Should Comedians Be Held Accountable For The Things That They Say?

[Seil]

Right now, as far as comedians go, we have a bit of a double standard. If we were to say something like "You can't be racist anymore," Chris Rock and Russell Peters would have to throw out their acts. If we were to say "You can't talk about homosexuality. People might get offended." Then Ellen and Elvira Kurt will stick to daytime TV and CBC radio.

As a society, I think we're becoming too safe - it's not "what offends people," it's "what might offend people." And people are getting offended over everything these days - I've had arguments with people who believe that the original Cookie Monster was destroying the youth of today. That clerks should be required to tell customers that their coffee is hot. The things we're upset about today are just so... ludicrous that they shouldn't even be brought out into the open. Then why do we laugh at comedians?

I've heard a comedian say "We can get away with saying stuff like... If you heard someone say what I'm saying in a parking lot somewhere, you'd sock him one." Comedians like Christopher Titus have their opinions. The argument to be made for stand-ups is that it's all done for comic effect. But at the other end of the spectrum, you've got Michael Richards. So where's the in between?

I want to draw attention to Guy Earle. Guy Earle is in trouble for some recent comments while he was on stage. First hearing about this on Tuesday's CBC podcast, he makes his argument in a debate with a fellow lesbian comedian and a lawyer. His argument doesn't consist of anything resembling what we've condemned Michael Richards for, but that there was a gay couple who were exceedingly rude during his performance, chatting, heckling, flipping him the bird...

Now, I'm of the opinion that if you go see a show, you pay your however much money it is to get in, sit down and enjoy the show. Or not enjoy the show. Whatever. But don't be rude to everyone around you, and for God's sake, don't be rude to the performers! There is a long list of performers getting agitated over audience members. There's been performers in the middle of a play who've waited for an audience member to finish their cell phone conversation. The whole point here is what is acceptable in the theater/club - not just for the performer, but the audience as well.

We should all be held accountable for our actions, but where do we draw the line?

[Archbio]

Earle admits that he wanted "to find the root to what's going to offend them the most, and shut them up or get them out or whatever." Gee, that almost, I don't know, sounds violent. Oh but oh no, deep down, he's such a nice guy. Screw that, I don't know what's deep down.

And no, we're hardly getting "too safe," no matter how often it's said.

[DFM]

Michael Richards wasn't even doing it for comic effect, he's just a huge racist. Or a really good actor who thought screaming and going off on a racist tirade during one of his shows would be good for publicity.

I've heard performers on TV/Radio that I would have shouted at and heckled if I were at their show, either for being terrible comedians or being really fucking dumb. I obviously think they should be able to say whatever really fucking dumb thing they have to say, and I also obviously think they should have some accountability for it that they can't just wash away with 'It's a joke, man.' Even if it's them coming out and saying 'Well, I hate women.' or whatever.

The suing McDonald's for having 'hot' coffee is actually a valid suit since McDonald's coffee was hot enough to cause third degree burns on six percent of her body and I think lesser burns on another twenty percent. She was in medical treatment for two years and it cost more than ten thousand dollars to make her not horribly disfigured by coffee that in no way should have been that goddamn hot.

As for Cookie Monster going vegan or whatever, I don't have much of a problem with it, as long as they kept his personality intact. I know that was barely half mentioned in your post but I fucking love Cookie Monster.

Edit: Hey Archbio, deja vu

[Amake]

Sure. As long as there's freedom of speech you must always be prepared to pay for what you want to say.

What does that mean, though? What's the punishment for making offensive jokes? I can't imagine it's something you wouldn't willingly pay if you've got something important to say. (Like a good joke.)

Also, getting upset over the cookie monster is just a way for lazy and scared people to feel like they're doing something relevant while comfortably ignoring actual problems. In my opinion.

[Mirai Gen]

Originally Posted by DFM

The suing McDonald's for having 'hot' coffee is actually a valid suit since McDonald's coffee was hot enough to cause third degree burns on six percent of her body and I think lesser burns on another twenty percent. She was in medical treatment for two years and it cost more than ten thousand dollars to make her not horribly disfigured by coffee that in no way should have been that goddamn hot.

Yeah but that isn't funny sounding.

See if you just say "She spilled hot coffee on herself and sued McDonalds and won" you get a laughing ignorant audience.

[Amake]

When I hear of these hot coffee incidents I always remember this unlikely story I heard about how Starbucks have a patent on a water molecule design that keeps coffee liquid up to 3000°C. It lets them cook a large amount at half the temperature of the surface of the fucking sun and then have it standing around all day without going cold.

I can't think of any more likely explanation for the ridiculously hot coffee fast food places sometimes serve.

[Tev]

I’m actually a little confused about the thermodynamics involved in getting water hot enough to cause such serious burns and yet have it not assume gaseous form. I mean, I’m well aware that pressurized steam can attain temperatures to cause 3rd degree burns, and I’m reasonably sure that you can replicate those wounds with water that has reached a constant boil…but hot coffee? Poured into a cup and then transferred from its heating source to a car? If I cut the stove for more than ten seconds the water loose enough heat to stop boiling.

What crazy magic-in-cup is McDonalds brewing?

Ninja Edit:

Originally Posted by Invisible Queen

When I hear of these hot coffee incidents I always remember this unlikely story I heard about how Starbucks have a patent on a water molecule design that keeps coffee liquid up to 3000°C.

Oh, so that's the unlikely magic....

[Mirai Gen]

IIRC it was because the warmer was broken and it had pretty much lost all ability to regulate its own temperature so it pretty much boiled it all day. Imagine putting your electric stove's coil into a pot of sealed water all day then splashing a bit on yourself.

TEV EDIT: Those industrial coffee pots that fast food chains use are sealed, so it wouldn't be able to escape in gaseous form. Plus that was part of the reason she sued - how did nobody not notice this?

[Sithdarth]

Water at only 140 F can give you a full thickness burn in about 10 seconds. Just because your water stopped boiling doesn't mean its still not close to 200 F which is more than enough for burns. Burns from liquids tend to go deeper and be over a larger area than dry burns. If you think about it even though that pot full of water is only around 200 F it took a lot of fire that was much hotter than that to get it there. Water soaks up a lot of thermal energy and its the amount of energy delivered that determines the burn not the temperature. Really the only thing temperature does is make the burn happen faster. A small flame may be hot but it doesn't have enough thermal energy for significant burns. You end up with very quick superficial burns and pain unless you hold the flame to your skin for awhile. With near boiling water you get the double whammy of a lot of thermal energy and the fact that water tends to stick to you and seep into your clothes. Its a bit like dosing yourself in gasoline and lighting it on fire.

[Meister]

Originally Posted by Tev

If I cut the stove for more than ten seconds the water loose enough heat to stop boiling.

Yeah but would you put your hand in it?