Talking specifically about Ricky Gervais and Extras. The episode with the girl who had MS, the jokes about midgets, black people etc etc. I realise we are supposed to dislike Ricky's character for making these remarks and there is a sense of irony and poking fun at idiots like his character but it is offensive isnt it?
Seems that comedy goes in phases where certain jokes are socially acceptable. Its Weird! (but i do find the show v funny!)
2006-10-10 23:29:03 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
Its ridiculing the social awkwardness and the misconceptions surrounding disabled people rather than poking fun at disabled people themselves. We're not supposed to dislike RG's character in Extras in the same way as David Brent.
Whether it achieves this is another matter. Personally, I'm also getting tired of the humour though not because I find it offensive but because I think the joke has been done and its time to move on.
2006-10-10 23:57:42 · answer #1 · answered by gosseyn 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not discriminatory if it's against everybody.
If somebody has MS for example, yes they deserve a degree of sympathy but should not be treated with kid gloves ALL the time; how do you think they would feel if that were the case. 24/7 simpering and sympathy.
As such, they deserve as much mikey taking as; a single white teenager being portrayed as a right Kevin (Harry Enfield); people who have office jobs being portrayed (Office, Dilbert) as stupid, manipulative. Etc.
A class example of the type of view in the question is the social commentary of "Something About Mary." A key Character is a character who has a mental impairment. Throughout the film the character, while idiosyncratic, plays a normal likeable character. Even his friends are portrayed in a similar.
There was outrage. How dare the film makers portray them as such (Having fun, being their normal, likeable selves). Like the office and Extras - it's the people who make the jokes, act out the discrimination who are made to look like idiots.
People can't seem to see that; if you want to have a normal as possible a role in society - you will be, as you should be, the butt of jokes. No matter your race, colour, creed, disablity or quirk.
2006-10-10 23:33:48 · answer #2 · answered by Felidae 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think he's laughing at them. All the times his character acts un PC around the disabled, they're the ones contented and getting on with things and he's the one who's made to look an idiot by pointing out their disability. For them their physical state is incidental but for him he's ignorant and doesn't know how to behave. I believe one of the main script writers/ producers is Ricky gervais' mate who's in a wheelchair. Its a bit near to the knuckle at times but nothing should be off limits for comedians. Its what keeps people like the Nazis and politicians from becoming godheads and dictators.
2006-10-10 23:39:48 · answer #3 · answered by peeve 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
it is not discriminatory if it is against all and sundry. If somebody has MS case in point, confident they deserve a level of sympathy yet should not be taken care of with newborn gloves each and every of the time; how do you think of they could sense if that have been the case. 24/7 simpering and sympathy. As such, they deserve as lots mikey taking as; a single white teen being portrayed as a real Kevin (Harry Enfield); people who've workplace jobs being portrayed (workplace, Dilbert) as stupid, manipulative. etc. a style occasion of certainly one of those view interior the question is the social assertion of "something approximately Mary." A key character is a character who has a psychological impairment. for the time of the movie the character, mutually as idiosyncratic, performs a classic likeable character. Even his acquaintances are portrayed in the same. there became outrage. How dare the movie makers portray them as such (Having relaxing, being their favourite, likeable selves). like the workplace and Extras - it is the persons who make the jokes, act out the discrimination who're made to look like idiots. human beings can not seem to confirm that; in case you prefer to have a classic as possible a function in society - you would be, as you should be, the butt of jokes. no count your race, color, creed, disablity or quirk.
2016-11-27 21:03:27 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's offensive is exactly why he does it. Not to be offensive as such but to show how pathetic discrimination really is..its tongue in cheek and a sardonic view of how some people really think and talk...ridicule of the intolerant bigots not of those with disabilities.
2006-10-10 23:32:13 · answer #5 · answered by Saskia M 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I love 'sick' jokes but I don't find this programme the least bit funny. I may be in a minority of 1.
2006-10-10 23:33:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can't stand Ricky Gervais and his brand of "humour".
I also hate Jonathan Ross becasue his whole act is based on ridiculing superfical aspects of people, such as the way they look etc... I feel that when so much of the media protrays this message that it's OK to be horrible to people who look different to you, people subconsicously pick up on it and copy, even when it's meant as a joke or irony.
2006-10-10 23:41:36 · answer #7 · answered by The Abbey 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
I thought it was funny as f*ck when he kneed that dwarf in the head - comedy gold.
2006-10-10 23:38:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I dont get why peolpe find this man funny! Hes not The office was sxxt and extras is even worse!
2006-10-11 00:30:29 · answer #9 · answered by welcome2whereyouare 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Totally agree with you - I wonder how little britain can get away with it!
2006-10-10 23:33:08 · answer #10 · answered by Dan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