Blocked: Ricky Gervais on Protests
Added 2024-09-12 16:00:07 +0000 UTCComments
Was your enjoyoment bolstered by being in the audience, or because you whole heartedly agreed with him? And if you agree about his views on Gervais, are you able to truly see his jokes as what they are: making fun of a completely derailed public debate, or might your judgment be affected by your view on that debate? I think you know why I ask these questions. Maybe I'm on the wrong side of history here. I believe trans women are women (and vice versa) and should be treated like that without exception if they wish. I also believe as a society we are allowed to assume someone's gender until they tell us it's otherwise and we also don't have to pretend like someone wasn't a different gender when we knew them before the change. I also think it's fine to not go along with requests to be referred to with plural pronouns and what not gender identities (I'm fine with 'don't know' as a gender). Because you see, it's not up to a society to accomodate every insecurity a person might have. In the end they'll have to learn to live with the fact that they are an exception, as long as they can be an exception in peace and safety. It's not up to anyone to validate their insecurities and for instance pretend Kaitlyn Jenner was not at one time a male athlete. I think, don't know, that Gervais is of a similar opinion and primarily is making fun of the debate Trans people and their advocates are pushing including flawed rhetoric tactics and of course he goes a bit above and beyond when reacting to that part of the public discourse. Apologies, English is not my native language so it's at times difficult to convey the nuances in my opinion.
Arjan Pelle
2024-09-16 21:10:51 +0000 UTCWhen I watch something that I don't think is funny I just go "Eh, next." People getting arsed about a comedy special..is special.
Dead Meat
2024-09-14 00:16:37 +0000 UTCBy definition, transphobia can be rooted in hostility, disdain, aversion, or fear. I agree that Gervais isn't particularly hostile towards transgender people (i.e., he doesn't actively seek to harm them or challenge their right to exist). Given his acerbic comedy style, I wouldn't describe him as especially disdainful either. I do, however, sense a genuine aversion on display. In terms of irreverence (if not cleverness), commenting that he isn't attracted to “women with cocks” is in line with his other material. But that isn't the end of it. He REALLY wants the world to know how repulsed he is – and that his feelings are justified. If he could at least stop there, it wouldn't be so terrible. He is Ricky Gervais, after all. But no. He chooses to invoke fear. Is he afraid of trans people? No, but he's keenly aware that others are – and he doesn't hesitate to exploit this fact. I don't know what (if any) filters are in effect here, so I'll just note that he references some of the cruelest, most hurtful prejudices – not to mock the resultant hysteria, but to take part in it. He derives comedy fodder from falsehoods that have put trans people's lives at risk – or worse. He doesn't merely punch down. He piles on. And he knows it. It's a calculated decision on his part. When he believed that he was in danger of cancellation, he immediately backpedaled and tweeted that “trans women are women.” I would respect him more if he *hadn't* – because his words were hollow. (See also: his vehement denial that “Derek” depicted an intellectually disabled character – which it very clearly did, as he should have acknowledged.) When Dave Chappelle proved that an A-list comic could use a Netflix special to savage trans people with impunity, Gervais deleted the aforementioned tweet and jumped on the bandwagon. He had no original observations or insights to share. He simply wanted a piece of the action. To be clear, I don't regard Gervais as a bad person. He isn't an anti-trans crusader akin to J.K. Rowling. He's an opportunistic comedian with more empathy for animals than for humans (which, ironically, I find somewhat relatable). I respectfully disagree that Acaster ran his bit into the ground. The excessive repetition was part of the joke. Admittedly, my enjoyment may have been bolstered by my good fortune to attend a live performance (and be seated in the front row). Thanks for engaging, incidentally.
David Levy
2024-09-13 02:22:42 +0000 UTCIt might be shit or lazy, to each their own, like 99% of comedians there is something repetitive about him for sure. But to brand it transphobic... he's not hostile or angry about trans people, he's mostly just having a laugh about how that community and their sympathizers tend to argue and their warped rhetoric. Like, for example, branding everything that does not 100% support their views as transphobic. But thank's for pointing out James Acaster. He's funny and offbeat. But let's be honest he pushes the preaching in that Gervais clip also past the point of funny a few times.
Arjan Pelle
2024-09-12 21:12:53 +0000 UTCThat was fucking hilarious! 😂😂😂😂
Bill B.
2024-09-12 20:26:49 +0000 UTCWell, of course Daz hasn't seen anything from Ricky Gervais that was shit. He *is* Ricky Gervais! On a serious note, Gervais's recent transphobic material is shit – and not just because it's transphobic. It's also lazy. For spot-on commentary, please view James Acaster's superb “Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999” stand-up show. You won't regret it.
David Levy
2024-09-12 16:25:12 +0000 UTC
