Popular Comedian Accused Of Disability Discrimination

[Left Leanings]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130277/Ricky-Gervais-new-comedy-Derek-criticised.html

A father of an autistic child, has accused the popular British TV comedian, Ricky Gervais, of a gross form of disability discrimination. His latest TV show, set in a care home, takes the piss out of people with mental disabilities, who haven't often the intellectual ability to defend themselves.

Gervais's favourite word for such people is, apparently, mongs.

I have a mental illness. When I have been unwell, I was once called a 'retard', by some yobs on a bus. It hurts like fuck, let me tell you.

Gervais can go fuck himself, the obnoxious bastard.

[kashkin]

I generally like Gervais' stuff, but this seems pretty damned disgusting.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Jokes at the expense of people who are supposedly your social superiors = witty (generally speaking) satire.

Jokes at the expense of people who are supposedly below you socially = cruel and lazy mockery.

You can see this dynamic on the Daily Show - when they mock media figures and politicians the audience roars with laughter at hated public figures. While some of the better-constructed jokes about normal people do get big respones, even a stale and easy anti-Sanatorium joke gets more enthusiasm than an average joke at the expense of some "rube" common person they interview.

[gorillafuck]

Jokes at the expense of people who are supposedly below you socially = cruel and lazy mockery.if it's done right, it can be very funny tbh.

isn't this old news? He's been known to be a dick about this stuff for quite some time I thought.

[Goblin]

Never had much respect for that guy anyway. Extremely overrated "comedian"...

[Vyacheslav Brolotov]

Why do some people think they need to do this to be funny? It's not funny and it just makes the viewers feel really, really uncomfortable, even if they know it is not true.

[Jimmie Higgins]

if it's done right, it can be very funny tbh.I guess. I mean I think Curb Your Enthusiasm is hilarious and Larry David constantly does this, but it works for me because you're not supposed to identify with him personally, his yuppie elitism and insensitivity and asshole-ishness is the point and the object of comedy. But normally when this kind of comedy is done it's not out of some character's insecurities or disfunction but with a sort of anti-PC, oooh aint-I-shocking-and-a-rebel sort of bravado - like South Park, which doesn't work for me. Then it just comes off as cheap and often lazy jabs.

[ParaRevolutionary]

People need to harden up a bit. As long as it isnt meant to be malicious, which i dont think it is, then i dont have an issue with it.

[Left Leanings]

People need to harden up a bit. As long as it isnt meant to be malicious, which i dont think it is, then i dont have an issue with it.

Do you think the same of racist and homophobic jokes then? Eh, mate?

Cos I have a disability, and I have the lived experience of being taunted for it.

[ParaRevolutionary]

Do you think the same of racist and homophobic jokes then? Eh, mate?

Cos I have a disability, and I have the lived experience of being taunted for it.

If someones telling a joke, not unlike the ones Daniel Tosh tells, then yes. If someones telling a "joke", not unlike the one Tracy Morgan told, then no.

[Crux]

oh fuck Tosh. I've seen his stuff, gag inducing.

[ParaRevolutionary]

oh fuck Tosh. I've seen his stuff, gag inducing.

Short of the gross videos and homosexual antics i find him hilarious.

[Bronco]

So I take it nobody's actually watched it then?

[ParaRevolutionary]

So I take it nobody's actually watched it then?

Which show?

[Bronco]

Which show?

Gervais' show that the article is talking about, if anyone actually thought it was offensive they completely missed the point

[Nox]

I wonder how bad it actually is, it sounds a little biased in the article, and I'd never expect Ricky Gervais to do something as bad as this, I always thought he was a great comedian.

[ParaRevolutionary]

Gervais' show that the article is talking about, if anyone actually thought it was offensive they completely missed the point

I have not seen the show. Ill most likely have to settle for the slap stick American knock off.

[Bronco]

I think people should at least give it a watch before they judge it anyway, it's only 25 minutes long, the character Gervais portrays isn't even meant to be disabled and it's actually a pretty endearing portrayal of him more than a mocking one

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derek/4od (not sure if the link works outside UK)

[Sea]

I really wish people would go more into the context before judging. I've never heard of the guy but there is a distinct possibility that he's mocking how ridiculous it is to discriminate as opposed to joining in on the hate himself.

