Burning Down

How do people here generally feel about jokes about autism or where people with autism are the butt of the joke?

EDIT: Also, what about when people say the word "retarded", as in "oh that movie was so retarded" etc. To me that is on par with people using the word "gay" in the same context, and it's offensive to me.

Cuthbert

I personally don't care. (My cousin is autistic also.)

If it's not funny it's just a crap joke.

Mojo

This is a tough argument for me. I think I'm torn in the same way Pedestrian is.

That particular response to a heckler isn't, in my opinion, remotely funny. That has nothing to do with context, or whether she invites that reaction herself by volunteering to be there, it's just not a funny thing to say. Saying that to another human being isn't funny. Fair play if you disagree with that, but I'm struggling to find the humour in that or with something like what Michael Richards said in his outburst.

I think it's possible to make too much of a victim out of the woman he is talking to as well though. It's a stand up comedy show and with that territory comes an understanding that the content may not meet your taste. As I said, I dont think that particular comment is at all necessary but she made the decision to be there, she made the decision to heckle, she invites a response when really she has the option to either not be there, or walk out.

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Sansa Stark

I'm not really sure, it'd kind of be dependent on the actual butt of the joke, like I would totally make jokes about the vaccination thing, but that's because it's dumb as **** to rather have your kid die than be autistic. I don't know much about autism personally but I do know that there's a spectrum (just like most things!!) and they can range from anywhere to low to high functioning ~genius types. Being that I myself have a mental illness (I don't know if autism is classified is such) I would never, ever advocate for anything that puts neurodivergent people as a joke, because people's attitudes and misinformation are downright dangerous, I mean, look at all the shootings and violence and literally everything awful that gets blamed on mental illness when it's actually false, mentally ill people are more likely to be the victim of violence than the perpetrator.


Also I do use gay to describe things but it's usually things I love, much like using "queer" because queer = reclaimed as our own word and queer just means general non-cis, non-binary etc etc, it's a comfortable word, like an old sweater. But the way I use it is like, I'd describe my avatar as queer, even though Kanye is (from what I know) heterosexual, the flower crown is the queer part.

butthead aka 216

i am familiar with autism very much. most of the jokes dont really make much sense lol so on that alone i find them unfunny.

like with other subject, its about audience. if i walk into an autistic school and crack jokes about kids humming then thats just bad taste. same if i go into a hospital and crack cripple jokes or whatever, you get the point.

stand up comics are different tho since u are choosin to go to THEM and not the other way around and it seems we are talkin a lot about comics

The Batlord

Same as with any joke. In the right circumstances it's fine. I wouldn't make an autism joke to someone who actually had autism obviously, and I wouldn't tell someone I didn't really know that well, because I couldn't know just how they would feel about it. But if I'm with a friend(s) who I know have a similar sense of humor, then why the hell not if I've got a good chuckler?

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Mojo

Like others have said, and like with most things - context.

I try not to get worked up over things where I can tell the person meant no offence. Sometimes it may still be appropriate to correct or inform, depending on the circumstances, but not always necessary, in my opinion, to hound and berate someone for a slip of the tongue or for saying something they meant no offence by. Some people are also just completely oblivious.

If theres malice in a comment, then no. If its a joke, then chances are I'm not going to take great offence to it.

I highly doubt I would make a joke about someone with autism. It just isn't really my style and I have no need to do it. I may make a joke about autism, however, depending on exactly what its about. But even if I was going to make a joke about someone who has autism - context. Really. You could argue that you could approach someone with autism, tell them this joke directly, but oh it's ok, it's just a joke isnt it? If you can do that and feel confident that you meant no harm, that doesnt remove the likelihood that you're a complete ****ing idiot all the same.

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Burning Down

I will joke about the vaccine thing too. The whole theory was an absolute crock of shit. Not according to Oojay/Merit, of course

There is a spectrum for autism, yes. In DSM-IV the umbrella term is "Pervasive Developmental Disorders" which includes Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and PDD-NOS (not otherwise specified). But in DSM-V, the new edition, they changed it to Autism Spectrum Disorders and omitted Asperger's and PDD-NOS completely. There's also Rett Syndrome which is similar but only affects females, though it doesn't come under the spectrum. Autism is actually considered a neuro-developmental disorder, but people with autism can and often exhibit symptoms of mental illness especially later on in adulthood.

And the same goes for people with autism, since many are not quick on the uptake when it comes to social cues, body language... things like that which could put them in unfortunate situations especially if they are lower functioning, and may even have a mental illness as well.

And that's just fine. It's when people use gay or retarded in a negative or condescending manner that bothers me.

And just the other day I was at the mall with my brother and he was kind of making a scene and crying because his schedule was off, and some lady sat on a bench and said loudly to her friend, "That teenager needs help if he is throwing tantrums in public." Way to judge, bitch. You don't know shit about him.

Some people are just so ignorant and I experience that ignorance when they find out my brother is autistic or that I'm trying to cope with anxiety and panic attacks. They might make a joke or some asinine comment and it just feeds the stigma that the autism community is trying to eradicate. Fuck them.

CanwllCorfe

I think everything goes in humor. I do think that there's comics who exploit rape just for shock value, and don't actually employ any real humor. I can't stand that. Here's an example of one I think is done very well.



Like Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K. said in an HBO special (Talking Funny), they see humor as a way to bring you to a dark place and make light of it. In a rather macabre example, Richard Jeni used to make jokes about suicide and killing himself. And he ultimately did just that. In truth I do the same thing, but I couldn't see myself actually doing it anytime soon.

Same thing. I think it's fair game. I have an autistic cousin, and I still find some things about it hilarious. Now, do note that it's not autism in and of itself that's funny. It's not like, "Oh he's autistic. LOL." An example would be on the very moral 4chan, where they say things like "autist" and "aspie" in regards to people who are horribly socially inept. And they also tie in their obsession with things, like in this shining example:



And this video showing an example of an "autist":



If anyone is wondering what the "spaghetti" thing is about, it's related to "spaghetti stories", which are all about cringe worthy social interaction. "Autist", "aspie", and these "spaghetti stories" all share that thread of social ineptitude that is so goddamn hilarious. Before I go, here's an example of one such story:

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Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

Cuthbert

What's wrong with shock value humour? Why should good comedians only be allowed to joke about rape? The crux of it is that the people that are offended just don't like rape jokes because it hits a nerve. They don't find them funny, therefore it must be wrong , why is that the comedian's fault? It's just emotionally driven. It's bollocks.

Read this thread - http://www.musicbanter.com/games-lis...-fault-18.html

http://www.musicbanter.com/1348490-post192.html

Is that not a race 'joke'?

Why is being white relevant? I mock white people too, but I mock anyone. I'm consistent. Like I said, either everything is OK, or nothing is.