Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Along with Howard, Chris Rock, Seinfeld, Silverman, and few others who believe in true free speech including the right to offend if they feel like it in the name of humor, Maher is one of the last few sane men standing.

Rushdie, Hitchens (past, sadly), and countless politicians and even conservatives who know he’ll abuse them haven’t done his show for no good reason. They know he gets an audience who laughs at the objections you have to him.

You can assert Maher is a boring Carson clone (his delivery is stolen from Johnny), but you can’t say he offends you without also saying this: You’re oversensitive and need to grow a thicker skin.

Again! Here, he vehemently defends the rights of people who say offensive things to SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT, while at the very same time saying that other people need to police their speech and avoid challenging or making hurtful accusations that might trigger the people who say offensive things. Because he considers doing so to be offensive. It's sort of a meta-Dadaist paradox. When's the last time that any of the rest of you wrote anything thing that could be remotely considered meta-Dada? Not since the incessant political bickering turned this board into bomb cyclone of ennui. Let's up our game.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

Again! Here, he vehemently defends the rights of people who say offensive things to SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT, while at the very same time saying that other people need to police their speech and avoid challenging or making hurtful accusations that might trigger the people who say offensive things. Because he considers doing so to be offensive. It's sort of a meta-Dadaist paradox. When's the last time that any of the rest of you wrote anything thing that could be remotely considered meta-Dada? Not since the incessant political bickering turned this board into bomb cyclone of ennui. Let's up our game.

The last meta-dada was my Guernica post, or maybe when I used to reply to ggg by equating his post to a Gilligan’s Island episode summary? But then Thurgreed attacked me{sad face} in his defense, he didn’t knee jerk call me racist or sexist, but he did say I “wasn’t funny.”

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

The last meta-dada was my Guernica post, or maybe when I used to reply to ggg by equating his post to a Gilligan’s Island episode summary? But then Thurgreed attacked me{sad face} in his defense, he didn’t knee jerk call me racist or sexist, but he did say I “wasn’t funny.”

The Gilligan's Island posts were Dada. But meta-Dada? Agree to disagree.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

The Gilligan's Island posts were Dada. But meta-Dada? Agree to disagree.

Why do you always go straight to the worst “ Hank you ain’t meta you’re some rich white guy?” Why can’t you attack the substance of my my post without resorting to these cheap slurs?

Who's the one made you the crossing guard barking the definitions and judgments at us? What's your qualification to do so?"

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Peoria is not South Bend.

I mean...it kind of is.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Along with Howard, Chris Rock, Seinfeld, Silverman, and few others who believe in true free speech including the right to offend if they feel like it in the name of humor, Maher is one of the last few sane men standing.

Rushdie, Hitchens (past, sadly), and countless politicians and even conservatives who know he’ll abuse them haven’t done his show for no good reason. They know he gets an audience who laughs at the objections you have to him.

You can assert Maher is a boring Carson clone (his delivery is stolen from Johnny), but you can’t say he offends you without also saying this: You’re oversensitive and need to grow a thicker skin.

It's not that he offends me. It's that he's boring. His stuff is tedious. Offending people is no substitute for good material.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

You can assert Maher is a boring Carson clone (his delivery is stolen from Johnny), but you can’t say he offends you without also saying this: You’re oversensitive and need to grow a thicker skin.

People at Trump rallies say the same thing.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

It's not that he offends me. It's that he's boring. His stuff is tedious. Offending people is no substitute for good material.

His monologue is dull. His interviews, round table, and New Rules are usually excellent. He gets fantastic guests.

I forgot Ricky Gervais in my previous list. And Louis CK. Gervais’ standup is fearless. CK is in exile, but adults can separate his work from his private behavior, and his standup (“Of course, but what if...” most notably) was brilliant and biting.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Adder

People at Trump rallies say the same thing.

I rest my case.

This shit is what may cost a D the election.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Gervais’ standup is fearless.

Jesus. You have no taste at all.

The Office was spectacular. Extras and Idiot Abroad were a lot of fun. I am a big fan of his old podcast and radio show.

He's terrible at stand up.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Adder

Jesus. You have no taste at all.

The Office was spectacular. Extras and Idiot Abroad were a lot of fun. I am a big fan of his old podcast and radio show.

He's terrible at stand up.

He is also an apparent self-aggrandized twit.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Adder

Jesus. You have no taste at all.

The Office was spectacular. Extras and Idiot Abroad were a lot of fun. I am a big fan of his old podcast and radio show.

He's terrible at stand up.

Bollocks. I love his standup, and his Don Ricklesesque Golden Globes appearances.

But the hidden gem in his catalogue is the animated podcast series with Carl Pilkington. I could listen to Pilkington all day. I won’t pretend to know why. He’s like a sophisticated version of Medicated Pete from the Stern Show, whose prank calls and interviews are fucking amazing, because he has no idea he’s funny.

ETA: But if we’re debating standups, I think you have the Big Three - Pryor, Carlin, Murphy - and everybody else is bouncing around tiers below. Carlin’s final HBO special is a rare moment where an aging pro goes out with a grand slam. And I still listen to Delirious and Raw.

Chris Rock comes closest to that rarified air. But he’s not quite there yet.

Btw, when Anthony Jeselnik is firing on all cylinders, he’s hysterical. But he often seems to phone it in.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

Don't buy Sebby's bullshit. One of my partners (he's not a lawyer and he's a friend I grew up with in the city and have known for 40 years) is hardcore Trump. Another close friend I've known since junior high is a Trump idiot. And that's just a few of the people I know and actually like who voted for that piece of shit. Also, I'm surrounded by partners at work (here and Boston) who would sooner vote for Hitler than a Democrat.

It amazes me that anyone thinks people who live in NY (or any big city), surrounded by all different types of people from all over the world (which includes the South and Midwest)--rich and poor, all colors, all political stripes, LGBTQ, etc.--are somehow the ones who live in a bubble. The only bubbles that exist in this country are in the South, the Midwest, and apparently a disturbing number of suburbs. Hell, I drove through an area of Texas (not far outside of Dallas) where if you didn't belong to a mega church, you might as well stop talking to people altogether.

TM

I grew up in a real bubble, a right wing one, in upstate NY. My general impression is that blue America understands red America much better than red America understands blue America.

What I still can't understand, though, is who the hell goes to Sebby's cocktail parties? I mean, those sound just awful.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I grew up in a real bubble, a right wing one, in upstate NY. My general impression is that blue America understands red America much better than red America understands blue America.

What I still can't understand, though, is who the hell goes to Sebby's cocktail parties? I mean, those sound just awful.

Off my corner, ho! I invented making fun of Sebby's cocktail parties.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Off my corner, ho! I invented making fun of Sebby's cocktail parties.

Do you think Bill Maher attends them? Yaaaawwwwwnnnnn.