..Alright, I'm watching it now and have to say this isn't any more malicious toward autistic folk than Dumb & Dumber to.. well.. what's the politically correct word for it now.. dumb people.

That article is just as, if not more sensationalist than what I'd expect from FOX or the like.

[Permanent Revolutionary]

Some people need to remove their heads from their rectal cavity, because this show is anything but offensive. For God's sake, the pilot is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoH0ylzEHeA

If you where offended while watching this, I invite to jump off a cliff.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Here is Gervais talking about it.

HEM5AzrBook

In it, Gervais says Derek is not disabled nor has he ever considered the character to be so. The question is asked around 6:40 and then elaborated upon.

[Koba Junior]

Gervais isn't nearly as funny as he seems to think he is. And I say this based on his material before reading about how much of a major douchenozzle he is.

[Permanent Revolutionary]

Gervais isn't nearly as funny as he seems to think he is. And I say this based on his material before reading about how much of a major douchenozzle he is.

Did you miss the whole point, comrade?
Please elaborate on why Gervais is a "douchenozzle"

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

I've enjoyed a lot of his work, he isn't as funny as he's often made out to be and I think he occaisionally moves a little too close to un-PC, knowingly provocative humour...but I don't feel there's any real malice or intent there, just some mis-guided attempts to 'push boundaries' a little.
Besides Daily Mail are tedious sensationalists anyway, never read their articles for fear of contracting 'out-raged middle class' syndrome.

[Vanguard1917]

Some people need to remove their heads from their rectal cavity, because this show is anything but offensive.


And even if it is offensive, why's that a crime? Gervais's job as a comedian is to make people laugh, not to uphold good morality or etiquette. If you don't like Derek or Life's too short (the latter was admittedly shite and unfunny to the extreme), don't watch them.

What the OP seems to be worried about is that people exposed to jokes about disabled people are going to go out and discriminate against disabled people. I don't think that there is much evidence to substantiate that fear, which follows the same flawed logic used by TV and entertainment censors in general (e.g. that violent video games/films/ song lyrics cause violence in society). People are capable of telling the difference between fictional portrayals and reality.

[Left Leanings]

And even if it is offensive, why's that a crime? Gervais's job as a comedian is to make people laugh, not to uphold good morality or etiquette. If you don't like Derek or Life's too short (the latter was admittedly shite and unfunny to the extreme), don't watch them.

What the OP seems to be worried about is that people exposed to jokes about disabled people are going to go out and discriminate against disabled people. I don't think that there is much evidence to substantiate that fear, which follows the same flawed logic used by TV and entertainment censors in general (e.g. that violent video games/films/ song lyrics cause violence in society). People are capable of telling the difference between fictional portrayals and reality.

Well there has just been an increase in Scotland, UK, of hate crimes cases, and the number of increases is highest among those centred on sexual orientation, and disability (41 per cent):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18102341

I have posted about this in a separate thread today, on the Discrimination Board.

You claim that it is not the job of a comedian to 'uphold good morality or ettiquette'. Perhaps not. But nevertheless, their 'humour' does have an impact on the attitudes of others, and they do have to take responsibility.

No doubt, there were many Nazi comedians poking fun at Jews in their routines. And no doubt they got a laugh, so to speak. But the results were anything but funny... :star:

[Permanent Revolutionary]

No doubt, there were many Nazi comedians poking fun at Jews in their routines. And no doubt they got a laugh, so to speak. But the results were anything but funny...

Come on.... No popular comedian's career would survive, if he in his routine explicitly pointed out a minority/disability and viciously ridiculed them.
And Nazi analogies are never good for a debate

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Did everyone just ignore my post or what?

[Permanent Revolutionary]

Did everyone just ignore my post or what?

No, I watched the clip, but I didn't have anything to add.

[Vanguard1917]

Well there has just been an increase in Scotland, UK, of hate crimes cases, and the number of increases is highest among those centred on sexual orientation, and disability (41 per cent):

But where is the evidence that Ricky Gervais's comedy has contributed to this supposed rise?

Like i already mentioned, your line of reasoning is similar to that which blames violent song lyrics for violence on the streets. Or which argues that Call of Duty IV is responsible for Breivik.