Violence disguised as comedy

by Lady Lee 25 Replies latest jw friends

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  Lady Lee

  Lately, here in Ottawa, there is a TV ad for a comedy show. It has a "teacher" in front of a 3 student class. The teacher says that when he asks a question everyone should put up their hand. If they fail to raise their hand he will get "this" and then he kicks one of the students in the face.(laugh track plays) While the "victim" holds his head in pain the teacher asks another question. Two students raise their hand but the other fellow is still holding his head. And he gets kicked in the head again and the laugh track plays again.

  I know a lot of people think slap stick is funny. I'm not one of them.

  I hated the old series The Honeymooners. He was always yelling he was going to send his wife to the moon as he waved a fist at her. I don't think this is funny either.

  And I wouldn't let my children watch The Flintstones for the exact same reasons.

  A few years ago there was a greeting card company that had a whole line of insulting cards you could give to people.

  We often hear people denounce violent movies and video games. The violence in these desensitizes people, especially children to the point where some actually go out and try to replicate what they have seen.

  So where do we draw the line?

  Verbal abuse is hurtful. Yelling at someone while shaking a fist in their face is emotional abuse and intimidation. Shooting and blowing people up is terrorism

  I'm certainly aware that my own abuse history makes me overly sensitive to all the forms of abuse in the world.

  That commercial really ticks me off
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  under_believer

  Sounds dumb. What show is it for?
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  minimus

  Lee, I'm sure the 3 stooges disturbs you too. And Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy. Don't like slapstick?? Don't watch it. I think you're a tad oversensitive about such 'violence'.
• 

  katiekitten

  I dont like pointless violence.

  But I did like The Young Ones where they used to hit the hippy, and The Black Adder where he used to hit Baldrick, and Reeves and Mortimer where they used to hit each other in the face with frying pans....

  oh dear...
• 

  Finally-Free

  I have to admit I'm somewhat inconsistent about what offends me. The Flintstones offended me because the men were stupid and the women were conniving and manipulative. I hated Archie Bunker. He was a loudmouthed bigot and I'd love to kick his ass. I found the Honeymooners offensive too.

  On the other hand, there was a violent brawl in the movie "The Punisher" that had me laughing so hard I thought I'd bust a gut.

  W
• 

  hillary_step

  Katie,

  But I did like The Young Ones where they used to hit the hippy,

  lol....Yes, remember when they tied the hippy to the floor and Rick took a run up and hit him between the legs with a cricket bat. The hippy shouted 'Ha, ha - you missed both my legs!'.

  I think the sound of Rod Stewart mangling Cole Porter is far more detrimental to mankind than such sick humor. Imagine a group of ten year olds mimicking Rod Stewart - now that is really worrying.

  HS
• 

  Lady Lee

  under_believer

  Sounds dumb. What show is it for?

  I'll let you know when I see it again Minimus

  I think you're a tad oversensitive about such 'violence'.

  I very well could be but then the question begs Where do we draw the line? katie

  oh dear...

  yup I hear ya FF How did I forget Bunker? I'm sure there are many others. In college I had one assignment to count the number of physically violent acts in cartoons that children watch. I don't remember how many it was but it was way too high for my comfort level. And this is what our children were exposed to before shows like Sesame Street and the Gentle Giant along with many others came along.
• 

  sir82

  But I did like The Young Ones where they used to hit the hippy, and The Black Adder where he used to hit Baldrick, and Reeves and Mortimer where they used to hit each other in the face with frying pans....

  I always got a kick out of Basil Fawlty poking poor old Manuel in the eye...
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  minimus

  "Where do we draw the line?".....WE draw the line for ourselves. If YOU think slapstick is violence, you have already drawn the line. My opinion is that it is not violence. And if someone doesn't "get" Archie Bunker, well, what can I say????
• 

  Sad emo

  Lee the ad you described sounds like pointless violence to me.

  I never minded violence in cartoons, such as Tom and Jerry but when it's real actors, my reaction varies depending on the severity of the 'violence'.

  I 'feel' it emotionally, sometimes I really can't stand to watch it at all, it hurts so much that I feel like its being done to me. I don't find any of it funny enough to even raise a smile.

  I very rarely watch violent non-comedy movies.