by
chrisglos
@ Monday, 02. Oct, 2006 - 12:31:57
The term 'comedy' is lost on some people.
(Daily Mail readers spring to mind - unless we're talking about twee romanticisms of a past British age. Although I doubt they are to blame here)
Which can be the only explanation for the BBC receiving 61 complaints about Jonathon Woss' (sic) joke on Friday night "that people on council estates should be banned from giving birth"
I dont know about you, but if Im watching a comedy chat show, I expect that I'll hear comedic comments. Tongue in cheek barbs. Topical digs at touchy subjects. Especially if you are watching Jonathan Ross, or similar.
Its not Newsnight. We arent talking about the leader of the opposition making a brash, serious, political statement.
Its humour. Not to be taken seriously. A bit of fun. If its near the knuckle, so what - thats half (if not all) of the point of humour.
What grated me most wasnt so much the fact that people felt that such an innocuous comment warranted complaining about - which incidentally was sandwiched between many other comments that could equally 'cause offence' should you be that way inclined, so why not mention those if youre going to be consistent.
No, it was the fact that people will take the time to phone up and complain about something so trivial and banal, yet there never appears to be the same 'commitment' to raising a fuss about real issues.
If you have time and energy available to you to vent anger or comment at actions which are irresponsible, then choose something that really is irresponsible.
Next time these people feel like taking 5 minutes out, Id hope they spend the time instead reading the Amnesty International website. Or Friends of the Earth.
Something productive that would warrant recording of your disagreement.