(no subject)

[lollardfish]

Can anyone more knowledgeable than I point out any examples of the Vilification Tennis show doing productive social satire - that is, making fun of something in order to demonstrate its impropriety or nonsensical nature?

I'm seeing excuses that I shouldn't be offended at their upcoming show because it's productive social satire.

I think it's just an excuse and the show isn't about satire, it's about getting laughs by being as mean as possible. They are really good at it. They get a lot of laughs. I think they're kidding themselves about the satire, but I'm not that familiar with their shows.

Comments

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

I don't understand.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Because you think I was mistaken in pointing it out in this context? Or because you haven't googled "godwin" and found the Wikipedia article on Godwin's Law? Jews can make "Mel Brooks makes Hitler jokes" comparisons to what is being done here. Gentiles? Not so much. If you're on the outside making jokes, it's ridicule, not humor.

These in fact add up to the third reference to Nazis in these conversations. There was one in Josh's LJ as well.

K.

[theseamster.livejournal.com]

I think lollardfish didn't know the reference.

But I would argue that the mentions of Hitler in the previous threads does not actually represent an example of Godwin's Law. I've always interpreted the law to mean that it's invoked/relevant when an online argument devolves to the point where one party basically calls the other a Nazi or compares them to Hitler. The Hitler/Mel Brooks references above are far from this.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I don't think he knew it either, and I busted his chops by pointing out that he didn't google it. Yeah, I thought of your interpretation, but when I read the Law before I made my comment, I appeared to be on solid ground. I wouldn't have brought it up except that the two mentions of Hitler above were (I feel) non-Jews attempting to claim kinship with the insider status that Mel Brooks, as a Jew making jokes about Hitler, is naturally accorded.

(Unless Mark L. is Jewish? akitrom seems to be a Catholic, according to his profile page.)

The difference between insider and outsider status, and jokes told from one perspective or the other has seemed to me to be unfamiliar and unimportant to cast members of Vilification Tennis, and obvious and decisive to non-cast members. At least, that's the impression I have gotten from the various conversations I've been reading and participating in in the last week or so.

K.

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

"The difference between insider and outsider status, and jokes told from one perspective or the other has seemed to me to be unfamiliar and unimportant to cast members of Vilification Tennis, and obvious and decisive to non-cast members. At least, that's the impression I have gotten from the various conversations I've been reading and participating in in the last week or so."

Very perceptive.

[zarathud23.livejournal.com]

Some of our biggest shows of the year are at CONvergence. We pack the house with over 500 people, and they laugh their butts off for over an hour. They LOVE us. CONvergence is a science fiction/fantasy convention, and most of the people their are dyed-in-the-wool geeks and nerds, and they are fully proud of their distinction. We specifically try to poke all sorts of jabs at geeks and nerds! We are basically insulting the audience, not each other (although many of us are admitted geeks, as well). They still love us when they leave.

The point I'm trying to make is that no one is immune to our brand of humor. That is the idea. We are equal opportunity offenders. We will make fun of ANYONE, not just the mentally handicapped. And we DO make jokes about ourselves. For example, Sam, our cast member of obvious Korean heritage, makes tons of jokes about the Asian community.

I am sorry that you were offended, but I will make no any apologies for the name of the show. Some of the greatest comics in history have made it their career to be offensive and push the envelope (i.e. Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Dennis Leary, just top name a few).

If it turns out that we "went too far" then we will keep that in mind when naming our other shows. But, please don't expect us to water down our brand of humor. It's just not going to happen.

And, finally, we are NOT trying to create "productive social satire." We are trying to be funny. Period. Our humor is not for everyone. We know that. We cater to those who come to our show.

--Eric M. Clark

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

I have not asked anyone to change their brand of humor. I've said that repeatedly. I also didn't see the social satire, but others did, and I asked for examples. I actually got one good example.

There was, I believe, a way to do this show in the way you want to do it without causing so much pain to me, my family, and families like ours, none of whom are going (or should go) to the show.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

"nerd" and "geek" do not have the same social (lack of) status as people with disabilities, women, fat people, or people of color.

if you really do make fun of "anyone", let me know when your show making fun of straight white middle to upper class men for having those qualities is-- i guarantee you i will buy a ticket and show up.

[zarathud23.livejournal.com]

You should have bought a ticket to the November 2008 Electile Dysfunction show. That WAS a show all about straight white middle to upper class men: politicians. You can't find a whiter group than that, no matter what their color.

[(Anonymous)]

According to your reasoning Don Rickles is the biggest racist in the world.
Also I should not use women insults since I am a man.
Following your logic those that make fun of Christians while not being one are guilty.
Skinny people are just mean people for making fun of fatties.

What a wonderful world we create when we designate who can and can not pick on selected groups for the sake of humor.

P.S. I make fun of everyone. That is called equality. Not tip toeing around as to not offend selected racial groups or specific sects.

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming this is Mark? I screen anonymous comments.

[(Anonymous)]

It was. Sorry for not signing

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

It's fine. Just making sure. Not interested in censoring any opinions, but also want to keep things clear.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I find this attitude repulsive.

K.

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

Didn't google. Tired.