Jo Brand - Comedy Or Incitement?

[agchristie]

When is comedy not comedy?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7133231/Jo-Brand-jokes-throwing-battery-acid-unpleasant-politicians.html

[jno]

it sounds like comedy of exaggeration to me. Do you really think any of her audience think "Hey ... neat idea!"?

[spathiphyllum]

That is funny, though.

[ToraToraTora]

lefty = Nasty, simples.

[spathiphyllum]

Eh.. at least the left didn't fund the Saudi's to continue to bomb Yemen *COUGH* Borris Johnson *COUGH*

[Old_Geezer]

I think it's just being oversensitive. No sane individual could think it was a serious suggestion.

[spathiphyllum]

Just for reference to my post at 16:04

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/11/johnson-allowed-arms-sales-to-saudis-after-strike-on-food-factory

[andy-hughes]

I'd agree with jno on this.

Comedians - especially modern ones - tread a thin line in terms of what is acceptable, always a subjective reaction.

For instance if Joe Brand says this, I have no problem at all accepting it as being humorous, and not an 'incitement' of any kind, but if Frankie Boyle had said it, I would think it was nasty, because Frankie Boyle's humour is about nastiness - but even then I would not see it as an 'incitement'.

To my mind, if anyone is 'motivated' to violence by something a comedian says, then they were pre-disposed to violence anyway, and simply looking for a convenient hook on which to hang their violence.

[naomi24]

Whether it’s comedy or incitement would depend upon who’s reading it. Stupid in the extreme rather than funny in my opinion.

[spathiphyllum]

"Stupid in the extreme rather than funny in my opinion"

Some people find "stupid in the extreme" utterly hilarious.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - // Whether it’s comedy or incitement would depend upon who’s reading it. //

I think that extends simply to whether or not you find any comedian's output funny or not - as I said, comedy is subjective.

I know people whom in all other areas I would think are sensible and balanced individuals, who advise me that they think Michael McIntyre is funny.

It's all about perception.

[spathiphyllum]

Comedy is not just subjective, but situational.

[hereIam]

Not in the least bit funny and I bet she half meant it anyway !! Gone right off her now, stupid ***** ..

[naomi24]

AH, //I think that extends simply to whether or not you find any comedian's output funny or not - as I said, comedy is subjective.//

Other comedians don't usually joke about throwing battery acid over people.

[ludwig]

I wonder if it'd be funny if someone suggested throwing battery acid at Jeremy Corbyn.

No, probably not.

[spathiphyllum]

That would be funny, actually. In a cartoon comical sense.

[spathiphyllum]

"Today Farage took to Twitter to call for a criminal investigation into Brand's remarks, writing: 'This is incitement to violence and the police need to act.' "


What a jobsworth.

[naomi24]

What would be funny about it, spath? Do you know the effect that battery acid has on the human body?

[spathiphyllum]

Well, you're going of the preconceived idea that someone would actually do this, using what Joe said as insistent.

[spathiphyllum]

joke
noun
1.
a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, especially a story with a funny punchline.
"she was in a mood to tell jokes"
1.
make jokes; talk humorously or flippantly.