Extras on Thursday - was anybody else offended by the references to Downs Syndrome?

Question

Did anybody else go off Ricky Gervais + Stephen Merchant 100% when they began to mock this disability, referring to sufferers as 'mental' and 'mongoloids'? Surely the BBC cant air such things?

"It's a parody" - there are ways to parody things without being so potentially hurtful. Ricky Gervais has parodied a lot of things that I have found funny, but this was a step too far in my opinion!

"if you hadn't had your sense of humour removed by the PC police"
To be honest Im entirely against 'the PC police' and I dont really agree with being PC, but I dont think that being against speaking about a disability in that way is right either - nor do I think you need to be affected by something to notice abuse.

"I don't know about Ricky Gervais, but does anyone else wanna give Peggy a slap in eastenders?"

I suppose that has been done slightly differently (ie not using words like 'mongoloid'), but the programme and Peggys character does seem to have taken the most negative possible angle with having a Downs Syndrome baby.

Answer 1

i was totally disgusted with extras, my sons friend has down syndrome

how could the bbc let this be shown, total dis-respect to everyone

Answer 2

It's a parody. They are sending up people who still think like that. I really don't believe that Ricky Gervais refers to Downs Syndrome sufferers as mentals in real life.

Answer 3

Amy >'.'<, u r stupid, u shud not go sticking ur nose into somthin if u dont know what its about. anyway, isn't that the whole point of extras? people weren't offended by ricky's comments about the guy who had one leg longer than the other or the black guy or the two gay directors @ the BBC so why shud u b offended by this!! he's just tryin to put sum humour into the world for god's sake. Is that such a bad thing?!?!?!?!?!

Answer 4

I found it uncomfortable, but I think that was the point. I don't think Ricky Gervais was mocking the disability at all. He was mocking the people who like Stephen Merchant's character are ignorant and insensitive.

Answer 5

To be honest, Ricky Gervais is a comedian, there is absolutely no reall offence meant by the comment. and as for Eastenders its rubbish and cant handle any story lines properly or realistically

Answer 6

The point of the show was to illustrate the ignorance of people who use terms like that. The show also showed what most intelligent people think of people who use such derogatory names. This seems to have gone totally over your head! Maybe you should stick to watching cartoons!

Also, it wasn't too long ago that the term Mongoloid was the accepted name for downs syndrome.

Answer 7

I don't know about Ricky Gervais, but does anyone else wanna give Peggy a slap in eastenders?

Answer 8

No! You are the personification of what is wrong with this country! It was meant as a joke! If you hadn't had your sense of humour removed by the PC police that run this country you would have understood that. Do you have Downs syndrome??? No!!! So you have no right to complain.

Answer 9

I think it was ricky doing what he does best highlighting that some people are still absolutely vile in that respect but I can see why you would be offended

Answer 10

Some things just cannot be made fun on.

I'm not talking like a sacred cow, but decency states that you do not mock those with problems, like Downs Syndrome or autism or spinal bifida

Answer 11

I think mongoloids is actually the proper term for people with certain mental disabilities. I didnt watch tho and dont know what you are talking about however to make fun of something like that is cruel and should not be allowed.