
Some people will laugh and clap at anything ; the "seal" sydrome.

Just wanted to add that I think that there are much funnier people on this forum!

[maytreefrannie]

Comedians always take the mick out of people.
It's not funny that Heather Mills has only got one leg but the jokes are endless. Not her fault she only has one leg. But there are jokes about amputees, etc
The Downs jokes have probably been done many times before. Nobody is off limits to comedians. Had she not had a child with Down's she would prob have been laughing her head off too, as it would not have been personal to her.
I wonder which of his gags about other unfortunates she DID laugh at?

Not funny at all - thankfully none of my children or grandchildren suffer from Down's Syndrome, but I would not have found this funny and don't find the account of it funnny - I don't see why the woman in question should be assumed to have found it funny if she hadn't been affected by having her DS daughter (ref: 'Had she not had a child with Down's she would prob have been laughing her head off too.')

I feel stand-up comedians do sometimes breach good taste 'laws' and the result is not funny - I believe many who laugh in audiences are copying or catching contagious laughter, many laugh in embarrassment.

By all means, target politicians, Y-front wearers and others who can talk back with equal articulation - leave the more vulnerable alone.