www.cnn.com
People are just less likely to turn a blind eye when someone makes fun of them or their "group" these days. They never thought it was particularly funny, they just kept their mouths shut in the past.
People also laugh when other groups are the target, but are the quickest to complain when the “making fun” hits too close to home.
As was posted above, they were laughing at racist, sexist, in poor taste jokes that didn't target them. The folks being targeted weren't laughing...then or now. The difference now is they push back.
That's true to some extent, but people aren't as adept at laughing at themselves as they once were either. Things that were once just stereotypes are now called racism. White men can't jump, black people can dance, homosexual [men] know how to dress, etc.
You really think minorities found demeaning racial stereotypes - especially when delivered by white comedians - funny? When a white comedian uses a racist or sexist stereotype that targets others, they aren't laughing at themselves.
That's not a black and white answer (no pun intended) and depends on setting and context. I have close friendships with people of all races and have watched stereo-typical comments been made in front of me, to me, and around me with jeers, jabs and laughter because friends know its not coming from a place of hate. Additionally, I've also watched white comedians make these comments with minorities falling out of their chairs in laughter.
Comedy is comedy. If you’re cracking racist jokes at the water cooler, that’s different. People are getting too soft.
Or they still find it funny but are scared to laugh or admit it's funny because they fear they will be called racist, homophobic or some other label that they don't want to be tagged with.
Plenty of Black People found Ralphie May funny. And he used Black racial stereotypes in his comedy plenty.
Nonsense. Jews, Polacks, blacks, Irish and many other ethnicities and races always had a great sense of humor towards self-denigration when I was growing up. I could remember my father embarrassing the shit out of me in doctors' waiting rooms as he told jokes to whatever nationality was sitting there, about their nationality and everyone laughing about it, especially the person. Many of these groups still do. But there are always those who take themselves way too seriously and those folks are becoming an unsilent majority. You just have to be way more careful now.
Not to mention the audiences are way different. And not that it's a bad thing. Except what we are seeing is more and more people with no sense of humor attending comedy shows. Why do they do that? It's like taking a Vegan to a steak house.
LOL...and then they would go home and talk about what an a-hole that guy in the waiting room was. Your father was embarrassing you but you don't think he was offending them? They laughed because it was expected. Now, they don't pretend. The idea that people have made this seismic shift in just a few years is ridiculous...their expectations have changed. That's it.
Someone like Rickels would have a lot more problems in today’s world of comedy/entertainment.
Or they laugh because they are afraid of being labeled a woke liberal snowflake. Or an angry black woman. Or some other label that they don't want to be tagged with. 10 years ago my oldest son (biracial) left SoFla and headed off to college in Indiana. We told him he "wasn't in Kansas anymore". Within 3 weeks of classes starting we got a phone call from him. He said, "they talk about me like I am not even there". We encouraged him to find his voice. And use it. Much like many BIPOC kids are doing today.
This was my first thought when all this started. Notorious A hole for 40 years is still being one. Not exactly shocking news.
There's a very clear pattern to a certain segment of America that just absolutely cannot wake up every Fing day without looking for something to be "offended" by.
Talented beyond believe. He's near the end of his career so doesn't have the power he once did. Plus, the dynamics have changed in terms of what is apprioate in Hollyweird.
My comment doesn’t have anything to do with what you are implying. You will always have the folks that scour twitter to be outraged about something.
That's not what I've heard. I'm guessing those people who think so also didn't respect his privacy.
I think he handled this situation perfectly. Acknowledged there was a disagreement/incident. Took responsibility for his part in it without resorting to whining about "cancel culture" and instead said he'd evaluate how his actions could have been misperceived/not appreciated. It's notable he didn't apologize or beg forgiveness either, though -- basically said it can be difficult to navigate these kinds of issues these days and that it's right to do so because it's important people feel comfortable.
Those are also just tired, lame cliches and not funny anymore either.
