16 ms·

Are you seriously suggesting that there are some contexts where rape is funny?

ben0x539 14y ago
Here's someone suggesting that: http://www.thenation.com/blog/168856/anatomy-successful-rape-joke http://www.thenation.com/blog/168856/anatomy-successful-rape... (among a number of other points) I'm not entirely convinced that it is ever a good idea to make a rape joke, but I see where her argument is going.
- anthonyb 14y ago
  Well, those two jokes, in context, are about how rape is bad. In this particular case, and in Daniel Tosh's case - it's nowhere near as clearcut. Notch was casting around for something bad, and happened to pick rape :\
veidr 14y ago
Yes, that is clearly what he is suggesting, and it's true. Dead babies, testicular cancer, and genocide can also be hilarious in the right circumstances. However, the author must have decided that this wasn't actually one of those times, seeing as he changed the title to Don't be a goat murderer...
josephlord 14y ago
There may be some that are funny even if they are a bad idea and it generally shouldn't be the only criteria. Think at least twice before making a rape joke. If in doubt think of another joke. Generally they are a bad idea and need to be carefully thought about. You should probably also stick to a few guidelines: the victim of the joke should not be the victim of the rape, it should not be trivialised (this includes inappropriate comparisions and probably the original title), it shouldn't be threatening and it shouldn't blame the victim. If you are not following these you probably need to think about it ten times and consider different viewpoints on it. Those more likely to be victims [women, maybe some other subgroups] (or who have actually been victims) have much more leeway. Note that I don't think they should be banned unless there is a seriously threatening, harassing or inciting aspect but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be criticism. I don't think any malice was intended by Notch but I think it fell in the trivialising category and I am glad that he has decided to change it. Being about an animal helped make it ridiculous but probably made the word rape unnecessary. The British 'shagger' or Australian 'rooter' would probably have worked OK although I don't know if there is a US equivalent lighter than the F-word. 'XXXXer' might have worked.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  The verb "shagged" would have worked well in this case in the US. Not really American slang, but it would be understood.
jlgreco 14y ago
I don't pretend to be an expert in comedy, but I would say George Carlin was... A common theme you hear from just about every comedian out there is that anything can in fact be made into a joke. Nothing is off limits. Two notes: * That is not to say that everything is a joke. * That is an answer to "Can it be joked about?", not "Should it be joked about?".

Here's someone suggesting that: http://www.thenation.com/blog/168856/anatomy-successful-rape-joke http://www.thenation.com/blog/168856/anatomy-successful-rape... (among a number of other points) I'm not entirely convinced that it is ever a good idea to make a rape joke, but I see where her argument is going.

anthonyb 14y ago
Well, those two jokes, in context, are about how rape is bad. In this particular case, and in Daniel Tosh's case - it's nowhere near as clearcut. Notch was casting around for something bad, and happened to pick rape :\

veidr 14y ago

Yes, that is clearly what he is suggesting, and it's true. Dead babies, testicular cancer, and genocide can also be hilarious in the right circumstances. However, the author must have decided that this wasn't actually one of those times, seeing as he changed the title to Don't be a goat murderer...

josephlord 14y ago

There may be some that are funny even if they are a bad idea and it generally shouldn't be the only criteria. Think at least twice before making a rape joke. If in doubt think of another joke. Generally they are a bad idea and need to be carefully thought about. You should probably also stick to a few guidelines: the victim of the joke should not be the victim of the rape, it should not be trivialised (this includes inappropriate comparisions and probably the original title), it shouldn't be threatening and it shouldn't blame the victim. If you are not following these you probably need to think about it ten times and consider different viewpoints on it. Those more likely to be victims [women, maybe some other subgroups] (or who have actually been victims) have much more leeway. Note that I don't think they should be banned unless there is a seriously threatening, harassing or inciting aspect but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be criticism. I don't think any malice was intended by Notch but I think it fell in the trivialising category and I am glad that he has decided to change it. Being about an animal helped make it ridiculous but probably made the word rape unnecessary. The British 'shagger' or Australian 'rooter' would probably have worked OK although I don't know if there is a US equivalent lighter than the F-word. 'XXXXer' might have worked.

jlgreco 14y ago
The verb "shagged" would have worked well in this case in the US. Not really American slang, but it would be understood.

jlgreco 14y ago

I don't pretend to be an expert in comedy, but I would say George Carlin was... A common theme you hear from just about every comedian out there is that anything can in fact be made into a joke. Nothing is off limits. Two notes: * That is not to say that everything is a joke. * That is an answer to "Can it be joked about?", not "Should it be joked about?".