Larry Wilmore’s brilliant takedown: “Bill Cosby Says the Darndest Things.”

@freemage: Didn’t see your post before posting.

If true, ew.

@Sunny, sorry I didn’t include you along with Falconer when offering my own response, I did read your comment, but was just responding to the more recent poster’s one.

Re MRAs defending Saville, I do recall Judgybitch calling Saville’s victims a bunch of whores. Can always rely on JB to be measured and classy.

Re Spanish Fly, I’m being pedantic here, but it isn’t a rape drug, even though Cosby was joking about it as if it was. It causes prolonged, involuntary erections in men, followed by fatal poisoning, not really an aphrodisiac either and useless at getting women aroused or incapacitated.

Philip Banks did get a bit ‘man of the house’ but I always got the vibe Vivian was the one with the final say. The only thing that annoyed me about The Fresh Prince was little Ashley going on to model for Playboy, and the way the show fawned all over Hugh Heffner when he appeared as himself. All through the series she is this smart girl with a strong sense of independence, yet ultimately opts for a career which values her only for her looks.

Ninja’d by Lady Mondegreen over the Spanish Fly.

Some links to Mr Rogers as brain bleach:

https://youtu.be/fKy7ljRr0AA

https://youtu.be/Upm9LnuCBUM

And in case you haven’t seen these:

https://youtu.be/OFzXaFbxDcM

https://youtu.be/CdAZ79AhcfY

Robjec,
I’d agree with you. The crucial difference is whether or not the joke is at the expense of rapists and rape culture or if it’s at the expense of victims and upholds rape culture.

Lindy West talks about the issue well. I have to get back to work, but I can dig out a link later if you want.

@Rabjec

As I understand it, there are basically two kinds of jokes about rape: 1) the joke that laughs at the absurdity of the attitudes surrounding rape and rape culture, i.e. the kind that mocks not only rapists and rape apologists, but also the whole misogynistic culture that shields and protects rapists, and 2) the kind that ignores the victim and their pain or even makes them the butt of the joke; which treats rape as inconsequential, harmless, “all in good fun”, “boys will be boys” etc.; i.e. the kind of joke that reinforces harmful beliefs about rape and shields rapists.

The first kind, which matches your experience with the comedian, challenges the status quo; it punches up. It is satirical humor that targets the prevailing norms and power structures. I think of it more as joking about rape culture rather than making “rape jokes.” When using the phrase “rape joke” in a discussion, most people tend to think of the second type, and for good reason: It’s disgustingly common.

The line, “You can’t make rape jokes” should always be taken very strictly, grammatically. It doesn’t mean, “You may not make rape jokes,”–that is, that rape jokes are not allowed. Rather, it means that ‘you’ (the comedian being addressed) are incapable of making rape jokes and have them be funny.

There is a truth that comedy draws some of its best laughs from our pain. But the greater the tragedy, the more skilled one must be to actually successfully transform it into humor. Rape jokes, because of the trauma of such a violation, are the equivalent of juggling a set of running chainsaws, six rotten eggs and a flaming baton. It’s impressive when done right, but when done wrong, it creates a huge mess and very likely hurts someone nearby. And people who attempt it without the necessary skill are suffering from an inflated sense of their own talent, Tosh. They are very clearly punching above their weight class, and need to get told properly that they just aren’t that talented.

Rabjec: I think you’re right, but the trouble is even if a rape joke is about how rape is bad, it could still be traumatic to actual survivors present.

Re: Louis CK

Anyone watch his show? I remember being distinctly disappointed when he did an episode where he tried to rape Pam. And people came out defending it saying that, you know, it was just showing a man awkward at sex and stuff. But it was him chasing her around and blocking her exit and the story about him whipping it out kind of reminded me of the episode.
Anyway, he’s a funny guy. And I agree with a lot that he says, but he is definitely problematic (The Tosh.0 thing springs to mind). Ultimately he is just a comedian (one that has held some sway with the neckbeards in showing some rape culture, so there’s that).

If I ever find out John Oliver is a terrible person though, I’m not long for this world.

Leela,
Agreed. I pretty much checked out after that, although I think I saw a few more episodes. Remember the early episode, maybe season 2, when Melissa Leo’s character tried to rape him? At the time I thought it was radical in a good way humor. Both pointing out that men can be victims too and highlighting how rape is to a woman by flipping the typical gender dynamics and putting the male audience in the perspective of an assault victim, as the show is very much in Louis’ point of view.

But in light of the Pam episode and revelations of his creepiness, I guess it was just another rape lol joke.

-weirwoodtreehugger
I don’t remember that episode. IDK, I think it’s always possible for people to see problems with others, but not in themselves. Or see it in themselves and not want to change.

I still am not over Gary Oldman’s racism. >:(