Poll: Is it acceptable to joke about rape?

[RafaelNegrus]

I saw this on another thread, but the poll only allows for one answer and I wanted to know people's opinions on this. Hopefully without getting into too large of a fight, is it acceptable to make jokes about rape?

On the one hand it is a terrible experience to go through that happens to many people every day.

On the other hand comedy is about pushing the limits of what's acceptable, and sometimes the best way to deal with issues as an individual and a society is to learn to laugh at them.

I would put an it depends option, but I figured that it would win out easy, so line in the sand, acceptable or not?

 

[Jonluw]

Yes. You can joke about anything ever.
Pretty much everything is about context and execution.

It can be done fairly tastefully, or it can be done horribly. Still, we can't silence people just because what they're saying is tasteless.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Seriously?

Another one?

Horse is getting a good beating huh

OT: You can either make fun of everything, or nothing. It's a matter of how tasteful the joke is.

 

[Jonluw]

Horse is getting a good beating huh

To be fair, the rape-horse (Equus ferus raptio) is a pretty horrible creature, so I can sort of understand why people are beating it even after it's dead.

 

[shrekfan246]

I can't say anything more than what Daystar said. And we had three of these threads just in the last... day? Two days? I don't even remember anymore, but can we cut it out now?

 

[Dr Ampersand]

Like every action in your life, actions have consequences.

Making a joke at the expense of anything inherently carries a risk. If you find rape jokes acceptable and so does your audience then the social situation at the time deems it ok. If they don't then they deem it bad. Whether or not it's a subject that should be able to be joked about is subjective. Some people project different values on different issues or subjects.

Whatever the audience, a person should be prepared to accept the consequence of what they've done when they knowingly take a risk.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Yeah... I get the feeling I've seen this thread somewhere...

And yes it is acceptable to joke about rape. However I draw the line at personal attacks and think any one who feels the need to joke about rape to get laughs is a bad comedian and should feel bad.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Anyways....

OT: Yes you can make a joke out of it, but only if you exaggerate the living hell out of it, make it tasteful, and make it funny.

 

[DugMachine]

I wish both these threads would be destroyed and sent into oblivion but I never got to vote on the other one so a yes for me.

 

[Rawne1980]

On topic .... anything can be turned into comedy if the comedian is good enough.

 

[him over there]

is it acceptable? simple test. if its acceptable to do it then you should be willing to tell rape jokes to a few people you just met.

if a comedian on tv tried doing rape jokes what do you think would happen? there would be immediate outrage, sponsors would pull their support and it would be off the air faster than you can blink.

frankly if you have to ask "is it acceptable" then its a safe bet no it isnt

Hate to tell you but it happens all the time. Tons of comedians have joked about rape, murder and also the holocaust and totally rake it in on tv.

 

[Hazy992]

Seriously? This is like the fourth thread on this in a few days, why couldn't you just put your opinion in one of the others? Beating a dead horse with a dead horse here people!

I will say what I said in the others; if you can joke about other terrible things then you should be able to joke about rape.

 

[bobmus]

Snipped to save everyone else

http://raccoonnookkeeper.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/why-would-you-post-something-like-that.jpg?w=500

On topic: I like rape jokes - if people don't laugh, force them.
No, but seriously, I believe almost anything is fair game for a joke. I'd argue that those getting offended are mostly doing it from a sense of moral crusading, as opposed to actually having been affected themselves.

 

[hazabaza1]

Dude, I made an entire biased thread just to combat the other biased thread so we could get equal results. Do you really need to do this?
Anyway, yes it's acceptable.

 

[Wyes]

Yes. You can joke about anything ever.
Pretty much everything is about context and execution.

It can be done fairly tastefully, or it can be done horribly. Still, we can't silence people just because what they're saying is tasteless.

This, entirely this.

It's all about context and delivery.

 

[=y]

This will be thread number four on this. Well done Escapist!

We really need Search Bar Nazi Sergent Schultz around more often...

OT: I find them distasteful in all circumstances but that doesn't mean I think we should censor society. We just need to punish those who are using the term in a malicious manner seeing as we convict people over murder threats.

 

[RafaelNegrus]

Yeah, sorry, I failed at the search bar. Everything I've seen has been biased though, and wanted something that had a little more use to it.

 

[smithy_2045]

Yes, but know your audience, and make sure it's actually funny.

 

[Signa]

Thanks guys, this is the first rape thread to make me laugh.

 

[BathorysGraveland]

I immediately said yes without needing to think about it. Joking and laughter, for me, is the best medicine to almost anything emotional. Laughter and happiness makes pain go away, and it relieves sadness, if only temporary.