Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 6,125
By the way, getting back to the original direction of the thread, I read recently that, at a recent appearance at the Slapstick comedy festival, Robin Ince pointed out that the likes of Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr are viewed by a lot of younger comedians in the same way as 80s alternative comedians viewed Bernard Manning and that they, understandably don't like being viewed like this.
The OP just stated that a twelve year old was surprised at what was considered acceptable in terms of sexist humour as recently as 2003. Nobody has expressed outrage at the hackneyed ad campaign, yet there have been loads of posts from people saying 'Well if you're outraged by that..... etc.'
I'd go further than Robin Ince and suggest that a lot of my generation don't like that the shifting sands of cultural acceptability has now labelled them the equivalent of Bernard Manning's audience, and they feel the need to argue that the world shouldn't have changed and there is nothing wrong with 'just having a laugh'. The underlying thought is sadly 'The world has changed and I don't like that I'm not young anymore.' Understand please that I'm not having a go at anyone, because I definitely feel this way sometimes myself and I would be surprised to hear that anybody approaching middle age hasn't. Its natural. Its not our world anymore.
I find that the best approach for my blood pressure is to try to accept this with grace. I can stil listen to the original version of 'Fairytale of New York' or watch unedited episodes of 'Fawlty Towers'. I'd probably still watch 'It Ain't 'alf Hot Mum' if they showed it anywhere. - That theme song alone brings back warming waves of nostalgia for a simpler world. However, I can hold two conflicting thoughts in my head and I can at the same time understand that a piece of art's meaning to me is not the same as it's meaning to anybody else and that it doesn't need to be. My understanding and acceptance of the intent of MacGowan's lyrics does not have to trump someone else's dislike of the public use of a problematic word. Arguing that I should be able to sing it in their face because they are wrong to be upset gets nobody anywhere.
Every generation rebels against it's predecessor. It's their world now - let them get on with it rather than waste your time shouting into the void. I console myself with the knowledge that, although they get to control what is acceptable to write on the internet, they'll never know the joy of smoking in pubs.
The OP just stated that a twelve year old was surprised at what was considered acceptable in terms of sexist humour as recently as 2003. Nobody has expressed outrage at the hackneyed ad campaign, yet there have been loads of posts from people saying 'Well if you're outraged by that..... etc.'
I'd go further than Robin Ince and suggest that a lot of my generation don't like that the shifting sands of cultural acceptability has now labelled them the equivalent of Bernard Manning's audience, and they feel the need to argue that the world shouldn't have changed and there is nothing wrong with 'just having a laugh'. The underlying thought is sadly 'The world has changed and I don't like that I'm not young anymore.' Understand please that I'm not having a go at anyone, because I definitely feel this way sometimes myself and I would be surprised to hear that anybody approaching middle age hasn't. Its natural. Its not our world anymore.
I find that the best approach for my blood pressure is to try to accept this with grace. I can stil listen to the original version of 'Fairytale of New York' or watch unedited episodes of 'Fawlty Towers'. I'd probably still watch 'It Ain't 'alf Hot Mum' if they showed it anywhere. - That theme song alone brings back warming waves of nostalgia for a simpler world. However, I can hold two conflicting thoughts in my head and I can at the same time understand that a piece of art's meaning to me is not the same as it's meaning to anybody else and that it doesn't need to be. My understanding and acceptance of the intent of MacGowan's lyrics does not have to trump someone else's dislike of the public use of a problematic word. Arguing that I should be able to sing it in their face because they are wrong to be upset gets nobody anywhere.
Every generation rebels against it's predecessor. It's their world now - let them get on with it rather than waste your time shouting into the void. I console myself with the knowledge that, although they get to control what is acceptable to write on the internet, they'll never know the joy of smoking in pubs.
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ffs.....
